A ranked guide to the best things to do in Chicago with kids, written by a Chicago local and parent. My family has been to every one of these museums, playgrounds, and Chicago experiences. I ranked them so that you can make the most of your time in my wonderful city.
If you are new here, I'm Kit. I moved to Chicago in 2008, and have been writing about Chicago for over a decade.
This blog post is also available as an ad-free ebook!
If you want to read more about Chicago, here is an index of my Chicago guides:
Visiting Chicago with Kids
Public Transportation
I live in Wicker Park with my family. My five-year-old is accustomed to taking public transportation and knows to follow specific rules. We hold hands, we sit on the bench to wait for the train or bus, and we don't talk to strangers.
Many, but not all, CTA train stops have elevators. The Blue line is the least accessible. If you are traveling with a stroller, check the CTA maps online. The accessible stations are indicated with a handicap symbol. We live just off a Blue Line stop without an elevator, and when my daughter was younger, I would carry a small folding stroller up and down the stairs to the train. It isn't ideal, but you can make it work.
Car Services
If you are looking for a safe and reliable car service that offers car seats, we have used Going Green Limousine for the past five years.
For children aged five and older, consider a wearable car seat. These vests hold the seatbelt in the correct position. Now that my daughter is big enough, we use the wearable car seat to take Ubers from place to place.
The Best Things to Do in Chicago with Kids:
I am a parent who has done these activities with my child, sometimes several times a year. The rankings are based on feedback from my daughter and my experience as a parent. Note that I very highly recommend the Art Institute, the Field Museum, the Adler Planetarium, the Shedd Aquarium, and the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. These are all top-tier museums that appeal to people of all ages.
I've done my best to highlight pricing and hours, but always check the website for up-to-date details before you go!
The Lincoln Park Zoo
The Lincoln Park Zoo earns the number one spot on my list of best things to do in Chicago with Kids because my daughter adores it, and it is FREE. Highlights include seeing giraffes, rhinos, monkeys, and zebras. In total, nearly 200 species can be found at this zoo.
Don't miss the Farm at the Zoo, which is a short walk south of the main zoo. The giant tractor that children can play in is a huge hit, and kids can see farm animals, including chickens, pigs, rabbits, goats, and cows.
In addition to seeing the animals, there is an indoor children's play area, a train ride, and a carousel.
What to know about the Lincoln Park Zoo:
The Lincoln Park Zoo is open 365 days a year! It is open from 8am - 5pm on weekdays and from 8am - 7pm on weekends.
Cost: Free! But there is an admission fee for ZooLights, the annual holiday event that runs evenings from November to January.
Combine this with: a visit to the Cummings Playground across Stockton Drive from the main entrance, lunch at R.J. Grunts, a visit to the Nature Museum, or a stop at the Lincoln Park Conservatory (a small free botanical garden).
Maggie Daley Playground
This is, without debate, the best playground in Chicago. It's one of the biggest, it's centrally located, and it features play areas for children of different ages.
In the summer, there is a water play area, but it is easy to focus your children's attention elsewhere to avoid it. You can find vendors selling ice cream and drinks nearby. Pro tip: Put a brightly colored outfit or hat on your children since this park is busy and there are lots of spots where they can hide.
What to know about the Maggie Daley Playground:
The Maggie Daley Playground is open from 6am until 9pm seven days a week. The areas with the largest slides are restricted to children ages 5 and up. Each section of the playground has a sign indicating the age range for which it is intended.
Cost: Free, but there are some paid activities nearby, such as Mini Golf, the Climbing Wall, and the Skating Ribbon.
Combine this with: The Art Institute, Cloud Gate, or a concert at Millennium Park.
The Art Institute of Chicago
You can visit the museum's Ryan Learning Center without buying tickets to the museum - it's free and open to the public! Here, you will find a play area with blocks and building toys, books, arts and crafts, and activities.
Start your museum visit at the Ryan Learning Center, where your child can use the JourneyMaker program to create their own scavenger hunt! The five-painting scavenger hunt that my daughter created took us to the Impressionist and Contemporary Art galleries, providing a quick and focused tour of the museum. The museum's Visitor's Guide/Map has a guide of what to see in an hour.
The Art Institute of Chicago's massive collection spans 5,000 years and includes over 300,000 works of art. It is one of the oldest and largest art museums in America, and the only one that Ferris Bueller visited on his day off. The film includes some of the museum's collection highlights, including Edward Hopper's Nighthawks, Pablo Picasso's The Old Guitarist, Mary Cassatt's The Child's Bath, Georges Seurat's A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, and Marc Chagall's America Windows. While not in Ferris Bueller, you don't want to miss your chance to see Grant Wood's American Gothic.
What to know about the Art Institute:
The Art Institute is closed on Tuesdays. It is open from 11am until 5pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. It's open from 11am until 8pm on Thursdays.
Check the museum's website for information on scheduled programs at the Ryan Learning Center and the museum's special exhibits.
Cost: Admission is free for children under 14. Admission starts at $32 for adults. Discounts are available for Illinois residents.
Combine this with: Maggie Daley Playground, Cloud Gate, or a concert at Millennium Park.
Shedd Aquarium
Chicago's aquarium is home to sharks, dolphins, otters, penguins, and over 1,500 species of animals. There is so much to see and do, plan on spending a minimum of three hours here. If you want to make the most of your time, there are 75-minute Best of the Shedd tours available; tickets for this must be booked in advance.
Check the schedule to see a dolphin show, attend an animal chat, or listen to an animal spotlight. Don't miss the touch experiences where visitors can touch a sea star, sturgeon, or stingray. The aquarium also offers animal encounters where guests can meet a penguin, sea lion, otter, or a beluga, as well as shark feeding tours.
What to know about the Shedd Aquarium:
The Shedd is open daily, with the hours varying by the day and season. There are some nights when it is open until 9 or 10 pm. Double check the website before going.
Cost: Children under three years old are admitted free of charge. The admission for children ages 3-11 starts at $29.95, and adult admission starts at $39.95. There is a discount for locals.
If you are visiting in the summer, consider going to Jazz' at the Shedd, a weekly event held on Wednesday evenings from Memorial Day through the end of August. The event brings live music, food, and drinks to the incredible terrace with stunning views of the Chicago skyline. You can even stay and watch the Wednesday night fireworks! If you want to see the Navy Pier fireworks, this is one of the best ways to do it. Book Jazzin' tickets in advance as it does sell out.
Combine this with: The Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum, and the Adler Planetarium are all on Museum Campus.
Field Museum
Chicago's Natural History Museum houses nearly 40 million artifacts and specimens, including SUE, the largest, most complete, and best-preserved Tyrannosaurus Rex in the world! SUE is the centerpiece of the large Hall of Dinosaurs, where she lives with a Stegosaurus, an Apatosaurus, and a Daspletosaurus.
Beyond the Hall of Dinosaurs, museum highlights include seeing classic diorama scenes featuring animals like penguins, bears, scarlet ibises, deer, and polar bears.
The Family PlayLab, geared towards children between the ages of two and six, is on the ground level where children can make music, dig for dinosaur bones, harvest corn, and play in a pueblo.
What to know about the Field Museum:
The Field Museum is open daily from 9am - 5pm. It is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Cost: Basic tickets (not including entry to the special exhibits) start at $30 for adults and $23 for children ages 3 - 11. Admission for children under 3 is free. Discounts are available for Chicago residents.
Admission is free for Illinois residents on Wednesdays.
Combine this with: The Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum, and the Adler Planetarium are all on Museum Campus.
Adler Planetarium
The Planetarium's Planet Explorers exhibit is a large space-themed children's play area. The exhibit begins on Earth, where children can play in a kitchen and prepare for their journey. Then they can board a spaceship and head to a two-story space station. They can even explore a new planet and drive a rover! We spent well over an hour here. Younger children can also play in The PlayLab, located within Planet Explorers, which is geared toward children 6 and under.
Beyond the children's area, the planetarium features a space visualization lab where visitors can interact with astronomers, an exhibit showcasing Chicago's night sky, and the Mission Moon exhibit, which provides a glimpse inside the Gemini 12 spacecraft. There is something for everyone here; the planetarium does a wonderful job at creating engaging exhibits for people of all ages.
What to know about the Adler Planetarium:
The Adler Planetarium is open daily from 9am until 4pm. Additionally, the museum stays open until 10pm on Wednesdays (purchase timed entry tickets in advance).
The museum offers a variety of Sky Shows and it was easy to find a show aimed at children. Niyah and the Multiverse kept my daughter's attention while explaining complicated concepts like multiverses, shadow matter, and the bubble universe theory.
Cost: Museum entry starts at $25 for adults and $13 for children over the age of 3. Children under the age of 3 receive free admission. Tickets for sky shows start at $32 for adults and $20 for children.
Illinois residents receive free admission on Wednesday evenings.
Combine this with: The Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum, and the Adler Planetarium are all on Museum Campus.
Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
This gigantic museum is housed in what was the Palace of Fine Arts from the 1893 World's Fair. It's easy to spend 3-4 hours exploring exhibits like the Tornado Vortex, the Fairy Castle diorama, the Cole Mine, Farm Tech, and Yesterday's Main Street. Now through February 8, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Beyond Amazing – The Exhibition is at MSI.
A collection highlight is the absolutely massive German U-Boat Submarine, which is housed in its own exhibition hall. Even the presentation explaining how the submarine was transported to the museum is fascinating. Grandparents love spending time here while their grandkids explore the kid-friendly exhibits. Tours of the U-boat are popular and must be booked in advance.
The Idea Factory is the children's play space where kids can play with simple machines that teach children about light, magnetism, and air pressure. The centerpiece of the exhibit is a water play area with floating plastic balls that travel through a giant machine. The museum didn't have any rain jackets to borrow, so if you have young children, you may want to pack one or bring a change of clothes.
At Christmastime, the annual exhibition of Christmas trees from around the world is hugely popular. Book tickets in advance since the holiday season is a very busy time for the museum.
What to know about the Museum of Science and Industry:
The Museum of Science and Industry is open daily from 9:30am until 4pm. It is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Cost: Tickets are $25.95 for people ages 11 and up. Admission for children between the ages of 3 and 11 is $14.95. Children under 3 receive free admission.
Chicago resident pricing is $16.95 for adults and $9.95 for children.
If you get hungry, stop at Stan's Doughnuts located within the museum.
Combine this with: This museum is in Hyde Park, about a 15-minute drive south from the Museum Campus. The museum is within Jackson Park, a 551-acre park on the shore of Lake Michigan. See the Garden of the Phoenix and the Japanese Garden within the park. Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House is just a mile from the MSI, but note that children under the age of 8 are not permitted on interior tours, and strollers are not permitted.
The Chicago Children's Museum
The Chicago Children's Museum has exhibits aimed at children nine years old and younger, and a Tinkerling Lab for tweens. My daughter loves the Cloud Buster, a massive climbing sculpture, the fire house (complete with costumes), and the Dinosaur Exhibition, where kids can dig for "bones". My daughter is five, and she is at the prime age for this museum, and we usually spend about 2.5 hours here.
Don't miss the Art Studio where children can create and take home an art project.
What to know about the Chicago Children's Museum:
The museum is open daily from 10am - 5pm in the summer. The rest of the year, the museum is closed on Tuesdays, open from 10am - 2pm on the other weekdays, and open from 10am - 5pm on weekends.
Cost: Admission for individuals one year old and up is $25. It's $21 for Illinois residents.
Combine this with: Navy Pier, Flyover, or possibly a show at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, which occasionally has children's shows.
The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
The Nature Museum features exhibits geared toward young children, as well as a Nature Playspace. I feel that this museum is best suited for children aged 8 and younger.
My daughter's favorite exhibit is River Works, a large interactive water play area that lets children learn about water systems. There are some children's rain jackets that can be borrowed, but be aware that children may get wet.
Nature's Playspace and the Secret Forest are play areas for children. Nature's Playspace has an additional Great Lakes-themed water play area and nature-themed play areas. The Secret Forest has a small climbing structure. Both of these areas are geared toward children 6 and under.
The Butterfly Haven, a 2,700 square foot greenhouse that is home to over 1,000 butterflies, is a can't-miss permanent exhibition. A butterfly release takes place daily at 2 pm. This exhibit teaches children about the life cycle of the butterfly, from chrysalis to butterfly.
What to know about the Nature Museum:
The Nature Museum is open daily from 10am until 4pm. It is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day and other select days (check the website).
Cost: Admission for adults is $17 and admission for children between the ages 1-12 is $10. Infants under 12 months old receive free admission. Illinois residents receive a $2 discount per ticket.
Admission is free for Illinois residents on Thursdays.
Combine this with: Both the Lincoln Park Zoo and Oz Park are about a 5 minute drive away.
Walsh Park Playground
Located at the eastern end of the 606 (aka Bloomingdale Trail), this large playground has a giant playstructure in addition to swings and climbing areas. It's a favorite playground among local children. My daughter asks to come here every weekend, so I had to include it on my list of best things to do in Chicago with kids.
Combine this with: A stop at Pequod's Pizza, which is less than a mile away and famous for its pan pizza (which is very similar to deep-dish). Or, walk down the 606!
Oz Park Playground
One of Chicago's newest playgrounds, the Oz Park Playground, is located within a Wizard of Oz-themed park famous for its statues of Dorothy, the Lion, the Tin Man, and the Scarecrow. This playground features a section for toddlers, in addition to play structures and swings suitable for older children. There is a Dairy Queen across the street if you need a snack.
Combine this with: The Lincoln Park Zoo or the Nature Museum.
Chicago Architectural Center River Cruise
There is something magical about cruising down the Chicago River surrounded by skyscrapers. This 90-minute boat tour tops most lists of the best things to do in Chicago, and kids love it too!
What to know about the River Cruise:
It's best to do this on a warm sunny day. There is an interior cabin with bathrooms. Snacks and drinks are sold onboard.
Cost: Pricing starts at $56, and tickets are sold on Ticketmaster.
Chicago History Museum
Compared to the other museums on this list, the Chicago History Museum is much smaller. It is easy to see the collection in about 90 minutes. This museum is focused on Chicago's history and may not be of interest to children from other areas. Much of the museum's space is dedicated to special exhibitions, and you may want to visit when the special exhibits pique your interest.
The children's area, Sensing Chicago, is quite small and only kept my daughter busy for about 10 minutes. The other areas that children may find interesting are the dioramas depicting how Chicago changed during the 1800s, as well as the Crossroad of America, which features train cars and displays of sports artifacts, including Dennis Rodman's sneakers.
What to know about the Chicago History Museum:
The Chicago History Museum is closed on Mondays. It's open Tuesday - Saturday from 9:30am - 4:30pm and from 12pm - 5pm on Sundays.
Cost: Admission is $19 for adults, $17 for children between the ages of 13-18, and free for kids under 12.
Combine this with: North Avenue Beach, Second City (which sometimes has kid-friendly shows), the Lincoln Park Zoo, or the Nature Museum.
The Best Things to Do with Kids in Chicago: Theatre
Chicago has a massive theatre scene. While I have included Broadway in Chicago and the Chicago Children's Theatre here, as they consistently offer kid-friendly programs, other theatres, such as Second City, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, and the Greenhouse Theatre, also periodically present children's shows.
Broadway in Chicago
Broadway in Chicago operates five theatres in Chicago, and often a kid-friendly show is running. The 2025 schedule includes Beauty & the Beast, The Lion King, The Sound of Music, and Elf the Musical.
Chicago Children's Theatre
This West Loop community theatre focuses on family-friendly plays. Their production of The Beatrix Potter Holiday Party takes place each December, and in Spring 2026 they are bringing Goodnight Moon to the stage.
The Best Things to Do in Chicago with Kids: Experiences
Chicago is home to several experiential museums. Some are pricy tourist traps, most cost more than visiting a traditional museum. After visiting these museums, I can report that the Color Factory and Museum of Ice Cream are far superior.
Color Factory
The absolutely giant, 2,600 square foot, ball pit is a huge hit with kids. It even has two slides! The ball pit is just one of 14 immersive and interactive exhibits that celebrate color and creativity. My five-year-old loves the Color Factory, and it has a wide range of activities that appeal to both children and adults. It's filled with photo opportunities and is one of the best things to do in Chicago with kids, as it's fun for everyone!
What to know about the Color Factory:
The Color Factory is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. It's open from 10am - 6pm on Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays, and from 10am - 7pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
Cost: Tickets start at $29 for adults and $19 for children ages 3-12. Ticket prices are lower when you book several days in advance.
Combine this with: The Color Factory is located on the lower level of the Sears Tower (Willis Tower), so combine this with a visit to the Skydeck.
Museum of Ice Cream
You can eat unlimited ice cream and jump into a pool of sprinkles at this museum with interactive ice cream-themed installations. Highlights include mini golf and riding the "sprink-l train".
What to know about the Museum of Ice Cream:
The Museum of Ice Cream is open from 10am - 7pm from Sunday to Thursday and from 10am - 8pm on Friday and Saturday.
Cost: Tickets start at $24 for children and adults. Children under age 2 receive free entry. Ticket prices are lower when you book several days in advance.
Combine this with this: It's located on Michigan Avenue, and it's easy to combine this with a visit to the Riverwalk, a boat ride down the Chicago River, or Mag Mile shopping.
WNDR Museum
The WNDR Museum describes itself as "an ever-evolving immersive art experience designed to increase curiosity, creativity, and community". This museum has a collection of 15 immersive art installations for visitors to explore, including a bubble hallway, a light floor, and "Love Is Calling," a work by Yayoi Kusama.
This is significantly better than the Museum of Illusions. Although our visit was brief, at just about an hour, my daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
What to know about the WNDR Museum:
The WNDR Museum is open from 1pm - 7pm on Mondays and Wednesdays, from 12pm - 8pm on Thursdays and Fridays, from 10am - 8pm on Saturdays, and from 10am - 6pm on Sundays.
Cost: Admission starts at $30.99 for adults and $28.99 for children between the ages of 3 and 12.
Flyover
Located next to the Chicago Children's Museum at Navy Pier, this immersive experience lets you "fly" around Chicago, seeing landmarks. Guests sit in chairlift-style seats that are elevated in front of a large spherical screen. Wind and scents help to bring the experience to life.
Cost: Tickets start at $33.95 for adults and $23.95 for children 13 and under. Please note that children must be at least 40 inches tall, and those under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult.
Combine with: Navy Pier's attractiosn or the Chicago Children's Museum.
Sloomoo Institute
The Sloomoo Institute is an interactive slime-themed experience for children located in River North. You can play with giant tubs of slime, play with kinetic sand, have slime dumped on you, and make slime. My daughter loved it and wanted to go back the next day.
Since making slime involves working with pigment, choose your outfit appropriately. Don't wear anything light in color or difficult to wash. My daughter got slime on her dress, and it did come off easily without staining after soaking it in a mixture of vinegar and water, but getting pigment on your clothing may stain it.
What to know about the Sloomoo Institute:
The Sloomoo Institute is open from 10am - 6pm Monday to Friday, from 9am - 7pm on Saturday, and from 9 am - 5 pm on Sunday.
Each ticket includes 8 ounces of slime that you get to create yourself.
Cost: Tickets start at $19.99 for individuals aged 2 and above. If you want the experience of having slime dumped on you, prepare to pay $76.99.
Museum of Illusions
We paid $80 for one adult and one child, and the museum was small; our visit was under an hour. There are some interactive illusions and fun photo opportunities, but my daughter described it as being "so boring."
What to know about the Museum of Illusions:
Cost: Tickets start at $35 for people ages 13 and up, and $28 for children ages 5-12. Admission is free for children ages four and under.
Combine this with: the Art Institute, Maggie Daley Playground, or Cloud Gate.
Best Things to Do in Chicago with Kids: Chicago Sightseeing
Some of the city's top sightseeing experiences.
Skydeck / The Ledge
Located at the top of the Willis Tower (locals will always call it the Sears Tower), the Skydeck experience has a museum focused on Chicago's history, a viewpoint where you can enjoy views that stretch for up to 50 miles, and The Ledge, which extends out over four feet outside the 103rd floor of the building.
Cloud Gate
Affectionately referred to as "The Bean" by Chicagoans, the Cloud Gate sculpture by Anish Kapoor is one of Chicago's most iconic landmarks. It can be found between Michigan Avenue and Millennium Park. It's in the Loop, and very close to both the Art Institute and the Maggie Daley Playground.
Navy Pier
Navy Pier is a dining and entertainment complex located on a pier that extends out over Lake Michigan. Attractions include the Centennial Wheel Ferris Wheel, a carousel, teacups, and a drop tower.
Navy Pier has an active events calendar. In the summer, Navy Pier is an ideal place to watch the fireworks that are set off each Wednesday night at 9pm and each Sunday night at 10pm from Memorial Day until the end of August.
Navy Pier hosts a variety of free concerts in the summer and a Winter WonderFest during the holiday season.
What to know about Navy Pier:
Cost: Tickets for the Centennial Wheel start at $20 for adults and $18 for children ages 3-11. A variety of ticket options are available for Navy Pier’s rides.
Combine this with:
Flyover, the Chicago Children’s Museum, and the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre are located on Navy Pier.
360 Chicago and Tilt
360 Chicago is the observation deck at the top of the John Hancock Building. The newly opened CloudBar on the 94th floor is the highest bar in the city. Some people prefer to visit the top of the Hancock so that they can enjoy the view of the Sears Tower.
Tilt is an experience where you literally are tilted out to look at the street below. It's described as being Chicago's highest thrill ride.
Buckingham Fountain
Known to some as the fountain from the show Married, with Children, this fountain is the centerpiece of Grant Park and one of Chicago's most famous landmarks. It was given to the city in 1927 and is one of the largest fountains in the world.
The fountain is turned on seasonally, usually from May until mid-October. When the fountain is on, there is a major display every hour on the hour where water shoots 150 feet into the air. Once the sun sets, a light and music show accompanies the major display. The final major display begins at 10:35pm. The major displays last for 20 minutes.
More Things to Do in Chicago with Kids
These activities and experiences are the best things to do in Chicago with kids beyond museums and sightseeing. Some might be best suited for Chicago locals looking for something new to do with their kids.
CAMP Store
The CAMP Store in Lincoln Park offers immersive experiences for children. In the past, children have been able to meet fairytale characters or explore Bluey's house.
On weekends, activities, crafts, and character meet-and-greets are offered. Check the schedule for the details. Book tickets for activities and experiences online in advance since they tend to book up.
Combine this with: The Chicago History Museum
American Girl Place
Chicago is home to the largest American Girl Place. It's 52,000 square feet and includes a doll salon and cafe in addition to a retail store. Advance reservations are needed for the cafe and salon. American Girl Place is located within Water Tower Place on Michigan Avenue.
Chicago Sports
Chicago is home to the Cubs, Sox, Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls, and Fire. We also have women's teams! The Chicago Sky is our WNBA team, and the Chicago Red Stars is our professional women's soccer club.
Altitude / SkyZone
Altitude and SkyZone are indoor trampoline parks. Altitude has locations in West Town and Roscoe Village, while SkyZone is in Lincoln Park. Check Altitude's website for information on their "toddler time," which is for children ages 6 and under.
Best Things to Do in Chicago with Kids in Summer
Chicago comes to life in the summer! These outdoor activities are loved by both locals and tourists.
The Beaches and the Lakefront Trail
Did you know that Chicago has 26 miles of lakefront beaches? The North Avenue Beach, the Oak Street Beach, and the Ohio Street Beach are the closest to downtown and offer views of the beach and the skyline.
The Lakefront Trail is an 18.5-mile-long trail that runs beside Lake Michigan and is popular with cyclists and joggers. Biking the trail is a great way to see the city. Bike rentals are available at North Avenue Beach.
Bike the Drive
Bike the Drive is an annual event held on the Sunday before Labor Day, where Lake Shore Drive is closed to traffic for bicyclists. You do need to register for the event.
Movies in the Park
Movies in the Park is a summertime tradition where movies are screened in parks throughout the city. Hundreds of movies are screened each summer, and the schedule is announced each May by the Chicago Park District. Millennium Park is one of the more popular locations for movie screenings, with weekly screenings taking place in July and August. The Movies in the Park schedule can be found on the Chicago Park District website.
Street Fests and Music Fests
Chicago hosts dozens of neighborhood street festivals and food festivals each summer. There is a Rib Fest, Taco Fest, Burger Fest, Pizza Fest, and Hot Dog Fest. There are also neighborhood festivals like the Sheffield Garden Walk (which is a giant festival with live music), Do Division, Wicker Park Fest, Renegade, Old Town Art Fair, and Retro on Roscoe.
Or, check out a music festival. The Chicago Blues Festival is the largest free blues festival in the world. Chicago is also home to the Gospel Music Festival, the Chicago Jazz Festival, and the World Music Festival.
Navy Pier Fireworks
Chicago loves fireworks so much that there are fireworks shows every Wednesday and Saturday night throughout the summer. The fireworks are set off by Navy Pier, and ideal viewpoints include Navy Pier, the fireworks cruises on Lake Michigan, and the terrace at the Shedd Aquarium (during Jazzin' at the Shedd on Wednesday nights). The fireworks start at 9pm on Wednesdays and at 10pm on Saturdays.
Cruise the Chicago River
Depending on the age of your children, you may want to rent a boat, go kayaking, take the water taxi, or take the architectural tour (which lives up to the hype).
Fun and Family-Friendly Restaurants in Chicago
Here are a few of my daughter's favorite places for a bite.
TimeOut Market Chicago
This West Loop food hall features a rotating roster of restaurants, offering cuisine from around the world. Try fried chicken, burgers, ramen, tacos, sandwiches, pizza, and more. There is a small arcade on the second level. I love this market since it is easy to appease everyone with the wide variety of cuisines. Picky eaters will find options like pizza and grilled cheese.
Elston Electric
Located beside Salt Shed, this is a bar/restaurant/arcade is fun for the whole family. The arcade has over 100 games including both new and vintage games - we introduced our daughter to Space Invaders here. The food menu isn't huge, but it has kid favorites like pizza by the slice and hot dogs.
Note that Elston Electric is located next to a large concert venue and it may be busy on concert nights.
Lettuce Entertain You
Lettuce Entertain You is a large restaurant group that is known for offering both gluten-free menus and kid's menus. Personal favorites are R.J. Grunts, Bub City, Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba, Beatrix, and Summer House.
Nearby, but not in Chicago
One of the many things that I love about Chicago, is that there is so much to do within the city itself. I am including these activities on the list for Chicago locals looking for something fun to do in the suburbs.
Full disclosure, I haven't been to the Brookfield Zoo, the Chicago Botanic Garden, or Thr Forge yet, but I wanted to include them based on recommendations from friends.
Brookfield Zoo
Located just about 30 minutes from downtown, the Brookfield Zoo is 235 acres while the Lincoln Park Zoo is just 35. It's home to 511 species of animals, including some animals that you won't find at the Lincoln Park Zoo, like koalas, kangaroos, dolphins, and tigers.
Cost: Tickets are $29.95 for adults and $20.95 for children 3-11.
Chicago Botanic Garden
Located just outside Chicago in Glencoe, the Chicago Botanic Garden is home to 27 gardens across 385 acres. The Botanic Garden is known for its events, including Lightscape, a 1.3-mile twinkle light trail exhibit that takes place during the holiday season.
Cost: Tickets are $27.95 for adults and $18.95 for children 3-12. Cook County residents receive a $2 discount per ticket.
The Forge
This outdoor adventure park is about 40 minutes from downtown Chicago in Lemont. The Forge has activities for children and adults, including a ropes course, zip line, jump zone, mini golf, and an outdoor jungle gym.
Peppa Pig World of Play
This is located in the large Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, approximately 45 minutes from downtown Chicago (depending on traffic). If you have a Peppa Pig fan, this is a huge hit. We have been three times. The ideal age range is three to five years old.
Combine with: LEGOLAND Discovery Center is less than a mile away.
LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago (Not in Chicago)
Also in Schaumburg, I am only including this because another blog claimed this is one of the "unmissable" things to do with kids in Chicago. I need to tell you that it isn't in Chicago, it's 45 minutes away, and it should be missed. This isn't a Legoland amusement park; it felt more like a larger Lego store with two rides and an indoor jungle gym. I would never suggest that someone go out of their way to go here.
Save this guide to the best things to do in Chicago with kids for later by saving this image to Pinterest:
