Chicago with Kids
Taking your children to Chicago is decently affordable, fairly easy to navigate, and jam-packed with attractions. We go several times a year, mostly because my sister-in-law lives there, so we love visiting and hearing all the fun things to do that locals know about as well. It’s a joy to share our love of the Windy City with our children, too. Whether it’s going up for a weekend in the summer to see a baseball game and go to the beach, or a winter getaway to do some shopping, and take in a football game, there’s never a bad time to visit. Take a look at my picks for the 5 best kid-friendly things to do in Chicago!
Millennium Park
Start your morning with a walk to Millennium Park. It has excellent spring and summer events almost every weekend….like free music concerts, outdoor film screenings, and seasonal festivals. Visit the Cloud Gate structure….better known as “The Bean”) and listen to your kids squeal with excitement. Big or small, kids of all ages practice their best poses reflected in the stainless steel sculpture with a unique view of the skyline. From there, take a 10 minute walk over the bridge to Maggie Daly Park. A massive playground any kid could spend hours at!
Chicago, Il
Check out a Museum
Dinosaur lovers and natural history buffs alike will love meeting the Field Museum’s most famous resident, Sue the Tyrannosaurus Rex. Or if you have space enthusiasts, the Adler Planetarium might be a better fit. There’s also an amazing Veterans Museum or the Museum of Science and Industry.
Chicago, Il
Willis Tower Skydeck
Gino’s East Deep Dish Pizza
I feel like deep dish pizza is synonymous with Chicago and you must try Chicago-style pizza at least once on your visit. However, I have a confession I am not a fan. Most kids love it! Mine still said they wished the cheese was on top, not the sauce. Also it takes a REALLY long time to cook a deep dish. Like 45 minutes to over an hour. By the time it comes, everyone was so crabby and bouncing off the walls, I’d rather just go somewhere that doesn’t take quite so long. But for most families, it’s definitely a must-try…..just a few things to consider!
Go to a game!
If you are a family that loves sports, you are in luck! Chicago is home to several teams with seasonal sporting events and attractions. My whole family loves attending both Chicago Bears games, as well as St Louis Cardinals games when they are in town at Wrigley Field. Our kids love taking the L to games in the summer at Wrigley, it’s such an amazing ballpark and you can even take a private tour to learn all the neat history and behind the scenes stuff that goes into the ballpark. And everyone in our family loves Chicago-style hot dogs. In the fall, we love a trip to Soldier Field, the oldest NFL stadium in the United States….which has been standing in Chicago since 1924!
Lincoln Park Zoo
In a city where skyscrapers are built every day, the zoo is dedicated to being the place in Chicago for all things wildlife—where children can learn about and love animals, and where even adults can rediscover what it’s like to wonder, the nature isn’t just an escape, but the priority. Our kids love visiting this zoo. This is a favorite of ours because it is completely free! The zoo has been free and accessible to everyone for the past 150 years.
I want to hear from you!
Have you ever visited Chicago with kids? Which of my favorite things to do in Chicago would your family like most? Let me know in the comments below!
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