I am going to Chicago this weekend with my 3 kids (DS12, DD10, & DS7) and my parents. On Saturday we are going to go to the Field Museum. I have been at the museum's website getting information and I am wondering from those of you that have been there do you think I need to buy admission to the special exhibits or is there enough in the regular museum to see? If I pay for the All Access pass will we be able to see everything and the 3-D movie in 1 day? I don't want to waste my money if we won't!
Also what is the best way to get there from a hotel that is off Michigan Ave near the Water Tower Place? Bus, L, or red line? We won't have a car.
Any advice is much appreciated!
Take the
#146 Inner Drive/Michigan Exp. bus southbound; it stops along N. Michigan from Delaware down to Wacker and lets you off across the street from the Museum Entrance. Be aware that at opening time on a Saturday, you may be waiting in the ticket line for as much as an hour. (We buy an annual membership for this reason; it saves time AND money, and supports a worthwhile institution.)
As to the extras, they are not always worth it, but the traveling exhibition on Genghis Khan that is there right now is very worthwhile. We saw it two weeks ago and it is excellent. (BTW, we kept our 5yo interested during the Genghis Khan exhibit by telling her that these were the Huns from Mulan; that was quite effective at keeping her attention, even though it wasn't truly accurate. Still, close enough for a kid that age.) The one on giant mammal species is less impressive, especially if your kids have seen those particular specirs before (mine have.) Both of these special exhibits have timed entry tickets, so they don't get hugely crowded.
Your youngest might like Underground Adventure, but the older two are probably past finding it miraculous (little ones tend to REALLY believe that they are being shrunken down in size, which makes all the difference, but they can also get scared in certain parts of the exhibit.)
I certainly would NOT take time out for any of the IMAX films unless you are especially dying to see one of the ones that they have at the moment.
Also, for fun, I would suggest returning to the N. Michigan area via the Water Taxi. It is $9 for adults and $5 for kids one-way; the boat picks up in front of the Field and will deliver you to Navy Pier. It is not only faster than the bus, it's great fun for kids. (Be sure to get on the smaller taxi boats rather than the larger enclosed one if you want to experience a little bit more thrill; the smaller boats go faster, and spray will occasionally break over the gunwales in the bow of the boat if the swell is a bit high.)
To get to the Museum of Science and Industry, you would need to take the #10 bus, and leave a lot of time for that ride -- it takes about 45 minutes on the bus to get down to Hyde Park, and they run less frequently than the #146. To get that bus from the N. Michigan area, take the Red Line south to the Loop, get off at Lake/State and exit out to the west side of State, where you can catch the bus.
PS: Speaking of waiting in lines, do NOT attempt to visit Shedd Aquarium on a summer Saturday. Shedd is quite small on the inside. The admission line routinely stretches all the way down Shedd's steps and across the plaza to in front of the Field Museum, about a 1/4 mile. You can end up waiting in line for 4 hours. In summertime, I recommend saving Shedd for a weekday or skipping it.
