By Kent Ninomiya
There are many free kids activities in
Chicago. It is possible to entertain children for many days in a row in the Windy City without spending a cent. Chicago is rich with cultural treasures, museums and beautiful public areas. It is also blessed with several sights devoted specifically to kids. Many of these sights are free all the time or certain days of the week.
Lincoln Park Zoo
The Lincoln Park Zoo is always free. It is open every day of the year and features an impressive collection of animals from all over the world. The Lincoln Park Zoo is every bit as good as any zoo you would pay to see in another city. It is located at 2001 N. Clark Street.
Buckingham Fountain
This is the famous fountain seen in the opening sequence of "Married With Children." Between April and October, Buckingham Fountain puts on an impressive water show every hour on the hour. Kids love it, especially when they are splashed on a hot summer day.
Chicago Museums
Most kid-friendly museums in Chicago have a free day at least once per week. On Monday and Tuesday it is the Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium. On Tuesday, get in for free to the Art Institute of Chicago and Museum of Contemporary Art. Wednesdays are free at the Field Museum of Natural History. On Thursday the free museums are the DuSable Museum of African American History and the Museum of Science and Industry.
Millenium Park
This huge park in downtown Chicago contains an array of activities that kids love. There is the impressive Jay Pritzker Pavilion, the interactive Crown Fountain and a sculpture garden. There are also free concerts in the park all year long.
Chicago Children's Museum
This is one of the top children's museums in the country and admission is often free. Every Thursday the Chicago Children's Museum is free from 5 pm until 8 pm. Admission is also free from 10 am to 5 pm on the first Sunday of the month.
About the Author:
Kent Ninomiya is a veteran journalist with over 23 years experience as a television news anchor, reporter and managing editor. He traveled to more than 100 countries on all seven continents, including Antarctica. Ninomiya holds a Bachelor of Arts in social sciences with emphasis in history, political science and mass communications from the University of California at Berkeley.
