Published on Sep, 2024
Our trip to Chicago wouldn’t have been complete without a visit to the iconic Field Museum, and the Early Access Tour made the experience truly unforgettable. As a fan of natural history—and a total dinosaur nerd—this museum was a must-visit, but the early access tickets elevated it to another level.
Booking through TripAdvisor for $73 a person (worth every penny!), we were able to enter the museum an hour before it opened to the general public. This meant we had the museum almost entirely to ourselves—a rare, peaceful way to explore such a grand space. Our guide greeted us promptly at the East Entrance and customized the tour based on our interests, which for me, of course, meant dinosaurs and the Evolving Planet exhibit.
The Evolving Planet exhibit is massive, taking you through 4.5 billion years of Earth’s history, from early microbial life to human evolution. Our guide walked us through the highlights, sharing fascinating insights about key evolutionary periods, such as the Cambrian Explosion. A personal favorite? The Tully Monster, Illinois’ state fossil! It was such a quirky tidbit that made me appreciate how connected the state is to prehistoric life.
But the crown jewel of the tour—and a personal highlight—was standing in front of Sue the T. Rex without a single crowd around. The chance to take in Sue’s immense size and power in an intimate setting was awe-inspiring. Our guide shared fascinating details about Sue’s discovery and how she made her way to the museum, which made this experience feel even more special.
After our guided tour ended at 9 AM, we were free to explore the museum on our own with our all-access tickets. We hit some of the must-see exhibits, like Inside Ancient Egypt (complete with mummies and tombs) and the stunning Hall of Gems. We even checked out the fun, interactive Underground Adventure, where you "shrink" down to the size of a bug—a quirky and unexpected twist.
The early access option gave us the luxury of exploring the museum in peace, and I cannot recommend it enough. If you're a museum lover, this is the way to go.
Pro Tip: Grab breakfast beforehand to avoid feeling rushed—we stopped at Little Branch Cafe, which was decent, but the slow service almost made us late!
Overall, the Early Access Tour was a fantastic way to see the Field Museum in all its glory without the usual crowds. If you're planning a trip to Chicago and love natural history, do yourself a favor and book this experience.
