Visitors to Chicago have the opportunity to enjoy several world renowned attractions and many of them particularly interesting and educative for kids. These include 6 prominent museums, zoos and botanical gardens. Three of the top museums in Chicago are reviewed here for your convenience.

Adler Planetarium and Museum: This is America's first Planetarium with its history dating back to 1930. At the Adler Planetarium and Museum, you are treated to 3 full size theaters, an extensive collection of important and antique astronomical instruments, and large exhibitions in space science. Adler is also recognized for its premier role in science education focusing on inspiring the youngsters with particular emphasis on minorities and women to pursue science careers.

Official web site of the museum

http://www.adlerplanetarium.org/

Chicago Children's Museum at Navy Pier: This museum founded in 1982 was housed initially in the Chicago Public Library which is now christened as the Chicago Cultural Center. In 1995 the museum was moved to its present home on Navy Pier and is among top cultural attractions in Chicago. CCM focuses primarily on children right from birth to the 5th grade and the families raising them as well as the community groups and schools involved. The exhibits at the museum are age appropriate, playful and provide sensory experiences. The content focuses on a wide range of subjects such as arts, literacy, math, and science.

Official website of the Children's museum

http://www.chicagochildrensmuseum.org/mission.html

Shed Aquarium: Much of the credit for the Shed Aquarium which today enjoys the status of the largest indoor aquarium in the world goes to the ingenuity and vision of its founder John G Shedd. It was the untiring effort of Shedd to see Chicago as a world class metropolis that brought this stupendous aquarium to Chicago. Even at a time when resources were hard to come by Shedd himself made large contributions and convinced his friends and colleagues to chip in. Among the notable features of the museum is the fact that over 1 million gallons of sea water were transported all the way from Florida by rail to fill this inland aquarium with sea water.

Official website of The Shed

http://www.sheddaquarium.org/index.html

Top 10 Chicago museums

http://chicago.about.com/od/artsculture/tp/Top-Ten-Chicago-Museums.htm