Field Museum

Home to SUE, the largest and most complete T. rex fossil ever discovered, and Máximo, a 122-foot-long titanosaur, the Field Museum brings 4.5 billion years of Earth's history to life. Kids become explorers navigating through Egyptian tombs, encountering mummies, examining real dinosaur bones, and discovering gems that glow in the dark in one of the world's premier natural history museums.

• ✓Meeting SUE the T. rex - the 40-foot-long fossil that towers overhead with visible teeth and claws
• ✓The Ancient Egypt exhibit with real mummies, tomb recreation, and hieroglyphics
• ✓The Grainger Hall of Gems with glowing fluorescent minerals that change colors under UV light

1. 1.Free admission days for Illinois residents happen monthly - check the website calendar and book timed tickets in advance as they go quickly
2. 2.Download the Field Museum Explorer app before visiting - it has scavenger hunts and interactive activities that keep kids engaged throughout
3. 3.SUE the T. rex is now in the upper level Stanley Field Hall - start there when it's less crowded, then work your way down to Máximo and the dinosaur hall

Weekday afternoons (1-3 PM) during school year are surprisingly quiet. Sunday mornings right at opening also good. Avoid Saturdays and school holidays completely if possible.

Field Bistro (main level) offers sandwiches, salads, and kids' meals. Explorer Café (lower level) has grab-and-go options. Prices are high. You can leave and re-enter to eat elsewhere. Museum Campus parking lots (north and south) cost $30-40. The north lot is closest. Street parking near Soldier Field is very limited. Consider public transit - Roosevelt stop on Red/Orange/Green lines is walkable. Clean family restrooms with changing tables on all three levels. Multiple locations throughout museum. Stroller-friendly with elevators to all floors. The museum is large with marble floors - comfortable shoes essential. Stroller parking available outside certain exhibit halls. Fully wheelchair accessible with elevators. Complimentary wheelchairs at coat check. Touch tours and sensory-friendly maps available. All films offer closed captioning.

Winters make the Field Museum an excellent indoor escape. Special exhibits rotate throughout the year (additional fee but often worth it). The museum sometimes offers themed sleepovers for kids - check special events calendar well in advance as they sell out.

Museum Campus area is limited, but nearby Eleven City Diner (Loop) has great deli food and kids' menu, or walk to Chinatown for affordable family-style dining with adventurous eaters.