While everyone knows you can get something from Amazon delivered to your door, this year, go the extra mile and pick out a special present at one of LA’s best gift shops and deliver a thoughtful and unique present to that special someone
When it comes to holiday gift giving, you have many personalities to cover on your list—a picky kiddo who hates anything that’s not just the right shade of purple, your eccentric aunt who collects creepy clown figurines (#nojudgements), or that fantastic teacher for whom one gift doesn’t seem nearly enough. To help you find unexpected gifts that will make everyone feel special, we’ve curated a list of the very best shops in LA no matter what type of gift you’re looking for.
The Best Gifts Shops in Los Angeles for One-of-a-Kind Presents
Tesoro owner, Tara Riceberg, describes her store as "Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory meets little store around the corner." Filled with meticulously curated gifts that enhance people’s lives—whether they’re educational, purposeful, convenient or just plain old fun, Tesoro is one of our absolute favorite gift shops in the city. Handpicked selections include everything from unique books, imaginative games, and creative art kits to home décor, gadgets and stationery. Gift wrapping is available.
This Eagle Rock gem founded in 2010 by owner, Leanna Lin, is one of our go-to spots to find the perfect gift for any age. From wooden food trucks, unique books and collectible toys to Studio Ghibli knick-knacks, artist prints and stationery, the shop is a treasure trove of creative gifts. Be sure to check their website for special pop-ups and art events throughout the year as well.
Time Travel Mart is a time travel themed convenience store that sells humorous products from the past, present and future. Whether you’re in the market for some dinosaur eggs, a robot toupee or Wooly Mammoth Chunks, they have you covered. This place is great for some truly unusual stocking stuffers. Best of all, proceeds from the shop go to 826LA, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting Los Angeles students with their creative writing skills.
On a mission to find a place that offered special, unique and affordable gifts, owners Tamara and Russell Houghten, founded Shout and About in in 2015. The couple prides themselves in stocking an ever-evolving selection of well-designed finds, including books and various novelties for kids, stationery, home goods, and jewelry. It’s the perfect spot for those not so easy to shop for folks on your list. Echo Park & Carlsbad Online:shoutandabout.com
5. Yolk
This independent design and gift store features an incredible selection of artisan designer goods, locally produced wares and individualistic kids’ fashions sourced from around the world. Whether you’re shopping for toys, candles, kitchen goodies, or children’s clothing, you can rest assured that your gift will be special.
3910 W. Sunset Blvd. Silver Lake Online:shopyolk.com
6. Burro
Burro is a one-stop shop for well-curated goods. This warm and welcoming space features items like kids’ clothing, adorable stationery, luxurious bath and body products, specialty books, home goods, jewelry, and the list goes on. It’s truly one of the best treasure troves for unique gifts in town. Venice & Santa Monica Online:burrogoods.com
The Best Toy Stores in Los Angeles for Kids at Heart
Family-owned and operated since 1945, LA’s oldest toy store, Kip’s Toyland, has long been a favorite of locals who are searching for the perfect toy. Owners, Don and Lily Kipper, and all their staff members are experts when it comes to toys, and there’s no better place to turn when you have zero clue what to get your littles. They prioritize having the hottest items in stock, as well as beloved oldie but goodie classic and retro toys. And to encourage kids to use their imaginations and interact with one another, Kip’s doesn’t sell any toys that plug in.
Original Farmer’s Market 6333 W. 3rd St, Suite 720 Los Angeles Online:kipstoyland.com
8. Miracle Mile Toys and Gifts
This magical neighborhood toy store focuses on classic toys and games that will stand the test of time. They carry a wide selection of offerings from special brands around the globe and offer fantastic customer service to find just the thing you’re looking for. Parents should note there are no returns, exchanges only.
This self-described “pop culture toy shop with a punk rock attitude” is total heaven for kiddos who are into Funko collectibles, Hello Kitty, Garbage Pail Kids, Naoshi artwork and Anime. With a knowledgeable and friendly staff that can help you find anything you’re looking for – boring gifts are a thing of the past.
4633 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles Online:wackola.com
Next time you find yourself at the Museum of Contemporary Art downtown, make sure to stop by the MOCA store for a fabulous array of unique items for art lovers. They have everything from art-inspired activity books, t-shirts and totes to home goods, skate decks and special edition MOCA Vans sneakers. And if you’re a museum member, you get 10% off your purchase! 250 S. Grand Ave. DTLA Online:mocastore.org
11. Academy Museum Store
Hands down, there’s no better place to find a gift for the film fan in your life. And if you’re thinking it’s going to be like the souvenir shops on Hollywood Blvd., think again. The Academy Museum Store features an impressive selection high-quality t-shirts and hoodies, hats, jewelry, art prints, cinema books, games, framed film posters, movie-related collectibles, and specialty Oscar gifts. Many items reflect current exhibitions on display at the museum, and some things are totally exclusive and one-of-a-kind to the store. It’s truly a cinephile’s paradise.
The LACMA Store at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art features incredibly cool art products, books, toys, exhibition catalogues, art prints, tote bags, t-shirts and much more. Every item in store is carefully chosen to represent current collections featured at the museum, as well as products that showcase Los Angeles’s unique culture and diversity. LACMA members receive a 10% discount on almost all purchases.
The Library Store is part of the Library Foundation of Los Angeles which supports the Los Angeles Public Library. There’s no better place to find a gift for the bibliophile in your life with a curated selection of books, totes, tees, games, plushies, stationery and all sorts of book-ish novelties.
As brick-and-mortar bookstores sadly continue to die out, The Last Bookstore in downtown LA continues to survive and thrive. Boasting the title of California’s largest used and new book and record store, it’s no wonder this is a swell spot for finding extra special gifts. With over 250,000 new and used books on two floors, a rare book annex, tens of thousands of vinyl records and graphic novels, and some super cool gallery shops on the mezzanine level, you’re sure to find something special. Plus, it’s just a super fun place to spend an afternoon exploring
LA’s premier Black woman-owned concept bookshop and creative space features an incredible array of curated books about and written by people of color – truly one of the best we’ve seen in the city. The vibe here is cool and cozy – a place you want to hang out and have great conversations. They have a fantastic variety of kids’ books, adult selections, t-shirts, puzzles, games, art prints and more.
This unique retail shop on La Brea caters to big fans of Japanese pop culture. With a fabulous variety of character goods, toys, apparel, accessories, art and one of the best Sanrio selections around, it’s the perfect shop to find something unexpected.
Located in Sawtelle’s Japantown, Giant Robot Store features a wide variety of products from around the world, including a mind-blowing selection of Asian pop culture products, fun housewares, stationery, t-shirts, art prints, comics, plushies and toy figures.
Anime is all the rage with kids at the moment, so there’s no better place to shop for gifts than Anime Station in Little Tokyo. With a wide selection of Anime items from the most popular TV shows and a great variety of authentically licensed goods—you’ll find everything from figures and plushies to clothing and accessories.
A woman-owned business started during the pandemic, Gone Bananas Bread Co. just opened their first retail shop in November at the Original Farmer’s Market. It’s truly some of the most to-die-for banana bread we’ve ever tasted and makes for an unexpected hostess or teacher gift this season. With heart-shaped breads lovingly baked in flavors like Chocolate Chip Banana, Nucking Futs, Bluenana Bread and more, what’s not to love? Also, a portion of their net profits go to charities, Baby2Baby and This is About Humanity.
Original Farmer’s Market 6333 W. 3rd St. Los Angeles Online:gonebananasbread.com
20. Helen’s Wines
If you’re gifting vino this season (we’ll give you our address), we love Helen’s Wine Shop. Started by Helen Johannsen inside Jon & Vinny’s restaurant in the Fairfax District in 2015, the shop focuses on naturally driven and organically farmed labels, small production vineyards, and winemakers with integrity. With a carefully curated selection of allocated items, limited releases, exceptional gems and new finds that are in constant rotation, plus their knowledgeable and friendly staff, it’s a great place to pick up a bottle for someone special—or yourself!
These local costume shops are perfect for outfitting your little ones this Halloween—and beyond
It’s time for your family to begin pondering one of life’s big questions: what should we be for Halloween?! And, these days, it’s not enough to come up with a one-night-only disguise for Halloween trick-or-treating. All October, dozens of family-friendly Halloween events promise to get kids into the spooky spirit, with costumes highly encouraged. Thankfully, we have you covered with some of our favorite local storefronts and pop-up places to shop for costumes, accessories, and festive décor. Whatever your family needs to complete their costumes, keep the Halloween spirit alive with the help of these shops—many of which are open year-round and can help you with many a theme-party looks!—in both the city and the ‘burbs.
For a Vintage Vibe: Lost Eras
The cool speakeasy of costume shops, Lost Eras is a hidden gem with a throwback twist. It houses a showroom full of vintage and antique collectibles, and is known for renting props and costumes to theater and movie sets (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Untouchables, and Public Enemies—yep, Robert De Niro wore their clothes!). At Halloween, they add to their stock and go gangbusters. If you’re looking for funky décor—Halloween or otherwise—Lost Eras has a lot to choose from.
1511 W. Howard St.
Rogers Park Online:losteras.com
For Treasure Hunting: Chicago Costume Company Don't let its small facade deceive you: Chicago Costume is crammed to the rafters with costumes, makeup, accessories and anything else you need to transform your look. Kiddies will go bananas for the selection of Disney, Star Wars, superhero, and comic book-themed costumes. This is one of just a handful of year-round costume shops so don’t panic when your little superhero needs a new costume in January. Too busy to shop in the store? Purchase online and have your costume shipped to you or pick it up for free at one of their two Chicago locations.
For a Spooky Setting: Halloween Hallway Known for its robust selection of adult costumes since it was founded in 2007, Halloween Hallway also caters to kids with four Chicago locations (River North, Wicker Park, Downtown, Lincoln Park) that are open during Halloween season only. We love the overabundance of accessories. They take decorating seriously and some of the décor (zombies, vampires and other things that go bump in the night) might be a little scary for little ones—yet super-duper cool for big kids!
For the Procrastinator or Late-Night Shopper: Fantasy Costumes This year-round costume headquarters is a Chicago classic and known for helpful service. So helpful, in fact, that for the last few days before Halloween, they stay open 24 hours a day to satisfy all those last-minute, eleventh-hour switcheroos that parents love so much. Kids will love the Fortnite costume selection—and with so many adult costumes, your whole family can dress up together! Fantasy Costumes goes above and beyond in the accessories department, so expect to find an enormous selection of makeup, wigs, masquerade masks, and other do-dads to complete the transformation.
For Kids, Pumpkins & Pets: Spirit Halloween North, south, east, west—no matter where you turn, Spirit is like your friendly-ghost neighbor. With costumes for everyone (including pets!), a dedicated pumpkin carving area, and a "glow" section of accessories that will last well beyond Halloween, you'll find everything you need here. Because many locations are seasonal brick-and-mortar stores, open only during the holiday time, check their site for up-to-date locations.
When it comes to kids’ books, representation matters. This is especially true for minorities, immigrants and other marginalized people whose stories often don’t receive the same attention as “mainstream” white characters. Check out our roundup of just a few of our favorite books that feature strong Asian American protagonists. These books range from historical fiction to graphic novels to bilingual picture books and even chapter books for kids that’ll appeal to readers of all ages and backgrounds.
"No matter where we are, no matter what we do, we're Arab, Arab, Arab the whole way through!" From January to December, there is always something fun to do in the Arab culture. Young readers will learn about maamoul, shopping for hijabs, Eid and more in this easy-to-read story by Cathy Camper. Ages: 3-7
A beautiful symphony of both American and South Asian culture, Jyoti Rajan Gopal's story is a tribute. Desi loves her heritage just as much as her new culture, so can she have both? This sweet story embraces biculturalism and is accompanied by Supriya Kelkar's gorgeous illustrations. Ages: 4-8
When Jyoti travelled cross the world to visit her grandma in India, she didn't expect to miss home. But then Sita Pati taught her tons of fun things to do in her native country. When it's time to go home, Jyoti suddenly didn't want to leave. This sweet tale of the special relationship between grandmother and granddaughter by Rajani LaRocca is beautifully accompanied by Sara Palacios' illustrations and will have every reader reminiscing about their family. Ages: 3-7
Based on a true story about author Maggie Tokuda-Hall's grandparents, this story shares the reality of living in an incarceration camp during WWII. With illustrations by Yas Imamura, young readers follow Tama who works in the camp's library and her friend George while navigating life and love at Minidoka. Ages: 6-9
Young readers will learn the importance of Kathas for the people of Bangladesh in this story by Radhiah Chowdhury. When young Asiya visits Nanu, her favorite part is opening her chest filled with the old sari's that have been transformed into katha quilts. Along with mesmerizing illustrations by Lavanya Naidu, readers will also be entertained by the simple prose and inspiring story. Ages: 4-8
Pre-schoolers will enjoy learning how to say good night in 10 different languages, including Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, French, Italian, Portuguese, Swahili, Arabic, Vietnamese, German and Korean. This bedtime follow-up to author Cindy Jin’s How Do You Say I Love You? features adorable illustrations by Shirley Ng-Benitz and is the perfect way for parents to wish their little ones a good night’s sleep in any language. Ages: 2-4
Chinese New Year Wishes: Chinese Spring and Lantern Festival Celebration
Written in English and simplified Chinese, Chinese New Year Wishes is a colorfully illustrated picture book that follows the adventures of a Chinese-American boy named Hong as he and his family prepare for and celebrate the Chinese New Year Festival. Author Jillian Lin and illustrator Shi Meng have created an enjoyable story behind one of the most important annual celebrations in many East Asian cultures, including interesting facts about the festival and recommended questions for discussion at the back of the book. Ages: 2-6
If music is the food of love, then Grace Lin’s delightful sing-song love letter to dim sum will touch the hearts (and stomachs) of anyone who has ever sampled the delicious joys of these little Chinese dishes. The story follows a little girl and her family as they visit a bustling dim sum restaurant, picking their favorite dishes from steaming trolleys filled with dumplings, cakes, buns and tarts. With simple words written and expressed in both English and Chinese, this bilingual board book is a yummy read for any budding foodie. Ages: 3-6
This book by Ajali Joshi chronicles the journey of a young boy named Jagadish who sets out to find solutions to unanswered questions using the scientific method. Inspired by the life and work of Indian physicist, botanist, and author Jagadish Chandra Bose, this story encourages young readers to embrace their curiosity and unleash their inner scientist. Ages: 4+
Author Supriya Kelkar’s debut children’s book celebrates the life of an Indian-American boy named Harpreet Singh who is a practicing Sikh. Harpreet’s culture and religion are affirmed in the colorful patkas or head covering that he wears. When his family moves to a new city, everything feels gray for Harpreet, but by wearing a colorful patka to express his mood and suit different occasions, he is able to bring color to an otherwise dull world. Illustrator Alea Marley nicely depicts Harpreet’s joy and exuberance through simple yet powerful images. Ages: 3-7
Like many immigrants from non-English-speaking countries, the main character in The Name Jar has a name that her majority classmates find difficult to pronounce. Unhei recently moved to the U.S. from Korea, and instead of introducing herself on the first day of school, she tells her classmates that she will choose a new “American” name by the following week, with suggested new names placed into a jar. As Unhei makes friends, her naming path leads to embracing her culture, identity, and given name with the support of her new community. Ages: 3-7
Super Satya is ready to have a super day, including finally conquering the tallest slide in Hoboken. But her day takes a not-so-super turn when she realizes her superhero cape is stuck at the dry cleaner. Will she be able to face her fears, help her friends and be the true hero everyone knows she is? Super Satya Saves The Day introduces Satya, a precocious Indian-American superhero. Ages: 3-9
Bibimbop is a traditional Korean dish of rice topped and then mixed with meat and vegetables. Author Linda Sue Park has created a fun picture book for pre-schoolers that uses bouncy rhyming text to tell the story of a young girl recounting all the ways she helps her mother make this delicious dish, from shopping, preparing ingredients, setting the table, and finally sitting down with her family to enjoy a favorite meal. Featuring whimsical illustrations, which sweetly depicts the lives of a modern Korean-American family, the book includes the author’s recipe for bibimbop. Ages: 4-7
Writer Natasha Yim and illustrator Grace Zong have transplanted the classic British fairy tale, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, and set the story in a bustling contemporary Chinatown. It's Chinese New Year, and young Goldy Luck’s mother wants her to take a plate of turnip cakes to the neighbors. The Chans aren’t home, but that doesn’t stop Goldy from trying out their rice porridge, their chairs, and their beds—with disastrous results. Soon, things take a turn for the absurd., i.e., Pandas! Ages: 4-8
This celebration of trailblazing Asian-Americans who changed the world is beautifully illustrated and features the captivating and inspiring stories of a wide range of American heroes of Asian descent, ranging from Olympic figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi and classical musician Yo-Yo Ma to astronaut Ellison Onizuka and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, plus many more. As a Filipina-American mother and Fulbright Scholar who served in the U.S. Air Force, author Analiza Quiroz Wolf is herself an inspirational Asian-American role model. Ages: 6-12
First-time author Eugenia Chu’s illustrated children’s book mixes American and Chinese cultures and blends traditions and languages in a simply told and engaging story. The title character, Brandon, is an American-born Chinese boy who bonds with his Chinese grandmother by making dumplings with her. The story is told in both English and simplified Chinese and is a fun read for families with children who are learning—or who are interested in—Mandarin or Chinese culture. Ages: 7-11
London-based authors Kevin and Katie Tsang are a husband and wife writing duo who conceived the Sam Wu Is Not Afraid series based on memories of Kevin’s childhood fears while growing up in Atlanta. Sam Wu is the kind of character who young readers will immediately identify with: brash on the outside, but doubtful on the inside. Each book in the series tackles one thing or other that our hero is most definitely NOT at all but maybe actually totally afraid of, whether it’s ghosts, sharks, spiders or zombies. Funny, silly, and earnest in equal measures, Sam Wu would never be mistaken for a wimpy kid. Ages: 7-12
The titular character of Susan Tan’s quasi-autobiographical debut novel is a precocious soon-to-be third-grader named Priscilla “Cilla” Lee-Jenkins who is 50% Chinese, 50% Caucasian, and 100% destined to become a future author extraordinaire. The irresistible Cilla and all of the other fully realized cast of characters in the book are beautifully and humorously written, and Tan tackles tough subjects like biracial identity and the challenges of growing up in a black and white world with great wit, compassion and flair. Ages: 8-12
If your young reader is a fan of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series, Van Hoang’s debut novel will appeal with its mix of magic, adventure, and middle-school woes. Girl Giant and the Monkey King tells the story of Thom Ngho, an 11-year-old Vietnamese-American heroine who is keeping a secret: she is extraordinarily strong—and her strength is making it impossible for her to fit in at her new middle school. Thom accidentally unleashes the Monkey King, a powerful and mischievous deity, and she soon realizes that dealing with this notorious trickster may be more trouble than it’s worth. Ages: 8-12
Asian-American comic-book superheroes are few and far between, so when writer Minh Lê and illustrator Andie Tong reimagined the Green Lantern story as told through the adventures of a 13-year-old Vietnamese-American boy named Tai Pham, many in the Asian-American community rejoiced. This graphic novel nicely interweaves Vietnamese culture with the origin stories of DC Comics space cops known as the Green Lanterns, with Tai’s grandmother's jade ring functioning at the power-inducing rings owned and operated by the Green Lantern corps across the universe. Ages: 8-12
While trying to navigate friendships and cyberbullying, tweenager Pippa Park receives a prestigious athletic scholarship, which leads her to reinvent herself at her new private middle school. Author Erin Yun cleverly reimagines Charles Dickens’s classic Great Expectations through the experiences of a funny, kind-hearted Korean-American heroine whose journey to self-discovery and self-acceptance wends through the corridors of middle school, sports action, and underprivileged immigrant home. Sharp and poignant, young readers will enjoy learning about class relations and ethnic identity. Ages: 9-13
Newbery Medal award-winning author Cynthia Kadohata takes young readers back to the end of WWII in the U.S. and Japan. After spending four years in internment camps, the 12-year-old protagonist, Hanako, and her American-born family are forced to renounce their American citizenship and expatriate to Japan. This historical fiction tells a story from the past but reflects the dangerous xenophobic and nationalist rhetoric that’s present today. This beautifully written novel will resonate with young readers who will relate to the pressure Hanako feels as a young kid giving up everything known for something entirely different. Ages: 10-14
Lou has a big dream: to build a tiny house. She shares a room with her mom in her grandmother’s house in San Francisco and longs for a place of her own, where she can escape her crazy but lovable extended Filipino family. It’s not so easy to build one, but she won’t give up on her dreams—her friends and family won’t either. This beautiful coming-of-age story is set around the Bay and explores culture and family, forgiveness and friendship, and what makes a true home. Ages: 8-12
Young readers will enjoy the story of Anjali as she struggles with friendship and owning her exceptional talent in the tabla world where she is the only girl. A follow-up story to Always Anjali, this story inspires young readers to never dim their light and to never let anyone make her feel bad for being good at something.
From Wonder Woman to Spider-Man, comic books are having a serious moment. If you’ve got a budding comic lover in your family, now they can make comics of their own right on their phone or tablet. We found 10 apps that are easy to use, interactive and perfect for personalizing your family photos or giving school projects a fun twist. Keep reading to get the scoop on the best comic book apps for kids.
Turn your family photos into a fun comic strip with this easy-to-use app. There are filters to give your photos that classic comic book look, and you can add text bubbles and stickers to your creation. With a 4.5 rating on the App Store and over 1,500 reviews, this app is a winner.
Comic Life 3 allows you to create a full comic using its full-page templates and panel layouts. This powerful app works especially well on an iPad with a large screen; it allows you to edit all sorts of small details and add special effects. You can use photos from your library or access web photos via its Flickr integration.
Available for iPhone and iPad via App Store, $4.99
This comic book app is a little more simple, but still just as fun (and easy!) to use. The user interface takes you through each step to make professional-style comics in minutes. The fonts and word balloons were carefully chosen to look like real comic books, and there are over 1,000 decorative stickers to choose from.
This app has all the bells and whistles when it comes to creating your own personalized comic. Choose your panel layout, use your own photos, and add as many captions and dialogue stickers as your story needs. When you're through, there's an option to share via social media too.
Both kids and adults will get a kick out of this comic book app. It's simple enough that you'll get the gist in minutes and in addition to using photos, the kids can use their own drawings, too.
We love the special interactive perks of this comic book app from Duck Duck Moose. Once kids choose the scenes and characters they want, they can record their story, moving the characters as they talk. The app records the movement and kid voiceover so you not only get a personalized comic book—it's read by the author, too!
For the kid who just can't get enough of telling stories, this app has extra customizable speech balloons—and for the parent who's got Android devices, it's just right for your gear. There are all kinds of special effects, filters and panel choices too.
Formerly available as a separate app, now you can access this comic creation program right from your web browser on your phone, tablet or computer. For all those multilingual kiddos out there, we like that this website supports the creation of comics in 13 different languages. It's also free, and simple enough for even younger users. Just pick the number of frames you want to use, choose characters and add text into speech bubbles.
This app is particularly great if your family pet is just begging to be put in a comic. In a nutshell, it lets you upload photos or drawings and then add captions, sound effects, speech bubbles and other artistic effects. It's an easy way to give your family photos a digital storytelling twist.
Dad, pop, daddy, poppa, dadda, father, old man—no matter what you call him when ya need him, he’s extra special and oh so important. From baseball games celebrating Chicago’s love of hot dogs to art-filled exhibits, these Father’s Day activities in Chicago will make him feel celebrated. Here’s our list of what’s tops for pops (or someone extra special who walks in those shoes) in Chicago this Father’s Day.
Blue Man Group & 2D Restaurant Take dad to experience 2D Restaurant, an immersive and interactive 2D comic-book-like restaurant, and snag a Blue Man Group-themed donut. The donut features fresh blueberry puree sprinkled with colored cocoa powder and topped with a marshmallow. Purchase throughout the month of June to receive a code for 20% off an upcoming Blue Man Group performance, which would make a fun Father's Day gift.
Ribfest There’s a reason why this annual, finger-licking extravaganza of BBQ is so popular: Grillers come from all over the country to dish their ‘cue and compete for the festival title and the music lineup is always impressive. This Father's Day, Brett Eldredge is headlining. The Family Area at Ribfest is a fest unto itself with a petting zoo, magic shows, inflatables and more.
Themed Restaurants Dining out doesn’t have to be a snooze fest. There are lots of places to let imaginations run wild that range from a venue fit for a spy to a delightful meal in a rainforest. Sure, we know these themed restaurants in Chicago can sometimes be sensory overload, mostly for parents, but embrace the silliness. Who says you have to be serious all the time, anyway?
The Chicago Dogs Chicago's newest baseball team pays homage to Chicago's favorite street food, HOT DOGS! Make it a low-key Father's Day spent at Impact Field in Rosemont watching The Chicago Dogs bring home a "W".
Mexican Art Exhibit at Cantigny Cantigny Park in Wheaton is hosting Alebrijes: Creatures of a Dream World, Jun.-Oct., featuring dozens of mythical animals inspired by Mexican folklore.
Immersive Monet & The Impressionists State-of-the-art video mapping and ground-breaking animation bring the art of Impressionists to life like never before in Immersive Monet & The Impressionists. Viewers will be bathed in the brushstrokes and colors of Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Mary Cassatt and many more.
Human + Nature Five massive outdoor sculptures created exclusively for Morton Arboretum rise above the natural landscapes in the Human + Nature exhibition. The 15- to 26-foot-tall sculptures installed across the 1,700-acre site use thought-provoking human forms paired with elements of nature to bring attention to the deep connections between humans and nature. Three new sculptures will be unveiled Jun. 17.
Sail GP at Navy Pier Experience the high-adrenaline racing of Sail GP, sailing's pinnacle league, when 10 national teams race cutting-edge sailboats capable of speeds in excess of 60mph. They'll turn Chicago's lakefront into a racecourse at the United States Sail Grand Prix, Jun. 18 & 19.
Chicago Fire Boat Tour The Fred A. Busse was the largest diesel-powered fireboat in the world and served the Chicago Fire Department until 1981. The Chicago Fire Boat was built specifically to fit under Chicago’s bridges, minimizing response times for emergencies and helping ease congestion in a booming city. Her new owners renovated the retired fireboat and she is now cruising the Chicago waterways once again!
Chicago Philharmonic's Black Panther Experience Marvel Studios' Black Panther in Concert with Chicago Philarmonic at Chicago Theatre. The night will feature a screening of the complete film with the musical score performed live.
Movies Under the Stars While an air-conditioned theater might be just what a sweltering summer ordered, the best way to watch a movie in Chicago is outdoors. There are parks, nature centers, drive-ins, hotels and historic attractions reeling family favs. And their lawns or rooftops are yours for the taking. Watch a flick while fireflies dance with our guide to summer outdoor movies.
Prince: Immersive Experience Chicago is glowing purple, Jun. 9-Oct. 9, with Prince: Immersive Experience. Fans can immerse themselves in the music and life of Prince in 10 multi-dimensional spaces. The Experience will also feature historic wardrobe pieces, photography, instruments and much more courtesy of The Prince Estate.
Pride Fest Home to an eclectic mix of arts and crafts, food and other vendors, Pride Fest is hands down the Midwest’s largest celebration of gay pride. Four stages play host to some of the most fun pop and dance entertainment acts of summer, one of which highlights Chicago’s best performers in the LGBTQ community.
Raging Waves Splish, Splash! Turn Father's Day into a play day at Raging Waves. Experience Aussie Mat Dash, a six-lane racing waterslide. Six riders race side-by-side on mats in tunnels to an exhilarating finish at the bottom. You'll also find several family friendly attractions, including 32 water slides, a huge wave pool, three kiddie pool areas and a relaxing lazy river.
Nickel City Play old-school games like Skee-Ball and Bozo Buckets at Northbrook’s Nickel Citywhere, you guessed it, games are a nickel.
Fairmont Chicago Lake House Fairmont Chicago is capturing the magic of lake living with its summer pop-up experience, The Lake House. The lobby has been transformed to emulate the spirit of a Chicago summer spent on the lake with a built-in boat house surrounding the lobby bar accompanied by lake-house-inspired food, drinks and games like cornhole and fun photo opportunities throughout.
Scottish Festival & Highland Games Travel back in time to a life on the Scottish Isles at the annual Scottish Festival & Highland Games, Jun. 17 & 18. Your wee ones are sure to enjoy the men dressed in kilts, caber tossing, bagpipers strolling, adorable dogs dressed in Tartan, beautiful Heather queens, Haggis eating, and the shortbread contest at the Midwest’s largest Celtic Family Festival.
Bike Trails Dust off those bikes, grease the chains, strap on a brain bucket and get those legs pumping on a Chicago bike path. From the shores of Lake Michigan to the furthest reaches of the suburbs, here are our favorite spots to cycle as a familyin Chicago.
Climbing Walls Keep the kids from climbing the walls this Father's Day and take the family for a rock climbing or bouldering experience at one of our favorite climbing facilities for Chicago families.
Sky Deck Sometimes it's fun to play tourist in your own city, especially when the payoff is great views of our gorgeous skyline and lake. Pay a visit to Willis Tower and, if you're brave enough, walk the 4.3 feet into a glass box—The Ledge. Before you head up, check out their new museum packed with Instagramable photo opps and fun facts.
360 CHICAGO For more great views and heart-pounding adventure, head to Michigan Ave. to 360 CHICAGO and TILT. You'll shoot 94-floors high and lean (and squeal) 30-degrees over Chicago.
Ravenswood on Tap Ravenswood’s "Malt Row" is home to one of the country’s most prolific craft brewing communities and they're celebrating that scene at the third annual Ravenswood on Tap craft beer festival, Jun. 18 & 19. This two-day outdoor event features beer and spirits from local breweries, grub from some of Chicago’s favorite restaurants and food trucks, a killer lineup of live music, and handmade goods from local retailers and artists.
Father’s Day is almost here. While you and the kids are busy cranking out a super sweet DIY card or thoughtful gift, we’ll work on finding fantastic Father’s Day activities to make your weekend special. Since we know the Dad’s Day vibe is all about having fun (and maybe a beer or a backyard barbecue), we’ve come up with 21 ways to honor the dads, grandpas, uncles and other father figures in your life with all things he loves to do. Here’s where to have a happy Father’s Day around Seattle with your top pop.
Festival season is in full swing. And over Father’s Day weekend there’s no shortage of outdoor fairs welcoming families around Seattle. Kick it off with the Fremont Fair happening Saturday and Sunday at the Center of the Universe. Over 300 vendors, art cars, beer gardens and let’s just say colorful parades make this one of the city’s most memorable events of the year.
Wash all the parading down with a frothy pint for Pop at the Washington Brewer’s Festival. Held at King County's Marymoor Park in Redmond, this festival is open to all ages on Saturday and Sunday (Friday night is reserved for the 21 & older crowd). Dad can go with his dad buddies on Friday night, and then you can go as a family on Saturday or Sunday for some fun. Kids under 12 are free, and they will love the root beer garden, face painting, balloon animals and inflatables (for an extra cost) that’ll keep them entertained all day long.
Father’s Day falls on Juneteenth this year. Combine your Father’s Day activities with a Juneteenth Celebration hosted by LANGSTON along the waterfront. Featuring local artists, a live DJ, food trucks and more, it’s a chance to honor Black excellence in Seattle. Keep that focus all weekend long when you visit Festival Sundiata Black Arts Fest at Seattle Center on Saturday. If Dad can think up an art form, it’ll be there, plus more, like a Children’s Village and intriguing exhibits at the Unspoken Truths Museum.
Art-loving dads will find tons of things to see and do at the annual Edmonds Arts Festival. In addition live entertainment, Dad can take in the juried gallery art exhibition and sale while the kids participate in hands-on art activities.
One last festival to put on your father’s radar is the Washington State Summer Con, happening all weekend long at the Mattress Firm Showplex on the state fairgrounds. Dress in your con best and take your real-life hero to meet some of his pop culture heroes.
Father’s Day Car Shows
Allison Sutcliffe
Naturally, Father’s Day weekend is full of car shows—it’s really the only weekend they can get away with convincing the entire family to walk around ogling at cars! And lucky for dads who have the need for speed, there are a few ways to feed that need in the Seattle area over Father’s Day Weekend.
Dads on the south end of Seattle can flock to the Father's Day Car Show in downtown Burien, which will featuring vintage lean, mean, cruz’n machines. Expect vendors and food trucks where you can grab a little nibbly. Speaking of food, before or after the car show cruise by Strawberry Days at Town Square Park for lots of strawberry goodness, carnival games and live music.
Fenders on Front Street located in downtown Issaquah is great for dads on the Eastside. Stroll down Front Street oohing and ahhing at the collection of vintage and classic cars before grabbing a curbside seat to watch the Cruise to the Triple XXX at 3 p.m. There will live music, food trucks and family activities throughout the event. Also on the Eastside is the special Father’s Day Weekend Steam Train Ride through the Snoqualmie Valley.
Our last pick for car-loving dads is a trip to LeMay-America’s Car Museum in Tacoma to see Reclaimed Rust. These jaw-dropping cars are more works of art than anything. But for many dads, the fact that they’re part of Metallica frontman, James Hetfield’s collection will be the real draw here. Rock on!
Museum Events on Father’s Day
MoPOP
Black Panther. Do the Right Thing. Selma. These are just a few of the movie titles celebrated costume designed Ruth E. Carter has worked on. Take dad to see her fantastic creations at the Afrofuturism exhibit, opening at MoPOP over Father’s Day weekend. More than 60 of her costumes will be on display, so you can admire her attention to detail and undeniable talent up close. When you’re done, bring pop to the Sound Lab to jam together.
The Museum of Flight is honoring dads with free admission, making it the perfect place to go (even if you have to go to brunch first). The Museum is open from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. on Father’s Day, and a visit is especially a good idea if you have grandparents or family members in town to celebrate—it appeals to every age and you don’t have to be obsessed with planes to enjoy yourself here.
Thanks to an unseasonably cool spring, strawberry u-pick season was a bit delayed this year. Bad for farmers, but good for dads, as many of the area’s best u-pick farms open right before Father’s Day weekend. You can simply take dad strawberry picking and whip up something sweet with your ripe, red berries at home. Or you can bring dad to Baby Animals & Berries at Swans Trail Farms in Snohomish. Not only will kids get to cuddle the farms most adorable babies, but all of the playground perks will be open too—we’re talking giant slides, cow train rides, haymazes and more.
Liberty Station is officially hitting its stride, making it the perfect spot to revisit for your next family field trip. The Point Loma destination is an ideal place to show your little San Diegans a piece of history —the station itself was once a Naval Training Center dating back to 1923. Today, the same spot is an exciting urban village, home to the ARTS DISTRICT, Liberty Public Market, a slew of new restaurants, shops, and plenty of green space for kids to run and play. Here’s a breakdown of what to do, where to eat, and what to see while you’re exploring Liberty Station with kids.
Over the last few years, Liberty Station gained a new set of restaurants. These new eateries are more unique than the original anchor tenants that helped launch the revamped historic neighborhood. Bringing in these San Diego distinct spots that appeal to visitors and locals alike has brought an influx of activity to the area. Here are our picks for the most family-friendly food spots that offer something you can't find anywhere else.
Liberty Public Market Although the public market launched in 2016, it's recently added specialty vendors that brighten the halls. Picky eaters (and their parents) can officially rejoice. There are more than 30 food vendors that are willing and able to satisfy all palates. The best thing about a food emporium like Liberty Public Market is that everyone doesn’t have to order from the same spot. The market offers everything from lobster sandwiches to house-made pasta and even has a great selection of wine and cheese. We highly recommend finishing your meal with something sweet like a mini-donut or two. The outdoor seating area has plenty of space for kids to move around and burn off any sugar highs.
Officine Bueno Forchetta Bueno Forchetta's flagship location in South Park is often hailed as the best pizza in town so it's no surprise that their Liberty Station opening was highly anticipated and welcomed. The Italian restaurant delivers, offering families their very own seating complete with a playground and secure space to romp while parents enjoy another slice of pie. The waitstaff is ultra Italian, and their accents might make you feel like you jetted off on a European vacation. There's even an actual Fiat convertible that’s been turned into a two-top (diners sit in the back seat) and it can be reserved for special occasions.
Go Go Amigo Need a staycation? Snag a table at the newly opened Go Go Amigo. The south-of-the-border inspired restaurant and bar is bright, colorful and fun! The outdoor seating is great for families and while they don't have any kid-specific menu items, the beef tacos and chicken grill cheese will hit the spot.
Stone Brewing Company Highlighted in our roundup of best San Diego restaurants to bring your toddler, Stone Brewing Company is the perfect spot to stop and eat while exploring Liberty Station. The expansive restaurant features indoor and outdoor dining and bars, as well as a bocce ball court, outdoor cinema space and garden. Their menu has a small kids offering including cheeseburgers, grill cheese and chicken strips. We'd suggest trying the Stone Mac and Cheese too. Adults will love the double crunch Korean fried chicken sandwich or the chicken tinga tacos; pair it with their tangerine express hazy IPA or the salt & lime lager for a twist. This spot is a great place to bring friends and family visiting from out of town.
Corvette Diner With poodle skirts, pinball machines and a lively arcade, you'll find this a perfect family date night spot. Not only are the shakes scrumptious, but your kids will also enjoy their crazy straw hair and the fun fifties tunes. On one hand, swing in for a mid-day frosty treat or on the other, cruise the dinner scene. Make sure to save a few dollars for the awesome arcade!
Hot Spot: Get creative and have fun while in this family-friendly pottery and candle-making studio where anyone can be artistic. The Hot Spot offers hundreds of pottery items such as picture frames, pasta bowls, dinnerware, flower vases and kids items galore. It’s also the only place in San Diego to offer chunky candle making. Kiddos choose the shape and fragrance they want, and the knowledgeable Hot Spot staff shows you the rest.
Kid Ventures: This indoor play space makes kiddos feel like they’re walking into their favorite storybook where they get to be a hero. You’ll love the fact it’s a safe creative indoor play space, where parents enjoy a few perks too. From markets, fire engines and castles to drop-off playtime and tasty coffee, this tot spot rocks for the whole family. If you're looking for a place to drop off your kiddo, check out their Kids Night Out options.
Monkier General A delight to the senses, this retail and community concept is so well curated. Whether you pop in to browse the shop or grab a cup of coffee to go, don't be surprised if you stay longer than expected.
San Diego Craft Collective Choose to take a class with your child or sign him up to take a workshop on his own. San Diego Craft Collective has everything from woodworking, sewing, papercraft, jewelry making and more. They also have a great selection for kids all of ages, including teens. Don't miss the free kid craft on the first Friday of every month from 5 pm- 6 pm, or sign up for a summer camp.
Apt 4 Music Come join Apt 4 Music as they showcase their student performances, as well as bands, jams and the arts every month as part of Arts District Liberty Station's First Fridays. You can also check their website to find more information about booking lessons for your little musician.
Art Installations Liberty Station Public art is a great way to explore the ARTS DISTRICT. Now you can join a fun interactive tour of the public art pieces through a scavenger hunt. Simply scan the QR code at any of the public art pieces to begin your adventure. Once you have completed the hunt, you will be eligible to receive a prize and several discounts from participating tenants. Begin your adventure at any of the public art pieces. There are currently 12 installations (and more in the works). Visit NTC Foundation for all the details and to learn more about the works of art.
U.S.S. Neversail This naval ship, located in the South Point area of the neighborhood, earned its nickname of “U.S.S. Neversail” because it has never seen the open seas. An exact replica of what sailors could expect out on the ocean, the vessel remained on land for military training exercises.
Names of Military Heros All of the streets at Liberty Station are named after military heroes. For instance, Truxtun Road, one of the main roads of Liberty Station, is named after Thomas Truxtun, one of the first six commanders appointed to the new U.S. Navy by President George Washington. Need a fun game? Walkthrough the station with phone in hand to google each military hero’s story as you go.
There’s nothing else quite like the local children’s museum when you have kids with serious energy they need to burn off. Kids love exploring all the hands-on exhibits, and parents love that their kids get to learn while having fun—a win-win! We’ve gathered up the best children’s museums in every state, as recommended by our readers. Keep reading to see them all.
1. Alabama: McWane Science Center, Birmingham Since opening its doors in 1998, McWane Science Center has welcomed millions of visitors to learn about all things STEM from exciting hands-on experiences. Permanent exhibits include Itty Bitty Magic City (a play area perfect for kindergarteners and younger tots), Alabama Dinosaurs (featuring fossils discovered in the state) and NatureScope (discover birds and creepy crawly things).
2. Alaska: Fairbanks Children’s Museum, Fairbanks The Fairbanks Children’s Museum is all about play-based learning, and kids have a blast with all the awesome hands-on experiences and programs. You can practice a little butterfly yoga, mingle with other parents and tots during special meetups and scale a rock wall, just to name a few.
3. Arizona: Children’s Museum of Phoenix, Phoenix With over 48,000 square feet of play space, there’s enough to do at the Children’s Museum of Phoenix to keep your tots busy all day long. There are more than 300 play experiences spread over three floors, in addition to a range of classes about everything from fossils to art. Be sure to check out the Schuff-Perini Climber, a tree-like sculpture that gives kids a bird’s-eye view of the museum’s atrium.
4. Arkansas: Scott Family Amazeum, Bentonville Your crew will love the Amazeum, an awesome interactive museum with a focus on art, science and Arkansas culture. Be sure to check out the climbable tree canopy, indoor cave and tinkering hub, in addition to daily activities like DIY workshops, day camps, and playgroups. There’s also a one-acre outdoor area with plenty to explore, including a rock wall and a giant rope structure.
5. California: Exploratorium, San Francisco The Exploratorium moved to Pier 15 on the San Francisco waterfront in 2013, tripling the overall space to 330,000 square feet. Truly a hands-on interactive experience for ages 4-12, it’s hard to say what the kids will enjoy more—taking a sensory-loaded trip through the tactile dome, visiting the tinkering studio or trying out iconic experiments like the shadow box. The museum’s exhibits are built in-house and constantly evolving, which makes every trip special and unique.
6. Colorado: Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus, Denver The Children’s Museum of Denver boasts a nine-acre campus, with awesome exhibits like Altitude, where kids make their way up and around over three levels of Colorado heritage to reach the lookout at the tippy top, and Box Canyon, an indoor mountain range for smaller tots. Kids can also go grocery shopping in a mini farmers market, learn about the science behind bubbles, and let their imagination shine at the art studio.
7. Connecticut: Kidcity Children’s Museum, Middletown Kids ages 1-7 will have a blast exploring Kidcity’s one-of-a-kind, hands-on exhibits, all of which are built by in-house artists. There’s a Fishery, where you’ll use conveyors to bring in the catch of the day; a Space Age Roadtrip, where friendly aliens take a trip on Route 66; and a medieval village called Middleshire, where kids can build a castle and keep watch for Vikings. Be sure to block out a good chunk of time for your visit—they’ll be entertained for hours!
8. Delaware: Delaware Children’s Museum, Wilmington Your little explorers will have the chance to discover the worlds of science, math, and technology at the Delaware Children’s Museum. Monkey around in the Stratosphere, a cool climbing structure that overlooks the museum’s lobby; learn what an architect does and how buildings take shape, and let your tiniest tots play on a model train in the transportation-themed area.
9. Florida: Tallahassee Museum, Tallahassee Although it’s not strictly a children’s museum, this gem located on beautiful Lake Bradford will be a hit for adults and kids alike. You’ll find an 1880s farmstead, historical buildings and a live collection of native wildlife, in addition to a zip line and adventure course for the thrill-seekers in your crew. And with living history events that teach important lessons about our country, it’s well worth getting a yearly membership.
10. Georgia: Children’s Museum of Atlanta, Atlanta Atlanta’s go-to destination for kids offers awesome hands-on exhibits, a 3,000 square foot mezzanine, and a permanent performance space, all of which have a focus on STEAM-centered, play-based learning. Gateway to the World invites mini explorers to climb through the layers of the earth, while Step up to Science hosts a permanent lab with experiments conducted on a daily basis. Get an insider’s peek at the museum here.
11. Hawaii: Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center, Honolulu Whether you’re an island dweller or just on Oahu for vacation, the Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center is definitely worth a visit. Kids are encouraged to use their senses of touch, sight, hearing, and smell to gain a better understanding of the world around them. Exhibits include Tot Spot (a special play zone for your tiniest ones), Fantastic You (an up-close and personal look at the human body) and Rainforest Adventures (an exploration of rainforests and our precious natural resources).
12. Idaho: Museum of Clean, Pocatello For a seriously unique experience, you’ve got to check out the Museum of Clean. There’s not just one focus here—everything from clean air to clean water to clean language is covered. Kids will love exploring the museum’s play areas and interactive features (and looking at a massive collection of vacuum cleaners is pretty fun, too!).
13. Illinois: Kohl Children’s Museum, Glenview To folks living or vacationing in the greater Chicago area, Kohl Children’s Museum is just what the doctor ordered for beating the winter blues. With 17 permanent exhibits, kids are able to expend tons of extra energy by becoming veterinarians, nature explorers, chefs, mechanics and even Whole Food employees, all in one day. Don’t want to leave for lunch? Stop off at the Cosi for food and snacks.
14. Indiana: Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, Indianapolis Worthy of a vacation in itself, lucky families who visit the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis are in for five floors of energy-zapping activities and fun. As the biggest children’s museum in the world, it has almost 500,000 square feet of exhibition space, 11 permanent exhibits, and over 120,000 real artifacts. From the Dinosphere and All Aboard! to National Geographic Treasures of the Earth, there’s enough to keep you busy for a few days.
15. Iowa: Iowa Children’s Museum, Coralville The Iowa Children’s Museum is all about inspiring kids to learn and grow through play, and their multi-sensory exhibits hit it out of the park. Aspiring chefs get to work in a pretend pizzeria; tots can learn basic physics lessons with race cars, tracks, and mazes; and train-obsessed kids can play with model trains weaving their way through Iowa. In case that’s not enough to tire them out, there are also special events for art-making, STEM learning and more.
16. Kansas: Cosmosphere, Hutchinson Go on a space odyssey at the coolest museum in Kansas, a 105,000-square-foot space and science center that’ll keep your whole crew entertained for hours. Watch a jaw-dropping show in their state-of-the-art planetarium (there’s a show about black holes narrated by Liam Neeson!), browse the largest combined collection of U.S. and Russian space artifacts in the world and watch live demonstrations of science experiments.
17. Kentucky: Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, Louisville A visit to the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory is sure to be a home run, especially if you’ve got sports fans in your family. You’ll get to see how baseball bats are made (and you’ll get a miniature bat to take home), crawl through a giant glove, try your hand at a simulated pitching experience and hold bats that were used by baseball legends.
18. Louisiana: Louisiana Children’s Museum, New Orleans With a visit to the Louisiana Children’s Museum, little ones will have the chance to learn about everything from reading and math to architectural ideas and the nuances of grocery shopping—all through super fun, hands-on activities and exhibits. Find out how to use a fulcrum or a pulley with the Simple Machines exhibit, head to Art Trek to explore a range of different media and techniques and go back in time to check out the recreated courtyard of one of New Orleans’ oldest buildings. With a fun mix of science, art and Louisiana-inspired activities, there’s really something for everyone.
19. Maine: Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine, Portland Kids 10 & under will love spending the day playing and learning at this gem of a museum in Portland. The hands-on exhibits range from an exploration of the camera obscura to a kiddie-style farmers market (complete with bakery and fish market) to a special area that’s perfect for your tiniest tots. And since this is Maine, after all, there’s even a replica lobster boat where kids can learn about the state’s working waterfronts.
20. Maryland: Port Discovery Children’s Museum, Baltimore Its three floors, 13 exhibits and loads of purposeful play make Port Discovery Children’s Museum one of the best indoor spaces in the Mid-Atlantic region for kids ages 0-10. Start the day in KidWorks, the three-story urban treehouse that will not only give their little bodies but also their minds, a major workout. Then, let your sous chefs whip up a quick meal at Tiny’s Diner and take a journey through Maryland’s rich heritage in Tot Trails.
21. Massachusetts: Boston Children’s Museum, Boston There are 88,000 square feet of hands-on engagement at the Boston Children’s Museum. The focus on science, culture, health & fitness and the arts make this an ideal destination when it’s just too cold to be outdoors—a few attempts to make it to the top of The New Balance Foundation Climb, the three-story climbing structure in the center of the museum, will leave your kids tired and happy. Plus, visitors benefit from the scores of programs and activities developed by museum educators.
22. Michigan: Impression 5 Science Center, Lansing In 1972, Impression 5 became one of the first hands-on science centers in the country, and they’ve been a Michigan favorite ever since. With a focus on dynamic, interactive activities that encourage kids of all ages to play, create and challenge their understanding of science, it’s well worth the trip. Learn about oral health with giant dental tools, step into a full-size body bubble, become a naturalist for the day and more.
23. Minnesota: Minnesota Children’s Museum, St. Paul The Minnesota Children’s Museum’s mission is to spark learning through play, and you’ll see what they mean after one visit. Kids will love exploring The Scramble, a four-story vertical adventure with a spiral slide and a netted catwalk. Let them get creative making their own stories at Imaginopolis, and join in on Our World, a mini-city with everything from a post office to a farmers market.
24. Mississippi: Mississippi Children’s Museum, Jackson Kiddos will have a blast playing the day away at this Jackson gem. The 40,000-square-foot museum houses five galleries of educational, interactive exhibits and weekly programs that focus on everything from literacy to science to Mississippi heritage. Learn about healthy eating in a cute kitchen, make a masterpiece in the art studio and find out about the state’s agriculture.
25. Missouri: City Museum, St. Louis We recommend wearing comfy clothes for your day at the City Museum because you’ll definitely be crawling, sliding and climbing. With lots of interesting architectural features like old chimneys and salvaged bridges, it’s captivating for kids and adults alike. Venture through hidden tunnels, monkey around on fun jungle gyms and zoom down indoor slides—your little explorers will love it all.
26. Montana: Children’s Museum of Bozeman, Bozeman Offering hands-on exhibits, summer science camps, after-school activities, and educational programs, the Children’s Museum of Bozeman is a cultural hub. Kids can make slime in the science lab, collect eggs from chickens on the farm, tinker with electric circuits and more. Even your tiniest tots will love their special zone that offers plenty of space for rolling, crawling and climbing.
27. Nebraska: Lincoln Children’s Museum, Lincoln Spend the day exploring the Lincoln Children’s Museum’s three floors and 23,300 square feet of hands-on exhibits and imaginative programs. Check out Cuckoo Construction, the museum’s largest exhibit yet, which gives kids a chance to help build walls and watch foam bricks fall. Chill out in the Grow Zone, an interactive garden perfect for tiny tots. Cruise over to the water exhibit, where you can watch the rain fall from the clouds above and build dams to hold the water back.
28. Nevada: DISCOVERY Children’s Museum, Las Vegas The three-story DISCOVERY Children’s Museum opened in 2013 and is home to nine themed exhibition halls filled with interactive hands-on core exhibits. It’s hard to miss The Summit, a 70-foot tower with 12 levels of engaging, hands-on play. Kids can lift a car with a lever and (if they make it!) take a peek at the amazing roof at the very tippy top. Check out a mini Hoover Dam in Water World or watch your tiny tods wander around Toddler Town—a desert-themed space complete with trains, tunnels, and art zone. If you make it to the third floor, which is dedicated to art, exploration, and curiosity, consider it a successful visit.
29. New Hampshire: Children’s Museum of New Hampshire, Dover The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is all about hands-on discovery, and you’ll get what they mean when you see their amazing exhibits. Engineer a flying machine and launch it from a 30-foot tower, venture into a cave to read glow-in-the-dark books and find secret paintings, dig for Triceratops fossils and more. Between the exhibits, STEAM Lab drop-in sessions and junior science classes, there’s enough to keep you coming back for more all year long.
30. New Jersey: Liberty Science Center, Jersey City Inspire your budding scientists and engineers with a visit to Liberty Science Center, home to 12 museum exhibition halls, a live animal collection with 110 species, giant aquariums, a 3D theater and lots more. Catch a planetarium show, check out views from the Hubble Space Telescope and meet some of the animals that live in the Hudson River. Train-obsessed kids can even learn, play, and solve problems with Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends.
31. New Mexico: Explora Science Museum & Children’s Museum, Albuquerque Spend the day learning about science, technology, engineering, art, and math through fun hands-on activities at Explora. Experiment with balls and ramps to slow down the effects of gravity, make a masterpiece out of recycled materials and discover the unique characteristics of water. Be sure to check out their events calendar, offering everything from music jams to adults-only evenings.
32. New York: The Strong National Museum of Play, Rochester The truth is, a family could spend more than an entire day at The Strong: The National Museum of Play. With items from the Rochesterian Margaret Woodbury Strong’s extensive doll and toy collection, the museum has grown into a massive and impressive 100,000-square-foot destination for interactive fun and learning for kids of all ages. Stellar permanent exhibits include Can You Tell Me How To Get To Sesame Street?; American Comic Book Heroes: The Battle of Good vs. Evil, and Reading Adventureland. The museum is also home to the National Toy Hall of Fame, and when you add on-site restaurants, a carousel and easy-as-pie parking and it’s a destination worthy of a family road trip!
33. North Carolina: Discovery Place Science, Charlotte A visit to Discovery Place is a must for opening little eyes to the wonders of science. From World Alive, where guests can wander through a rainforest and an aquarium, to Think it Up, a “thought studio” of multisensory colors, sights and sounds, and back to Project Build, where anyone can be an architect for a day, every inch of Discovery Place is dedicated to making learning fun and interesting. The tiniest family members have their own special place for discovery, in Kidscience, and the IMAX Dome Theatre screens family-friendly movies and short films perfect for all ages.
34. North Dakota: Dickinson Museum Center, Dickinson Science-loving kiddos will enjoy learning about dinosaurs and more at the Dickinson Museum Center. Check out fossils that were discovered in the area, see their collection of rocks and minerals and pay a visit to Prairie Outpost Park, where you’ll find historic buildings and a coal car. Kids will love playing in the augmented reality sandbox, too.
35. Ohio: COSI: Center of Science and Industry, Columbus With over 300 interactive exhibitions, a seven-story extreme theater and Little Kidspace, created just for kiddos ages 0-5, there’s enough educational fun to keep the entire family entertained for days at COSI. Encounter Poseidon at Ocean, the playground depicting the mysteries of the sea. Check out the Energy Explorers exhibit, which teaches families about energy and making smart choices. Try to lift your own weight in a pulley chair in Gadgets. With the range of traveling exhibits and classic features, every COSI visit can be a different adventure.
36. Oklahoma: Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum, Seminole Since 1993, the Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum has been a favorite destination for Oklahoma families. The museum is based on an imaginary town, where kids can explore many careers, all from a pint-sized vantage point—they can become a judge, doctor, artist, news anchor, meteorologist, actor, pilot, EMT or firefighter for the day. Plus, you can get lost in the 12,000-square-foot Castle Maze, see aquatic life native to the state and take a ride on a miniature train.
37. Oregon: OMSI: Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Portland OMSI is a can’t-miss museum in Portland, where kids and adults alike can immerse themselves in all things science and technology. Use “human power” to take a virtual trip through Portland, craft your own world using an augmented reality sandbox and experience the sights and smells of the world’s only permafrost research tunnel. Be sure to check out their cool camps and classes too, on topics ranging from kitchen chemistry to web design.
38. Pennsylvania: Please Touch Museum, Philadelphia The name says it all. What other place has the singular mission of encouraging young visitors to touch everything? Start a visit at the huge Monument to Play—a 40-foot replica of the Statue of Liberty’s Arm and Torch (made out of toys). Move your kids towards Roadside Attractions, where they can repair cars, collect tolls, create fantasy vehicles and take a trip to the future. Watch fairy tales come to life at the Story Castle and take a spin on the historical, century-old Woodside Park Dentzel Carousel, before dropping down the rabbit hole to visit Wonderland, all in the same afternoon.
39. Rhode Island: Providence Children’s Museum, Providence Kick cabin fever to the curb with a visit to the Providence Children’s Museum, home to hands-on, play-based exhibits and programs that explore culture and all things STEAM. Check out Play Power, where you can send objects soaring through air tubes and construct magnetic mazes; The Climber, a kid-favorite two-story-high climbing maze; and Coming to Rhode Island, an interactive time-traveling adventure that introduces kids to people who immigrated to the state. Their events calendar also has loads more fun in store, including live theater and art sessions.
40. South Carolina: The Children’s Museum of the Upstate, Greenville Spark your kiddo’s curiosity with a visit to The Children’s Museum of the Upstate. With 19 interactive exhibits, there’s enough to keep any kid entertained for hours. Build dams and learn about water in Reedy River Bend, report the news or weather in the WTCM Studio and monkey around on a multi-story climbing structure. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, grab a tasty meal at Seedlings, the in-house farm-to-table restaurant.
41. South Dakota: Children’s Museum of South Dakota, Brookings Make a day of it with your whole crew at the Children’s Museum of South Dakota. In the exhibit Our Prairie, kids can learn about the region’s past and role-play the daily tasks of living on the land over one hundred years ago. Head to Sensations to experiment with patterns, textures, shapes, and colors and collaborate on hands-on activities. Then cruise over to KidStreet to pick up your mail, tune up your car and make sandwiches and ice cream sundaes. There’s also a cozy MiniExplorers area that’s perfect for your tiniest tots.
42. Tennessee: Creative Discovery Museum, Chattanooga Located in the heart of downtown Chattanooga, the Creative Discovery Museum is totally worth a visit. Their permanent exhibits include Buzz Alley and Bee Garden (watch real bees hard at work!), Culinary Corner (make healthy snacks using ingredients from the museum’s rooftop garden), Lookout Tower (get a bird’s-eye view of Chattanooga) and Excavation Station (grab a shovel and get digging in the sand). Be sure to check out their events calendar for the latest goings-on, from a snow day celebration to a honey harvest.
43. Texas: Children’s Museum of Houston, Houston With 14 permanent galleries and exhibits, a cafe, a library, and a family learning center, you’ll be bowled over by the 90,000 square feet of play available at the Children’s Museum of Houston. May we suggest starting at Kidtropolis, a city built and run by kids from the ground up on a daily basis, and moving on to How Does It Work? where your budding scientists have access to a ton of hands-on experiments, like creating a roller coaster and sending messages via fiber optics.
44. Utah: Treehouse Children’s Museum, Ogden Since 1992, Treehouse Children’s Museum has been a favorite for kids ages 1-12 (and their families, too). The exhibits encourage playing imaginatively and making new stories—there’s the Big Red Barn where you can “milk” a cow and collect eggs from chickens, and there are areas based on different countries so you can dream up an international journey. There’s even an Oval Office where tots can pretend to be the president.
45. Vermont: Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich Founded in 1974, the Montshire is now one of the busiest museums in northern New England, and for good reason. It’s dedicated to teaching visitors about natural and physical sciences, ecology and technology through its 140 hands-on exhibits. Kids will love getting a look at the inner workings of toys; examining seeds, bones, and plants under a microscope; experimenting with different types of instruments, and playing with different types of bubbles. This one’s sure to be a hit with adults and kids alike.
46. Virginia: Amazement Square, Lynchburg With four floors and nine galleries of hands-on, interactive exhibits, Amazement Square is an amazing place to spend the day. Start off by exploring Amazement Tower, a climbing structure with slides, ladders, tunnels, and a zip-line that spans all four of the museum’s floors. Then get creative in the Kaleidoscope Gallery, where kids can paint on the walls and rock out on stage. Toddlers will also love playing in Shipwreck Cove, a special under-three area with a pirate ship and a coral reef.
47. Washington: Hands On Children’s Museum, Olympia The most visited children’s museum in Washington, it’s our go-to for hands-on science and art learning. With more than 150 exhibits, you’ll never run out of things to do—kids can shop in a mini farmers market, send scarves through a 25-foot AirWays Maze, make and float their own boats and lots more. Be sure to check out their events, too, including free first Friday nights and art studio sessions.
48. Washington, D.C.: National Building Museum, Washington, D.C. Go on an architectural adventure at the National Building Museum. Kiddos can learn about design, construction and engineering through the museum’s two distinct areas. The Building Zone (for ages 2 to 6) lets them stack and balance faux bricks, drive a miniaturized bulldozer and romp around a “green” playhouse, while the other area, Play Work Build, has foam blocks of varying sizes, allowing adults and children alike to build and demolish their own creations. Click here to find out more (plus get the scoop on more of our favorite kid-friendly museums in the DMV).
49. West Virginia: Kruger Street Toy & Train Museum, Wheeling Located in beautiful Wheeling, kids of all ages will love exploring the Kruger Street Toy & Train Museum. You’ll find interactive, operating model train layouts, along with toys you’ll remember from your childhood—dolls, dollhouses, toy soldiers, playsets, trains, planes, and ships, just to name a few. Kids will have a blast taking a peek into the past (and seeing how far toys have come!).
50. Wisconsin: The Building for Kids Children’s Museum, Appleton Foster your kids’ curiosity with a visit to The Building for Kids Children’s Museum. They’ll have the chance to climb into a 10-foot human heart, make a masterpiece using blocks, become a firefighter for the day, build boats and lots more. Check out the events calendar for more fun activities, like toddler playtime sessions, STEM workshops and story times.
51. Wyoming: Jackson Hole Children’s Museum, Jackson The Jackson Hole Children’s Museum is all about fostering a love of learning through collaborative play and creative problem solving, and with their interactive exhibits and exciting programs, the littles will definitely be on board. Become a pilot for the day, go shopping in the Mountain Market, build a cool creation on the Magnet Wall and snuggle up for some quiet time in the Book Nook.
Boredom is hard to achieve in a place like Chicago, where top-quality exhibits and activities for kids lurk around every corner. Some are permanent, some are temporary, but they all are perfect go-tos when creativity is waning for family date ideas. From massive dinosaurs at Brookfield Zoo to Frida and Prince, we’re letting you in on some of our favorite long-running or temporary exhibits for families in Chicago.
Museums
Museum of Science & Industry's the Art of Brick
MSI
MSI's The Art of Brick on display Feb. 10- Sep. 5, features intriguing works of art made exclusively from LEGO bricks. The collection of creative and inspiring pieces was created by renowned contemporary artist Nathan Sawaya.
Underground Adventures at Field Museum
When you’re paying a visit to everyone’s favorite T.Rex, Sue, pop into Underground Adventure for a bug’s-eye view of the world. You’ll magically shrink to 1/100th your actual size, smaller than a penny, to explore an immersive environment of worm tunnels and soil chambers. Kids will learn soil is home to an incredible diversity of living things and that not a single plant or animal could survive without it.
wndr Museum
WNDR Museum, the ever-evolving, immersive art and technology experience, features one-of-a-kind installations from artists, collectives and studios locally and globally that prioritize joy, curiosity and creativity.
Science & You at Kohl Children's Museum
Through Sep. 5, kids get to play in a child-sized laboratory to explore how scientists impact health and wellness in the Science & You exhibit. They can explore machines, processes and technology that demonstrate the role science plays to keep the body healthy. The immersive, open-ended exhibit provides kids the opportunity to play, explore, discover and experiment.
Remembering Dr. King at Chicago History Museum
Maria Chambers
On display until Jul. 4, 2022, Remembering Dr. King is a collection of 25 photographs depicting key moments in Dr. King's work during the Civil Rights Movement. The exhibit places a special emphasis on his time in Chicago shedding light on the existence of discrimination and segregation. the abysmal state of housing and the realities of poverty in the north. More info.
Zoos
Brookfield Zoo's Ice Age Giants
Ice Age Giantsunleashes more than 30 life-sized animatronic re-creations of dinosaurs that roamed North America and Eurasia during the Ice Age. Through Oct. 30, kids can see a 15-foot-tall woolly mammoth, an oafish 20-foot-long ground sloth, a 12-foot-tall giant bird, a fearsome 5-foot-long saber-toothed cat and more. Adding to the lifelike effects, parts of the animals such as the head, eyes, mouth, and tail move, making the experience even more realistic.
Arboretums
Morton Arboretum's Human + Nature
Five massive outdoor sculptures created exclusively for Morton Arboretum by artist Daniel Popper rise above the natural landscapes in Human + Nature. The 15- to 26-foot-tall sculptures are installed across the 1,700-acre site and lead guests to areas they may not otherwise explore. Using thought-provoking human forms paired with elements of nature, each piece will bring attention to the deep connection between humans and nature.
Immersive Experiences
Frida: Immersive Dream
Michael Brosilow
Frida: Immersive Dream focuses on the art and life of Frida Kahlo (1907-1954), the beloved 20th-century Mexican artist best known for compelling self-portraits and radiant pieces inspired by life in her native country. The artist's best-known works will be brought to life and set to music through May 28.
Prince: The Immersive Experience
Chicago will glow purple when Prince: The Immersive Experience makes its worldwide debut, Jun. 9-Oct. 9. Fans can immerse themselves in the music and life of Prince in 10 multi-dimensional spaces.
Stage Shows
Lookingglass Alice
Liz Lauren
Lookingglass Alice takes kids on a circus-infused trip down the rabbit hole, through Jul. 31. This signature Lookingglass production has toured the country enchanting audiences, painted each time with a fresh coat of magic. The awe-inspiring production has come back home to Lookingglass Theatre for a new generation to discover.
Chicago Kids Company's Rapunzel
Chicago Kids Company
After stealing a precious plant, the King and Queen are forced to let their wacky gardener raise their daughter, Rapunzel. She is locked away in a tower where she grows into a young woman with a beautiful singing voice and flowing hair. After 18 long years, Rapunzel meets a handsome prince who just might help her escape. Presenting at Beverly Arts Center through May 6 and at Stahl Family Theater, May 11-Aug. 5.
Winnie the Pooh at Mercury Theatre
Mercury Theatre
Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation introduces kids to Pooh, Christopher Robin, and their best friends Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, Rabbit and Owl (and, Tigger too!). This fresh stage adaptation is told with impressive life-size puppetry, telling exciting new stories of iconic characters loved for generations. Presenting through Jun. 12.
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It might be that they’re so darn big, so otherworldly, or they just relate to children’s slightly feral and ferocious side. Regardless of the reasons, many toddlers develop a huge affinity for dinosaurs. Whether you have a future paleontologist, or just a kid with a giant Jurassic crush, everyone in the family will love these funny, silly, amazing, loving or true books about Cretaceous critters.
From the Big Bang to the age of Modern Humans, explore the entirety of just what the dinosaurs saw in this stunning book by Fatti Burke. Simple and colorful illustrations help discuss dinosaur diets and anatomy, the cretaceous period, dinosaur growth and so much more. Everyone will enjoy this vibrant and educational book. Ages: 6-8
We have to start with the one you won’t mind reading and re-reading to infinity and beyond. Mo Willems books (if you don’t know Knuffle Bunny, Pigeon and Elephant & Piggie, run to the library right now—we’ll wait for you) are a home library staple for a reason. They make kids read and giggle and you don’t mind reading it for the fifth or 55th time. In this spin on a classic, Papa Dinosaur, Mama Dinosaur and a visiting dino from Norway hatch a plot to trap a tasty pudding filled girl, who manages to outwit them. There’s lots for everyone to enjoy and discuss for many years to come. Ages 3-6
This is perfect for baby’s first dino book. If your little one clutches a stuffed stegosaurus in her crib, start her off with this book of opposites. The sing-song rhyming opposing dinosaurs are fun to read aloud and the silly pictures of the board book will have kids turning pages on their own. There are dinosaurs cold and hot, cute and not and kids love them all. Ages: 1-3
We have to include this whole series of books, with the adorable and child-like dinosaurs. And if you haven’t read any, the original book (this one) is the place to start. For bedtime loathing, dinosaur loving kids, this book is a sweet way to end the night. Every page asks if a dino would do something naughty (and familiar) at bedtime when mama or papa turn out the light, and answers no, this is how a dinosaur says goodnight: just the way we want every good little dino (or human!) to behave. There are now How Do Dinosaur books for lots of situations: Say I Love You, Play with Friends, Clean the Room, etc. But the first is the best. The delightful illustrations add to the charm of the books. Ages: 2-5
The text is simple, the story is sweet and this book has been classic for over 50 years for a reason. Danny visits the museum, sees the dinosaurs and thinks it would be nice to play with one. Overhearing his wish, a dinosaur answers “And I think it would be nice to play with you.” They eat ice cream, go to the zoo, visit the ballpark and have a wonderful day; pretty much every kid’s dream! Both a fun read aloud, and a great early reader, the bonus is that visiting grandparents will totally recognize and remember this book and treasure reading it again, this time to a new generation. Ages: 3-7
But, what about kids who like dinosaurs and tea parties? The Venn overlap is larger than you might initially think, and this book is perfect for those kids. (Or families that have one kiddo who loves tea and one who loves the T-Rex.) Can a giant dinosaur follow the rules of an elegant tea? He can certainly try, and with hysterical results. The illustrations are lovely and there’s much to absorb on each page. There are two other books in the series: Camp Rex and Sea Rex, and they are almost as delightful as Tea Rex. Ages: 3-6
Dinosaur takes on a whole host of things: the Potty, Bedtime, Santa, School and even Mommy! But one of our favorites is Dinosaur vs. The Library, because it’s perfect to read when you visit the library to check out more dinosaur books. In each book, Dinosaur faces a new challenge (in this instance, he roars his way to the library, but while his roar wins friends, it may have met it’s match in the quiet of a library story time.) Can dinosaur learn to use his inside roar? Really fun to read aloud and practice roaring together. Ages: 1-4
What led to the extinction of the mighty dinosaur? A love of underpants! Or so this story goes, when embarrassed cavemen invented undies because they felt rude being nude, and dinos were so taken with the briefs that they instigated a tug of war that brought an end to the species. It’s totally nonsensical. It’s not remotely factual. So of course kids adore it. While you won’t learn much about how dinosaurs actually became extinct, you will get to see accurate pictures and names of dinosaurs, so even kids who know their stuff will go along with the kooky premise. Because underpants are always funny. Ages: 2-8
If dinos can take tea and wear underwear, they certainly can dig. And dig they do, uniting many tots very favorite things: diggers, dinosaurs and dirt. Each page of this counting book has different species using different digging or construction vehicles, ranging from the T-Rex with the backhoe to the Stegosaurus manning (dino-ing?) the dump truck, so it’s perfect for your toddler or young reader who has trouble deciding which he loves more, the Spinosaurus or the steamroller. If this one becomes a favorite, you’re in luck. There’s also Dinosaur Zoom!, Dinosaur Rescue! and Dinosaur Rocket! by the same author. Ages: 2-6
This is the one you read before bath time not bed time, since this book will get your little ones up and moving their bodies in a stomp of their own. The rhythmic text begs you to make up your own beat and will get your whole prehistoric gang on their feet, because when dinosaurs want to let off steam, they gather to rock! You’ll learn to pronounce all the dino names as you read and re-read, and kids will chant along with “Boomalacka, boomalacka Whack! Whack! Whack!” Ages: 2-6
The first book in this new series just happens to be about dinosaurs. And, it just happens to be in comic book format. Which means this is a fantastic transition book for reluctant readers to read to themselves, and it’s such a fun one they’ll be clamoring for the next book in the series, due out in July of 2016. It’s the first day of school for a bunch of different students (including a werewolf, vampire and swamp creature) and their new teacher, Dr. Cosmic. They learn about an exhibit he’s been working on (about dinosaurs) and keeping an eye out for Oscar, the escaped school pet (who happens to be a dinosaur). There’s plenty of actual information tucked away in this fun format and silly style. Ages: 5-8
Every obsession needs a corresponding reference book in the home library, and this one is perfect for young dinofans as well as those who have graduated to big kid prehistoric fascinations. While reading it on their own is too hard for little guys, the pictures are wonderful, and when they have questions that you may not remember the answers to (seriously, what’s the difference between a Centrosaurus and Triceratops?), you can look up the answer together. This accessible, visually stunning book is packed with facts kids can use to impress their friends and it will grow with them. Organized by period (Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous), it includes over 125 species described in rich detail and featuring facts at a glance. Truly a must have. All ages.
Jurassic Poop by Jacob Berkowitz and Steve Mack
We have to end with this one that will fascinate the big kid who still loves dinos and doesn’t want to admit it, and is also a fun and funny (and informative!) read aloud for young dino (or poop) lovers. It’s actually a remarkable look at the science of studying fossilized poop, from dinosaurs and other animals, to learn about what they ate and what that can teach us about how they lived. Potty humor plus dinosaurs plus actual scientific investigation makes it an intriguing read for just about the whole family. Ages: 7-12
