9 Family-Friendly Things To Do in Chicago
If you’re on the hunt for the best family activities in Chicago, you won’t have to look very far; the Windy City was made for families, no matter the weather. Families will find plenty of outdoor activities in Chicago for kids, including top parks and gardens, Ferris wheels, and zoos. But even if inclement weather does mean you have to head indoors, just know that you can pay a visit to some of the best museums in Chicago for families.
Finally, when everyone’s stomach rumbles, Chicago’s most famous foods are extremely kid-friendly—think: pizza, hot dogs, and doughnuts—meaning everyone can enjoy meal times, not just the grown-ups. With that in mind, this Chicago family travel guide will show you what to do, see, and eat on your next Chi-town family vacation.
1. Speed to the top of the Willis Tower
Step out onto the Willis Tower's glass ledge and look down from the 103rd floor.
Visiting the Skydeck Chicago at Willis Tower (Sears Tower) offers exceptional views of Chicago’s skyscrapers from what was once the tallest building in the world. Both kids and adults will love the glass box that extends a few feet out from the tower at a whopping 1,353 feet (412 meters) above ground level. Plus, because you head all the way up in an elevator, it’s easy to bring along a stroller and enjoy this attraction with small kids.
Related: 11 of the Best Views in Chicago and Where To Find Them
2. Cruise the Chicago River
Get out onto the water for some of the best Chicago views.
Kids of all ages will love a sightseeing cruise along the Chicago River. Most tours are only about 45 minutes to an hour long—just enough time for the little ones to marvel at the water and buildings without getting bored. Meanwhile, parents can enjoy hearing the history and architectural details of Chicago’s most impressive skyscrapers. Teens might enjoy a longer cruise that also heads out onto Lake Michigan or a speedboat ride on the lake.
3. Enjoy Navy Pier
Ride the Ferris wheel, dine, and shop—with the kids in tow—at Navy Pier.
The inviting and walkable Navy Pier juts into Lake Michigan, and is home to numerous attractions fit to please the whole family. Here, you can catch incredible cityscape views from the 15-story Centennial Wheel, ride the carousel or tea cups, or shop at Build-a-Bear.
There’s also an immersive butterfly exhibit, the Chicago Children’s Museum, or during the summer months, you can catch a dazzling fireworks show every Wednesday and Saturday night. (Don’t want to walk? There are plenty of Chicago bike tours that navigate around the lake and Navy Pier.)
Insider tip: Although there are some indoor things to do, to maximize your experience, it’s best to visit Navy Pier on dry, mild weather days.
4. Explore the Lincoln Park Zoo
See close to 200 animal species at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago.
Chicago zoos and aquariums are already some of the best in the world but among them, the Lincoln Park Zoo particularly stands out. This zoo is one of the top free family things to do in Chicago, where kids will love checking out the alpacas, emperor tamarins (these monkeys have funny little mustaches), and West African dwarf crocodiles. Even better, the zoo is open 365 days a year, rain or shine. You can also enjoy free activities including daily seal training and penguin feeding, or you can pay to ride the train or carousel.
5. Wander the Shedd Aquarium
View sharks, turtles, fish, and penguins at the Shedd Aquarium.
The Shedd Aquarium is the perfect rainy or snowy day Chicago attraction for kids, as it’s fully indoors and open all day long. (That said, there are terraces open seasonally if you want to eat lunch outdoors on a summer day.) Besides just the regular visit to see the marine life from behind the glass, animal-loving kids will enjoy some of the optional add-ons and extras, such as animal chats, touch experiences, stingray feedings, and sea lion encounters.
Insider tip: For the budget-conscious sightseer, the Chicago CityPASS might be worth it. The pass includes entrance to the Shedd Aquarium, Skydeck Chicago, and other key attractions.
6. Visit the Field Museum
Take in the massive Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton at the Field Museum.
One of the top Chicago attractions for kids is the Field Museum, home to one of the largest collections of ancient Egyptian mummies in the country (23 humans and more than 30 animals, to be exact), a nearly complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton named Sue, and the interactive Grainger science hub.
Here, you can explore the Crowne family play lab, peruse a massive gemstone collection, check out a real Maori meeting house from New Zealand, and experience a virtual reality jellyfish experience, plus so much more for kids, teens, adults, and aspiring scientists of all ages.
7. Discover Millennium Park
Millennium Park is one of the best Chicago parks for families.
Everyone in the family will love Millennium Park, one of Chicago’s great outdoor spaces. Check out the blooming Lurie Gardens, discover concerts and events at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, and snap photos of the funky mirrored angles at Cloud Gate (The Bean). Hot summer days warrant splashing around in the artsy Crown Fountain, and kids will also love the giant slides, drawbridges, and swings at the Maggie Daley Park Play Garden.
Insider tip: Enjoy Millennium Park in winter, when you can ice skate in McCormick Tribune Ice Rink (you can also rent skates there).
8. Eat pizza
From deep-dish to thin crust, chow down on Chicago’s most beloved food.
Pizza is practically an art form in the Windy City; you can’t leave without tasting it. Some of the best spots for deep-dish pizza include Lou Malnati's (famous for its perfectly crisped butter crust) and Pizzeria Uno. For thin-crust, Giordanos (one of the best family-friendly restaurants in Chicago) and Gino’s East (known for its graffiti-covered walls) are the places to go. Additionally, some of the best family tours in Chicago are food tours—and a pizza tour ensures you’ll get to sample the best pizza in the city.
9. Catch a baseball game
Pick your Chicago baseball team: the Cubs or the White Sox.
If you’re a Chicago Cubs fan, head to Wrigley Field in the lively Wrigleyville neighborhood to catch a game. Although the area is packed with before and after parties, you can still find family-friendly restaurants (such as Cozy Noodle & Rice), perfect for a pre-game bite.
Meanwhile, if you’re loyal to the Chicago White Sox, grab a ticket for a game at Guaranteed Rate Field (formerly Comiskey Park) on Chicago’s South Side. During a White Sox game, families can visit the Xfinity Kids Zone with children who are 13 and younger. This massive play area features batting and pitching cages, a mini baseball diamond, and more.
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