How We Got Into 3 Chicago Museums Free!

Who doesn’t love Chicago? Being within a reasonable driving distance to my hometown and our home in Ohio, Chicago has been a destination for many mini vacations! Most recently, Joel and I took our niece Bella with us.  We were able to do more, but also save more money than we have on any other trip! Let me explain…

As mentioned in this post, we purchased a membership to COSI in Columbus, Ohio.  Along with this membership, we also get into museums who are members of the ASTC as well! So let me tell you more…

First, we went to the Adler Planetarium located right in the heart of Chicago. It has been around since 1930 and was the first planetarium in the western hemisphere! Step into Mission Moon where you’ll learn more about the first steps, NASA and more! Take the kids to Planet Explorers where they can use their imagination to learn while having fun. Also featuring a large solar system room, 3 full size theaters, a design lab and so much more, this museum has so much to offer for any age!

Just across the parking lot, we also got into the Field Museum of Natural History at no charge with our ASTC museum membership cards.  Since the opening in 1894, they have collected over 40 million artifacts and specimens to create an impressive display of science and natural history. You’ll find exhibits featuring ancient finds, animals, scientific research, cultural displays and much more to create a well rounded awesome museum experience.  The Field Museum is also home to Sue, the world’s largest T Rex dinosaur! Whether you are traveling with kids or just adults, this museum has it all. Along with exploring the museum, you can stop by one of their two restaurants for lunch. If you’d rather bring snacks or your lunch, there is a picnic area where you may enjoy your food.  We spent hours at the Field Museum and had a wonderful time! I hope the photos do it justice 🙂

Joel and I love to hit a good zoo and being kid friendly, we made sure to go to the Lincoln Park Zoo which is FREE!! SCORE! 🙂 It was a busy weekend so there was a lot of people, but there are so many exhibits that we were able to avoid the crowded exhibits and come back later. Right in the center there was a nice pool for seals. That was a fun attraction as you were able to look through the side of the pool in one area, and down into the pool at another spot. There are a few indoor attractions which are nice to escape the outdoors in the hot and cold months. One indoor area was a play area for children which was a nice chance to let Bella release some energy for a few minutes. A little separate from the zoo itself is also a beautiful conservatory. If you have some extra time, I highly recommend checking it out as well.

You can’t visit Chicago without hitting Navy Pier and this trip was no different. We wanted to take Bella to experience many of the things that Chicago is famous for so we had to hit Navy Pier. Even though it was a hot day, as soon as Bella saw the rides on level two, it was over. LOL Bella and I love rides, so we got ride tickets for the swings. Navy Pier was busy and even though there was a line, it went pretty fast (especially for as busy as it was). We absolutely loved riding the swings. Bella sat on the outside and really had a fun time! Since it was pretty busy, we didn’t do any other activities, but they offer a package price when you do two or more activities. We went through the souvenir shops, walked down to the very end to get a better view, and enjoyed all the art installations. Whether you’re traveling with adults or with children, Navy Pier has a lot to offer and is a unique attraction.

Before our trip to Chicago came to and end, we wanted to go to one more museum. The Museum of Science and Industry was another one on the list of museums we could get into free by being a member of our local ASTC museum. When you first enter the building, before you’ve even stepped up to the ticket counter there is a large impressive train exhibit.  After heading up the escalator, the building opens up into a huge entrance with many wings and levels to explore! This museum will WOW even though most skeptical museum goer and you can spend hours there (so make sure you allow a ton of time)! Be sure to check out my post that dives into all the goodies featured at this awesome museum. (link coming soon)

Even though it’s not a museum, I wanted to mention the awesome hotel we stayed at during this trip. After checking out reviews, prices and locations on hotels.com, we booked the Hyatt Place. We loved it! A very clean hotel, we arrived to a beautiful room! With a small kitchen and work desk, this hotel would be perfect for many types of stays. One thing that we really liked about this hotel is that during the week they offer hor dourves and drinks in the evening. Don’t let that fool you, they have an entire mini buffet of food. Now let’s talk breakfast! They have a very nice hot breakfast buffet every morning! We love breakfast included in our stay and this one was top notch! The area was nice and we really liked this hotel. I definitely recommend this place for future trips!

Of course we couldn’t leave Chicago without getting some authentic deep dish pizza! After getting recommendations from the locals, we ordered from Lou Malnati’s.  Covered with lots of toppings, sauce and cheese this deep dish pizza did not disappoint! Originally opening in 1971, Lou Malnati’s has had amazing success. Even though Lou passed away only 8 years later, his son’s have continued to grow the business and now there are many locations throughout the greater Chicago area. If you have a chance to try it, you will not be disappointed.

What are some of the fun things you like to do in Chicago? Have you gotten any good deals or savings? I’d love to hear more…