Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
160
Recent shows have included
Secrets of Saturn
and
Mars Now!,
both of which are updated
as new discoveries are made.
The planetarium 's exhibition galleries featur e a v ariety of displays and interactiv e
activities. If you're going to see only one exhibit with y our kids, check out
Shoot for the
Moon,
an exhibit on lunar exploration that's full of interactive stations (it also showcases
the personal collection of astr onaut Jim Lovell, captain of the infamous A pollo 13 mis-
sion, who no w liv es in the Chicago suburbs). O ther exhibits include
Bringing the
Heavens to Earth,
which traces the ways differ ent cultures have tried to make sense of
astronomical phenomena. Also of special inter est is the planetarium 's signature exhibit,
From the Night Sky to the B ig Bang,
which traces changing vie ws of the cosmos o ver
1,000 years and features artifacts from the planetarium's extensive collection of historical
astronomical instruments. (
Warning:
This one is best suited for older kids, unless y our
kid is a real astronomy fan.)
The museum's cafe pr ovides views of the lakefr ont and skyline. O n the first F riday
evening of the month, visitors can vie w dramatic close-ups of the moon, planets, and
distant galaxies through a closed-circuit monitor connected to the planetarium 's Doane
Observatory telescope.
To find out what to look for in this month 's sky, call the N ightwatch 24-Hour Hot
Line (
&
312/922-STAR
[922-7827]), or check out the planetarium's website.
Families might want to make a point of visiting during
“Far Out Fridays,”
on the first
Friday of each month from 4:30 to 10pm, which feature special activities suited to kids,
including telescope viewings and sky shows. Admission is $20 for adults, $17 for kids, a
real deal when you consider all of the activities it includes.
1300 S. Lake Shore Dr.
&
312/322-STAR
[322-7827]. www.adlerplanetarium.org. Admission $10 adults,
$8 seniors, $6 children 4-17, free for children 3 and under ; admission including 1 sho w and audio t our
$19 adults, $17 seniors, $15 children. Free admission Mon-Tues Oct-Nov and Jan-Feb. Memorial Day to
Labor Day daily 9:30am-4:30pm; Sat-Sun 9am-6pm; 1st F ri of every month until 10pm; until 6pm daily
Memorial Day to Labor Day. StarRider Theater and Sky Shows run throughout the day; call main number
for current times. Bus: 12 or 146.
Chicago Children's Museum
All ages.
Parents rave about the Chicago Chil-
dren's Museum, now in existence for over 25 years. Since it moved to Navy Pier in 1996,
the museum has become one of the most popular cultural attractions in the city . The
three-story museum has areas especially for preschoolers as well as for children up to age
10. Several permanent exhibits allo w kids a maximum of hands-on fun, and ther e are
always creative temporary exhibitions on tap as well.
Dinosaur Expedition
re-creates an
expedition to the S ahara, allo wing kids to experience camp life, conduct scientific
research, and dig for the bones of
Suchomimus,
a Saharan dinosaur recently discovered by
Chicago paleontologist Paul Sereno (a full-scale model stands nearb y). Another perma-
nent exhibit,
Play It Safe,
addresses possible safety issues in an interactiv e house and
backyard.
WaterWays
allo ws visitors to learn about the uses and benefits of water
resources by constructing dams to dir ect the flow of water, constructing fountains, and
teaming up with others to blast a stream of water 50 feet in the air. Art meets technology
in Big Backyard, an urban gar den filled with enormous insects, giggling flo wers, giant
toadstools and other fantasy creations. Through innovative technology, you can immerse
yourself in the action and discover what it's like to be part of the city's landscape. There's
also a three-level schooner that childr en can board for a little climbing, fr om the crow's
nest to the gangplank;
Kids Town,
a kid-scaled cityscape with everything from a gas sta-
tion to a city bus that children 4 and under can touch and explore; and an arts-and-crafts
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