EXP virtual reality experience in Rosemont

Last fall, the Village of Rosemont welcomed EXP, the Midwest’s largest virtual reality destination that provides families with a trio of immersive adventures that’ll leave you amazed.

Earlier this winter, we had the chance to experience Horizon of Khufu, which takes you back 4,500 years and drops you into the middle of a 45-minute guided tour of ancient Egypt, as well as a pretty spectacular exploration of the Great Pyramid.

“You definitely feel like you’re right there in the sand, and it’s so realistic, especially when you’re standing atop the pyramids,” says Helena Oroz, our visiting friend from Ohio. “It’s a crazy experience to be looking out at the vastness in front of you — both the desert and the city of Cairo, and you can’t help but feel transported back into that civilization.”

For those inexperienced with the world of virtual reality, it’s worth noting that EXP creates a very safe, free-roam environment for you to explore with your kids, which definitely helps when you’re focused on the ancient burial ceremony happening in front of you.

And the timing couldn’t have been more perfect for our 6th grader, who happened to be studying ancient Egypt in his social studies class at the time of our tour and vouched for the historical knowledge handed out about the construction of the pyramids and embalming process for pharaohs.

The other two adventures currently available through April 5 are Life Chronicles (covering 3.5 billion years of Earth’s history, dinosaurs included) and The Last Stronghold (Middle Ages in Southern France).

EXP Rosemont is located at 9900 Berwyn Avenue. For more information and tickets, visit EXPRosemont.com

— Trent Modglin

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory runs through March 28 at the Marriott Theatre for Young Adults

I took my daughters, ages 7 and 9, to the new production of Charlie and Chocolate Factory at the Marriott Theatre for Young Adults (Lincolnshire Marriott) in February, and we had an absolute blast.  The production quality was outstanding, which is consistent with the high standards I’ve come to expect from this theater. The show runs about 70 minutes, making it an ideal length for all ages. Because the stage is centrally located inside the theater, there truly isn’t a bad seat in the house — even for the kids.

One of the highlights was the Q&A session with the entire cast after the show, which made my daughters feel like they were really a part of the experience.

The cast was incredibly talented, with several actors playing multiple roles, and my daughters especially enjoyed seeing the other children in the production. The music, costumes, lighting and humor kept us entertained throughout. One of the highlights was the Q&A session with the entire cast after the show, where the kids in the audience are invited to ask questions about the play and even the actors themselves, which made my daughters feel like they were really a part of the experience.

If you are looking for a great family activity to get through these last weeks of winter, I definitely suggest checking it out.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory runs most Wednesdays-Sundays at 10 a.m. — with select 12:30 p.m. performances — through March 28, with plenty of additional spring break performances. Visit MarriottTheatre.com or call (847) 634-0200 for the exact schedule, as show times and dates may vary. Tickets are $18.75 (plus tax and handling fees). Call for substantial group discounts on over 20 tickets. Free parking is available at all performances. 10 Marriott Drive in Lincolnshire.

— Liz Freidin

New movies at the Museum of Science and Industry’s Giant Dome Theater

The world-renowned Museum of Science and Industry has always been a favorite of ours for many reasons, and it’s an especially exciting time to visit right now as you can take in a pair of exciting new films at the Giant Dome Theater.

Reaching billions of years into the past and peering millions of years into the future, Encounters in the Milky Way is a time-traveling journey about the cosmic movements that shape our galactic neighborhood. Bonus: After the show, you can step outside the theater directly into the Henry Crown Space Center, where you can discover the history (and future) of space exploration.

Reaching billions of years into the past and peering millions of years into the future, Encounters in the Milky Way is a time-traveling journey about the cosmic movements that shape our galactic neighborhood.

And with Serengeti: A Journey to the Heart of Africa, you’ll witness the Serengeti ecosystem in Tanzania and Kenya that is home to most of Africa’s iconic animals as well as one of nature’s most spectacular events — the annual migration of nearly two million wildebeest.

The Giant Dome Theater requires an additional ticket purchase. 5700 S. Lake Shore Drive in Chicago. GriffinMSI.org

RPG & Board Game Club at the Park Ridge Public Library

Calling all teen gamers. Join an RPG (role-playing game) adventure or explore various exciting tabletop games with other passionate players (no experience required) on select Sundays from 1-4:45 p.m. at the library’s first-floor meeting room. Check the online calendar for future dates. Open to grades 6-12. ParkRidgeLibrary.org