Chicago parents are no stranger to those restless winter days of few daylight hours filled with active kids eager to let some healthy energy out.
To take the stress out of planning what to do and where to go when you know you just have to get out of the house, we've compiled a list of great ways to play away the day. Some are indoors, most are outdoors (or both) and many are free or low cost. Take a look and have a blast!
There's plenty of outdoor winter fun going on at Morton Arboretum, where kids admission is free through January 4. Bundle up and enjoy nature in all its wintry glory at the arboretum.
Cross Country Skiing and Snowshoeing
Bring your own skis or snowshoes, or a limited
amount of rental snowshoes are available onsite at $8 for up to three hours (Arboretum
members get discounts).
Regular arboretum hours apply.
Cool Kids Nature Hikes
Nov. 28 to Feb. Weekdays: 10:30 and 11:30 a.m.
Weekends: 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., & 12:30 p.m. Children's Garden. Embark on a 20-minute hike followed by a warm cup of cocoa for kids. Hike themes change every two weeks and depends on weather conditions.
Going on a Gnome Hunt
December–February
Daily
9:30 a.m.–4 p.m.
Children’s Garden
The animals may be hibernating, but we still have gnomes. Can you find all of the gnomes hiding in the Children’s Garden?
Love nature, but just not into the cold? Stop indoor at the Garfield Park Conservatory
where kids can play in the Elizabeth Morse Genius Children's Garden complete with tunnel slide, touchable plants, a baby crawler pit and weekend drop-in activities. While there, see Winter 2008 Holiday Traditions, the conservatory's annual holiday flower show featuring poinsettias and other plants in the colors of the season.
Winter 2008 Holiday Traditions runs now until January 11.
Hours: Conservatory hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, open Thursdays till 8 p.m.
Cost: Free
Little train lovers will marvel at the miniature Holiday trains of Wonderland Express at Chicago Botanic Garden. Chicago’s most famous landmarks appear throughout this landscape and are constructed of all-natural materials collected in the
wild, such as gourds, pine cones, bark and wooden logs, acorns, eucalyptus
pods, grains and grasses, and more.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. now through Jan. 4. (closed at 3 p.m. on Dec. 4 and 24 and all
day Dec. 25).
Cost: $10 for adults and $8 for children (ages 3-12)
and seniors (62+). Members pay $8 for adults and $6 for children (ages
3-12) and seniors (62+).
Admission to Wonderland Express on Tuesdays through Dec. 23 is free. All ticket purchases are timed for entry. Parking is $15 per car; free for Garden members.
Also at Chicago Botanic Garden, you may want to catch the "Winter Wonders" family drop-in activities held in Burnstein Hall from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays from now through Dec. 21 and daily from Dec. 22 through Jan. 4 (closed at 3 p.m. on Dec. 24 and all day Dec. 25). Station-based, hands-on activities include exploring snowflakes, conifer branches and cones, making bird feeders with natural materials and more.
Take a ride on a real holiday train this month. The CTA Holiday Train is back again. Interiors of the CTA train cars are decked out with thousands of multi-colored lights, red bows, garland, and red and green overhead lighting. The hand poles are wrapped to look like candy canes.
As the train pulls into each station, Santa waves to the boarding passengers from his sleigh on an open-air flatcar that carries his reindeer and decorated holiday trees. Santa and his elves will pass out candy canes and season's greetings to passengers.
Here's a schedule of remaining dates and train lines that feature the Holiday Train:
December 18 -- Purple Line Express
December 19 -- Red Line
December 20 -- Orange Line
December 22 -- Purple Line Express
December 23 -- Yellow Line
Hours: The train operates from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends, and 3 p.m. to 7
p.m. on select weekdays (schedules for each individual line will vary). The Holiday Train will make stops at all stations along the respective routes.
Cost: normal CTA fares apply.
After working up an appetite from all the fun, you can sample delicious German holiday treats like brats, goulash, potato pancakes, cookies and, for grown-ups, Gluhwein (a warm spiced wine) at Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza. Inspired by the famous Nuremburg Christmas market dating back to 1545, this outdoor market offers handmade gifts, unique ornaments, rare European fabrics and textiles and German delicacies. Children may also enjoy a view of the city's giant Christmas tree at Daley Plaza or a visit with Santa at the Santa House at Daley Plaza.
Hours for Santa visits now through Dec. 23:
Monday to Friday: 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
December 24: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
(Santa takes a break each day from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.)
Cost: Free for Santa visits
Christkindlemarket dates: Nov 27, 2008 - Dec 24, 2008
Hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.,
Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Lastly, don't forget the annual Mayor Daley's Holiday Sports Festival December 27 to 29 at
McCormick Place. The annual indoor festival consists of demonstrations, sports tournaments, a chess tournament, interactive sports zones, a tots zone and more.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost: Free
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