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.

This was an interesting museum. I was looking for cultural things to do while visiting Lombard for…read morethe weekend. The large mill had several historical facts. There was a live demonstration of the stone wheel grinding corn into corn meal. There are three stories, with the top two being a museum and the basement floor part of the Underground Railroad station shop. Taking back into little known American History were relics of the slave trade. The museum entrance fee was $6 for adults. The outside grounds were kept nicely and there was a short trail along the river.

Wow! I have to get out of downtown more often!…read more I was car shopping with a friend and she brought me to the museum and the walking trail once she was finished purchasing a car. I was so surprised to see such history and beauty next to a big busy highway. There is a spacious parking lot tucked away as to not impede on the surrounding beauty. The beautifully elegant building looked so interesting. The age was apparent but it was in exquisite condition. We did not go in as it was not open. We walked around it and enjoyed it from the outside. I am looking forward to returning soon. We checked out the big water wheel and bridge and took some pretty photos that did not do justice to the natural beauty of the area. We then walked along the pretty trail inside all of the foliage along the water. It wasn't too crowded so we had space to take our time and enjoy. It was so nice to see the mix of families and singles enjoying nature and some fresh air. Once we were done with our lovely walk, we went next door to the nearby pub for a casual meal. What a great area that deserves another visit.

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.

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.

IAM is a great introduction for anyone to military and civilian aviation from years gone by to…read moreplanes and stories of today. They have a fantastic open house and flying exhibitions every year. Check their website for next years open house (2026)! Great job IAM! Also, for high school aged teens , please check out their CAP Civil Air Patrol squadron! It is an official civilian branch of the USAF!!!

Very knowledgeable volunteer and interesting exhibits. Dont…read moreforget to to donate they depend on donations to stay afloa.

Closed when I was here early in the morning during the offseason, so I was only able to see the…read moreoutside but yes, it is a lighthouse that is since decommissioned and is no longer an active navigational aid. But it's been converted into a museum. Built in 1858 at a cost of $8,000, the Old Michigan City Light replaced an 1837 brick & stone light built at the edge of Lake Michigan. It was the second light at the site, and the predecessor to the Michigan City East Light. It was remodeled in 1904. Seven lighthouse keepers and fourteen assistant keepers served here from 1837 to 1940. [Review 20615 overall - 146 in Indiana - 1596 of 2023.]

This was a super cool museum. There was lots of cool artifacts. There is a small gift shop with t…read moreshirts ornaments and books. Got lots of pics. Sorry yelp limited how many I could post!

This was something my wife really wanted to do when we went to Chicago a couple weeks ago during…read moreSpring Break, and I am glad she did because I absolutely loved it. We got the home/studio tour and our guide, Marie, was phenomenal. We also paid extra for the self-guided tour of the neighborhood which comes with a map of about 10 homes or so and a device you carry to play pre-recorded information about each home. I think we paid about $40/person and I consider that a fair price.

Maureen was a wonderful guide. We went on a cold day and got a private tour as no one else was…read morethere. Love the house and studio tour. I lathered a lot. Maureen pointed out lots of details you would have missed if walking around on your own. Gift shop has many great selections. I purchased something for my brother in law who is an architect. Highly recommend a visit while you're in Chicago.

What a fun and unique experience right in our backyard of the burbs. When you walk in you wouldn't…read moreeven know what to expect and as you walk through the museum it gets better with more history and more fun cars and exhibits to look at. From modern movies to historical sites, there's a little of everything. Heck you can even see Herbie there, or get on to a WWII car. I took my dad who isn't one for museums, and he had nothing but great things to say. He enjoyed looking at all of the war artifacts and even mentioned some that he saw growing up and shared some of his experience. Needless to say, this museum is great for all ages, boys and girls. So many great photo opps too! Can't wait to come back again soon!

The Volo Museum exceeded my expectations. There are five (5) showrooms of just vintage, specialty…read moreand historic cars and other vehicles. This is truly the place to visit for those that adore the quality and design of old vehicles of every spectrum. The Volo Museum is a treasure trove of fond memories, sparking our minds to recall for example The Good Humor man or a childhood Faris wheel or a family car long part of our distance past. The Titanic exhibit was well done as was the War Museum. Outstanding! Going to the Volo Museum in the off season or January as we did have many definite advantages. Kids are in school and it is practically empty of the mobs of people that could be there at peak times. There was very little interruptions of people getting in the way of taking fabulous pictures and being able to view every exhibit calmly, unobstructed and at your own pace. There is a lot to be said about freedom of movement without a crowd. Yes, you couldn't do much outside because it was closed for the cold season but most of the fantastic exhibits are on the inside. I would suggest arriving at 10am because you'll need most of the whole day to see everything and you'll want to see it all. We saw everything except the Jurassic Park display, but we were told it was pretty much for kids. We had no kids with us, plenty of adult things to do here. We ate in the car along the way as there isn't very many good dining options in the off season at the museum. The Volo Museum is super clean and well maintained. I highly recommend the Volo Museum!

This was the most wonderful experience! I highly recommend it if you're in Chicago. It's located in…read morethe Willis Tower, so if you're going to the Skydeck it's a quick little jaunt over before or after. I wasn't sure what to expect, and it ended up being so much better than I imagined! All the people working were friendly, knew what they were doing, and helped us have the best experience we could have. I loved every part of it, and it was awesome tying in all the senses to color! The tasting one was so fun, I ended up guessing mine right! I think my husband and I had the most fun with the partner drawing activity, that's a keepsake for sure, haha! Other faves were the poem and balloon exhibit and of course, the ball pit. We came with our 6 year old nephew but I think the adults had more fun than he even did! It was fun to let loose and be a kid again. I was thankful for all the fun photo ops, it made it easier to get great pics without having our phones out the whole time. The only bummer was the ice cream. We paid $1 per person for it and it was just one tiny little ball with a wooden spoon, and I could taste the spoon more than the ice cream.

The Woman in the photo is a current employee at the Color Factory in Chicago…read more She made our experience TERRIBLE As soon as we walked into her location inside the ball area she greeted us rudely and spoke to our kids as if she didn't want to even be there. She does NOT like this job and does NOT know how to speak to children or treat them. It was our child's birthday with all her friends from school and kept rolling her eyes at them to the point where I finally approached her and told her the way she is talking and behaving in front of children is unacceptable Please get this girl proper training She is NOT cut for a job around kids Rudest employee I've ever met