Museum of Illusions Chicago

The Museum of Illusions Chicago is one of those rare family attractions where the photos are almost guaranteed to impress — the Ames room that makes one sibling look tiny and the other giant, the tilted room that messes with your sense of gravity, the holograms that shift as you walk past. Nearly 5,000 Google reviews at 4.7 stars confirm that what sounds gimmicky actually delivers.

Located right in the Chicago Loop at 25 E Washington St (a block from Millennium Park), the museum is extremely easy to access. Millennium Park is free and just 3 blocks away, making it the perfect pairing: start with the Bean and Crown Fountain in the morning, lunch somewhere in the Loop, then spend the afternoon letting the kids' minds get bent at the illusions museum.

Plan for 60-90 minutes inside. The exhibits work best when you slow down and actually engage with them — trying to walk the tilted room, positioning yourself correctly in the Ames room, experimenting with the infinity tunnel. Kids who race through miss the point entirely.

For logistics: buy tickets online before you arrive, especially on weekends. Walk-in lines can add 20-30 minutes. The museum is fully indoor and climate-controlled, making it an excellent Chicago rainy day option from spring through winter.

Strollers are possible but awkward in some of the smaller gallery spaces — a carrier works better for toddlers, though the museum is most suited for ages 5 and up.

Admission runs approximately $20-25 per adult and $15-20 per child — budget $80-100 for a family of four before food and parking. Loop parking adds another $20-35 depending on the garage. Coming by train (Randolph/Wabash CTA stop is one block away) saves the parking cost entirely.