Chicago-area trip recommendations when traveling with tween
March 7, 2023 5:09 AM Subscribe
What are some fun, less-touristy things to do in the Chicago area with a tween?
I need to take stats-kid to an appointment near Chicago's Union Station next week, and we'd like to make a mini trip of it. The complicating factor (besides the late morning appointment) is that we've visited Chicago a number of times, and would like to do something other than our usual tourist attractions (e.g., Shedd, Art Institute, Lincoln Park Zoo, CSO). Also, the weather is going to be on the colder side, so our initial plan to hit up Brookfield Zoo is a bit less appealing.
Kid is nearly 11. He likes reading, video games, comedy, and music (mostly jazz).
We're also happy to stay in the suburbs and take the train in for the appointment.
I need to take stats-kid to an appointment near Chicago's Union Station next week, and we'd like to make a mini trip of it. The complicating factor (besides the late morning appointment) is that we've visited Chicago a number of times, and would like to do something other than our usual tourist attractions (e.g., Shedd, Art Institute, Lincoln Park Zoo, CSO). Also, the weather is going to be on the colder side, so our initial plan to hit up Brookfield Zoo is a bit less appealing.
Kid is nearly 11. He likes reading, video games, comedy, and music (mostly jazz).
We're also happy to stay in the suburbs and take the train in for the appointment.
MSI is great, though not super transit-accessible if you're coming from the Loop. (You could grab a Lyft easily.) I'm assuming you've done the planetarium and the Field Museum, but if not, those are of course fantastic. The Notebaert Nature Museum in Lincoln Park is cool.
A bit odd, but if he plays an instrument, checking out Performer's Music sheet music store in the Fine Arts Building is neat. The building is immensely cool, including an elevator with an attendant and gates. This isn't worth much fuss, but if it's on your way, it's neat.
Depending on how cold it is, you could consider ice skating the ribbon at Maggie Daley Park.
If you're taking the BNSF, you could get off in Congress Park on your way back and go to Galloping Ghost Arcade in Brookfield.
posted by quadrilaterals at 6:45 AM on March 7, 2023
A bit odd, but if he plays an instrument, checking out Performer's Music sheet music store in the Fine Arts Building is neat. The building is immensely cool, including an elevator with an attendant and gates. This isn't worth much fuss, but if it's on your way, it's neat.
Depending on how cold it is, you could consider ice skating the ribbon at Maggie Daley Park.
If you're taking the BNSF, you could get off in Congress Park on your way back and go to Galloping Ghost Arcade in Brookfield.
posted by quadrilaterals at 6:45 AM on March 7, 2023
Best answer: Do the stuff the kid is interested in:
posted by zenon at 7:19 AM on March 7, 2023
- Games: Galloping Ghost Arcade which is out of the way in Brookfield but a great excursion
- Books: Powell’s and 57th Street Books are about 3 blocks apart in the Hyde Park neighborhood where I can spend a whole day - with lunch at Medici
- Go see/do a comedy show at ComedySportz
posted by zenon at 7:19 AM on March 7, 2023
Because you mentioned reading, how about The American Writers Museum? I have not been, but I've heard good things.
And the Open Books location near the Loop is one of my favorite used book stores.
Less intellectual ideas: The Museum of Illusions is popular with kids, and you'll get some nice pictures for social media. (Be warned that it's expensive and tiny.) Sloomoo and Museum of Ice Cream are other Instagram-focused museums that could work depending on your kid and your tolerance for that type of thing.
posted by Xalf at 7:26 AM on March 7, 2023
And the Open Books location near the Loop is one of my favorite used book stores.
Less intellectual ideas: The Museum of Illusions is popular with kids, and you'll get some nice pictures for social media. (Be warned that it's expensive and tiny.) Sloomoo and Museum of Ice Cream are other Instagram-focused museums that could work depending on your kid and your tolerance for that type of thing.
posted by Xalf at 7:26 AM on March 7, 2023
There is a "catcade" featuring both cats to pet and arcade games to play on Belmont. Make a reservation.
The cats is 1 drink so you could also check out "bonus round game cafe" which is pg in the day. There is other punk stores and sweet food shopping too. Ann Sather or Bittersweet are bakery ideas.
You can take the el from downtown and then walk. If you take the brown line sit on the left (if you are facing the same way as the train is traveling) for the best views. Or if you are lucky, sit in the last car at the back in the little compartment.
Have you been to Chinatown? You can take the red line there (best view of downtown is from the Chinatown platform) or a water taxi (May - Oct). There are three parts to Chinatown - old to the south with the classic architecture (they built it like "old China" for tourists), the modern part with the 12 animal zodiac square by the mall and you also can go into the library for it is amazing to just sit in warm up and people watch or take a rest, and 3rd, if the weather gets good Ping Tom Memorial Park. You have to walk west on 19th into the neighborhood to get to the park.
If you want to feel like you are in actual contemporary China take a car or taxi to 88 market place.
Outside skating in Chicago is Thanksgiving to mid-Feb.
Have a great trip.
posted by mutt.cyberspace at 7:45 AM on March 7, 2023 [1 favorite]
The cats is 1 drink so you could also check out "bonus round game cafe" which is pg in the day. There is other punk stores and sweet food shopping too. Ann Sather or Bittersweet are bakery ideas.
You can take the el from downtown and then walk. If you take the brown line sit on the left (if you are facing the same way as the train is traveling) for the best views. Or if you are lucky, sit in the last car at the back in the little compartment.
Have you been to Chinatown? You can take the red line there (best view of downtown is from the Chinatown platform) or a water taxi (May - Oct). There are three parts to Chinatown - old to the south with the classic architecture (they built it like "old China" for tourists), the modern part with the 12 animal zodiac square by the mall and you also can go into the library for it is amazing to just sit in warm up and people watch or take a rest, and 3rd, if the weather gets good Ping Tom Memorial Park. You have to walk west on 19th into the neighborhood to get to the park.
If you want to feel like you are in actual contemporary China take a car or taxi to 88 market place.
Outside skating in Chicago is Thanksgiving to mid-Feb.
Have a great trip.
posted by mutt.cyberspace at 7:45 AM on March 7, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: The WNDR Museum ("Wonder museum") is catnip to tweens. It's essentially a curated collection of Instagramable photo ops. There are analogues of this in a lot of cities now, usually listed as "immersive art experiences," but this one is higher budget than most, and again, so dead on for a kid that age. It's a fun 90-minutes-ish, which is great for that kind of attention span.
Also, the well-known Andy's Jazz Club is all ages at all shows. So that might be fun.
Your kid sounds awesome. Have a blast.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:20 AM on March 7, 2023 [3 favorites]
Also, the well-known Andy's Jazz Club is all ages at all shows. So that might be fun.
Your kid sounds awesome. Have a blast.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:20 AM on March 7, 2023 [3 favorites]
Also in the Hyde Park area is the unfortunately named Oriental Institute Museum. If your kid is interested in ancient history (Egypt, Mesopotamia, etc) then it's worth checking out.
posted by Johnny Assay at 4:50 PM on March 7, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Johnny Assay at 4:50 PM on March 7, 2023 [1 favorite]
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posted by mekily at 6:13 AM on March 7, 2023 [3 favorites]