During your semester break, how about doing something that is not only fun, but also a learning experience at the same time. Normally, our museums can be quite pricey so take advantage of museum free days. Note – free days get you in for general admission which at most of the museums is everything except the special exhibits and movies. The Shedd Aquarium is especially notable for charging extra fees (discounted on free days) to see the Oceanarium and the Wild Reef.
Museum Free Days 2011 – very incomplete as of the date of my post, but will hopefully fill in soon. I will fill in a few below with information directly from the museum websites.
Adler Planetarium – Jan. 4, 5, 10-14, 18, 19, 24-27
Art Institute of Chicago – Free admission from 5-8 on Thursday.
Chicago Children’s Museum – Free Thursday evenings, 5-8pm for everyone and the first Sunday of every month for children 15 and under.
Chicago History Museum – Free on Mondays
Field Museum – Every 2nd Monday of the month is free. Other free days exist, but are currently not listed on their website.
Garfield Park Conservatory – Always free. Donations are suggested.
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago – Tuesdays are free.
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum – Thursdays are free. Donations are suggested.
Shedd Aquarium – Jan. 10, 11, 24, 25