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    Exploritorium

    4.2 (81 reviews)
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    Toddler area for children under 5
    Danielle R.

    This place is great! It has everything you need and would find at a children's museum but on a slightly smaller scale but much easier to watch and see kids, especially with multiples! My kids 3 & 4 played for over 3 hours! Perfect for a rainy day. $6 per person for Non-residents

    Rebekah L.

    Great service at the front counter. We got tickets off of the group on special for our family which really made it worth it. My twins are 15 months old and don't walk yet. I felt like they were just a little too young to truly explore all the areas that the exploratorium offers. They were also a little too short to play in the water play area. I wish that they had a lower section for smaller kids to also be able to touch and play with the water. It was SUPER busy on a Saturday before close. We got their around 11:30 am. I do wish they stayed open later on the weekends for those working parents that can make it out during the week. We still enjoyed our short stay and our kids loved their time here.

    March 2019
    Allison T.

    Great place to have a birthday party for a toddler! I've never been to the Exploritorium prior to the party but trusted that this was a good place and sure enough, everything went so well! The website information states to contact at least 12 weeks before the planned date due to high demand. I happened to plan a last minute party so I sought out about 3 weeks before the needed date. Mike got back to me the next business day and I was able to book a party! From then, it's been a smooth ride. It was easy to sign the contract & make a payment all via electronically without having to walk in. The party package actually comes with a "party planner" who helps you set up and clean up! I was assigned to Allison and she was great! I was stressing out about the 30 minute time limit before & after party but to my surprise, we were able to set up the room in 30 minutes and we finished cleanup in 10 minutes. The kids had a good time. The day was super fast paced for me as a planner, but I don't think guests felt that way. We were able to bring in our own decoration, food, and drinks. They had a 2-tier cart for easy transfer of food from car to 2nd floor. Overall, I'd definitely recommend having a kids party at the Exploritorium and would even consider doing it again!

    Super big tunnel indoor playground, it's like 2 stories tall!
    Rebecca A.

    This place is maintained by the Park district so it's reasonably affordable to go in compared other places. Be prepared to bring a change of clothes for your kid if they plan to play in the water section which is actually a very cool area. There's a Play land area that's three stories tall it's huge. And there's a little space for Littles.

    The colored peg wall. Such a cool thang
    Charmaine D.

    Perfect place for a toddler to explore. Place is clean, staff is nice, and ample seating for parents. Masks are required for all.

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    7 months ago

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    1 year ago

    The actual facility is great. I think it's a reasonable price for the space ($7 nonresident). Parents have to pay, however.

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    1 year ago

    So many fun activities for little kids. Bring a change of clothes in case of excessive splashes in the water area

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Exploritorium

    Review Highlights - Exploritorium

    The toddler area with activities on the walls and riding toys is nice for the little ones to crawl around.

    Mentioned in 10 reviews

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    Northbrook Play - Fun stage for pretend play. Apparently there are different curtains for different backgrounds as well

    Northbrook Play

    4.3(8 reviews)
    9.4 mi

    "Northbrook Play" is a children's play area located inside the Northbrook Court. It's a wonderful…read moreuse of a vacant space, as many retailers have closed their brick and mortar stores nowadays. I would say if you happen to be nearby with a young toddler, stop by and let your kid release some energy and gain some fun playtime. It's a small venue. Parents get to sit down on comfy couches and watch their love ones play. I would say some parents there were too comfortable and they were on their phones while the kids were left unattended for a little bit... Anyways, all I wanted to say was that parents may take a short break to catch a breath. There are a theater stage, a walkway leading to a small slide, climbing obstacles, a fun selfie station and an infant playground. There is not much else, so don't make a long trip coming here. There is a designated stroller parking and shoes are asked to be taken off. I saw most kids do that, yet the parents were walking with shoes on. I wasn't sure what the policy really was. Certainly everyone's shoes should be dirty enough and shouldn't be worn on this relatively clean area. Our 2-year old toddler had fun. There is a tree house downstairs in the mall for kids as well, free of charge. I found this mall pretty boring and noticed a good amount of vacancies. I think they started some type of renovation or expansion. The restrooms were quite clean and maintained, with toliet covers provided. "Northbrook Play" is completely free and anyone is welcome.

    Can't believe this place is free. The cleanliness and well-made decor remind me of other play areas…read morethat you have to pay to get into. We came here with some friends who also have young kids. The parents hung out on the comfy couches (enough room for us and much more) while the kids ran around and played. There's no staff on site, so I'm amazed how well they keep it clean. There's things to climb, a slide, a stage for pretend play. Not too many interactive activities like at a children's museum per say, but my kids just needed a place to run and climb around. There are certain times of the day it's closed (for cleaning I'm guessing). We came at 4pm on a Sunday afternoon and had the whole place to ourselves. It was luxurious. I'll definitely be back again.

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    Northbrook Play - Nice (and super clean) area for parents to chill while watching their kids

    Nice (and super clean) area for parents to chill while watching their kids

    Northbrook Play
    Northbrook Play - Mall view of northbrook play

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    Mall view of northbrook play

    Fit City Kids

    Fit City Kids

    4.9(41 reviews)
    4.7 miRavenswood, Lincoln Square

    This place is absolutely phenomenal. We have been members for several years and my kids have grown…read morefrom the baby classes to older kids tumbling classes. They love free play and everything Fit City has to offer. Both of my kids also attended the preschool program, Learn and Play PreK, at Fit City Kids and we have been so happy with the early childhood educational experience the preschool offers. The unique program blends creative play with age-appropriate academic learning. Students make friends while learning in a safe, fun, and creative environment. Ms. Daye and Ms. Vanessa provide outstanding structure, guiding students to burn off their energetic wiggles and teaching preschool academics that prepare them for pre-k 4 and kindergarten. My 3-turning-4-year-old has mastered all her letters and numbers, can do basic addition, and writes her name and other words. My first-grader, who attended the preschool there several years ago, was more than prepared for elementary school. The unique environment lets students release their toddler- and preschooler-level energy in the indoor play space during cold Chicago winters. In warmer weather, students enjoy the outdoors at a local park or the outdoor field right at the school. You should check this place out! Next year, they will offer a full-day option, and you can customize morning, afternoon, or full-day attendance to create a schedule that works for you. So much more to offer than a traditional daycare.

    We had the opportunity to visit Fit City Kids for a private birthday party. The facility is…read morespacious, sectioned off by activity, and has a nice party room. At the entrance, they have tables/chairs and many cubbies for shoes/coats. Make sure you have socks as shoes must be removed in most of the play areas. A waiver needs to be filled out in order to participate. I liked that you could do a paper version, use a tablet, or scan a QR code and do it on your phone. That helped the line move fast! They have a little toddler section, a basketball court, soccer area, gymnastics area, and slides! So, there's something for littles and the big kids...and they are sectioned off. There are benches in between all areas for parents/grownups to sit. The party room has an area to set up food and then the area with tables. I loved that it was a private event. I'm assuming this is an available option after hours, as this party was at 7PM. My daughter had so much fun and wants to have a party there now. If we were in the area, we'd love to check out their classes and other offerings. They also have a free parking lot which is a huge plus in the city!

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    Fit City Kids
    Fit City Kids
    Fit City Kids

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    North Shore Center for the Performing Arts

    North Shore Center for the Performing Arts

    4.0(58 reviews)
    1.9 mi

    Nice clean, open theater for performances. The seats were decent - we at box seats to the right…read more Ticket prices were somewhat high for the type of venue and we had to get tickets through Ticketmaster so there are the extra fees involved. Called the box office and they were of no help in buying tickets for will call. We saw One Night in Memphis on Nov. 23. The performers were good, dedicated to playing their artists. The bad part of the theater? The sound - they cranked up the instruments and we could barely hear the performers sing. I felt bad for the performers trying to be heard over the drums and electric bass. Another downside was the lack of the ushers and staff with seating. It didn't seem to matter much where people sat as long as no one complains. Not sure this is good for honest people who pay for decent seats. When we got to our seats there was a couple already sitting in our seats. They claimed that the box office sent them to our seats because they got kicked out of their balcony seats. Without having an usher nearby, we had to take care of it ourselves. They begrudgingly moved to the next set of free seats in the box grumbling about how they should have stayed in their seats. The people with tickets to their relocated seats showed up and the balcony couple again claimed they were placed there by the box office because they were told to leave their balcony seats. They were finally moved by an usher. I noticed them sitting across the theater in the empty box seats, not balcony. I guess no one checks tickets. They must be pros knowing not to pay $75+ a ticket, but to pay a lot less for balcony and sit in premium seats because no one will check. Other than this irritating situation, the show was okay. Parking was easy and free which was nice. Overall, I think we'd be back only if there was a performer we must see, but we will not be paying for main or box seating prices. It's a small theater.

    Clean and módem and parking lot. They sell snacks and drinks and have many typed of entertainment…read morehere like today they had the Red hot Chili Pipers ... Scottish bagpipers playing contemporary music and also music they wrotes.

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    North Shore Center for the Performing Arts
    North Shore Center for the Performing Arts
    North Shore Center for the Performing Arts

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    Exploritorium - theater - Updated May 2026

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