The Chicago Children's Museum at Navy Pier is technically in the Streeterville neighbourhood, but it is the closest major children's museum to Old Town and the most visited museum for families on the North Side. The museum focuses on hands-on learning through play, with exhibits on construction, water, art-making, and science for children from infants through pre-teens.
Navy Pier itself — a 3,300-foot pier on Lake Michigan — is worth visiting for the lake views and the Ferris wheel regardless of the children's museum. The pier was built in 1916 as a shipping and recreation facility, and its revival since 1995 as a cultural and entertainment destination has made it one of the most visited attractions in Chicago. Lake Shore Drive at Illinois Street.