When you find yourself moving in a group of people that contains toddlers and grandparents and everything in between, it’s not always easy to find entertainment that works for everybody — especially when a wheelchair is to be factored in. Sometimes your best bet is to go for size and variety — a destination that offers indoor and outdoor possibilities, activities both structured and free-form, places to sit and enjoy the view as well as ways for the energetic to run around and blow off steam.
Four Chicagoland venues that are especially educational, relaxing and economical for family members of all ages are Navy Pier, North Pier Chicago, Lincoln Park Zoo and Brookfield Zoo.
These locations are detailed in separate MetroMix listings.
Pack up the family and head for …
Navy Pier
8-Near North Side, Streeterville
The pier is located at the east end of Grand Avenue, east of Lake Shore Drive, and stretches a half mile into Lake Michigan. An exterior promenade offering wonderful views of the lake and the Chicago skyline is open from 6 a.m.-11 p.m. all year. In bad weather, strollers will enjoy the Family Pavilion, the Crystal Garden and the shopping arcade.
Shops and kiosks line the family pavilion and arcade, offering merchandise from books, sports memorabilia, flags and souvenirs of Illinois to Christmas decorations the year round, blown glass figurines,
candles, miniature collectibles and African art.
Hungry shoppers in a hurry or on a budget will head for the food court, which features ethnic, deli and traditional fast food. More serious dining is available at Widow Newton’s Tavern, Perchy’s, Charlie’s Ale House and Riva. All but Perchy’s were designed for wheelchair users. Wheelchair users must enter through the doors from Perchy’s patio — not fun for anyone in winter. All four restaurants and the Beer Garden and Crystal Palace Terrace offer outdoor dining in warm weather.
All restrooms are accessible. They are located along the arcade and throughout Festival Hall, the exhibit and meeting areas of Navy Pier. Pay phones meet height and volume-adjustability standards and several TDDs are available. Pier Park, on the upper level, may be accessed by elevator or via the huge ramp that is the design highlight of the entrance to the park. The carousel isn’t accessible, but the 5-story-high Ferris wheel will be in 1997. Accessible Skyline Stage presents music, comedy and other entertainment.
A full day of entertainment can be enjoyed in the Crystal Garden (which has an adjoining ice skating rink in the winter), the IMAX theater (where the enormous screen makes you part of the action) and the
Chicago Children’s Museum. Admission to the children’s museum is $5 except for Thursday night, when admission is free. All attractions are wheelchair accessible.
The Chicago skyline can be viewed from Lake Michigan on cruise boats ranging from the Cap Streeter and Shoreline II — $7 for a 30-minute tour — to the luxurious Odyssey II and the Spirit of Chicago, which have accessible restrooms and offer full-course meals. All of these ships, the Anita Dee II (which must be chartered by a group) and the Seadog are wheelchair accessible.
Unfortunately, the trolleys that run up and down Illinois Street and Grand Avenue from relatively inexpensive parking lots are not accessible. Parking on the Pier is pricey–at least $11.50 for four hours–and there’s not nearly enough of it. “Handicapped” spaces are located at entry doors to the arcade. Phone Number: 312-595-7437
North Pier Chicago
8-Near North Side, Streeterville
In a former life, North Pier, three blocks west of Navy Pier, was a terminal/warehouse where freighters unloaded cargo. Now it’s an entertainment complex that draws crowds, especially on evenings and weekends, to its mostly light-hearted attractions, shops (sports memorabilia, holograms, leather goods) and restaurants. Parking for North Pier Chicago is across Illinois Street, on Fairbanks or Peshtigo Court. A couple of reserved parking spots for drivers in wheelchairs are on Fairbanks, very near the accessible
entrance.
North Pier can be entered by people using wheelchairs only at the back side, on Ogden Slip. The ramp to the Ogden Slip promenade is located half a block down Fairbanks from Illinois at the west end of the building. Restaurants are very accessible. Dick’s Last Resort is the best known among the choices for full meals. The food court offers a good selection — and the best fudge this side of Mackinac Island.
An elevator providing access to the two upper floors is tucked into an alcove on the first floor. Restrooms and pay phones are accessible. Features especially popular with young people are a huge video arcade on the third floor, a miniature golf course on the first floor and a do-it-yourself movie store. In the summer, you can eat al fresco at Dick’s Dock or take an architectural boat tour aboard The Fort Dearborn, which embarks from North Pier. Address: 435 E. Illinois St. Phone Number: 312-836-4300.
Lincoln Park Zoo
7-Lincoln Park, Park West
The animal collections at this urban zoo, which still has free admission, include an outstanding lowland gorilla exhibit, rare wolves and acrobatic polar bears.
There’s wheelchair parking at the zoo entrance; a few yards away, you can pick up a map telling you where exhibits are located. The map also shows accessible restrooms and pay phones. Signs along the walks guide you to these conveniences as well. The older buildings have had ramps installed, but new structures include access as part of their design. The zoo’s paths are easily navigated with a wheelchair.
A pleasant resting spot, Cafe Brauer, has been made accessible by a lift, though you’ll have to find a zoo employee to operate it. The Botanical Gardens and Conservatory are a treat for both the eyes and the nose. The lower level of the conservatory is not accessible, but can be viewed from above. Address: 2200 N. Cannon Drive. Phone Number: 312-742-2000.
Brookfield Zoo
Suburbs, West
Located about 12 miles west of Chicago, Brookfield Zoo has its own rain forest, an outstanding mountain gorilla exhibit and many acres of landscaped grounds with natural habitats for the animals. The zoo is so large that many people choose to ride the Motor Safari bus in the summer and the Snowball
Express in the winter. Both are easily used by people in wheelchairs. Wheelchair parking is right in front of the gates. Maps show where all accessible restrooms and phones are located. Admission is $5.50 per person ($2.50 for people under 11 or over 65 years old).. Address: First Avenue and 31st Street, Brookfield, IL. Phone Number: 708-485-2200.
All four attractions feature special holiday activities for the family, including Santa arriving on the Christmas tree boat at Navy Pier and Christmas with the animals at both zoos.
