Enjoying the Chicago Museum Campus

Chicago has a variety of activities around town to please its residents. Museum campus has family adventures during the day and night. Hanging around the city will have you coming back downtown for more and never getting enough. It depends on what you like to do that will determine your destination.

To start your day off, head to the local Original pancake house in Hyde Park on the south side of Chicago at 1517 E. Hyde Park Blvd. My favorites are the waffles, and the cheese omelet with green peppers and onions with a side of turkey links that are delicious. Get there early because the place gets crowed fast, and you never know if a state representative or a local famous pastor will be eating across from you. If so, just act like you always see them, and try not to choke on your food.

I have three kids so what's fun for me must be in line with what they like to do. One place we like to go is the Museum of Science and Industry. From the U-505 Submarine tour to Jim Henson's Fantastic World, you and the kids will have a ball. Here is the schedule for free days for 2011

Another place we like to visit is the Field Museum at 1201 S. Lake Shore Drive. The campus is big and has enough space to let your kids run around for hours to burn some of their energy. The 10^th anniversary of Sue is running through Jan. 2 and is an exhibit you must see before it's too late. The free days are every second Tuesday of the month.

If you like fish, reptiles or other animals that make the average person squirm, then the Shed Aquarium is a beautiful place to take the family - from the dolphin shows to watching the diver feed the sharks and other fish in the aquarium. The free days are there for you and your family to enjoy the Shedd and its many exhibits.

End your tour at the Adler Planetarium & Museum on what Chicago calls the Museum campus, which is right by the Bears' Soldier Field. There you can gaze at the stars and let your kids learn about the planets and stars. All museums in Chicago have free days, you just have to look them up and be prepared to take a day or two off to go to them.