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Millennium Park - |
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 Crown Fountain – The Crown Fountain is a “must do” for kids in the summer months. This is a fountain to get in and get wet, splash and wade. Kids line up against two 50 ft rectangular towers, eagerly waiting, then suddenly a whole wall of water cascades down from the top, drenching everyone completely. At the very least, your family (parents included) will want to take off your shoes and cool your toes in the shallow water around the towers. In winter the fountain isn't running, but it's lit up at night in bright colors. |
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McCormick Tribune Plaza and Ice Rink – In winter, go ice skating outdoors (November to March), right in the heart of Chicago. Even if you don’t skate, it’s fun to watch all the skaters. Skates can be rented and there are lockers for your stuff. In summer, this area is a large restaurant and café. |
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Cloud Gate sculpture – This sculpture looks like a giant silver jelly bean, reflecting the Chicago skyline. Kids can run underneath the arch, touch its mirrored surface and see themselves in the reflection, (they'll appear sort of upside down). This is a totally awesome sculpture, kids and the cityscape appear in infinite new perspectives. |
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Pritzker Pavilion – Attend free classical concerts in summer, flop down on the great lawn, bring a picnic. |
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Art Institute of Chicago – The Art Institute of Chicago is a stellar art museum, with collections from all over, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, African, Asian art works, but the best is a slew of Impressionist paintings, including Seurat’s Sunday Afternoon on the Island of the La Grande Jatte, Renoir’s adorable Two Sisters, Monet haystacks and water lilies, Cezanne, Cassatt, and more. And, don’t miss American Gothic by Grant Wood. |
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In addition, the Arms and Armor collection is very cool – crossbows inlaid with ivory, helmets, rapiers, pistols, flintlocks, full armor. On a more homey note, the Thorne Miniature Rooms are tiny replicas of rooms from houses and palaces in Europe, America and Asia, such as a 16th century French bedroom, Pennsylvania kitchen, English great house, Boston dining room. |
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On the lower level, in the Touch Gallery kids can put their hands on five sculptures. The Kraft Education Center has storytelling on the weekend and art workshops. Click here for calendar of family programs.
Tip: Use your Go Chicago Card, discounts to the museum. |
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Buckingham Fountain – Buckingham Fountain, one of the biggest fountains in the world, is splashy. Four green seahorses at each corner represent the four states (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin) that surround Lake Michigan. The fountain is lit up at night, and from spring to fall, there’s a light and water show. |
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Little
Katie gets in the picture when she climbs into an Impressionist painting,
where everyone in the park looks very elegant, but it's hot and no one is swimming. (Picture book)
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Pictorial
history of the Impressionists, artists Monet, Renoir, Degas, Cassatt,
Cezanne, Seurat, Gaugin, plus 21 activities – paint the sky
like Monet, cut out paper water lilies, draw a still life, bake
cookies with sprinkles like Seurat, and learn how to spot each
artist's work. Filled with lots of Impressionist paintings, good
for older kids. (Chapter book, with illustrations)
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Read this super art mystery, before you visit the Chicago Art Institute. A Vermeer, on loan to the Chicago Art Institute, has vanished, and Petra and her friend Calder hunt down clues to find the Lady. (Chapter book)
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"On a sunny
Sunday in the park, families play until it's dark." Toddlers
can touch Seurat's paintings in this charming board book, French
family fun from the seaside to the circus. (Board book)
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More children's books on other Chicago pages |
