I like that area because I like taking pictures and videos of trains play around in the area About…read more4 years ago there was Griffith train station and they closed it during construction now it's a train thing but they still have the 80s railroad single in the park that signal is from Main St a block away the Erie Lackawanna trail takes place of the railroad tracks.In 2003 or not they put that trail there and put some tracks right next to the train like the Monon but they end off by some trees.In 2008 they removed a signal and the tracks conecting to the EJ&E tracks.The Erie Lackawanna tracks were of no use.In 2012 the Erie Lackawanna tracks were no more there so they cut down the trees and railroad crossings these are the streets that Cn removed 1 S Broad St 2 E Main St 3 N Cline Ave 3 E Lake St. Cn left some leftovers from the tracks but the C&O on the south side of the tracks still in use.

Griffin Museum of Science and Industry : The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry (Griffin MSI)…read moreis a world-class destination located in the historic Hyde Park neighborhood. Housed in the only remaining building from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, it is the largest science center in the Western Hemisphere and focuses heavily on immersive, "hands-on" learning rather than traditional static displays. Must-See Exhibits * U-505 Submarine: A massive, authentic German U-boat captured during WWII. You can walk through the vessel (additional ticket required) or explore the surrounding high-tech gallery. * Science Storms: A two-story exhibit where you can step into a 40-foot tornado, trigger a Tesla coil "lightning" strike, and experiment with fire, water, and magnetism. * The Coal Mine: A beloved Chicago tradition that takes you down a mineshaft into a replica of an Illinois coal mine to see the machinery and history of the industry. * Transportation Gallery: Features a Boeing 727 hanging from the ceiling (which you can board), the Pioneer Zephyr train, and a massive model railroad that spans from Seattle to Chicago. * **Henry Crown Space Center: Home to the Apollo 8 Command Module and interactive displays about space exploration and the future of NASA. Overall it's an amazing experience and must do if coming with kids to Chicago.

Wonderful exhibits and location. I've been to the MSI at least ten times, and always find something…read morenew to explore. I would budget at least 4-5 hours to explore the museum. There is so much to see and do: my favourites include the U-Boat (highly recommend the tour for which you have to pay separately), the coal mines (also a separate tour), the weather exhibit, the steel exhibit and the ocean exhibit. The gift shop is also filled with the coolest souvenirs, especially for children. The staff are generally quite helpful, and the bathrooms are clean. The food at the cafeteria is relatively expensive in relation to its quality, so I would recommend finding a place near the museum to eat. Dawn, a local brunch spot a few blocks from the museum (easily within walking distance) comes to mind. If you do want to eat something at the museum, Farmer's Fridge has a vending machine with reasonably priced salads and snacks. There is also a Stan's Donuts in the museum, with free coffee for members. The museum is conveniently connected via public transport. Given that parking at the museum can be expensive, it makes sense to take a bus (there is a bus stop immediately outside the museum) or the metra (the station is a ten minute walk from the museum). Within walking distance of the museum is a beautiful and historic Japanese Garden. If the weather permits, I recommend combining a museum visit with a trip to the Gardem. Visiting the museum does not have to be an expensive affair: there are a number of free days every year for Illinois residents, subsidized rates for Chicago/Illinois residents throughout the year, discounted rates for students, and free entry for University of Chicago students. If you are a non-student and anticipate visiting the museum regularly, especially with children, I recommend getting the membership. Overall, I highly recommend the museum for both visitors and Chicago residents.

A free museum, you say? Why yes, I will pop in and see what's what! Porter County Museum is small,…read morebut it's free to visit, so there's nothing to complain about. Just walk in and see what they have on display. I literally just walked in off the street after shuffling around downtown Valpo. I didn't even know that this museum existed until I came upon it randomly. This is the area's oldest museum dedicated to the history and culture of Porter County, so you're seeing local art and history at its finest here. There are three different rooms in this museum that have interesting things to look at. Some of the exhibits have multimedia aspects to them, and some are just a collection of objects on display. I was in this museum for maybe 15 minutes and saw all of it that I needed to. But if you're one of those people who likes to read everything and talk to the people at the front desk, then you might be here a little longer. Either way, the Porter County Museum should be a stop during your visit to Valparaiso.

This was one of our many stops during our visit to Valparaiso. It is a very small museum, but has…read moreseveral interesting things to look at. The lady who was there was very helpful. She told me all about the fire that burned the courthouse. Her extra information helped me understand the photo exhibit more. They have a very lifelike taxidermy dog in one room. It's eyes are so real and follow you. It was the cherished pet of a little girl way back- I think the 20s. I think you should always stop in the local museum whenever you visit any new place. Even small towns like Valparaiso have a lot of history to share.

This place is really cool. For about five bucks you can take a tour of the main house in the front…read moreand the prison in the back. Great way to spend a Saturday in the crown point square!

I recently went on a late night ghost hunt in the old jail with some friends. (Not recommended for…read moreanyone under 17.) Despite the cold weather, it was interesting and a lot of fun. The price was very reasonable and the staff was amazing! Definitely would go again. For children, they suggest one of the daytime tours.

We had so much fun here! I wasn't sure what to expect and we went here on a whim. The museum was so…read moreinteractive! The staff are so nice and offer to take pictures for you through the installations. Highly recommend

This was a super quick experience... 30-45 minutes max... but it was pretty neat if you like this…read moresort of thing. Basic illusions with some neat instagram moments. If you're expecting an afternoon of experiences you'll probably be disappointed. I think if you know what you're getting you'll probably have a swell time. Staff was friendly and helpful. Everything was clean and was in working order.

Brauer Art Museum is a wonderful place for an hour or two visit. I used it as a place to introduce…read moremy grandchildren to professional artwork. It's also a nice place to take a visitor to the area. Employees are helpful, patient and kind.

This is a really really nice small university art museum. My friend and I went here to view a…read morespecific exhibit but we really enjoyed the entire museum. While we were taking a look around a lady from the museum (head curator maybe?) came and talked with us about the current exhibit and the woman artist. She was very knowledgeable and provided us with many interesting facts. It was lovely that she took time out of her day and voluntarily did this. The museum is free of charge but they have contribution bucket near the front doors; they deserve a generous donation.

How lucky are we to live in a city that house the incredible, iconic, and historic artwork that…read morefinds a home within The Art Institute of Chicago. I've been here many-a-time throughout my years. Some highlights include: Georgia O'Keefe's NYC series and Henry Matisse's Jazz cutouts. Come here to see other classics such as American Gothic, Nighthawks, and A Sunday on La Grande Jatte. You can spend a full day here, so plan accordingly. Also, if you live in Chicago or Illinois, consult your public library for free passes!

The decision to go to Chicago meant that I immediately began looking up landmarks from movies that…read moreI love, so obviously we had to make a trip to The Art Institute of Chicago. And was it incredible to stand in front of A Sunday on La Grande Jatte after watching Ferris Bueller for decades? Of course. It was an awe-inspiring experience that gave me literal goosebumps and even got me a little emotional. But the rest of The Art Institute is incredible, too. We barely scratched the surface and yet managed to see several iconic paintings -- including American Gothic and that famous Van Gogh self-portrait. Obviously we should've planned more than a couple of hours in the place. I feel like you could spend a week wandering around the place and you'd still feel like you hadn't seen everything. I really can't wait to go back someday.

It had some cool displays, but they take about 10 minutes to go through…read more We drove 2 hours to get there and it was not worth the trip. I you plan on going I would recommend making it part of a bigger trip. Santa Mountain and the photo with Santa was the best part of the attraction by far. Hopefully, the family that was trying to get the Christmas Story House Lego set made got enough signatures. Do not get me wrong it is a cool place, but waiting in line for Santa will take up the bulk of your time there.

I took my four year old here. We spent about 3 hours looking at the exhibits. He really enjoyed it!…read more The closest lot fills up immediately so we had to park in a lot about 10 minutes away. I believe it was around $30. We paid extra to see the 3d movie. I believe we saw the trex movie. My son wasn't that impressed. I could skip it. I liked seeing the dinosaurs, like Sue. Another favorite was the taxidermy. There's also a children's area which he enjoyed!

This is a fantastic museum!…read more They house the largest, most complete T Rex skeleton ever found. Sue is quite impressive and there is a very interesting exhibit dedicated to her and the life it is believed she lived. There are halls of animals, an ancient Egypt exhibit, an underground creepy crawly exhibit, a Native American exhibit, and lots more. Don't skip it.