Leave it to Hollywood to make museums the hottest family ticket around. The “Night at the Museum” series have inspired a series of museum overnights in Chicago. These activities aren’t cheap, but they offer a new perspective on some of the city’s cultural gems.
Overnights let your little knowledge hunters explore the museums at the their own pace. Note: most museums require that children be at least kindergarten age because, as the Field Museum’s Beth Crownover says,ย “anybody younger than 6 is going to freak out when the lights go out and you have animals in cases around you.”
Leave it to Hollywood to make museums the hottest family ticket around. The “Night at the Museum” series have inspired a series of museum overnights in Chicago. These activities aren’t cheap, but they offer a new perspective on some of the city’s cultural gems.
Its name might be reminiscent of Chicago’s great gangsterculture, but Shedd’s overnight experience is more good times thanGoodfellas. Swap your own bed for the sea bed and rise
with the sun over the lake. Select Friday nights October through
March, $50 per person for members, $55 for non-members. More information
Shedd Aquarium: Asleep with the Fishes
Sleep under the stars without pitching a tent at Adler’sAstrovernights. You’ll get a telescope viewing, demonstrations,hands-on activities and shows in the Sky Theater, along with alate-night snack before sleeping in the galleries. Wake up to acontinental breakfast in Galileo’s cafe. Recommended for kids ages6-10. $50, or $25 for an evening-only options.
2011 dates: March 18, April 8, May 6.
Adler Planetarium: Astrovernight
This one comes the closest to the “Night at the Museum” moviesthat took museums from creaky to cool. Sleep with Sue the T. Rexand the rest of the Field Museum’s furry, fun and freakyartifacts. Recommended for kids ages 6-12.$51 per person formembers, $63 for non-members.
2011 dates: May 6, June 10
Field Museum: Dozin’ with the Dinos
Bunk up next to Notebaert’s winged denizens at one of themuseum’s Bunking with Butterflies overnights. Recommended for kidsages 6 to 11. $45 kids, $40 member kids, $35 member adults
2011 dates: Friday, March 25.
Peggy Notebaert: Bunking with Butterflies
Sleep nose-to-nose with a Boeing 727 jet or steps away from agiant heart at the Museum of Science and Industry’s overnightoption. $45 per person fee, with reduced-price tickets to one ofthe current Omnimax films.
2011 dates: Saturday, March 12,
Friday, April 15
