City: Chicago, IL
Category: Tours & Attractions
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Tours & Attractions
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Tours & Attractions
124. Prairie Avenue Historic District
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Tours & Attractions
Description: If you considered yourself among the rich and important of Chicago back in the late 19th century, then you had to have a Prairie Avenue address. Although many of the luxurious homes of Chicago’s elite that once lined these streets have been bulldozed, there’s a handful left that hint at what history held. Remaining are the homes of the Clarks and Glessners (see separate listings), piano company founder William W. Kimball (1801 S. Prairie Ave.), hardware company owner Joseph G. Coleman (1811 S. Prairie Ave.), and Marshall Field Jr. (1919 S. Prairie Ave.).
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Tours & Attractions
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 835 N. Michigan Ave.
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 3827 N. Southport Ave.
128. Exploritorium
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (847) 674-1500, ext. 2700
Address: 4701 Oakton St.
Insider Pick:
Description: Being part of the Skokie Park District (read: inexpensive entry) and just a quick drive north of the city (i.e., free parking) make this indoor amusement center for little ones a big hit. Once they’re in, they’re off and running. From the tube and tunnel climbing structure to the water table to the climbing wall to the dress-up area replete with stage set. A book nook and tables stocked with coloring supplies offer a little down time—though it doesn’t last for long. Nonresidents (children and adults) $5; residents are $3; children under 1 free. Open Mon, Tues, and Fri 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wed noon to 5 p.m.; Sat 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; closed Thurs and Sun.
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 3652 N. Lincoln Ave.
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 1422 N. Kingsbury St.
131. Hobbitland
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (773) 698-8634
Address: 1504 N. Western Ave.
Description: Decorated with fanciful murals painted by one of the owners, this cheerful Ukrainian Village indoor space offers open play time for kids to get their creative juices flowing with wooden toys, games, kitchen things, art projects (a huge blackboard is cool), story times every Wednesday at 10 a.m., and art projects (for members only) every Thursday. Three-visit stamp cards are $30 for one child, $45 for two. Five-visit pass cards are $50 with one child, $75 with two; 10-visit passes are $95/$145; and 30-day memberships are also available: $65 with one child; $95 for two. Open Mon, Wed, and Thurs 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed between 2 and 3 p.m.); Tues 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Fri 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; closed Sat and Sun for private parties.
132. Kid City
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (312) 829-6775
Address: 1837 W. Grand Ave.
Description: Kitted out with kid cars, a grocery store, train tables, reading area, playhouse, mini cafe, and a separate cushy space for non-walkers, there are hours of fun built into this indoor space just west of downtown. For parties, the book corner turns into a cinema where kids can lounge for a movie with popcorn and juice boxes. Admission for drop-in play is $14 for the first child, $10 for siblings. Memberships offer a discount and are $105 for a 30-day and $160 for a 90-day pass (30 percent off for siblings). Open play hours Tues through Fri 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. (during summer, closing time is 4 p.m.).
133. Legoland Discovery Center
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (847) 592-9700
Address: 601 N. Martingale Rd.
Description: A drive into the shopping mall-land of Schaumburg also gets you to this 30,000-square-foot, indoor Lego-laden amusement park, the first one in the United States. Besides the many incredible Lego-built scenes and structures (like a mini city of Chicago), there are rides, 4-D movies, a mini factory tour and plenty of building pieces for little fingers to construct their own Lego land. Just know that the staff is pretty strict about height limits for the rides and prepare your kids accordingly. There’s a small food court too. Admission prices $19, children 3 to 12 years old $15; there’s a discount if you order tickets online. Open Mon through Fri noon to 7 p.m., Sat and Sun 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (last admission sold at 5 p.m.; summer hours open every day at 10 a.m.).
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 1809 W. Webster Ave.
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 2050 Tower Dr.