This place is great with a caveat - your kids need to really be in the sweet spot for it. Like, 2-5 years old. Also, prices are now up to $20 per person, whether an adult or child. Last time I was here I was amused to see the grocery store was a Whole Foods and the sandwich shop was a Potbelly's, but I guess those sponsorships have expired and everything's kind of generic now. Kids won't care but I thought it was fun. The main draw of this place is the sheer amount of variety they have. Kids can play with toy cars, instruments, water, trains. They can paint, build things, read. They can pretend to be a vet, build a house, grocery shop, run a sandwich shop (oh I guess I mentioned those). There's a whole bunch of little science-y things, and some areas that rotate periodically. Toddlers and young kiddos have a blast, but I feel it'd be hard to keep older kids engaged. It also feels pretty pricy, especially charging parents, though I didn't know you could save a couple bucks buying online ahead of time. Parking is mostly easy but it is a popular place so be prepared to have to do some conflict resolution at times. read more

This children museum is a bit of a hike for us. We have to drive at least 50 minutes but our girls love the grocery store (resembles Whole Foods) and sandwich shop (resembles Potbelly) exhibits so we would suck up the drive. We have the Dupage Children Museum (DCM) family circle membership and Kohl Children Museum used to be the one of six in-network museums with free admissions. However, it is no longer the case as of the summer of 2025. Now with our DCM family circle membership, we will receive a 50% discount from the full general admission fee. It is still a good deal. Our girls would usually spend at least two hours here. We have visited Kohl several times over the years and I generally find it best to arrive at the early morning, members-only hour because there will be less people and less chaotic. And also because we have visited so many times during different months, we noticed they rarely change up the exhibits. read more

What a special spot for kids and families! While visiting family nearby, they suggested that we all take our kids to the Kohl Children's Museum for them to play and run around. (It was also a particularly good move because we would be leaving shortly thereafter on our five-hour roadtrip back home -- so great for getting out the wiggles!) This museum is one large floor filled with spaces for kids to play with. There's a play grocery, play restaurant, play doctors office, play mechanic, play water tables, play music area -- even a play bookshop. Everything the kids could touch and learn from. We easily spent a couple of hours exploring everything alongside our kiddos. The trick was keeping an eye on our kids since they were constantly running from one thing to the next. We also visited during a weekend of a freezing cold snap, which meant it was packed with families hoping to wear their kids out indoors. Even still, we were able to play with everything without a long wait. I loved seeing how thought out each area was and all the ways that the kids could interact with everything. If I lived in this area, I would definitely have a membership and visit often! read more

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We visited here one time and were hooked! So much we bought an annual pass. I cannot recommend it enough. Our 3 year old enjoys coming here at least one a week during the non summer months. For us, now is the time to come here before he starts Pre K4. Spring, Fall and Winter afternoons (with the exception of holidays) seem to be the best time since the crowds are minimal. If you like crowds, come in the AM hours during the summer! Typically we'll swing by after lunch and his nap. He may have a snack or two (which you can bring in) and away he's playing! The staff here are so friendly, welcoming and inclusive to everyone! Things to check out are any workshops, the art studio, the train and def the grocery store. You can easily spend a good 3-4 hours here and if you do, enjoy every moment of it! read more

Kohl Children's Museum - Crane time! - Children's Museums Near Me - Glenview, Illinois

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Absolutely love this museum! Theres so much to do and it's super easy to stay engaged with the kiddos throughout or just let them do their own thing and watch from the sidelines. I appreciate that every section has seating for the adults and they're in great areas that make it easy to keep eyes on what your little is doing. The Whole Foods grocery store was the fan favorite for us and the water area was probably a close second. One of the areas does change out occasionally, but we'd come back even if it wasn't changed. The price of $20 per person is pretty reasonable for a fun day. There is a small cafe in there but it wasn't one when we visited on a Sunday so I don't have any other input for that. read more

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Actual rating: 4.5/5 There is so much for kids to explore at this play space and I would've loved to go there if I had the opportunity as a child. One big downside is that the bathrooms aren't particularly child friendly. For one, there are only two family restrooms. In those family restrooms, the sinks are too high for toddlers to use. Plus, the sinks have those push-button faucets, which are incredibly difficult for kids to use--and even harder for a parent to use while holding a child high enough for said child's hands to get clean and also trying to keep said child's sister from touching literally everything in the bathroom after she's already washed her hands. From what I remember about the multi-stall restrooms (there are two--one at the entrance and one further into the museum), none of the stalls is child friendly, and they have the same push-button faucets. I get it--the faucets do a great job (?) at conserving water, but they're not particularly effective at making sure hands get and stay clean. And for a child-centered facility, keeping germs at bay should be a higher priority. read more

This is one of our favorite children's museum! It has something for everyone! My son loves the water works section the most! We went to see the Curious George Exhibit and it's so cute! There is just so much to do: grocery store, cafe, art room, hospital/doctor. All the pretend play sections are so fun and cool. Notes: Bring extra clothes Free parking read more

We spent the morning here today and this is a very fun, interactive place for kids. Being a weekend, the crowd was to be expected but everyone was respectful and understanding. For first timers, there was so much to see and do. We spent a total of 2 hours here. It felt like nonstop stimulation and plenty of time for kids to expend some energy. They have the Thomas the train exhibit right now, which was part of what drew us to visit during this time. There are so many other areas to explore and each one was a huge hit. Afterwards we ate at their cafe near the entrance, which offers some great food options for adults and kids, and the prices are quite reasonable. There's plenty of free parking outside the museum. Tickets were $18 per person over age 1, which I reserved on their website. read more

Kohl Children's Museum - Children's Museums Near Me - Glenview, Illinois

My tweens have definitely aged out of this place, but it was perfect for my 2 and 6 year old nieces. This was the first time I've been here since 2021 and it looks like they have done a great job in maintaining and updating the exhibits. The special summer Van Gogh exhibit is also very instagram friendly for both kids and parents, as you can snap a bunch of great pictures pretending you are in the painting. We went after 3pm to avoid crowds as it is usually quieter closer to closing. Parking was easy. The front desk staff was super helpful and checked us in quickly. Highly recommend for younger kids, too cool tweens would be bored. read more

Kohl Children's Museum - Van Gogh exhibit summer 2024 - Children's Museums Near Me - Glenview, Illinois

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We returned here with the grand-darlings for another Military Appreciation Day outing. On this visit, we really particularly enjoyed their new Van Gogh traveling exhibit which has been here for about a month now. It was a lot of fun for both adults and kids to enjoy his renowned paintings and for the kiddos to do some hands-on interactive stuff imitating these paintings. I must say this is probably the best exhibit I've encountered here to date. read more

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We visited here on our 2nd and 3rd days in Chicago. Our son loved this place that we came back both in morning and afternoon for both days. There was cafe that we ordered lunch with member discount. Food on health side which was nice. Also we had reciprocal membership to save on admission. There were tinker lab for magnets project which was fun. Also there was 3d pens for stem science workshop which we signed up. Outdoor was a track and butterfly house. My son loved riding tricycle around the path. We visited the butterfly house the next day since it only had morning hours. Overall, this place is better staffed with constant cleaning and sorting throughout the day. The exhibits looked tidy and wasn't as messy as dupage children's museum. read more

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Such a great museum for the kids. They have a play area for all types of kids from babies up to 18 months all the way up to 8 years old. They have a play class room, a miniature Whole Foods grocery store, an area where you can take care of babies and a separate veterinarian area for pets. There was several science based sections where they teach the kids about electricity, transportation, and a water function area. Lastly, they have an outdoor area that has a garden and several other things. The best thing to do if your kid is planning on going several times is to get the membership pass. You can get to to 4 or 6 admissions a time included per visit for 1 year. The cheapest is $165 and the max is $190. Not bad as a single visit ticket for an adult or kid older than 1 year old is $19. read more

Kohl Children's Museum - Children's Museums Near Me - Glenview, Illinois

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This was one of my niece's favorite places to explore and play when she was a little kid so when we were in town visiting, we took my kiddo here to play, and play she did! There's a lot of different areas to play in, including a nursery/baby hospital, veterinarian area, diner, and water play area. Outside it's quite scenic and there's some tricycles to ride and playground equipment, as well as a fort area. For kids this is such a fun place. For adults, at least for me, it can get pretty overwhelming if it's super busy and you are surrounded by tons of kids but overall it's a great place for indoor and outdoor play. Details: - General Admission Children (1 - 16): $19 Adults (17 - 64): $19 Seniors (65+): $18 Infants (Under 12 months): Free Members: Free Military: Buy 1, Get 1 Free Museums for All Program (EBT/WIC cardholders): $3/person -(up to 4 admissions) *P-EBT not valid - Online booking available ($2 if you book online) - As of 2023 and 2024, closed on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve read more

Truly a great place to let your kids run around. I took my two girls (3 & 5) and they loved it!! Before heading in we talked about what to do if they get lost, how we were going to spend time in every room, each girl was going to take turns picking a room, etc. They had a blast!! Staff is friendly and keep a sharp eye for lost little ones. While we were there, 4 missing parents were called to the front!! My only concern is the older kids, wish they had a section or two designated for big kids only. read more

As the weather got a bit chilly outside, I began to plan some indoor activities for our 16-month toddler son to do. I wish the admission fees for both adults and children were cheaper, yet lots of time the experience was what counted the most. Did you agree with me? With that being said, our son had great fun exploring around the "Kohl Children's Museum" in Glenview and found the activities he was able to participate. However, I think this museum would be more appropriate for kids of age 2 and above. While our son was able to walk around and watch other kids play when some facilities weren't ready for him to enjoy to the full extent, the money could have been worth spent if he was more hands on. We went on a Saturday, so there were some events and birthday celebrations going on at the venue. The entire place was quite hectic but controlled for the most part. I did find a couple of electric socket on the ground. Though covered, kids could be curious and open the cover easily and touch it with no difficulties. I would say be mindful when seeing kids lean on the floors. Guardians should notice such things that could potentially cause unexpected accidents. The cafe onsite was adequate for our needs. High chairs for small toddlers were available and the environment was quite clean and well-lit. Coats could be left on the coat racks with no charge. However, if you opted to use a locker, each locker cost $0.25 for the rental. I believe there was a working change machine for the quarters. Parking was plenty and free, as expected in the suburbs. I would commend this museum with reservation just because our son was on the younger side. He wasn't old enough to comprehend the applications behind some of the stations. Nevertheless, I think older toddlers, or adults with a strong kindred spirit (like my partner...lol) would like this place. If you were to plan on coming, purchase the tickets online to save a couple of bucks for each individual's admission. read more

I haven't been here in a while and man has his place gone downhill. It needs a major updating especially for the price and location.

Perfect for our 2 year old. A lot to do to keep her entertained. She loved the water room

Dated. Pretty much sums up this childrens museum now. It has space and lots of different play areas for children. Even some of the older ones would still enjoy playing. But for the most part a lot of these exhibits have been here for years without much updating. So the different parts and components of the various play areas are either worn or getting there. And the technology or type of variety of activities are dated and more from the 90s or early 2000s. The space is well maintained though and the staff is great at keeping things organized and cleaned up. But if I had to pay for a children's museum I'd probably rather visit a different one. read more

Kohl Children's Museum - Art area - Children's Museums Near Me - Glenview, Illinois

First time at Kohl Children's Museum on Friday, June 13th. Perfect for my 21 month old nephew. It was very not inside. I was disappointed that many of the interactive play were broken. With that being said, my nephew still had a wonderful time and forsee a membership being purchased. read more

Great place to take the kids and let them play. Have such fun exhibits and learning opportunities. The cafe is good too for a quick bite. read more

Kohl Children's Museum - Carwash experience - Children's Museums Near Me - Glenview, Illinois

Too expensive for what it is. Parents have to pay, which is ridiculous. Gets way too crowded after 9am.

Had a nice few hours at the museum this afternoon. We went a few hours before closing. Crowds started to die down after 3pm. Not overly crowded and the staff was friendly. Only downside was that the arts and crafts room was closed. Great way to kill a few hours and let kids blow off steam. Our favorites were the "Potbelly Sandwich Shop" and "Whole Foods Market" read more

This is a cool museum with plenty of activities. Whether you are babysitting, finding family friendly activities, or just want to be a child again, this is a pleasant museum to visit. Military discounts are available for buy one, get one free.There is a car area for those interested in cars. The famous painters can paint their masterpieces in the arts and crafts section. For the water lovers, there is an area exclusively with water gadgets that explain the various roles of water and how water and pressure work together. I learned a system of how water can be sanitized without using bleach. You can go to the "Hands on House", where one can pretend they are painting a house. This museum has not left out the Whole Foods a regulars! There is a mini Whole Foods store for the little ones to emulate adult shoppers. Cafe Cosi, at the museum has tasty meals available for children and adults, along with Wi-fi. This is a convenient way to eat after a long day at the museum. I found the staff to be friendly. read more

The kids enjoy coming here. There is plenty to do for kids of all ages. We went during Spring break and it was crowded but there was always another station/area to play at. I think it looks was bigger on the outside than it does inside. I would've liked to see staff cleaning and wiping down areas- I didn't see it once the whole 2.5 hrs we were there. But there are hand sanitizer stations throughout the place. read more

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We came here for a special needs event and it was nothing short of amazing. Thank you so much.

I remember coming to Kohl's as a child, and though the museum's location and many of the exhibits have changed, it still brings such a sense of nostalgia. From a teacher's point of view: -Time slots available for field trips are in 90 minute chunks. We typically do something like 10:00-11:30 or 10:30-12:00 and then have our 30 minute lunch following. -Short safety orientation, plenty of rotating staff members and super kid friendly (may seem obvious, but you would be surprised how many kids' places aren't!!!) -SO MANY EXHIBITS. The kiddos can jump from water works to shopping at Whole Foods to making music at Ravinia music festival. There's something for everyone. From a parent/adult's point of view: -Cosi is located in the back if you don't want to pack a lunch! -Less than 10 miles from the city, located semi-close to an expressway, and easy parking. We enjoy coming here yearly! It's definitely pricey, but getting a membership (or friending someone with a membership!!!) helps greatly :) read more

Kohl Children's Museum - Children's Museums Near Me - Glenview, Illinois

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This is such a great place to bring a toddler. So many things to see and do here too keep your child busy. Free for teachers with an ID. Buy one get one free admission for Veteran's, and a $2 discount for tickets bought online. Parking is free and plentiful. Masks are required for all but that's the rule for ALL museums I've been to so I'm not surprised. There are workers visible but they're not going around cleaning surfaces so if that's an issue for you I would suggest bringing your own wipes. Three of them were actually building things in this one area with blue foam pieces and when my child tried to go there he was told the area was closed; which it wasn't since they were just playing, not cleaning. Hence the negative star rating. Overall I think it was worth coming here. read more

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What a fun museum for kids. I would recommend this place for kids that are at least walking. It will be more exciting for them and easier on you. A lot to see and do which makes it great for the little one/s to have a good time. Easily could spend a few hours here and exhaust the little ones out. read more

I think Kohl's Children's Museum is excellent for kids! I went this past weekend with my friends and their two tiny kids - 2 and 2.5 year old little ladies. We also had a baby but she didn't really partake in the fun. I have to say, the kids were having so much fun they didn't want to go home after a few hours and even though they were clearly exhausted. Old person me had a bunch of fun, too. I remember when I was little and the Kohl's Children Museum was on Green Bay Rd in Wilmette. I went all the time! It was half the size and had 1/8 the parking so this Glenview location is a various step up. Located in The Glen, this museum is mostly geared towards children 8 and under. The children's museum has tons of hands on activities in their huge indoor and outdoor spaces. Different kids like different things, for example the water room was a hit with one lady while the other strongly disliked it. One had a ball in the mini Whole Foods (the mini grocery store was in their OG Wilmette location and my personal fav as a wee one) while the other seemed bored. Now both girls loved the music room while all of us adults were....not completely amused with it! Ha! There's seriously something for everyone there. My favorite part was everything outside and walking around taking in the sunshine during the beautiful weekend. There were these cool spinning flowers and I'm not going to lie, I sat in one screaming in joy as my friend spun me around. #idontwanttogrowup Tickets are $12 each but if you plan on coming a few times, the family membership may very well be worth it. My friend has just that and was able to get 6 of us in at no charge with their membership. Kohl's Children's Museum truly makes learning fun! My little nieces enjoyed it wholly so I definitely see myself coming back when I have kids of my own...and probably back with them! read more

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Whoa, what a fantastic play and exploration venue. Good for kids 2 ish+ THey have play areas to scratch every itch - Grocery store, Deli counter, vet office, train area, lights and air play area, water play area, musical exploration. My 3-year old did not want to leave! read more

My son and I visited the Kohl Children's Museum on a pre-k field trip and had a great experience. We were there about an hour and a half and my son could have definitely played at least another hour or more. The museum was clean and had plenty of activities. We didn't use the bathrooms and in my opinion their cleanliness says a lot about an establishment, but we definitely want to go back on our own next chance we have. I can't say which part was his favorite because he seemed to enjoy everything, but the Water Works section was definitely pretty cool. Next time I will bring an extra shirt just in case he gets wet (aprons are provided to help keep the kids dry but they can only do so much). read more

My toddler loves it here. Lots to see,touch, and experience. In the Spring/Summer months, we love having the option to take her to explore outside while there. I recommend the BBCoop salad at the cafe. Tasty and fresh. read more

So so busy but the kids love it. Get the membership. I think it's worth it. The membership plus package allows guests and you can list up to three adults which means even grandma/grandpa can take the kids to the museum. So many area activities and different areas for the kids to explore. I love that there are so special members hours that start at 8:30. It is much less packed during this time so we love taking advantage of that extra hour before open. This has become our new go to play area for the kids and our guests. read more

Dated. Place is cool on the outside but needs to be refurbished Kids had fun regardless but $19 a person for basically a run down facility Staff did their best and were nice read more

This place is amazing for toddlers. My daughter's first time here was at 2.5yrs, but that's only because I'm new to the area and just found out about it. There is so much to do and experience. There are a ton of kids to interact with... don't take that the wrong way, it wasn't overly crowded, but it was busy. My daughter was in heaven with all the pretend options that were available. It was a little overwhelming, but that's where the adult has to step in and help make the decision about when it's time to go to another station & which station that might be. I'm sure with future trips she will be more accustomed to the place, but the first time was sensory overload! :) We can't wait to go back!! read more

Lots of interesting inter active things for my grandson to do. He really liked the walk through car wash. The water area was really fun for us both. So much to do a second day would have been good yo go back. read more

Took my Grandkids here and daughters after Thanksgiving. It was over packed. They should have put a cap on the amount of people they let in at one time. Kids could not even play and enjoy their selfs. It should be just about the $$. It should also be about your customer having a good experience! Don't know if we will ever go again!! read more

Kids will definitely have fun here the first time! But as an adult there just leaves something to be desired. Having visited about 15 years ago, everything looks kind of exactly the same. Many of the exhibits were worn and have seen better days. There's a wide variety of hands on things which is nice and this is great for a local facility but I wish things were a bit more fresh and new. For the pricing, I feel like you get a bit better value for other museums that are further. read more

If you have kids between 2 1/2 or three and 10 they will love this place. The $12 entrance fee isn't too much given the large number of hands-on areas within the museum. Be prepared to watch the kids hang out at the individual exhibits for a long time. There is a well being area that is like a little hospital, a vet center, a music section which is fantastic with lots of drums and other instruments to play and then an electricity and building center in the back. They have a cute little Whole Foods with boxed "food", little registers, freezers, coolers etc. and a little play Pot Belly Cafe. The favorite area was the water play area with lots of levers, pumps and other gadgets they can play with in the water. They do offer little plastic coated aprons to put on the kids but be sure to either have them wear short sleeves or you'll have to roll them up near their shoulders because they will get wet! The arts and craft center is a little small given the number of people going through this place. There are approximately five tables of four where kids can make crafts, draw etc. It probably needs to be twice the size. The only thing that kind of bothers me is the overt sponsorship placement of logos all over the place at nearly every exhibit. It's obvious that is how they keep the entrance fee down but it is a tiny bit disconcerting. They have a Cosi Café up at the front for those that did not eat and need to have a meal while on site. read more

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So nasty... full of germs. No one is ever cleaning after children. The play areas are always dirty. I would NOT come to this nasty germ-filled place. A teenager pushed the 2 yr old I was nannying. She couldn't even say sorry and her parents didn't say anything. She was about 16 yrs old. I spoke with an employee. read more

Kohl Children's Museum - Children's Museums Near Me - Glenview, Illinois