Pop baby in a buggy and head to a Chicago museum or garden for a date with art, history and foliage! You’ll catch up on the city’s cultural pulse while baby enjoys the sights and sounds from the stroller-eye perspective. Â Read on to find the places where no one bats an eyelid if baby gets cranky or has a diaper blowout.
Museum of Contemporary Art
With its striking collection of modern art, The Museum of Contemporary Art, a.k.a. the MCA, will impress both parents and babies alike: Babies will appreciate the bold colors and abstract, modern shapes. Adults will appreciate the big names in art on display: Chuck Close, Christo, Calder, Cindy Sherman and Warhol, to name a few. Take in an hour-long guided stroller tour and get reacquainted with the art world without having to worry about baby causing a stir. Tours are free with admission.
220 E. Chicago Ave.
Downtown
312-280-2660
Online: mcachicago.org
Tour days: The first Wed. of each month from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Cost: $15/suggested admission; free for kids
Art Institute of Chicago
There are so many masterpieces to meet at the world-class Art Institute of Chicago that it can be difficult to come up with a plan-of-action for a family visit. Break the museum’s quiet, contemplative atmosphere by participating in a Picture This program, which invites families with tots ages 3 and under into a gallery to examine art and read a related picture-book together. Offered the first Thursday of every month, from 11 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., this baby and toddler friendly program is free with general admission and meets in Griffin Court, located in the Modern Wing.
111 S. Michigan Ave.
312-443-3600
Online:Â artic.edu
Tour day: First Thursday of every month, from 11 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Cost: Suggested admission $20/adults, free for kids under 13
The Field Museum
Though the Field Museum doesn’t offer any docent guided stroller tours, it’s a great place to explore art and culture from around the world with babe in the buggy thanks to the museum’s mobile tour app. Load the app onto your smartphone and then set off on your tour of interest. Follow a themed tour, or create your own customized experience by selecting just the objects you want to see. The app offers behind-the-scenes stories, augmented reality, audio clips, imagery, videos, appearances by Museum scientists and more – and if you need to take a break to feed baby or yourself, you can just press pause. The Field Museum’s ground floor bathrooms won an award for being among the best, family-friendliest bathrooms in the U.S., so of course you’ll find comfy breastfeeding nooks and diaper changing stations.
1400 S. Lake Shore Dr.
Museum Campus
312-922-9410
Online:Â fieldmuseum.org
Cost: $31/adult; $21/ages 3-11
What is your favorite place to stroll? Let us know in the Comments!
— Amy BizzarriÂ
