Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
HYDE PARK
DuSable Museum of African-
American History, p. 170
Museum of Science and
Industry , p. 158
Oriental Institute Museum
Fox River Trolley Museum, South
Elgin, p. 178
The Frank Lloyd Wright Home
& Studio
, Oak Park,
p. 182
Hamill Family Play Zoo
,
,
p. 175
Robie House , p. 182
The Smart Museum of Art
Brookfield, p. 153
Illinois Railway Museum, Union,
p. 178
Morton Arboretum, Lisle, p. 188
Six Flags Great America, Gurnee,
p. 179
Unity Temple
,
p. 177
THE SUBURBS
Brookfield Zoo
, Brookfield,
, Oak Park, p. 183
p. 184
2 Kids' Top 10 Attractions
Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum
All ages.
This, the Western
Hemisphere's first planetarium, was built by Sears, Roebuck and Co. executive
Max Adler, who imported a Zeiss projector from Germany in 1930. Today even
the most jaded video-game addict will thrill at the ride into outer space at the
world's first StarRider virtual-reality theater, which propels passengers on an
exhilarating voyage of discovery into the infinity of space. You participate in the
journey by operating controls on the armrests. Six high-resolution video projec-
tors form a seamless image above your head—you'll feel like you're literally float-
ing in space. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, the theater is open late
for SonicVision, a head-trippy digital animation show with an alternative-music
soundtrack. The mind-blowing theater is part of the 60,000-square-foot “Sky
Pavilion,” which wraps itself around the 1920-built planetarium like a high-tech
glass visor. Four exhibition galleries, Galileo's cafe (with stunning views of
Chicago's skyline), and a gift shop round out the Pavilion's offerings. Of special
interest is the planetarium's signature exhibit,
From the Night Sky to the Big
Bang,
which traces changing views of the cosmos over 1,000 years and features
artifacts from the planetarium's extensive collection of historical astronomical
instruments. (
Warning:
Unless your kid is a real astronomy fan, this exhibit can
get a bit boring). On the first Friday evening of the month, visitors can view
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 Nightwatch 24-Hour
Hot Line (
&
312/922-STAR
), or check out the planetarium's website.
Families might want to make a point of visiting during
“Far Out Fridays,”
from 5 to 10pm, which feature special activities suited to kids, including tele-
scope viewings and sky shows.
1300 S. Lake Shore Dr.
&
312/322-STAR.
Fax 312/322-2257. www.adlerplanetarium.org. Admission (includ-
ing 1 show) $13 adults, $12 seniors, $11 children 4-17, free for children under 4. Free admission Mon-Tues
Sept-Feb only (except the last 2 weeks of Dec). Mon-Fri 9:30am-4:30pm; Sat-Sun 9am-4:30pm; 1st Fri of
every month until 10pm; open until 6pm daily Memorial Day to Labor Day. StarRider Theater and Sky Shows
at numerous times throughout the day; call
&
312/922-STAR for current times. Bus: 12 or 146.
Chicago Children's Museum
All ages.
Parents rave about the Chicago
Children's Museum, now in existence for over 20 years. Since it moved to Navy
Pier in 1996, the museum has become one of the most popular cultural attrac-
tions in the city. The three-story museum has areas especially for preschoolers as
