Spring Break when you’re a working mom isn’t too different than a regular school week. My boys still have to go to school, and I still have to go to work. But even though we weren’t jetting off to Florida or Mexico for a week of sun and fun, we did want to make Easton’s very first “Spring Break” (from the rigors of kindergarten life, obviously) a little out of the ordinary.
We took the Friday of Spring Break off for a little staycation to explore our own city. I realized the boys had never been to Navy Pier so it was a logical choice. When I started browsing the Chicago Children’s Museum website, I was sold: dinosaurs and Hot Wheels and construction, oh my! Keep reading for my tips to make Navy Pier your next family fun destination.
Where:
Chicago Children’s Museum at Navy Pier
700 East Grand Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611-3428
Get directions
Plan your visit: https://www.chicagochildrensmuseum.org/
Make the most of your visit with these tips:
DO: Go first thing in the morning and arrive when the doors open. The first hour after opening was the best hour there. There weren’t crowds yet and the boys could explore at their leisure. After 11 AM, it started to get busier and busier … and louder and louder!
DON’T: Go on weekends or common school holidays (if you can help it). See note above about the general busy-ness. We went during the week on Spring Break, strategically planned because it wasn’t Chicago Public Schools break, just the suburbs. It still got pretty slammed by lunchtime, and I can’t imagine how packed it might be on a Saturday afternoon.
DO: Head for the limited-spaces exhibits when you first arrive. The Tinkering Lab, a DIY space where families can use real tools to create projects, and Skyline, where families can design their own skyscrapers, are both exhibits that allow only a limited number of participants at a time. They don’t offer time slots, so you have to check back for availability. Getting started at these exhibits early in the day helps you beat the crowds.
DON’T: Forget a change of clothes for after the WaterWorks exhibit. WaterWorks is the best children’s museum water exploration exhibit I’ve seen … but it’s also the wettest. Despite smocks and raincoats provided, both my boys left the exhibit with soaked pants and shirts. The hand dryers on site to help made some impact, but having a full change of clothes for each kid (including socks!) was necessary.
DO: Bring your own snacks. The museum has several designated snack areas where you can grab a table, rest your legs, and refuel your body. If you bring your own snacks, there’s no reason to exit the museum and re-enter for a quick bite to recharge.
DO: Dig for dinosaur bones in the Dinosaur Expedition. My boys put on the paleontologist vests and grabbed their tools to start excavating for fossils in the dino dig pit. This exhibit was the highlight of our visit.
DON’T: Structure and plan every minute of your visit. Let your kids explore on their time, at their own pace. Want to pause for a game of bowling or giant dominos? The Treehouse Trails play exhibit will still be there when you’re finished. Part of the magic of any children’s museum is the focus on kids exploring. Let your kids decide what to see next and how long to spend at each experience. They are the reason you’re there, after all.
DO: Expect that you won’t be able to tear your kids away from some exhibits. First, it was the Play It Safe space, with dress-up Chicago Fire Department costumes and a cool game where you could practice putting out a fire with a laser-pointer “fire hose.” (Spoiler alert: It takes a really, really long time and my kids got bored before actually accomplishing it.)
After that, we moved to the Zoom Room — a little boy’s delight of multiple ramps and endless Hot Wheels cars. A lesson in physics or cause-and-effect never hurt anyone.
DO: Take a lunch break and go back for more fun. When your littles are hitting the wall on fun, it’s time for a snack break, and the food court at Navy Pier has a ton of options. Of course, my picky eaters only wanted McDonald’s but I ate Freshii myself and finished with a slice of caramel cake from Brown Sugar Bakery — literally THE BEST cake I have ever eaten. I’ll be venturing back to Navy Pier soon just for another slice.
Once you’ve eaten, reenter the museum to continue to fun. Your ticket includes admission all day long, and at a price of $15.95 per ticket, adult or child, it makes sense to get your money’s worth.
DON’T: Let your kids go into the gift shop on the way out. I’m not saying it’s not a lovely gift shop. It is. It’s well-curated with thoughtful toys and more. But if your kids are gift-crazed, a trip through the gift shop always ends an otherwise fun day on a sour note. Set your boundaries by making sure your kids know you are there to play and explore, and the gift shop is off limits.
DO: Let your kids indulge at Navy Pier’s IT’SUGAR candy store on your way out instead. Give them each the cellophane bag and let them pick out an assortment of fun-shaped gummies or candy LEGO bricks. We left the store for a grand total of $7 — and that included a selection of cocktail flavored Beary Buzzed Gummy Bears for me too. A much cheaper treat than the museum gift shop would be!
DON’T: Miss the “Enchanted Waters” installation inside. Get a little energy out before the commute home by dancing in front of this interactive wall. It translates your movements onto a large electronic screen with an underwater-like interaction. #DoneWithFun Daddy showed Easton how to dance-fight to everyone’s pure delight.
DO: Walk all the way down the Pier to see the boats, the Ferris Wheel, and the Chicago skyline in the distance. We’ll come back in summer to see the Tall Ship but the boys loved exploring the Pier’s landmark ships like the Odyssey and the Spirit of Chicago from the docks. We weren’t brave enough to try the Ferris Wheel as a family this visit … again, maybe in summer time.
DO: Realize it won’t be a cheap day but it will be a fun one. Between parking, museum entry, and lunch, the fun added up quickly. But as a staycation destination, Navy Pier didn’t disappoint, and the exhibits at the Chicago Children’s Museum were perfectly suited to my boys’ ages and interests.
What are your kids into — science, art, technology, music? Where do they head first at a museum? Let me know in the comments below and follow my Instagram and Pinterest for more daily ideas and inspiration for finding the fun in the chaos of #momlife.
Are you exploring Chicago? Don’t miss the Garfield Park Conservatory for an inexpensive afternoon amid stunning foliage. It’s a literal breath of fresh air in there.
