Step inside the Midwest's largest VR experience
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Travel to Egypt or visit dinosaurs this weekend ... in the burbs.
The big picture: EXP Rosemont's new immersive VR experience opened last week as the largest virtual-reality destination in the Midwest.
- The 26,000-square-foot venue welcomes guests to travel through art, technology, storytelling and history.
Zoom in: EXP offers two 45-minute expeditions — "Life of Chronicles," spotlighting prehistoric landscapes and ancient creatures, and "Horizon of Khufu," a journey 4,500 years back to ancient Egypt, scoping out the pyramids and sailing along the Nile River.
How it works: Once you're checked in, choose your expedition and decide whether to explore solo or with friends. Secure your headset and transport into a temporary universe.
- If you choose to explore with a friend, you'll be able to see their silhouette and share real-life conversations as you move side by side on the journey.
- I opted for "Horizon of Khufu," and the lifelike visuals were breathtaking.
- The experience is aimed at adults and kids 8 and older.
đŸ’ My thought bubble: There's nothing like it. I was initially skeptical about the hype of the technology, but I walked away amazed by the lifelike illustrations and a bit dizzy. I'm curious to see how the technology will advance and what future excursions or games they'll offer.
Between the lines: The heights of the pyramids startled me a bit, and while I wasn't affected, it's worth noting that the experience may cause motion sickness for some.
If you go: EXP Rosemont is located at 9900 Berwyn Ave. in Rosemont's Pearl District.
- It's open 1-7pm Wednesday-Friday and 10am-10pm Saturday–Sunday.
- Tickets start at $23 for ages 8-15 and $33 for 16 and older.
Go deeper: Join me on my first VR adventure and follow along for more stories.