This was our experience at this awesome children's museum in Chicagoland.
Last weekend was a gloomy, drizzly, Chicago winter day. Too cold to play for a while outside, and no snow anyways to enjoy any winter wonderland fun.
So I bundled my boys up and made plans to revisit the Kohl Children's Museum.
This trip back down was looooong overdue. The last and only time we were able to attend was the 1st weekend in March 2020. Just before the world shut down for the COVID-19 pandemic.
At that time it was just my first two sons. Our third wasn't even a thought yet.
Well almost three years later, and now with three boys, I'm very happy that things seem to be back to normal. So we made time, and off to this children's museum, we went.
Location
Kohl Children's Museum is located at 2100 Patriot Blvd, Glenview, Illinois.
It was about a 40-minute drive from where we live in Lake County.
Admission
The cost is about $19 per person. They knock off $2 if you purchase tickets online in advance. Only babies under 1 are free.
There are other discounts for seniors, WIC/SNAP eligible families, and a BOGO deal for active duty members and their families. Veterans are also free on Veteran's Day.
However, memberships are available!
Because we had been there before, I went ahead and bought an annual membership prior to going. (At the moment the BOGO military deal doesn't apply to us because my husband is currently on an intermission from the Navy to do law school.) Paying for myself and my three children alone would have been pricey. And I figured for almost double that cost, I can just purchase the annual pass so we can all go as many times as we would like all year long.
I know we are going to get our money's worth.
This place is huge! It going to take multiple visits just to be able to enjoy every section of this museum.
Playtime!
Well, I say playtime because that is essentially what the experience for kids boils down to. But it's so much more than that! Kids learn so much through play. And the toys, items, structures, and crafts available to them at Kohl Children's Museum provide a plethora of learning moments for kids of all ages.
Some of 15 permanent sections include:
Arts & crafts studio
Mini library with adorable reading nooks
Mock grocery store
Play cafe
Automobile center with an awesome walkthrough car wash
Water Works
Play vet center
Construction experience area
Train play area
Nursery/baby center
Music room
There is also a section for mobile/limited-time displays. It's currently "Nature Cat" from PBS Kids! The play area and display for it are so adorable. My oldest loved exploring the cave. And all three enjoyed the woodsy, slide area.
Here is a downloadable PDF copy of their map:
(Found on the Kohl Children's Museum website.)
As I mentioned we weren't able to visit and play in all the sections this last visit. After two hours my kids were exhausted and ready for a nap. But they loved everything they were able to experience.
I think their absolute favorite section so far is the waterworks area. It really is a cool setup. In one spot you can see how the air in bubbles can cause things to float- like the jellyfish. And in another area, my boys were able to see how water pressure can build up and can be used to make things move in different ways- whether that's in the form of a water cannon or when a pipe valve opens fast like a geyser.
Outdoor Garden
I'm excited for us to return when the weather is warmer. They have a pretty spacious outdoor play area that seems like it's a nice spot in the warm months. It's currently closed for winter.
So I'll add more to this section once we've experienced this area!
Bean Sprouts Cafe
This is a newer addition to the museum. They have a cute cafe spot near the main entrance. So if you want to stop for a bite or drink and don't want to leave the premises, you can hop in and grab something.
Some of the items on the menu do seem to be on the pricier side. However, the kid options, snacks, and drinks seem reasonable. And they affirm to be all organic and allergy conscious- so there is value to it.
Additional Note
If you go on the weekend or during a holiday break, prepare for the crowds! It was just a normal Saturday and we arrived about two hours after they opened, but it was packed. We did enjoy ourselves, but it was just something I wanted to note.
I do want to figure out if there are much quieter times. I'll try to attend a member-only session and see if there is any difference and then give an update.
While things worked out for my kids and me, I did feel a little stressed because I didn't want to possibly lose track of my kids with how many people there were. Also, there were times it was hard to navigate around or use a toy or machine because of how crowded it was.
Again, just something to keep in mind in case you plan on visiting on the weekend.
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