Do not attempt visiting a Chicagoland Museum anytime during Christmas Break!!!
Seriously it sounds like the perfect plan, you have time off the kids have time off, it's something the whole family can enjoy! Who are you fooling?
So the day begins casually. We take our time getting ready knowing our kids will only last and hour or two once we get there, so what's the rush? Mistake #1 if you are planning on visiting a place like the museum one should get there when it opens...not noon-ish! While driving I realize we forgot the stroller. Mistake #2 if you are going to an all day type place wheels are must! Turn around and go home you fools! But since we like to live dangerously, we did not listen and kept trucking.
We get to the entrance to see a line easily over 200 people. They were not even letting people into the building for 45 minutes. Due to max capacity. SUPER! We had already walked 3 blocks with kids in tote (Oye my aching back) but headed back to our parking spot where we had already paid. It was a sign to walk away when we saw the huge line but no we decided to walk over to the Adler planetarium instead, hey we were already there it can't as packed. Mistake #3 suck up the bucks$$. Um like DUH! There was a wrap around line in a sweltering lobby with two squiggly kids and four heavy coats and an odd out of town family steadily crawling up our booties. That was fun!
Now here is where it gets fun! Joe channels his inner Clark W. Grizwald and fights every obstacle in order for us to have a great time. For a moment I really felt as if we were on video because if it could happen it was gonna happen. The place had people oozing out of every corner. Kids everywhere coughing and sneezing and wiping sleeves and hands on everything. Nessa was a little freaked by the crowd so we had to take turns holding her. Maise got very tired and was starting to sprout horns. They both started off great - it was just overwhelming. So many crowds of people, many large families stopping to take pictures at each exhibit, it was ridicules!
We did have a wonderful time all kidding aside but we did learn that we don't care for the mega crowds. I guess we are now confirmed off season type folks! Maise's favorite part of the whole place was a tunnel that you could walk through and looks like space. It was very dark and then had sparkly stars. Maise had so much fun we kept going around the tunnel time after time after time. Then it got to be a little much and when Joe pulled the plug she decided to go and knock past people and not listen. It was that move that made us leave. Bitter sweet the best part and the deal breaker all in one. It was good timing to be honest we got our couple hours out of it and mom and dad were pooped...I am sure not as young as I used to be.
Happy New Years Everyone...Till next year!
