Kids can explore the past, savor the present and glimpse the future at the Chicago Children's Museum at Navy Pier.
Dinosaur Expedition, for example, lets kids dig into prehistoric times in an authentic excavation pit. A recreated Sahara expedition site shows them how pros work, and the remains of Suchomimus, a never-before-found species of fish-eating dinosaur, reveals what a team can uncover. The Inventing Lab displays creations past and present and lets visitors create a flying machine. The Kovler Family Climbing Schooner turns everyone into deck swabbies who can climb all the way to the crow's nest.
For fun in the here and now, splash into WaterWays. Adjusting locks and dams, kids alter the flow of a model river. And they can crank a gigantic, power-generating waterwheel. Toddlers will tear loose in Treehouse Trails, finding trees to climb and a cave to explore. They can also canoe in a pretend river, plant vegetables in a simulated garden and serve a make-believe dinner in a log cabin. Older kids can literally get a sense of themselves in MyMuseum. A photo booth lets visitors take a self-portrait and a mirrored tunnel affords kaleidoscopic reflections of themselves and others.