Activities for Kids

6 Local Children’s Museums You Haven’t Visited Yet

Lesser-known children's museums hide out of sight but are well worth discovering. Read about our favorite secret places for hands-on play. We promise you haven't played them out ... yet.

By Taryn Bickley February 19, 2014

If you’ve already conquered Chicago Children’s Museum and Kohl Children’s Museum, then it’s time to find kiddie fun further afield. Head to lesser-known children’s museums that hide just out of sight but are well worth discovering. Click through our gallery for the 411 on secret places for imaginative play, interactive games and engaging exhibits. We promise you haven’t played them out … yet.

Wonder Works – Oak Park

Climb a tree, pretend you’re a prince, take the stage and dance with fairies … it’s all possible at this intimate Oak Park museum where imaginations run free. Celebrating performance, art and design, this 6,400-square-foot space is home to six “exploratory zones” including a firehouse, market, teddy bear residence, puppet theatre and police station. With a no-mess, shoe-free policy, it’s also pretty cozy. Special events include a storytime series on Wednesdays and Fridays, and a daily drop-in art class with trained professionals.

6445 W. North Ave., Oak Park (708-383-4815 or wonderworks.org). Open Mon. & Wed.-Sat., 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.; Sun., noon-5 p.m. Admission $6 per kid or adults; memberships available.

Have you visited any of these museums? Let us know about it in the Comments section below.

— Taryn Bickley