Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is highly recommended for families seeking an engaging, nature-focused experience that blends hands-on play with educational content. It distinguishes itself with multiple updated play areas, including water play and playgrounds, coupled with direct interaction with live animals (reptiles, invertebrates, butterflies) and outdoor nature walks, providing a comprehensive indoor/outdoor learning environment.
Key Highlights
- ✓Features several new, beautifully created kid areas, particularly a notable play area on the first floor.
- ✓Offers 5+ unique spots for children, including 2 dedicated playgrounds and 2 areas for water play.
- ✓Boasts a popular butterfly garden and enclosures with small reptiles and invertebrates.
- ✓Provides tons of educational content for kids to engage with, especially if parents read the material.
- ✓Has many toddler-friendly areas, ensuring engagement for very young children.
- ✓Allows for learning through play, fostering a fun and interactive educational experience.
- ✓Includes outdoor Savannah and prairie walks through wildflowers, a nearby lagoon, and exhibits on Chicago birds.
- ✓Is described as clean and updated, enhancing the visitor experience.
- ✓Children (2 and 4 years old mentioned) can easily spend 2.5 hours and not want to leave.
Standout Features
- ⭐Two distinct playgrounds for active play.
- ⭐Two separate areas designed for water play.
- ⭐Extensive collection of small reptiles and invertebrates for observation.
- ⭐A captivating butterfly garden.
- ⭐Dedicated birdwalk and exhibits focused on Chicago birds.
- ⭐Outdoor Savannah and prairie walks through wild flowers.
- ⭐Nearby lagoon for nature observation.
- ⭐Engaging story time sessions.
- ⭐Abundant educational content for children about the environment.
- ⭐Clean and updated facilities throughout the museum.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Plan to spend at least 2.5 hours, as children tend to be highly engaged and might not want to leave.
- →For maximum educational benefit, parents should actively read the provided material to their children.
- →Be aware that some taxidermy is present; if your child is sensitive, these areas can be mostly avoided.
- →Budget for potential gift shop purchases, as items are noted to be overpriced.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Certain taxidermy exhibits might be disturbing to sensitive children, though they can mostly be avoided.
- ⚠The gift shop is noted as being overpriced.
- ⚠Some dioramas are described as dated, although this doesn't detract from the overall positive experience for kids.
Price & Value
An adult ticket is approximately $15. While an individual adult might find this slightly overpriced without children, the value for families with kids is considered high due to the abundance of unique, engaging, and educational activities. The gift shop items are noted as overpriced, which could add to the overall cost if souvenirs are desired.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific accommodations mentioned in the reviews.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •No specific food or drink policy mentioned in the reviews.
🚗Parking Info
- •No specific parking information mentioned in the reviews.
👥Crowd Levels
- •No specific crowd level information or busy times mentioned in the reviews.
🛡️Safety Features
- •No specific safety features mentioned in the reviews.
⏰When to Avoid
- • If your child is particularly sensitive to or easily disturbed by taxidermy, as it is present in some areas.
- • If you are an adult visiting without children, as the ~$15 ticket price might feel slightly high given the focus on kid activities and the gift shop being overpriced.
Pricing/Package/Events
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
Exclusive events
Register for exclusive events.
What People Say
What's Great
- Fun and entertaining activities (mentioned in 2 reviews)
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 5 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Hauntinon
3 weeks agoVery recommended if you have children. I don't, so the ~15$ ticket was maybe a bit overpriced. Kids have 5 or so unique spots to hit, including 2 playgrounds and 2 areas for water play, tons of small reptiles and invertebrates, a butterfly garden, birdwalk, and places to learn about the environment. There are tons of educational stuff for kids to engage with. The taxidermy could be disturbing to certain kids, but it can be mostly avoided. The gift shop is overpriced, but I always appreciate a souvenir. I personally don't regret the visit
Rebecca Plantz
3 months agoWe had an absolutely fantastic time!! There seems to be several new kid areas since we last visited a couple years ago. The new areas, especially the play area on the first floor, are so beautifully created. We were so impressed today!! We spent 2.5 hours there and my boys didn’t want to leave. ( 2 and 4 years old)
Lee Mickus
5 months agoGreat museum for kids of all ages. Butterfly experience. Dated dioramas. Good play areas for kids. Savanah and prarie walks outside through wild flowers. Nearby lagoon. Good exhibits on Chicago birds.
Maya Ashley
2 weeks agoI'm a nanny and love taking the children here! (If I had children of my own we'd definitely be going too) It is very educational if you read the material to the childrwn. Fun water activities, animals, play areas, story time , and beautiful butterflies 🦋
Latisha Lety Pulokas
6 months agoI love how many toddler friendly areas there are! A fun place for kids of all ages to learn about nature thru play! It was fun inside and outside! Highly recommended, clean and updated!