• Head to the Sears Tower for a fun way to enjoy Chicago.sears tower image by aris from Fotolia.com
  
  The post-holiday "ho-hum" feeling and frigid temperatures do not have to mean cabin fever and boredom for your family during January in Chicago. There are countless possibilities for lively, educational, and one-of-a-kind activities. There is a smorgasbord of indoor adventures waiting for you in wintry Chicago. You can even have fun outdoors, weather permitting: walking tours, bicycling, or playing in the snow.
  
  

Science Museum

• You could spend the rest of the winter with your family at the Museum of Science and Industry, there is so much to do there. This 75-year-old gem of a destination includes 14 acres chock full of 35,000 artifacts and hands-on activities, and is one of the largest science museums in the world. Some of the cannot-miss exhibits include the U-505 Submarine, the only German U-boat in the United States; and "Smart Home: Green + Wired."
  
  

Planetarium

• If you need a night away from home, take your family to a sleepover at the Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum, where you can enjoy the "campfire" while hearing stories of the stars and checking out hands-on activities. Yes, you actually sleep overnight at the planetarium while learning what it would be like to sleep in space. If your preference is a day trip to the planetarium, you can enjoy shows, exhibitions and activities at this, the first planetarium in the United States. Check out the Sky Pavilion, from which you get great views of surrounding Chicago. Or head to the planetarium's theatre and shows; there are a variety of options that are appropriate for all age groups.
  
  

Cultural Center

• If you are drawn to the arts, the Chicago Cultural Center is the place for your family to be in January. Here, you can savor the talents of many local, regional, national and even international dancers, actors, musicians and artists. Better yet, many of the performances are free. Also at this venue are events especially for families. Enjoy strolling through this lovely building, which has two magnificent stained-glass domes. The building also has a fascinating history: it was Chicago's first central public library, finished in 1897. The interior includes rare marble, mosaics, and stained-glass windows.
  
  

Skydeck

• Previously dubbed the Sears Tower Skydeck, the lofty Skydeck affords a 360-degree view of Lake Michigan, the Loop, sports stadiums, and sights 50 miles away from this, the tallest building in the Western hemisphere. If your family is feeling extra daring, check out The Ledge, a glass-floored apparatus that is 1,353 feet higher than the street. You can also enjoy educational exhibits and theatre presentations about the Sears Tower.
  
  

Ice Skating

• To fully embrace the chill of January, take your family outdoors, on a fun ice-skating excursion. Millennium Park's McCormick Tribune Ice Rink is a big draw; more than 100,000 people skate there annually. You will find the rink on Michigan Avenue, between Washington and Madison Streets. Also, the Chicago Park District operates 10 ice skating rinks in various spots within the city, and several of these are outdoors. Try The Rink at Wrigley,next to Wrigley Field. At most of these ice-skating venues, admission is free. You can bring your own skates, or most places offer rentals for a fee.