HERE'S A LIST OF FUN THINGS TO DO DURING WINTER BREAK!
Winter Break Science Fun!
Adler Planetarium www.adlerplanetarium.org
1300 S. Lake Shore
Chicago
(312)922-STAR call for showtimes
Hands-on Habitat
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
2430 N. Cannon Dr. at Fullerton Pkwy, Chicago
(773) 755-5100
The Great Train Story
ToyMaker 3000
Museum of Science & Industry
57th Street and Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
(773) 684-1414
Night Visions: The Secret Designs of Moths
Underground Adventure
Sue
Field Museum of Natural History
1400 S. Lake Shore Dr, Chicago
(312) 922-9410
Wild Reef
John G. Shedd Aquarium
1200 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
(312) 939-2438
CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN. Family programming includes "Eye Spy," an identification game. Call for schedule. 1000 Lake Cook, Glencoe. (847) 835-5440.
CHICAGO CHILDREN'S MUSEUM. To Jan. 16: "Adventures with Clifford the Big Red Dog." Thu, 5-8 pm: ''Kraft Free Family Night." Ongoing exhibits: "Go Figure!"; "BIG Backyard"; "Dinosaur Expedition"; "Face to Face: Dealing with Prejudice and Discrimination"; "Waterways"; "PlayMaze"; Treehouse Trails"; "The Allstate Foundation presents Play It Safe"; "Under Construction"; "The Inventing Lab"; "Kovler Family Climbing Schooner"; "Kraft Artabounds Studio." Tue-Sun, 10 am-5 pm; Thu, 10 am-8 pm (closed Mondays except some school holidays). $7, general admission; $6, seniors; children under 1 free. Navy Pier, 400 E. Grand. (312) 527-1000.
CHILDREN'S HANDS-ON MUSEUM. Geared to children ages 2-8, the interactive museum features displays on arts, humanities, science, communication and technology. Mon-Fri, 9 am-8 pm, Sat, 9 am-5 pm, Sun, 10 am-5 pm. $2 per child. Park Place Recreation Center, 550 S. Park, Streamwood. (630) 483-9056.
DISCOVERY CENTER MUSEUM. Riverfront Museum Park, 711 N. Main, Rockford. Selected by Child magazine as the nation's fourth best children's museum, the Discovery Center is a place to explore the universe and every little thing in it. Ongoing: "Electricity and Magnetism"; "Tot Spot"; "Rock River Discovery Park"; "Color of Light"; "WIFR Kids News Studio"; Body Shop"; "Mazes and Puzzles"; "Infinity Tunnel"; "Planetarium!" Tue-Sat, 10 am-5 pm; Sun, noon-5 pm. Adults, $4; children 2-17, $3. (815) 963-6769.
DuPAGE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM. A unique discovery center where children and adults can explore, discover, learn and play together. Over 20,000 square feet of exhibit space, featuring Creativity Connections, the Construction House, AirTower, Wind Tunnel, WaterWays, Bubbles, Ramps & Rollers and Young Explorer areas. Ongoing: ''Airworks.'' Tue, Thu-Sat, 9:30 am-5 pm; Wed, 9:30 am-8 pm; Sun, noon-5 pm. General admission, $6.50; seniors, $5.50. 301 N. Washington, Naperville. (630) 637-8000
EXPLORITORIUM. The Exploritorium Indoor Children's Playground for Art, Science and Imagination includes tubes, tunnels, water play, and art and theater activities. Mon, Wed, Fri, 9 am-6 pm; Sat-Sun, 10 am-3 pm. Adults and children under 2, $1; children, $5. Skokie Park District, 9300 Weber Park Place, Skokie. (847) 674-1500.
HEALTH WORLD CHILDREN'S MUSEUM. Now open: "What is Addiction?" Ongoing: "Grossology: The (Impolite) Science of the Human Body." Ongoing: This 85,000-square-foot health education facility offers a host of special exhibits devoted to the human body and health issues. Other exhibits include 85-foot walk through model of the human body, a drunk driving simulator, House of Hazards, the Life Trek, Safety Challenge and much more. Tue-Sat, 10 am-3 pm. $6. 1301 S. Grove, Barrington. (847) 842-9100.
KOHL CHILDREN'S MUSEUM. To Oct, 2005: "Chagall for Children." Hands-on interactive museum for children 8 and under. Ongoing: ''Shapes and Shadows"; ''Music Makers''; ''All Aboard''; ''Dominick's Grocery Store''; ''H2O''; ''Construction Zone''; ''StarMax Technology Center by Motorola''; ''Duplo Room''; ''Mighty Maze'' ; ''People''; ''The Great Kohl Sailing Ship''; ''Cozy Corner"; "Whimsy Gallery of Children's Art"; "Daily Discoveries"; "Art Adventures.'' Mon-Sat, 9:30 am-5 pm; Sun, noon-5 pm. Adults and children over 1, $6; seniors, $5; children under 1, free. 165 Green Bay, Wilmette. (847) 512-1300.
SCITECH HANDS ON MUSEUM. 18 W. Benton, Aurora. Mon-Wed, Fri-Sat, 10 am-5 pm; Thu, 10 am-8 pm; Sun, noon-5 pm. $7; $6 for seniors. (630) 859-3434.
CRABTREE NATURE CENTER. A Forest Preserve District of Cook County nature center that invites visitors to learn about local ecology with indoor displays and exhibits as well as self-guided nature trails. Daily, 9 am-4:30 pm. Palatine and Barrington, Barrington. (847) 381-6592.
RIVER TRAIL NATURE CENTER. Ongoing: A nature center set by the Des Plaines River in a sugar maple grove featuring live native animals such as mammals, birds and reptiles, indoor and outdoor displays and three self-guided nature trails. Daily, 9 am-5 pm. Free. 3120 Milwaukee, Northbrook. (847) 824-8360.
WILLOWBROOK WILDLIFE CENTER. 525 S. Park, Glen Ellyn. Wildlife rehabilitation and education facility provides care and medical treatment for injured or orphaned native wildlife and exhibits over 50 species of native wild animals. Open daily, 9 am-5 pm. Freewill donations. (630) 942-6200.