Will be in Chicago. Must pick two of three. Art inst. is the other one, but people say that is a must. What's your vote? Both sound great.

Science and Industry

Ohhh, that's a tough one!

I pick the Field Museum, but really it's a toss.

This is relative to your interests.

Thd S.& I. Museum is more inter-active and I would think more people could relate to it. It is also huge and takes all day to do it justice. It's NOT downtown and some of the less adventurous among us might find the bus trip daunting. Others may not. But it would be far more time consuming than the Field.

The Field is close and would take you no time at all from your downtown destination. It has special features. If you are into archeology, history, or natural sciences as I am- it would be the pick. I love the Field. Do you like to see artwork from the early milleniums b.c. etc.? I love the Eqyptians and the mummies. I love the Native Americans' exhibits. Also lots and lots of great visuals.

If I had a week in Chicago I wouldn't miss the S. & I. If I had less I would do the Field, Shedd, and the Art Institute. The Shedd Aquarium is often rated the best in the world, not just the country. The new one in Atlanta is going to give it a run for its' money though. And the one in Hawaii is really special species.

The Shedd is more like a Sea World than an aquarium.

I hope I helped you pick. Go to their websites and look around. And my real true to the heart advice is NOT to go on the free days, especially to the S.& I. It can be like a zoo then.

I agree with all that JJ5 wrote, especially about the amount of time you have and how many will feel about the bus to S&I.

You don't say if you are traveling solo or if you are bringing along c-h-i-l-d-r-e-n. Pompeii: Stories from an Eruption and Dinosaur Dynasty, Discoveries from China (the temporary exhibits currently running at the Field Museum) are amazing, but require a good amount of reading and would not hold the attention of grade school aged children for very long. The Underground Adventure would be your best option for kids at the Fields'. The MS&I, on the other hand, is very kid friendly with lots of hands on activities. I would also choose to visit the Shed Aquarium rather than the Art Institute with kids....

We went to Chgo in early Dec and went tpo the Field Museum for the first time in years. They have the famous T-Rex skeleton "Sue" in the entrance hall, there was a special exhibit of dinosaurs from China. I always spend time in the Egyptian sections. Went to S&I museum once years ago and it did not appeal to me much but I think kids (and men) like it.

It doesn't seem like a kids/guys only place to me.

I'm a 55 year old female, and I loved the Museum of Science & Industry the first time I was there at age 10.

At age 19, my BF (husband since 1970) spent an entire three day semester break (well, the days only) there.


We've driven the 100 miles to take our kids (now grown) several times.

And now I want to go again. I've spent an entire day at the Field Museum, and don't care if I ever go again.

Not sure to which bus route JJ5 is referring (the Jeffrey?). In any case, the #10 CTA bus goes directly from N. Michigan Avenue and State Street south of the river to the MSI. On weekends only this time of year, I believe.

Check the CTA's website to confirm.

One more thing although it is extremely minor, but I just LOVE that the Shedd has a feature that is priceless.

The building comes from the classic era for putting "art" into signage/direction etc. So in the Shedd every species or grouping will have that animal in artwork in the walls. Look for this, look at the clock, look at the detail- it's all about the seas. Priceless artwork, really.

IMHO, the Art Institute is the one must never miss in Chicago. But if I had small to mid children, I would hit Shedd. Well, actually I would hit Shedd anyway. I had a grandson stay by the tidal wall for over an hour; he was less than 2 years old. He did not want to leave and laughed like music everytime the tide "came in."

And I absolutely love the Field. To me it is a true museum in the old sense. The M.of S.& I. is far more bread & circuses- but to someone like me, with a science background, it is often piecemeal in overview, and to make it interactive, too simplistic. I loved it when I was a kid- and to take my children there. I always have to see the fetus progression in the bottles, the farming/food area, the coalmine, the body, the whispering hall, the
exhibition about probability. And there are new things all the time. I remember the last time I was there not too long ago the heart was closed.

any kids? if so-Science and Industry.
If not, Field. Great Pompeii exhibit now (and king tut is coming) and easy to get to location