Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago
Address 300 North Central Park Ave., Chicago, IL 60624-1945 Map, Tel (312) 746-5195 Call, Website
For younger kids, there is a children's garden with a slide and plastic structures to climb. For older children there are demonstrations about different plants, animals and conservation efforts on Saturday and Sunday mornings. There is also a steady stream of special events and presentations for kids throughout the week, as well as a scavenger hunt to encourage attention to detail and greater exploration of the plants grown at the conservatory.
It's a great, green and warm place to take kids during Chicago winters and has expansive outdoor gardens during the summer. It's easily accessible by public transportation, which a "Conservatory" stop on the CTA's Green Line.