22 Free Things To Do in Chicago With Kids

Sarah D.:  Northerly Island trails are an extension of the museum campus and Chicago's famous Lakefront Trail. These paved, pristine trails traverse a hilly, lakefront expanse of Illinois prairie and savanna that form a peninsula out into Lake Michigan. Renowned for the presence of migratory birds, Northerly Island is a sanctuary along the shoreline of a bustling city. With easy access via an on-site lot, this sanctuary is the perfect place to spend time in nature.

Yoli B:  The incredible 3-acre Play Garden at Maggie Daley Park is one of the best playgrounds in Chicago and is not to be missed. All of the playground equipment is special and includes slides, bridges, swings, boats, and more. Each playground is moderately fenced in, as well. Check it out in warmer months, and you may be able to hear the summer concerts from adjacent Millennium Park! Additional fun family activities like mini-golf and rock climbing have fees.

Millennium Park's Crown Fountain consists of two 50-foot glass block towers at each end of a shallow reflecting pool. It is a popular gathering place and one of the best splash pads in the city! The fountain acts as a public play area and offers people an escape from the summer heat while walking through the fountain's ankle-high water.

Shila:  The mission of the Young Eagles Program is simply to inspire young kids to experience the world of aviation. EAA member volunteers accomplish this in many ways, the most generous being that they give kids a free flight in the sky. Pilots are licensed by the FAA, and the flight lasts about 20 minutes. The flight experience could even involve taking control of the plane for a bit! Search your location to find a pilot coordinator near you - many locations throughout Illinois are at smaller airports.

Alexandra F.:  The Fire Museum of Greater Chicago is located in a 1916 firehouse, and while small in size, it is filled with the history of firefighting in Chicago. Items on display range from old photographs and artifacts to lovingly restored antique fire engines. They offer an open house to the public, with free admission, every fourth Saturday of the month (except December).

Open daily and always free since it was first established in 1868, the Lincoln Park Zoo is one of the best things to do in Chicago with kids for those who live here as well as those who are visiting. Parking fees do apply, though the zoo is also easily accessible via public transportation. Be sure to check out their website for a list of daily activities and educational animal experiences.

Kelly R:  The Wild Sapling Play Forest and the Houston Family Play Treehouse in Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo within Lincoln Park Zoo are both great play spaces for children. The treehouse offers a year-round indoor nature-based play space for children.

Gina I.:  From koi fish to tropical palms to ancient ferns, this conservatory houses both unique plants and grows thousands of plants used in local parks. Visit the Orchid Room featuring a gorgeous array of exotic blooms, and the live model train run that's set up during winter- when it's also toasty warm inside! The free Lincoln Park Zoo and Lily Pool are next door.

Shila:  At the southern end of Grant Park, you'll find its excellent skate park. Almost 2 acres of space invite scooters, rollerbladers, skateboarders, BMX bikers and spectators to enjoy this action sport. Grant Park Skate Park features multi-skill level concrete ramps, grinding rails and handrails, bench seating and much more, right in the heart of Chicago's downtown and museum campus.

The National Museum of Mexican Art offers free admission every day it is open, so your family can immerse yourselves in the richness of Mexican art and culture right here in Chicago. They showcase 3,000 years of creativity from both sides of the border, with regular opportunities for children and family programming. Their Día de los Muertos celebration is especially worth checking out!

Shila:  Stroll through acres of indoor and outdoor botanical gardens featuring plant species and landscapes from around the world. The perfect family activity in Chicago to get in touch with nature all year long.

Erin P.:  Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens is an 85-acre non-profit park that features woodlands, prairie, wetlands, gardens and a 10-acre lake. Adventure seekers can rent canoes or kayaks, or those who prefer dry land might enjoy hiking, jogging or walking along the lake. Their nature center includes reptiles and other animals, as well as books and exhibits for kids. It offers the opportunity for hands-on learning and also hosts several kid-friendly nature programs throughout the year. There is also a children's play area in the Children's Forest.

Gina I.:  Where can you see the stars and learn from Northwestern University Physics & Astronomy students? The Dearborn Observatory! The observatory makes its 18.5 foot refracting telescope available to the public every Friday night. You can make reservations in advance, or show up for the walk-in tours and hope it's not too crowded.

Note that the dome is not climate controlled, and that several staircases must be climbed in order to reach the telescope.

Brigitte Nohra Miller:  Eli’s Cheesecake World Tours provide an educational experience describing Eli’s history and preparation of their delicious products, as well as offering a tasting. Yummy, scrumptious cheesecake...a sweet treat for adults and kids alike! Need I say more?

Shila:  Sagawau Environmental Learning Center is home to Cook County's only canyon and includes exhibits on geology, history and habitat management. Free guided canyon tours are frequently on the schedule, as well as other events and activities like Fossil Quarry Tours (1 mile hike to an ancient coral reef), Prairie Tours, and Ecological Restoration Days to put on some gloves and help remove invasive plants.

In winter, Sagawau becomes popular for cross country skiing with rentals, lessons, and groomed ski trails.