Museums and Zoos

Chicagoland is rich with world-class museums and zoos, as well as smaller locations beloved by local families! Explore all that our area has to offer with museums and zoos for kids.

All the 2025 Free Museum Days Chicago and the Suburbs Have to Offer

Free museum days in Chicago?! Yes, please! Our visits to museums and zoos are core memory-makers for our children, especially when they involve a trip to the city. After marveling…

Aim High: Soaring with the Tuskegee Airmen at The Chicago Children’s Museum

The Chicago Children’s Museum recently hosted an opening for their newest exhibit – Aim High: Soaring with the Tuskegee Airmen and my family had the wonderful opportunity to take a…

Lords Park in Elgin Combines a Museum, Zoo, Aquatic Center, and More in One Fun Place

Lords Park in Elgin is a hub of family-friendly fun in the northwest suburbs. With the Elgin Public Museum, Lords Park Zoo, Lords Park Aquatic Center, as well as sports…

Bubble Works Outdoor Festival at Wonder Works Children’s Museum

For the third year in a row, Wonder Works Children’s Museum is hosting Bubble Works, an outdoor festival celebrating the magic and science of bubbles. It’s a bubble wonderland where your…

Places to See Dinosaurs: Museums, Attractions, and Events to Delight Your Dino-Loving Kids

T. rex, Stegasaurus, and Triceratops… in my home, these dinosaurs are celebrities! I love places to see dinosaurs and learn more with my kids, because there are so many activities…

A Visit to Phillips Park Zoo in Aurora

The Phillips Park Zoo is located at the center of Phillips Park in Aurora. This little zoo has great animal exhibits, a free splash-pad and two separate playground areas. Read…

Tips for Taking Kids to Adler Planetarium in Chicago + ‘Niyah and the Multiverse’ Opening February 17

Before I tell you all about the Adler Planetarium, you need to understand that my kids are… shall we say… big into space. Our fridge is covered in drawings of…

Museum, Zoo, and Other Chicagoland Memberships for Kids that Unlock Unlimited Fun

Chicagoland is full of incredible destinations for kid-friendly fun, including museums and zoos. Memberships for kids can help you make the most of these spots! In fact, memberships are one…

Child looks through a display case at a castle made of precious stones on top of an agate base.

The Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art in Oak Brook is a Hidden Gem Right in the Suburbs

My 7-year-old is fascinated by rocks, so we recently headed to the Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art in Oak Brook to check out all of the gorgeous artwork, cool rocks,…

Tips for Visiting the Field Museum + The New Spinosaurus

There’s a new dino in town at the Field Museum: Spinosaurus, the dinosaur world’s biggest hunter, who now paddles through the air above the main hall’s admission lines. With crocodile-like…

Insider Tips for Brookfield Zoo Chicago + Expanding Space for Apes and Monkeys to Feature Outdoor Habitats

Our family has been going to Brookfield Zoo for years, both with a membership and without. We live about 10 minutes from the zoo, so we’ve had tons of opportunities…

Child looking over a fence at a giraffe at the Brookfield Zoo, part of the Museum Adventure Pass program.

Unlock Deals and Discounts on Popular Attractions When You Secure a Museum Adventure Pass

The Museum Adventure Pass offers a number of deals, discounts, and sometimes even free passes to museums and popular attractions in the area. These include zoos, a variety of museums,…

Museums and Zoos

All the 2025 Free Museum Days Chicago and the Suburbs Have to Offer

Aim High: Soaring with the Tuskegee Airmen at The Chicago Children’s Museum

Lords Park in Elgin Combines a Museum, Zoo, Aquatic Center, and More in One Fun Place

Bubble Works Outdoor Festival at Wonder Works Children’s Museum

Places to See Dinosaurs: Museums, Attractions, and Events to Delight Your Dino-Loving Kids

A Visit to Phillips Park Zoo in Aurora

Tips for Taking Kids to Adler Planetarium in Chicago + ‘Niyah and the Multiverse’ Opening February 17

Museum, Zoo, and Other Chicagoland Memberships for Kids that Unlock Unlimited Fun

The Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art in Oak Brook is a Hidden Gem Right in the Suburbs

Tips for Visiting the Field Museum + The New Spinosaurus

Insider Tips for Brookfield Zoo Chicago + Expanding Space for Apes and Monkeys to Feature Outdoor Habitats

Unlock Deals and Discounts on Popular Attractions When You Secure a Museum Adventure Pass

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