Museum for 1 & 3 year olds??

Which museum would be the best to spend a Friday at with my 1 %26amp; 3 yro boys? I have looked online at the Shedd, Field, Kohl Children%26#39;s Museum %26amp; Chicago Children%26#39;s Museum. Is one of these our best bet or is their another that I should look into? We have a Children%26#39;s Museum here and they love it, but I was wanting something a little different.

Museum for 1 %26amp; 3 year olds??

I can%26#39;t comment on what your children will like, but I do have two tips that may help narrow your selection.

The whales, otters and dolphins normally at the Shedd are currenly not on site as the Oceanarium is under going rennovations. So you will not have the chance to enjoy those animals.

Also, the Kohl Children%26#39;s Museum is a bit north, about an hour or so drive from Chicago. You could probably have just as good of a time downtown at another attraction and save yourself the two hour roundtrip hassle.

Museum for 1 %26amp; 3 year olds??

While it is a bit north of the city, everyone I know with young kids raves about the Kohl.

Another option would be the Lincoln Park Zoo if it%26#39;s a nice day - plenty of stuff for the little ones, free entry, not overwhelmingly large, playgrounds nearby, and very easy to come and go in case of toddler overload.

At the Field Mseum they probably wouldn%26#39;t appreciate much outside the toddler areas (I know there are some; just not much about them).

The Children%26#39;s Museum would be fun if you want to be at Navy Pier. Certainly the pier itself is different and the kids might enjoy seeing all the boats etc depending on the time of year (again if it%26#39;s a nice day). And you do have a lot of flexibility at the pier instead of just being in one huge museum. I haven%26#39;t been to that museum in many years but don%26#39;t think you%26#39;d need more than a few hours at most with that age.

I agree that Kohls is a great place but it is out of the way. The Lincoln Park Zoo is great for little kids and free. The Chicago Children%26#39;s Museum on Navy Pier would be good too especially since Navy Pier has so much going on. The little ones would like the Museum, walking outside and seeing the boats and the birds, seeing and maybe going on the Ferris Wheel with you (there may be height restrictions). There was a little train ride but I don%26#39;t know if it is there this time of year. On the top level, inside, the building, there is a garden area with cool water spouts that fascinate me. The children would be amazed by them. There is often entertainment upstairs and on the main level stage. Check out the Navy Pier web site for activities for the day you might go.

Assuming that you%26#39;re coming from downtown and if your kids like trains, you can take a Metra train to Kohl%26#39;s.

I would suggest the Notebaert Nature Museum. A lot of the museum has hands-on type exhibits that kids enjoy. There is also a butterfly room and more traditional museum-like exhibits on the upper level that as an adult I find interesting, but with the kids you might just want to blow through. The museum is located just north of the Lincoln Park Zoo.

Peggy Notebaert...plus, it shares a lot w/ Lincoln Park Zoo, so if you run through it quickly or they%26#39;re not overly wow%26#39;d you can head on over to the zoo.

Kids that age would also greatly appreciate the Shedd Aquarium I imagine. And like another poster said, our Children%26#39;s Museum here is attached to Navy Pier and it%26#39;s a pretty great little Museum, quite a bit geared toward 1-3 y/o%26#39;s...

I can%26#39;t speak for Kohl, but it would be pretty easy to get to via Metra train.

I don%26#39;t think toddlers will get much out the Notebaert; it is geared to school-age kids. At that age, my kids liked the Children%26#39;s Museum on Navy Pier the best, followed by Kohl%26#39;s. The Field also has some interactive areas for youngsters, and is a nice alternative for the whole family.