Chicago is affordable, easy to navigate, and packed with attractions. I fell hard for Chicago on my first visit over 20 years ago, and have returned again and again over the years. I also love sharing my love of the Windy City with my children. Take a look at my picks for the 10 best activities in Chicago with kids. Whether this is your first visit or your tenth, I bet you’ll love exploring one of my favorite cities.
Chicago is a wonderful family-friendly destination with so many museums, parks, and fun activities it’s hard to know where to start! Having grown up in Southeastern Wisconsin, just over an hour drive from the Windy City, I spent many weekends exploring this beautiful city on Lake Michigan. Here are the list of top most attractive family vacation destinations in chicago:
1. Millennium Park
City vacations can be pretty expensive for families. Thankfully, exploring Chicago with kids can actually be budget-friendly with free entrance to some of the city’s best-known outdoor attractions. Start with Millennium Park for excellent cultural events like free music concerts, outdoor film screenings, and seasonal festivals.
Next, wander through the park’s stunning gardens. When it’s time to cool off, head to the renowned Crown Fountain for some splash time. The Cloud Gate sculpture (better known as “The Bean”) entices squeals of delight as kids practice their best poses reflected in the stainless steel sculpture.
2. Lincoln Park Zoo
Lincoln Park Zoo is always free to visit and open 365 days a year! In a city where expenses can add up quickly, this is such a wonderful activity for families. The zoo is located within Lincoln Park near Lake Shore Drive, and has its own (paid) parking lot.
See camels, zebras, apes, giraffes, rhinos, and more, or pay a bit extra for an encounter with the penguins, a train ride, or a carousel.
3. Shedd Aquarium
A visit to the massive Shedd Aquarium is a sure-fire hit when visiting Chicago with kids. Situated just inside the front entrance, the mesmerizing Caribbean Reef provides a stunning 360-degree view of sea creatures including colorful fish, stingrays, sharks, and friendly sea turtles. Kids will flip for the aquatic shows in the amphitheater, where the talents of dolphins and beluga whales are showcased.
Get kids excited to visit Shedd with Edward and Annie: A Penguin Adventure. This book follows two adorable penguins as they waddle through the aquarium.
4. American Girl Place
The American Girl Place is a dream come true for kids who love to play with dolls and learn about our country’s history through storytelling and imaginative play.
I had an American Girl Doll growing up, and my daughter got one for her 4th birthday which she still loves to dress up and play with as an 8-year-old. The American Girl Place is four stories with plenty of dolls, accessories, books, a salon, a cafe, and more. It’s quite the experience!
5. Chicago museum
First-time Chicago visitors may be surprised by the city’s abundant museums designed with families and curious learners in mind. Natural history buffs will love meeting the Field Museum‘s famous resident, Sue the Tyrannosaurus Rex. Space enthusiasts gravitate towards the Adler Planetarium, the first planetarium to open its doors in the Western Hemisphere. And although the Museum of Science & Industry is a bit farther away from other Chicago attractions, it’s a fantastic interactive museum with hands-on exhibits.
6. Lakefront
Did you know you can hit the beach in Chicago? Situated on the shores of Lake Michigan, the sixth-largest freshwater lake in the world, Chicago provides plenty of opportunities for water-related activities.
North Avenue Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Chicago, and it offers everything from metered lot parking and beachside restaurants to paddle board and kayak rentals.
7. Navy Pier
Navy Pier is one of Chicago’s most popular attractions for good reason — it’s just plain awesome! The 150-foot Centennial Wheel towers above Pier Park theme park for an uplifting ride. Other fun attractions include a carousel, climbing walls, remote control boats, the Pepsi Wave Swinger, and Light Tower.
There’s also lots to do if the temperature is soaring or you’re visiting Chicago with kids during inclement weather. Try the Chicago Children’s Museum to cool off or warm up, depending on the season. There your family can wander through three floors of epic activities designed for kids ages 10 and under.
Families who just can’t get enough of Navy Pier can scour the shops, tasty restaurants, and food carts to extend your afternoon into the evening hours. Navy Pier is an easy walk from Michigan Avenue or you can climb aboard one of the city’s free trolleys, which run from below Michigan Avenue to the pier.
8. Maggie Daley Park
Millennium Park gets all the attention, but don’t miss Maggie Daley park which is just a few blocks away. There’s a play garden with climbing structures and splash pads, mini golf, a climbing wall, and tennis courts.
Take a stroll through the lovely Cancer Survivors’ Garden or take your scooters for a spin on the ribbon. The park is also steps from Lake Michigan, so you can combine your activities here with a lakefront walk.
9. Chicago Ballgame
Sport-loving families are in luck. Chicago is home to several teams with seasonal sporting events and attractions. My family loves attending both Cubs and White Sox games. However, our recent tour of Wrigley Field is my absolute most memorable sports experience. We had an incredible time learning about the history of this famed ballpark. There was an endless supply of Chicago sports trivia and fun facts during this behind-the-scenes tour. It doesn’t get any better than that for a baseball fan like me!
10. Magnificent Mile
Magnificent Mile is a stretch of North Michigan Avenue with the best shopping, hotels, and entertainment in the city. It’s a must-visit spot for tourists and a fun way to spend an afternoon!
Our family used to shop Michigan Ave every December a few weeks before Christmas, and it was so fun to get a hot chocolate and stroll the sidewalk while people watching and popping in and out of stores. Some of our favorite stops along the way are J. Crew, Disney Store, American Girl Place, and Starbucks Reserve Roastery.
11. Garfield Park Conservatory
Garfield Park Conservatory is a botanical conservatory with 8 indoor display gardens. It’s FREE to visit and very kid-friendly.
Be sure to stop at the Elizabeth Morse Genius Children’s Garden with its interactive displays and a pond, and large sculptures.
12. Chicago 360 Observation Deck
Chicago 360 Observation Deck is located in the John Hancock Building on the 94th floor. It offers panoramic views of the city in every direction, and you can pay extra to try 360 Chicago’s TILT! TILT is Chicago’s highest thrill ride that offers downward facing views of the city for only $8 per person!
Since the lines for TILT were long, and we visited later in the evening with a tired toddler, we decided to skip it, but promised our 80-year-old we would bring her back to try it.
13. Field Museum
The Field Museum in Chicago is a natural history museum that features SUE the T-Rex, the largest Tyrannosaurs Rex specimen in the world, and also the most complete with 90% of the known bones.
Beyond this awesome dinosaur exhibit, the Field Museum boasts millions of specimens and artifacts from around the world, so there is so much for a family to discover. You won’t see it all in one visit, but it’s sure fun to soak in as much knowledge about our world as you can while you’re there!
14. Art Institute of Chicago
If you love art or have a budding artist in your family, then be sure to stop at the Art Institute of Chicago to see a wide range of paintings, sculptures, and other exhibits that will leave you in awe.
Children under 14 have FREE admission to the Art Institute, and the museum even has designated family spaces such as the Ryan Learning Center and the Family Room. Choose a few art pieces to see and keep your visit shore and sweet for younger kids to make the most of your time there and avoid meltdowns.
15. Skydeck Chicago
The Skydeck Chicago is located in the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower for those of us that grew up with that name!), and offers the opportunity to step out onto a glass ledge that extends 4.3 feet from the building. What a unique way to see the city and feel like you’re having an adventure!
We planned to visit the Skydeck during our visit, but forgot to reserve a time and didn’t want to wait for the 2 hours when we showed up, so we decided we’ll have to do it next time! We really wanted to step out into those glass boxes!
