1. Discovery Center
Mon–Fri noon–10pm; Sat 9am–6pm; Sun 9am–9pm
2940 N Lincoln Ave (between George St and Wellington Ave) Chicago,
2. Health World Children's Museum
1301 S Grove Ave
3. Kohl Children's Museum
Mon 9:30am–noon (June–Aug 9:30am–5pm); Tue–Sat 9:30am–5pm, Sun noon–5pm
2100 Patriot Blvd, the Glen Glenview, North Suburbs
4. Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center
Mon–Wed 10am–5pm; Thu 10am–8pm; Fri 10am–5pm; Sat, Sun 11am–4pm
9603 Woods Dr Skokie, North Suburbs
5. Mitchell Museum of the American Indian
Tue, Wed 10am–5pm; Thu 10am–8pm; Fri, Sat 10am–5pm; Sun noon–4pm
3001 Central St Evanston, North Suburbs
The Kohl Museum is probably a little less than an hour from SAIC, but, given you have a small child or someone who acts like a small child with you, it is really an amazing place to explore.
The Mitchell Museum is a tiny place from what I remember, a little less interactive than say, the children's museum, but really interesting, especially when we are thinking about forgotten histories in the context of a master narrative. The location of the museum speaks to this as it is situated in Northwest Evanston, where the non-white resident population is a whopping 7%.
I haven't been to the Holocaust Meseum in Skokie yet, despite my uncle being a docent there.
The other two I have never heard of, and it look like at least the Discovery center isn't actually in the suburbs, but pretty north in Chicago. Anyone interested in a field trip or two let me know...transportation will be on me.
To check out the Time Out Chicago complete list with descriptions of the museums, click here.
