Did you resolve to visit more museums this year? Any resolutions about staying on a budget? Good news: You can tackle both at once. We have the skinny on upcoming free or discount museum (and zoo and garden) days right here. (Psst. . . you can also stop at a Chicago Public Library to check out a free admission pass to select Chicago museums.) Click through for the scoop on where and when to get your free culture fix.

The Field Museum

The Field Museum via Maria Chambers

Free & Discount Days: Hurray for free basic admission for Illinois residents the entire month of February! (You can upgrade to see a special exhibition.) Throughout the year, the museum adds discount days for basic museum admission. Chicago residents also save $5 on their basic admission ticket every day with proof of residency. When you have a day you're itching to get out of the house, check their calendar to see if exploring the Field for free is an optional boredom buster.

What Kids Love:  From Sue the T.Rex, newcomer Titanosaur Máximo and mummies to special exhibits, kids get their curiosity fix at this Chicago classic. A kid favorite is Underground Adventure, where they'll get a bug’s-eye view of the world. Your crew will magically shrink to 1/100th of your actual size to explore an immersive environment of worm tunnels and soil chambers. Until Apr. 19, the Fantastic Bug Encounters exhibit gives kids a hands-on opportunity to discover how bugs’ incredible adaptations are changing the world,

Located at 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr., Museum Campus; (312-922-9410 or fieldmuseum.org).

Museum Science + Industry

Museum Science Industry

Free Days: There is free general admission for Illinois residents on Feb. 3-6, 10-13, 18-20 & 24-27. Museum entry does not include parking, special exhibits and events, Omnimax movies, Coal Mine or U-505 on-board tours.

What Kids Love: In a beautiful building built for the World's Columbian Exposition of 1892, this stunner is the end-all, be-all for curious kids. They'll especially love the Science Storms, an exhibit hall that tackles questions like: Why does lightning strike? and Why does a flame burn? Don’t miss the Numbers in Nature: A Mirror Maze exhibit that explores numbers and patterns found in nature and culminate with a mirror maze guaranteed to elicit giggles.

Located at 5700 S. Lake Shore Dr., Hyde Park; (773-684-1414 or msichicago.org).

Museum of Contemporary Art

Museum of Contemporary Art

Free Days: Every Tuesday there is no admission for Illinois residents. Because they believe art should be accessible to everyone, no exceptions, the MCA always has a pay-what-you-can policy everyday so no one will be turned away.

What Kids Love: The museum’s permanent collection includes video, visual and audio art leading to a great post-visit conversation about what you saw and what is art. It also offers experiences that redefine the way kids and families explore and create art together. Every second Saturday MCA hosts Family Day, a free monthly program where Chicago artists transform the museum and you can take part in workshops, open studio sessions, gallery tours and performances from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Located at 220 E. Chicago Ave., Streeterville; (312-280-2660 or mcachicago.org).

Adler Planetarium

Adler Planetarium

Discount Days: Several days a year, the Planetarium offers free general admission to Illinois residents. Upcoming dates include Feb. 4-6, 11-13 & 17-20; Mar. 9-12; Apr. 20-23; May 10-16; Jun. 2, 9 & 16; Aug. 22-23 & 31; Sep. 1-4; Oct. 12-15; Nov. 11 & 17-19; Dec. 4-6. The Adler Planetarium sometimes adds discount days throughout the year, so check their website under Special Offers

What Kids Love: You'll see stars even on the sunniest day and aspiring astronauts can discover a new planet in the Planet Explorers exhibit, where kids take the helm in a modern-day space adventure and climb, crawl, play and learn what it takes to be a part of a space mission. Scientists are often on hand to answer even the most difficult space questions. The newly opened Community PlayLab emphasizes learning through play by providing materials and experiences that encourage young kids to make sense of the world around them.

Located at 1300 S. Lake Shore Dr., Museum Campus; (312-922-7827 or adlerplanetarium.org).

Chicago Children's Museum

Chicago Children's Museum

Free Days: There is discounted admission for everyone on Play Late Thursdays, when up to 4 people can enter the museum for $20 from 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Also, kids ages 15 & under can enter the museum for free the first Sunday of each month for First Free Sundays. Veterans and active military receive free admission every day.

What Kids Love: What’s not to love? Little ones can climb, bang, create, splash and dance at the Chicago Children’s Museum. Through May 10, in the temporary Castle exhibit, young imaginations are invited to play in a castle with secret tunnels, a rope bridge, tower, dungeon, throne room, wizard's room, kitchen, feasting table, market and more. And the new Cloud Buster is a 30-ton, 37-foot-tall steel dreamscape that celebrates adventure and risk-taking, qualities that are inherent to childhood

Located on Navy Pier at 700 E. Grand Ave., Navy Pier; (312-527-1000 or chicagochildrensmuseum.org).

Shedd Aquarium

Shedd Aquarium via Maria Chambers

Discount Days: Enjoy Illinois resident discount days on Feb. 3-7, 10-14, 17-21 & 24-28. General admission for Chicago residents is discounted to $19.95/adults and $14.95/ages 3-11 everyday.

What Kids Love: Welcome to an underwater adventure — without getting wet. From clownfish (aka: Nemo) to penguins (aka: Happy Feet), kids love seeing the familiar and discovering new underwater creatures big and small. Oh, and, the baby otters are cuteness overload and worth a visit. In Underwater Beauty, you'll see 100 species from around the world come together displaying a variety of adaptations and characteristics of aquatic beauty including: Shimmer, Color, Patterns and Rythm. 

Located at 1200 S. Lake Shore Dr., Museum Campus; (312-939-2438 or online at sheddaquarium.org).

Art Institute of Chicago

Art Institute of Chicago

Free Days: Admission is always free for Chicago teens under the age of 18 and free for all kids under the age 14. For all others, admission is free for llinois residents every weekday, Jan. 27-Mar. 4. 

What Kids Love: Given the size of the Art Institute, there is definitely something for everyone. Dollhouse lover? Head to the Thorne Miniature Rooms. Ever get the urge to touch things at a museum, but know you can't? Well, here, you can! Head over to The Elizabeth Morse Touch Gallery where visitors have the opportunity to experience how the sense of touch can enrich their appreciation of art.

Located at 111 S. Michigan Ave., The Loop; (312-443-3600 or online at artic.edu).

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

Discount Days: Thursdays are suggested donation days for Illinois residents, which means they can enjoy free admission. It's always free for children under 3!

What Kids Love: Butterflies — the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven is home to more than 1,000 butterflies (and flowers, ponds and trees) and gives spring-starved Chicagoans a chance to feel like it's not quite so cold outside. If you're in the museum at 2 p.m., you can experience the wonder of the First Flight Butterfly Release. The size of the Peggy Notebart Nature Museum makes it manageable for families with kids of all ages. When the weather is warmer, take your museum experience outside with the Nature Trails exhibit.

Located at 2430 N. Cannon Dr., Lincoln Park.; (773-755-5100 or naturemuseum.org).

Morton Arboretum

Morton Arboretum via Maria Chambers

Discount Days: Every Wednesday there is discounted $10 adult admission ($15 otherwise), $9 seniors admission ($13 otherwise) and $7 youth admission ($10 otherwise). Children ages 1 & under are always free. Admission includes free parking.

What Kids Love: This is a spot you'll want to visit more than once to experience how the Morton Arboretum changes with the seasons. For kids, a trip to the Children’s Garden can’t be missed as they'll love exploring, learning and playing right alongside nature. Through Jun., Troll Hunt features 15- to 20-foot tall trolls made of reclaimed wood who are trying to make sense of the human world and make us think about our impacts on the planet.

Located at 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle; (630-968-0074 or mortonarb.org).

Brookfield Zoo

boy with bird at brookfield zoo things to do with kids in chicago animal farms near chicago
Brookfield Zoo via Maria Chambers

Free Days: General Zoo admission is free Tues., Thurs., Sat. & Sun., Jan. 1-Feb. 29 and Tues. & Thurs., Oct. 1-Dec. 31.

What Kids Love: Animals, of course! Everyone has their favorites so we won’t tell you which animals to see. Whether pretending to be a zookeeper or creating an animal-themed craft, kids learn to appreciate animals and nature just a little bit more. Covering just over 3-acres, Brookfield Zoo’s Hamill Family Wild Encounters features unforgettable hands-on experiences that includes opportunities to touch and feed animals.

Located at 8400 E. 31st St., Brookfield; (708-688-8000 or czs.org).

Chicago Botanic Garden

Chicago Botanic Garden

Free Days: Every day! The Garden is always free; parking fees apply ($25 per car + tax).

What Kids Love: This North Shore destination is 26 gardens in one — and each has a different feel and plenty of vibrant color. They include the Japanese Garden, where you can pose and play amidst striking bonsai plants. And don’t miss the English Walled Garden, where you can make like you’re in the Cotswalds. Also, make sure you look into their schedule for storytime and weekday family class.

Located at 1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe; (847-835-5440 or chicagobotanic.org).

Lincoln Park Zoo

Lincoln Park Zoo via Maria Chambers

Free Days: Every day! The zoo is always free; parking fees apply.

What Kids Love: We shouldn’t take for granted that our city is home to one of the few free-admission zoos in the U.S. Almost all of its wildlife exhibits are stroller accessible, including the outstanding Regenstein Center for African Apes. Go for a Sing-A-Long with Mr. Singer every Wednesday and Friday at 9:15 a.m. and 10 a.m. at the Farm-in-the-Zoo.

Located at Fullerton Parkway and Cannon Drive (312-742-2000 or lpzoo.org).

Ed Paschke Art Center

Ed Paschke Art Center

Free Days: Every day! This museum is always free -- and there are even free coloring books for kids.

What Kids Love: The Ed Paschke Art Center features the artist’s work as well as art inspired by Ed Paschke’s style. Influenced by animation and Chicago, the colorful art connects with kids. We suggest having that post-visit conversation over a plate of ribs at the nearby Gale Street Inn.

Located at 5415 W. Higgins Ave., Jefferson Park; (312-533-4911 or edpaschkeartcenter.org).

International Museum of Surgical Science

International Museum of Surgical Science

Free Days: Admission is free to all Feb. 3-7, 10-13 & 17-21; Nov. 30-Dec. 4; Dec. 7-11 & Dec. 14-18 and always free for kids ages 3 & under.

What Kids Love: Budding medical professionals will be fascinated by seeing the evolution of medicine and medical equipment (don’t miss the X-rays). This is definitely a museum for older kids, though, as the museum does not sugarcoat the way medicine was in the past, torture devices and all. Definitely make time for a stop at the gift shop where you will find some of the most unusual take-home items. Common cold plush toy, anyone?

Located at 1542 N. Lake Shore Dr., Downtown; (312-642-6502 or imss.org).

— Maria Chambers and Anli Chen

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