Things to Do in Museum Campus

Beluga whales, penguins, touch pools. Polar Play Zone is built for under-5s.

32,000 animals. The Polar Play Zone is the spot for kids under 5 -- penguin habitat and touch pools. Abbott Oceanarium has beluga whales and dolphins. Illinois residents get discounted admission on certain days.

1200 S DuSable Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605 · Daily 9am-5pm · indoor

SUE the T. rex upstairs. Fossil dig and beaver dam building downstairs (ages 2-6).

Crown Family PlayLab is free with admission -- kids ages 2-6 dig for fossils, build a beaver dam, crawl through a log. The rest of the museum has SUE the T. rex and Evolving Planet for older kids who want the real stuff.

1400 S DuSable Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605 · Daily 9am-5pm · indoor · Ages 2+

Free. 91-acre peninsula. Prairie trails, skyline views, bird watching.

A 91-acre man-made peninsula on the lakefront near the Museum Campus. Walking trails through restored prairie, wetlands, and meadows with downtown skyline views. Free. Birdwatching is surprisingly good here. The trails are flat and stroller-friendly. Combine with the Field Museum or Shedd for a full day.

1521 S Linn White Dr, Chicago, IL 60605 · Daily 6am-11pm · outdoor

Sky shows for kids as young as 4. The rooftop terrace has the best skyline view in Chicago.

America's first planetarium. Sky shows for all ages (including sessions for kids as young as 4), space exploration exhibits, and a lookout terrace with possibly the best skyline view in the city. The Planet Explorers gallery is built for ages 3-8. Illinois residents get free admission on select days.

1300 S DuSable Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605 · Daily 9am-5pm · indoor · Ages 3+