Chicago Children's Museum

The Chicago Children's Museum is one of the top children's museums in the country, and its location inside Navy Pier means it fits naturally into a broader Chicago family day. Designed specifically for children ages birth through 10, the museum packs an impressive range of play experiences into three floors, with exhibits that balance imaginative play, physical challenges, and genuine learning.

The three-story climbing schooner is the museum's most iconic exhibit and the first thing kids see when they enter. This full-scale wooden ship frame rises through the center of the museum, and kids climb it using rope ladders, traversing bridges between masts, and peering out from the crow's nest. For adventurous kids ages 4 and up, this is the kind of physical play experience that keeps them engaged for 30 minutes straight.

Younger kids can access the lower decks with parental assistance.

The Tinkering Lab is where the museum shows its commitment to real, substantive play rather than passive entertainment. Kids ages 5 and up use actual tools — hammers, hand drills, saws (supervised), and wire — to build creations from wood and other materials. Staff members guide the process and teach basic tool safety.

This is not pre-cut craft kit assembly. Kids learn to use real tools and make real things, and the sense of accomplishment is visible on their faces. Plan at least 30 minutes here.

The water play area, WaterWays, is a perennial favorite. Kids use pumps, channels, dams, and locks to direct water flow through a multi-station water table. This is one of those exhibits where toddlers and grade-schoolers can play side by side, each at their own level of complexity.

Fair warning: kids get very wet. A change of clothes is not optional — it is essential. The museum provides smocks, but they do not keep kids dry.

For babies and toddlers, the Preschool Play area provides a dedicated space with soft play equipment, sensory tables, and age-appropriate activities. The separation from the larger museum means your 18-month-old is not dodging enthusiastic 8-year-olds, which is a significant quality-of-life improvement for parents of very young children.

The Art Studio offers rotating creative projects where kids can paint, sculpt, draw, and construct. Unlike the Tinkering Lab's emphasis on tools and building, the Art Studio focuses on creative expression. Projects change regularly, so repeat visits offer different activities.

A practical note: the museum does not have a cafe or food service. This is an ongoing frustration for parents, particularly given that the target audience is young children who need frequent snacks and meals. Bring snacks in your bag. Navy Pier's restaurants are just outside the museum entrance, but leaving and re-entering during a visit disrupts the flow.

The museum's location inside Navy Pier is both an advantage and a minor inconvenience. The advantage is that you can combine the Children's Museum with the Centennial Wheel, pier walking, and Navy Pier restaurants for a complete family day. The inconvenience is that getting to Navy Pier involves either paying for parking ($25-$45) or taking the free Navy Pier trolley from State Street.

Once you are there, however, the pier area offers hours of combined activities.

Illinois residents should note the free Thursday evening admission (5-8 PM), which is a legitimate deal that local families use regularly. The evening sessions tend to be less crowded than weekend daytime visits and offer a relaxed atmosphere. For visiting families, the regular admission of $17 per person is reasonable for the quality of the experience.

The museum works best for kids ages 1 through about 8. Kids ages 9-10 can still enjoy the climbing schooner and Tinkering Lab, but may feel they are outgrowing some of the other exhibits. For families with kids in the sweet spot of ages 3-7, this is one of the best children's museum experiences in the United States.