Are you trying to decide what to do with your kids on your visit to Chicago?
Maybe you’ve come across ‘Sloomoo’ but aren’t sure if it’s worth the cost.
Or, perhaps you’ve got a slime-obsessed child and this could be his/her dream come true.
I visited with my slime-lovin’ 10-year-old son on a trip to Chicago (we were in town to see a WNBA game). When I gave my son options of things to do in Chicago besides going to the Chicago Sky game, this ‘museum’ was at the top of the list.
Let’s take a look at:
- Who will enjoy (or not enjoy) a visit to Chicago’s Sloomoo
- What the experience at Sloomoo is like, from check-in to leaving
- If we’d return
- How to buy Sloomoo tickets
- Sloomoo’s Chicago location and how to get there
- A few more things to know about Chicago Sloomoo Institute
Who Will Love Sloomoo? And Who Should Skip It?
All ages – We saw all ages inside Sloomoo – babies, toddlers, elementary age kids, preteens, and teens! While there were babies present, they were with families who had older kids enjoying the experience. I don’t think it’s worth bringing a baby here, but toddlers were having a blast. I’d bring my 4 year old to Sloomoo. My 10-year-old loved the Sloomoo experience, and so did I!
Kids who enjoy interactive experiences – Sloomoo Institute is all about trying, touching, and playing with the slime!
Kids who are ok playing side-by-side with others – While you can experience Sloomoo with just your group (especially if you visit during a slower time of day), you’ll likely be in exhibits with other visitors.
Families who want an activity to do together. Sloomoo is fun for all ages, so you can bring a group to play together!
You may want to skip Sloomoo Institute Chicago if:
Your child has sensory issues. In general, Sloomoo is loud (voices, popping sounds from the slingshot, etc). However, there are sensory-friendly hours though, which is so cool!
You’re on a tight budget. There are plenty of other things you can do in Chicago with kids. But, it was really worth it for us because we don’t have access to this type of experience where we live.
You’re nervous about germs. While Sloomoo is really pro-good hygiene (sanitizing wipes, asking visitors to wipe things down, etc), there’s still a lot of touching things that others are also touching, and trusting that others are practicing good hygiene inside. If this type of situation would give you anxiety, skip it!
What the Experience is Like at the Sloomoo Institute
We spent 1 hour and 25 minutes at the Sloomoo Institute, from check-in to walking out the door to leave.
Here’s how the experience goes, step-by-step:
- Enter Sloomoo and check-in at the desk (or purchase your ticket if you don’t already have one). Adults also need to sign a waiver for children.
- Enter a small room next to reception to watch a quick video about slime, hygiene, and Sloomoo basics.
- Exit out the other door of the room into Sloomoo!
- Walk through Sloomoo Institute one room/exhibit at a time. Inside you’ll find:
- 30+ slimes
- Slime slingshot
- Dance screen
- Kinetic sand
- Make a sidekick computer activity
- Bubbles with slime
- Walk in slime
- Get slimed at Sloo Moo Falls (extra fee)
- Make your own slime (included with ticket). It’s 8 oz, and you can choose from countless colors and scents. You also get to choose charms to add to your slime. We loved this part of the experience and our slimes lasted for 6 months (that’s about 100 years in slime terms, especially with my 3 kids).
- Walk through the gift shop on your way out. The shop has plenty of slimes for sale, plus other colorful toys and sweet treats. We looked at the shop, but were really happy with our slimes we’d just made, so we didn’t buy anything else.
We found the staff at Sloomoo Chicago to be kind and helpful. They told us fun facts, helped us use some of the exhibits (for example, showing us how to make the biggest bubbles from slime), and made sure the experience was safe and hygienic for all visitors.
Would We Go Back?
Yes, we’d return in a heartbeat*. My other sons have already asked when we can return, and I’ve looked up other locations in the US. We’ll definitely visit as soon as we can!
*Our tickets were $29.99 each, plus tax, which made it about $75 total for just the two of us. That includes two custom slimes, but it’s still pricey for a 1.5 hour experience. I would come back, but only during one of the less expensive sessions. We had time constraints and a limited window so we had to pay for the expensive time slot.
Buying Tickets for the Sloomoo Institute
We purchased our tickets in advance, online, on the official Sloomoo website.
You need to choose a time slot because space is limited.
Sloomoo uses dynamic pricing, so rates vary by day and by hour. For example, I’m looking at the site right now and tickets today range from $29.99 – $35.99 per person, depending on what time you enter. If I book for tomorrow, tickets range from $19.99 – $25.99.
You can also buy tickets at the door, but you’re not guaranteed entry because space is limited so Sloomoo limits the number of people allowed inside at one time. You will also pay a higher ticket price at the door.
Tip: Book in advance, and if possible, be flexible with your timing. You’ll save quite a bit, especially if you’re coming with a group.
Location and How to Get There
Address: 820 N. Orleans St. You can see it on a map here.
Walk – We walked (about 30 minutes, 1.3 miles) from our hotel (L7 Chicago by Lotte) because it was a gorgeous day and we wanted to see the city.
Take Public Transport – The closest train stop is at Chicago Ave. & Franklin St. (Brown/Purple Line). The closest bus stops are Orleans & Chestnut or Orleans & Chicago.
Take a Taxi – This is the quickest and priciest option.
Drive – Of course, if you’re a local, you can also park in a nearby lot or garage. Sloomoo Institute doesn’t have onsite parking.
Good To Know: It’s close to Mr. Beef, of the famed ‘The Bear’ television series. We didn’t see Jeremy White when we walked by, but there was a long line of folks waiting in line for a beef sandwich.
Good To Know: There’s a playground and grassy park nearby. Durso Park is a 7-minute (.3 mile) walk from Sloomoo. My 10-year-old wasn’t interested in the playground, but younger kids will enjoy the slides, swings, and multiple play structures.
More Things to Know About SlooMoo
Quality Slime – Have you ever purchased slime for your kids and had it ‘go bad’ quickly? I just ‘retired’ one of our SlooMoo slimes, as it was getting a bit watery. However, it lasted 6 months, with heavy play (although always with washed hands on a plastic mat).
Fabulous Staff – Everyone we interacted with balanced safety, hygiene, fun, and learning so well! We asked questions, we were shown interesting things, and we always felt comfortable.
Online Slime – You can purchase Sloomoo slime from the online shop.
What to Wear – Dress in clothes that you can get slime on (it happens). Tie hair back or put it in braids. If you want to walk in the slime pools, wear socks and shoes that are easy to remove. Sloomoo’s Instructions for removing slime from clothing: “Slime can be removed from MOST fabrics with white vinegar and hot water. Use the white vinegar generously and allow 30 seconds for it to begin dissolving. Wipe away what you can with a towel, and run hot water over the area. Repeat until gone.”
Snacks – You can’t eat inside Sloomoo for hygiene reasons. We snacked before we went in.
Flying with Your Sloomoo Slime – You can’t bring your 8 oz. slime container in a carry-on bag, so you can either: 1) put it in a check-in bag, or 2) buy smaller containers at Sloomoo to split it up. We ended up just checking one of our bags.
Looking for more to do in Chicago with kids? Check out
Chicago with a 10-Year-Old
Going to a Chicago Sky Game with Kids
