Chicago activities with kids...

September 24, 2013 8:21 PM

Trying to figure out off-the-beaten-path ideas for Chicago-land activities with family during a Thanksgiving visit. We (Mrs. jferg, jferglets (5 & 7), and I) will be staying with my aunt and uncle in Valparaiso, IN for the days surrounding Thanksgiving; Wednesday-Saturday. Sister will be visiting her SO's family a little north of Milwaukee at the same time. Would like to meet up with sister and SO in Chicago area for one of those days. I'm looking for something fun to do that isn't going to be completely packed with other tourists and humanity (or, $DEITY-forbid, Black Friday shoppers), where we can actually interact and have fun rather than spend all day following each other around a crowded museum. We've done most of the standard Chicago tourist fare (museums and tall buildings) on previous trips, and after the packed (and expensive) aquarium trip last Black Friday, I kind of just don't want to set us up for that again. Weather is always a crap-shoot in November, so zoos and parks are ... not guaranteed to be an option. Suggestions from natives or people with more Chi-town knowledge than I?

For context - Mrs. jferg and I are mid-30s midwesterners. jferglets are 5 & 7 - both love to learn, like hands-on things, and don't like to sit still for too long unless they're being entertained. Sister (and presumably SO) are 30-ish Brooklynites. Aunt and uncle are 60-ish college music professors. High geek/nerd quotient all around, music lovers, nature fans, foodies (in the non-pretentious sense), no one is averse to some walking, etc.

posted by jferg to Travel & Transportation around Chicago, IL (4 answers total)

Not a Chicago native, so I can't speak to mass-of-humanity levels, but a few places I've been with my kiddo in the last few years and really enjoyed are the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum and the Chicago Botanic Gardens. At the Botanic Gardens, the "Wonderland Express" indoor exhibit opens on Nov. 29: "watch G-scale trains wind through a village of miniature Chicago landmarks created from natural materials." We did this last year and it was pretty cool (we had a 3-year-old train geek with us, so if your kids aren't into trains, it might not be quite so cool--though the adults thought it was fairly magical too!) If the weather does happen to be nice, there are nice walking trails that are good for burning off energy. The "Wonderland Express" part was somewhat crowded, but you buy timed tickets so that limits it a bit, and the rest of the gardens is pretty deserted that time of year.
posted by Empidonax at 6:39 AM on September 25, 2013

Maybe bundle up and go to the Christkindl Market? I don't think there's a lot to DO, but admission is free and there's live music. You could come up with an activity such as a photo scavenger hunt: split into two groups and take pictures of (1) Santa, (2) a beer stein with a brunette on it, (3) a reindeer, (4) an accordion, etc. Ice skating in Millennium Park should be open by then also. Check Metromix as it gets closer to your trip date for special events that holiday weekend. Have fun!
posted by homelystar at 9:17 AM on September 25, 2013

Kristkindlmarkt can be insanely crowded, and it's outdoors, it would be better to go to a museum. The Chicago Botanic Gardens are a good bet for quiet, but the only indoor spaces are the cafe/gift shop, the conservatory and a building with cool posters of gardens--unless the weather is nice, the kids will go stir-crazy.

Ultimately, is what you want a quiet place for conversation, and something to amuse the children? Would a restaurant with climby toys work? Or an indoor water park? I just don't think there's anywhere indoors where you'll get to see/do some especially fun or unique thing, without there being thousands of other people there to do it with you.

Other than a water park, I think I'd go with the Botanic Gardens, and bring along clothing for a snowstorm with a change of clothes for the kids. Whatever the weather, run around with the kids awhile (no climby kid stuff, sorry) then warm up awhile, repeat as necessary. The older relatives can stick inside longer if they want.
posted by Anwan at 11:12 AM on September 25, 2013

Chic -A-GO-GO! An all ages dance party on public access TV featuring local bands. Totally free and completely hilarious. It's held once a month, I think. Kids of all ages there but not crowded at all. You can also look at their videos on YouTube to see what it's like. We went this past weekend with our 20 month old to see our friends perform and I adored it.
posted by knmr76 at 5:01 PM on September 25, 2013