Things to Do With Kids in Chicago: The Ultimate Guide
Chicago is one giant hands-on playground filled with activities for adventurous younger kids and curious teens alike. From waterfront parks along the Chicago River to the award-winning Lincoln Park Zoo and delicious food around every corner, the kid-friendly activities in Chicago feel endless. Whether you’re a Chi-town resident or visiting the Windy City, we have a growing list of parent-approved things to do with kids in Chicago.
Tips for Navigating Chicago with Kids
Chicago offers so many family-friendly adventures that you’ll want to spend several days exploring with your kids. While the city's size might seem overwhelming at first — especially with little ones in tow — we’re sharing the best tips to make your family outings enjoyable and stress-free.
Prepare for the Weather
While there are tons of kid-friendly things to do in Chicago, the weather can be unpredictable. We don't want that to stop you from having fun, so here's how to keep everyone comfortable while exploring:
- Pack sturdy umbrellas: The Windy City didn’t get its nickname from the occasional light breeze. If you visit during the rainy season (spring and summer), you’ll want sturdy umbrellas that can handle serious gusts.
- Prepare for hot summers: The humidity can surprise visitors! Remember to bring sunscreen, secure hats (we like the ones with chin straps), and insect repellent for those summer mosquitos.
- Have backup plans: Keep a list of indoor activities ready for unexpected weather changes. Many museums offer free admission days — perfect for last-minute switches from outdoor plans.
The great thing about this city is that with so many fun things to do in Chicago with kids, making a quick adjustment when the weather suddenly changes is easy.
Transportation Recommendations for Non-Locals
To drive or not to drive. That’s a big question for families visiting Chicago with kids. While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, you have several great options:
For car-free adventures:
- The "L" (Chicago Transit Authority, a.k.a. CTA): This elevated train system stops at most major attractions.
- Metra: Perfect for trips between downtown and the suburbs.
- Water taxi: This might be the most fun and authentic way to get around Chicago! Loved by visitors, locals, and kids, you travel along the Chicago River from spot to spot.
If you prefer driving:
- Rental cars: Consider this if you're planning to explore one area per day, but remember parking can be tricky and expensive.
- Rideshares/taxis: Readily available, but most don't offer car seat attachment points for young children.
Consider walking distances, your comfort with public transit, and your children's preferences to find the best fit when visiting Chicago.
Lodging Recommendations for Non-Locals
Finding kid-friendly accommodations in Chicago is generally easy. While Chicago hotel rooms tend to be cozy, there are several options that cater specifically to families:
- The Intercontinental Magnificent Mile: We love this hotel for its large indoor pool, which is perfect for cooling off in the summer. Their special family friendly events include “float and feature” nights where guests enjoy complimentary pool floats while watching a movie from the water!
- Homewood Suites by Hilton Chicago-Downtown: This hotel understands what families sometimes need — a little bit of space. Their Confirmed Connecting Rooms program lets you book guaranteed connecting rooms, giving everyone their time apart while still staying close. Each suite also includes a kitchenette, making mealtimes easier and more affordable.
- Swissotel: The Kid Suites here are brilliant — they're two-room suites with separate spaces for adults and children. Kids get their own room with twin beds, plus thoughtful extras like stuffed animals and age-appropriate games.
- Omni Chicago Hotel: We appreciate this hotel's family-friendly pricing and spacious rooms, including options with separate living rooms and pull-out couches. They make traveling with little ones easier by providing complimentary cribs and rollaway beds.
If you have a big family or are traveling with others, an Airbnb or VRBO might be the way to go. With a rental home, you get bigger hang-out zones for extra bonding time. If you go with a rental and want to stay close to the action, consider downtown — houses are hard to come by, but you can also rent a multi-room apartment.
For a more residential experience, look at Lincoln Park — you'll still be near family favorites like the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum and North Avenue Beach.
Want to discover more? Set your location at the top of the screen to find nearby activities, check our family event calendar, and explore our growing collection of Chicago family adventures!
The Best Things to Do in Chicago with Kids
This interactive guide to Chicago family fun comes directly from parents who've experienced these activities with their own children. You'll find something for every age and interest: hands-on museums for young explorers, exciting amusement parks for thrill seekers, and plenty of shopping and dining spots that even teens will love.
Whether you're a local planning kid-friendly things to do in Chicago this weekend or a visitor exploring the city, our map has it all. You can also read authentic reviews from other parents and add your own experiences to help other families.
Love outdoor adventures? Explore our recommendations for family-friendly bike trails in Chicago, nearby camping spots, and Chicago's amazing zoos.
Johnson's Farm Produce Market & Garden Center
Strawberries start in early June, blueberries and raspberries in July/August
Johnson's Farm is home to the largest garden center in the area. There is nothing like local, homegrown Johnson strawberries - whether you want to go to the field to pick your own or purchase them pre-picked inside the market. They provide helpful tips for picking your own berries and produce and a tram out to the field. Join them for their fun farm weekends, too, for additional kids activities, including train rides, pedal cars, slides, tunnels, a jump pillow and more!
Bronzeville Children's Museum
The Bronzeville Children's Museum opened in 1993 as the first and only African-American children's museum in the country. One-hour tours are provided to introduce children to four different subject matters, allowing them to play as they learn. Tours occur every hour on the hour. Learn about African American inventors, STEM leaders, athletes, innovations in medicine, and more. Each exhibit is play-based, with age-appropriate toys and activities to match.
Museum of Science and Industry
The Museum of Science and Industry is one of the largest science museums in the world. Exhibits focus on the history and future of science and science education, and kids love the interactive exhibits and jaw-dropping experiences geared just for them. It has an amazing model train exhibit, too, that will wow train enthusiast kids (and adults).
Northerly Island Park
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.
Adler Planetarium
Chicago's most popular stargazing spot offers education and entertainment for visitors of all ages. Explore a variety of out-of-this-world exhibits and breathtaking shows, and check out the Planet Explorers area, where kids can climb, crawl, play, and join the crew on a mission to space!
Field Museum
Sarah Calamita: If you have dinosaur lovers this is THE place to go. The great thing is you can go in and spend a few hours inside, but then it is right on the lake so you can spend time outside and walk the path along the lake! It is an amazing museum. Don't miss the SUE exhibit!
Seadog Cruises
Erin P.: My mom used to love taking us to Chicago and going for a ride on the Seadog, and I look forward to continuing the tradition with my own kids one day! You can enjoy views of Buckingham Fountain, Grant Park, Chicago Harbor, and Chicago’s Museum Campus. A great summer activity! Thrill-seeking Chicago families should try the extreme thrill ride, where speeds hit 45 mph, and they do 360-degree spins. You'll get wet!
Navy Pier
Navy Pier offers restaurants, entertainment, a children's museum, and a friendly venue for year-round special events. You'll also find a quick swing ride, spinning tea cups, a carousel, a drop tower, and more. The 200-foot Centennial Wheel is available year-round (weather permitting). The enclosed gondolas offer 360-degree views of Chicago and Lake Michigan. This iconic ride is a 'must-do adventure' for local and tourist families alike.
Shedd Aquarium
See whales, dolphins, sharks, stingrays, jellyfish and more! Many exhibits are play-based, like the Polar Play Zone, where your kiddo can slip into a penguin suit and waddle around! Experience touch tanks, animal chats, dolphin and whale shows, shark feedings, behind-the-scenes tours, sleepover events, youth camps, and more.
Chinatown
Vanessa M.: Chinatown is easily accessible by the CTA Red Line via the Cermak Station. Make sure to stop inside a few of the Chinatown shops on the way in! Enjoy fabulous food, shopping, and culture.
Bobby's Bike Hike
Consistently rated one of the best guided tours in Chicago, Bobby's Bike Hire has a range of walking and biking tours specially tailored for tourists, families with young kids, date nights, etc. It's a great way to catch up on Chicago history, learn about new places that you'll want to return to again and again, and (best of all) learn obscure facts that will impress your friends!
Maggie Daley Park
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 Crown Fountain
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.
Millennium Park
Millennium Park is located on famed Michigan Avenue and within walking distance of several hotels, restaurants, and shopping. It also provides the backdrop for several (often free!) cultural programs, including concerts, exhibitions, awesome outdoor movie nights, and more. Kid-specific attractions include an outdoor ice skating/roller skating ribbon, rock climbing, splash parks, mini golf, Maggie Daley Park playground, and lush gardens where you can run or take a leisurely stroll.
Thomas Hughes Children's Library
The bright and colorful children's space located on the second floor of the massive Harold Washington Library offers plenty of fun kids activities in Chicago's South Loop. Areas organized by age are filled with fun STEAM and tech activities, play opportunities, a tween digital media space, and plenty of cozy seating and reading nooks.
Primary photo: Sawyer Bengtson on Unsplash
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