Entertaining kids at O'Hare airport

Children's museum at O'Hare airport - a great place for kids to play, release some pent-up energy.

Last week I took my two grandsons (Evan - 8 y/o and Garrett 6 y/o) on a 5 day vacation.  While traveling home, we had a 2 1/2 hr layover at O'Hare airport.   I've generally found that a good way to keep little boys occupied and happy is to give them a task that provides an interesting diversion.  So, once we had de-planed at O'Hare,  I asked them to figure out the way to the next gate (O'Hare is big - we had landed at K-18 and had to go to G2B)

If you've flown, you know there are signs throughout the airport to guide you.  The boys had no problem following the directions to get us to the G concourse.  However, enroute to G, they noticed the Terminal 2 sign that said "Children's Museum".  They wanted to go check it out, so off we went to Terminal 2.  Note:  this isn't a long distance from the G concourse.

The term "museum" is a little misleading because this is essentially a very cool airport playground.  It is surrounded by a wall, so you don't have to worry about your kids escaping.  Note:  you cannot take food or drinks inside the play area!

There is a large airplane - large enough for the kids to climb stairs to get into the body of the plane. 

There are cargo boxes as well as the lower storage compartments in the planes that provide kids a lot of options for climbing and playing.

Cargo compartments built into the plane made for a great place to play and climb.  And to meet new friends.

Lots of cargo open cargo boxes for climbing and crawling.  (and hiding from your brother).

There is a fuel truck next to the body of the plane, so the kids can pretend to pump fuel.

There's an air traffic control tower, complete with a flight of stairs to climb to the top.  It sits next to a large window so the kids actually see real planes as they look outside.

The name "museum" most likely comes from the fact that throughout the play area are photos and facts about the play structures.  For example, here in the air traffic control tower, you can read about the job of air traffic controllers.

Want to fly the plane?  there's a flight deck. 

One other comment about O'Hare - if you're in Terminal 3 (American Airlines), and you want a treat, get a smoothie at B-Smoothie, located in the food court in the H/K concourse.  The boys remembered these from our May trip! 

Garrett posing for me in front of Garrett's popcorn shop.  BEST cheese popcorn and Karmel Corn you'll ever eat!  So, if you want an alternate food treat, try the cheese corn.  The boys love it.  I will warn you it will stain their fingers so be prepared for a little handwashing after their finished eating!