I have mixed feelings about this place. When we fi...

I have mixed feelings about this place. When we first got our membership last year, it seemed like certain exhibits/interactive displays were frequently down for maintenance, and things looked a bit run down. That seems to have improved over this past winter.

We love the themed events and seasonal exhibits: Tape Scape and Grossology were huge hits with the kids, plus blowing up pumpkins for Halloween, the winter wonderland and New Years Eve Eve were also fun for all.

That said, there are some downsides. I really loved being able to use their lockers with just a few quarters...now, there are fewer lockers and it costs a small fortunes to use them! Also, the machine that runs it requires a credit card, OR you have to go to the admission counter to purchase a token if all you have is cash. By the time you do that, the lockers are sold out. No other place to really leave your coat besides the car, which can be brutal right there on the lake. If you are taking public transportation, be aware that the Waterfront line has weird hours and may not be running when you leave. That can mean a long-ish walk to Tower City to catch the Red Line.

A membership can be a great value, just be aware that you will still pay for parking (at a reduced rate, currently $7 for the day) after you run out of your 2 or 4 vouchers if you get certain levels of membership. It also looks like they no longer offer a discount for purchasing online. It was great while we had it, but I may just pass on renewal in March, and look at some other options.