Enjoy family friendly activities before school resumes
They're the three most horrifying words a child can hear during the summer.
"Back to school."
Even though it's still July, the words have already been uttered many times on television and radio commercials. It's enough to put children into a deep funk.
Fortunately, there is still plenty of family-oriented fun to be had in the city and suburbs this summer. If your children look like they're coming down with a case of the back-to-school blues, check out one or more of these activities to put smiles back on their faces. Long live summer!
The dinosaurs returnDinosaur lovers will roar with approval at "Walking with Dinosaurs," a stage show that features incredibly lifelike (and lifesize!) dinosaurs walking on stage. The show traces the evolution of dinosaurs, showing how they interacted and changed over time. Though designed as an all-ages show, parents should think about whether the sight of such realistic dinosaurs would be more scary than thrilling for their youngsters."Walking with Dinosaurs" runs July 28 through Aug. 1 at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. Tickets are $19.50 to $69.50. Call (800) 745-3000.Trees of steel"Steelroots: Tobin at the Morton Arboretum" brings 14 sculptures from renowned artist Steve Tobin to the outdoor nature museum in Lisle. Tobin's "Steelroots" are massive works of art - some soar up to 40 feet high - made from steel pipes. The sculptures look like twisted tree roots, and they stand amid the arboretum's impressive collection of evergreens.Bring your children to see, touch and sit underneath these towering sculptures. Available for download on the arboretum's website are activity guides that can help families make the most of the exhibition. Go to mortonarb.org for information.The arboretum is located at 4100 Route 53 in Lisle. Admission for nonmembers is $11 for adults, $8 for children age 2 to 17. (Parking included in admission price.) Steelroots will be in place at the arboretum through January. Call (630) 968-0074.Childhood book tributeIf you're a parent, chances are you've read more than a few Golden Books to your children. Now you can take your kids to explore the history and legacy of these childhood favorites at the Lake County Discovery Museum in Wauconda."Golden Legacy: Original Art from 65 Years of Golden Books" will let children see artwork from classic books like "Scuffy the Tugboat" and "Tawny Scrawny Lion." Kids can also take part in a number of games and activities that let them experience the world of these books first hand.The Lake County Discovery Museum is located at 27277 N. Forest Preserve Road in Wauconda. Admission is $6 for adults and $2.50 for children age 4 to 17. The Golden Legacy exhibit runs through Aug. 22. Call (847) 968-3400 or visit lcfpd.org/goldenlegacy.New kind of toyboxFew Chicago destinations are more family-friendly than beautiful Millennium Park. A highlight this summer is the Imagination Playground in a Box, a new activity that allows children to construct the playground of their dreams out of big movable blocks, then take it down and start over. The activity is designed by renowned architect David Rockwell to encourage free play and stimulate creativity. Imagination Playground in a Box is part of the park's existing Family Fun Festival, which offers a host of other games and performances to families every day. The playground activity will remain at Millennium Park through Sept. 3.Imagination Playground is available to children 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. Millennium Park is located in downtown Chicago, bordered by Michigan Avenue, Columbus Drive, Randolph Street and Monroe Street. Go to millenniumpark.org or call (312) 742-1168.High-energy popIf music is your child's thing, bring him or her to Cantigny Park in Wheaton on Saturday, Aug. 14. ScribbleMonster will be performing its unique mix of age-appropriate power-pop, comedy, dance and singalongs. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs and enjoy a summer morning of energetic music. The concert will start at 11 a.m., and will be held rain or shine, unless the weather is severe.Cantigny is located at 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. Concert is free, but a $5 parking fee applies. Call (630) 668-5161.Cheap flicksSummer is a great time to see movies, and a suburban theater chain makes it especially fun for families.Downers Grove-based Classic Cinemas, which operates theaters all over the suburbs, is again offering the Wednesday Morning Movie Series, a weekly screening of PG-rated films for just $1 per person! Movies start at 10 a.m., but you're encouraged to arrive at 9 a.m. for special pre-film activities. The suburban theaters participating include the Charlestowne 18 in St. Charles, Cinema 12 in Carpentersville, the Elk Grove in Elk Grove Village, the Ogden 6 in Naperville, the Tivoli in Downers Grove and the Fox Lake Theatre in Fox Lake.The series runs through Aug. 11. For a full list of movies and locations, go to classiccinemas.com/wmms.All aboard!The Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe has something for all the train-lovers in your family. "Model Railroad Garden: Landmarks of America" runs through Oct. 31 at the museum. Now in its 11th year, the 7,500-square-foot outdoor exhibit sends model trains on a journey from coast to coast, with miniature American landmarks in place along the way. White Sox fans will be particularly happy with a new addition to the journey this year - historic Comiskey Park, complete with lights and sound! Admission to the Model Railroad Garden is $5 for adults and $3 for children age 3 to 12. The exhibit is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily throughout the summer. The Chicago Botanic Garden is located at 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe. Call (847) 835-5440, or visit chicagobotanic.org.False9001145The Model Railroad Garden Exhibit at the Chicago Botanic Garden will delight young train enthusiasts.Chicago Botanic Garden photo by Robin CarlsonFalse