Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
add photosThe Chicago Academy of Sciences and its Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum inspire people to learn about and care for nature and the environment. The Academy improves quality of life in Chicago and the region by delivering superior environmental and science education programs to students and teachers, by offering Museum exhibitions and conducting public programs that foster green living, and by restoring local ecosystems and advancing scientific knowledge through collections and research.
All areas of the Museum are accessible to people with special requirements. A limited supply of wheelchairs and strollers are available.
7 Reviews for Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
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1 family found this helpful
"Worth a stop...."
The Nitty Gritty We went here on a Wednesday and it definitely was not crowded with just a few field trips going on. I used a Groupon family pass which I bought for $30. A steal considering admission was about $9 each adult. There is plenty of street parking if you come early enough or if you are patient. We ended up parking the LP Zoo lot across the street. Very stroller friendly except the Butterfly Exhibit, but there is stroller parking.
The fun: We went here in May for my son's 1 year birthday. He was a little too young to understand most of exhibits. Everyone raves about the Butterfly Garden but my husband and son thought it was a little too humid and hot inside. There is a hands on exhibit for toddlers to walk around and slide.
Son's fav moment: Playing with the water
Parent's fav moment: The Rooftop Gardens and the outdoor area.
Bottom Line: I would recommend if you were in the area. It is a great place to stop over if you are by the Lincoln Park Zoo. Come here on a gorgeous day and you'll love the view of the Skyline from the Rooftop Gardens.
Tip: There is no eatery here, just a a gift shop with minimal selection. Pack a lunch and enjoy it outside!
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0 families found this helpful
"Notebaert Nature Museum"
I visited this museum with a group of kids on a field trip, so I can't vouch for the parking situation, but the museum itself was an easy drive for being located in downtown Chicago. The exhibits are very interactive and fun for kids. For as big as it is, there didn't seem to be a lot of different exhibits, but the ones that were there were lots of fun. The students I was with loved the butterfly exhibit and the waterways exhibit. Another highlight is that the zoo is right across from Lincoln Park Zoo, so an ambitious family could visit both attractions in the same day.
0 families found this helpful
"gets crowded!"
Parking is not easy to find here but you sometimes get lucky and find street parking without too much of a walk. I have actually driven off & not gone because we couldn't find good parking. I had 5 kids age3 and under at that time so give me a little grace please.
My kids loved the butterfly room. We spend lots of time in here. It really takes you to a whole other world.. especially during the cold Chicago winters.
The museum is free on Thursdays :)
0 families found this helpful
"One of the best museums for kids in Chicago"
Yes we love the Children's Museum, and the Museum of Science and Industry, but Peggy Notebaert is smaller, and so do-able in a couple of hours. I always find free street parking. There's a water / dam-building / boat sailing section for school kids (they do have stools the younger ones can stand on), and there's a play area for crawlers or toddlers. My kids also love the butterfly room, and manipulating the giant mechanical praying mantis above the main entrance! We bring our own lunch and sit with a picnic, or walk across the street to the Lincoln Park zoo before heading home.
0 families found this helpful
"Education plus fun!"
This museum has a number of interesting permanent exhibits. The Butterfly Haven houses the winged wonders in a high-ceilinged greenhouse. A different Green House is the model home of the fictitious Green family, in which you can learn how to make your own home more environmentally friendly. The Water Lab explains an urban river system and lets visitors try to create one at the stream table. The Hands-on Habitat is designed especially for toddlers and preschoolers to explore wetland and prairie habitats, and it includes a Tree of Life they can actually climb. Be sure to check for special exhibits, which have ranged from giant bugs to magic tricks to chimpanzees.
1 family found this helpful
"Great for learning about nature"
Wonderful place for children of all ages to learn about nature. Lots of ways to have fun, with water, dig in the dirt or look at birds and butterflies. It is within walking distance of the Lincoln Park Zoo so a family can spend a day at both easily.
0 families found this helpful
"Hands-on Nature"
This is a kid-friendly museum from top to bottom. Kids can play at the water tables, spend time with the butterflies, or watch the snakes and other creatures. There's even a special preschool room with special tot-friendly activities. This is an interesting and family-friendly museum.
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