STEM Programs in Chicago, IL

Step into the captivating realm of illusions, where reality is never exactly as it appears. Museum of Illusions is a one-of-a-kind, visual, sensory, and educational experience designed to engage your sense of wonder and challenge perceptions through the science behind optical illusions. We offer over 50 immersive, hands-on exhibits to explore. Our illusion rooms, installations and holograms let you defy gravity, grow and shrink your body, walk into a life-size kaleidoscope, and play tricks on your senses at every turn. It’s a mind-bending journey that deceives the senses and reveals how the brain interprets reality.

Enjoy Chicago’s only bus guided neighborhood pizza tour.  Eat like a local as you travel off the beaten path into Chicago neighborhoods to savor the best pizza.  Your local guide will teach you the science behind ingredient selection and baking as you sample slices from historic pizzerias.  In just a few hours, you’ll leave stuffed, and with an understanding of why pizza is such an important part of Chicago’s culture.

Discover more of Chicago beyond downtown with this convenient South Side open-top shuttle transfer. Travel from central Chicago to some of the city’s most important cultural and historic destinations, including Jackson Park, the Obama Presidential Center campus, and the Griffin Museum of Science & Industry. Enjoy an easy ride south without arranging taxis, rideshares, or public transit connections. The shuttle first stops near the Obama Presidential Center and Jackson Park, giving you access to one of Chicago’s most historic lakefront spaces. Explore the area at your own pace, take photos, or continue your visit independently. The route also serves the Griffin Museum of Science & Industry, one of Chicago’s most popular attractions and one of the largest science museums in the world. This is a great option for travelers who want a simple, affordable way to visit Chicago’s South Side highlights from downtown. Choose a one-way transfer or an all-day ticket for added flexibility.

Experience 5 top attractions and save up to 50% with Chicago CityPASS® tickets. One simple purchase removes the stress of planning, so you can relax and enjoy your memories in the making. With 9 days to use your tickets, you’ll have plenty of time to explore the best sights. Chicago CityPASS® bundles one-time admission to 5 attractions. Includes: • Chicago's Famous Aquarium • Skydeck Chicago Plus choose 3 more attractions. • Shoreline Sightseeing Architecture River Tour • Field Museum • 360 CHICAGO Observation Deck • Griffin Museum of Science and Industry • Art Institute of Chicago • Adler Planetarium

Kick off your Sunday the right way—with mimosas, Bloody Marys , and unbeatable views of Chicago’s stunning skyline aboard Enchantment, our flagship vessel. This ticketed cruise is the perfect blend of relaxation and celebration, set in a stylish Tiki Chic atmosphere. Enchantment features two climate-controlled decks, two full bars, two bathrooms, a premium sound system, and both indoor and outdoor viewing areas—so you can sip and socialize in total comfort, no matter the weather. Your adventure begins on the Chicago Riverwalk, where you’ll board the vessel and enjoy your first refreshing drink. Then, you’ll experience the rare and scenic journey through the Chicago Locks, before heading out onto Lake Michigan, where the city’s skyline stretches endlessly before you. Join us for a Sunday Funday like no other—where great drinks, good vibes, and epic views come standard.

Take a tour of Chicago's Pedway system (a network of underground tunnels that allows pedestrians to pass from one end of the Loop to the other) and enjoy seasonal holiday decorations and sights along the way. Our tour begins in the lobby of the Swissotel where we descend into the Pedway. After a tour of the Chicago Cultural Center and its famous Tiffany Dome, we return to the Pedway for a short walk to Macy's department store. There, we'll view the famous Tiffany ceiling, the "Great Tree" in the Walnut Room and the store’s decorated holiday windows. We return to the Pedway and follow it to Civic Center Plaza for a visit to the Christkindlmarket, an authentic European holiday market. We return to the Pedway for a visit to City Hall followed by a short walk to a nearby L station. A quick train ride takes us to the origin/terminus of Route 66, the Art Institute’s lion statues, and Millennium Park to view the famous Cloud Gate sculpture, aka, The Bean and the city's holiday tree .

Our flagship vessel boasts a Tiki Chic vibe, two climate controlled decks, two bars, two bathrooms, premium sound system, outdoor and indoor viewing areas. Our upscale "Admirals Lounge" features top-shelf alcohol, including the captain's private reserve. Your adventure starts on the Chicago Riverwalk when you board a vessel. Enjoy a beverage as you complete the unique experience of transiting the Chicago Locks. Once on Lake Michigan take in the stunning views of Chicago's skyline.

This tour explores some of the best hidden details, secret buildings and spaces, and untold stories that add wonderful bits of color and texture to the overall narrative of Chicago. On this tour, we will explore the famous and mysterious Chicago Pedway, a system of underground tunnels connecting 40 blocks downtown, popping in and out of buildings to see beautiful and fascinating interior spaces. You'll learn to use this system that most locals don't even fully know or use, and you'll be encouraged to continue exploring Chicago on your own after the tour!

Housed in the only remaining building from the 1893 World's Fair, Griffin MSI is a Chicago must-see. When visiting the largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere, you'll experience a 40-foot tornado, climb aboard a World War II German submarine, take a run in a human-sized hamster wheel, descend into an Illinois coal mine, board a 727 hanging from the ceiling and much more! Griffin MSI is not a place where you walk around quietly and observe. You get involved in the fun — and learn — by doing. Just a few miles from downtown with convenient underground parking. Children under three years of age receive free admission to the Museum.

Your journey begins with a southeast departure from the Vertiport, offering early views of the city’s iconic skyline. Flying east, you’ll head toward the lakefront and cruise south along the shoreline, passing Soldier Field, the Museum Campus, and continuing down to the historic Museum of Science and Industry in Hyde Park. From there, the route turns north, following Lake Michigan’s edge past Navy Pier, the John Hancock Center, and up to Montrose Harbor; a favorite city escape with marinas and beaches. You’ll then loop south once more, enjoying a sweeping view of Chicago’s lakefront before heading west to return to the Vertiport. It’s a dynamic tour showcasing both downtown and the scenic south shore in one unforgettable flight.