American Girl Place,

111 East Chicago Avenue

Chicago, IL 60611 1-877-AG PLACE 

An enchanting concept for little girls and their dolls,  On the Magnificent Mile, across the street from the historic Water Tower and overlooking Lake Michigan, is American Girl Place.  There children (and parents) can shop for the American Girl dolls :  Kaya, Josefina, Kirsten, Addy, Samantha (and her best friend, Nellie), Kit, and Molly.  Also, a wide selection of authentic historical clothes, accessories, and even furniture.  American Girl café has a long waiting list for birthday celebrations for girls and their dolls, but they report that the experience is  worth the wait.

Chicago Children's Museum 700 East Grand Avenue, Chicago 312-527-1000 Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday Admission charged. Hands-on fun is everywhere at the Chicago Children's Museum.  Children will marvel at the three-story-tall "Climbing Schooner," a replica of an 1850's sailing ship. They can become inventors in the "Inventing Lab," dedicated to the science of flight. The "Waterways" attraction invites them to suit up in rain gear and try to dam a waterfall. And the many dinosaur lovers  will be happy to take the "Dinosaur Expedition" to Niger in West Africa. 

Lincoln Park Zoo 2001 N. Clark Street, Chicago 312-742-2000 Cost per car to park Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily The Lincoln Park Zoo is one of the few places in the country that children can observe a handful of rare endangered species, including the Siberian Tiger and Grevy's Zebra, among the zoo's 1,200-animal collection. A large part of the zoo's emphasis is education about preserving these rare and beautiful creatures in the wild, and children will get that message loud and clear. Classes and tours are available, and young ones may especially enjoy the Farm-in-the-Zoo, a kid-friendly "farm" at the zoo's south entrance. 

John G. Shedd Aquarium 1200 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago 312-939-2438 Hours: June-August, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily; September through May, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily Admission charged.  The Shedd's signature exhibit, the "Oceanarium" replicates the coastline of the Pacific Northwest, and children can marvel at the antics of sea otters and the majesty of whales, dolphins and harbor seals. More than 8,000 aquatic animals make their home at the Shedd, which offers a variety of educational programs. 

The Field Museum 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago 312-922-9410 Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily Admission charged. The "Life Over Time" area of the museum,  explores the weather changes over the course of the earth's history and the development of single- and multi-celled animals. Many "please touch" displays are available.

Navy Pier 600 East Grand Avenue, Chicago Cost: Free Hours: November to May, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; May to October, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 12 a.m. Friday-Saturday. Home to the Chicago Children's Museum, the Navy Pier offers a long list of other attractions to interest young people. They will be delighted by the sheer size of the 3,000-foot pier and the magnitude of its offerings. A 150-foot Ferris wheel provides thrills and an incredible view of the downtown skyline. Children can lace up a pair of rented ice skates at the ice rink.  Older children  might enjoy  a narrated sightseeing trip on one of the many tour boats. Twice a week in the summertime, a fireworks display explodes over the pier. 

Sears Tower 233 S. Wacker Drive, Chicago 312-875-9447 Admission charged.

Hours: October-February, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m daily; March-September, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily Nothing will make a child feel taller than standing 1,353 feet above the ground.   That is the height of the  Skydeck at the Sears Tower. If children tire of the view and the historical exhibits, move on to "Knee-High Chicago," a  display that's positioned four feet high, just for them. Children should be prepared in advance for  the 70-second, 103-story elevator ride so that they can enjoy it thoroughly. 

Chicago Botanic Gardens 1000 Lake-Cook Road Glencoe 847-835-5440 Admission charged. About 25 miles north of downtown Chicago, the 385 acres—including demonstration, research, and conservation gardens—are worth the trek. Accessible via Metra.

Garfield Park Conservatory 300 North Central Park Avenue 312-746-5100 Admission and parking are free The largest public horticultural collection under glass in the world is located four blocks from the Kedzie stop on the Lake Street El or Green line.

Lincoln Park Conservatory 2391 North Stockton Drive 312-742-7737 Free admission Located next to the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago's largest park, this horticultural collection expands into four greenhouses and includes a 50-foot fiddle-leaf rubber tree dating from 1891, .

Lincoln Park Zoo 2150 North Cannon Drive 312-742-2000 Free admission Home to more than 1,000 animals, the zoo includes a children's petting zoo, an interactive environmental learning center, and a primate house.