Chicago is such a big city that you’ll never run out of activity options or places to visit. So even if you’re visiting with little ones and seeking out hidden speakeasies or hitting up jazz clubs isn’t in the cards, there’s still more than enough legit-fun activities you can do with the whole family.
The Windy City has an abundance of museums, parks and iconic spots perfect for the little in your life. Here’s our list of seven things to do in Chicago with kids for a fun-filled, memorable visit.
Eat Deep-Dish
There’s nothing in the Universe that kids love more than pizza, rightly so. It’s the perfect invention. And deep-dish, with its ridiculous pie-like features and layers upon layers of cheese, is as kid-tastic as it gets.
Giordano’s is the way to go in this situation. They pride themselves on their “Cheese Pull”, in which the server dramatically tugs the first slice up and away from the rest of the pie to see how far the cheesy slice can stretch (Hint: it’s farther than should be scientifically possible). It’s a photo op with a tasty finish.
Catch a Cubs Game
The Cubs are no longer anything near the best team in baseball. But winning isn’t why Chicagoans love the Cubs. It’s all about the experience of taking in a game at Wrigley, and letting the history and the ambiance wash over you. Peanuts, Cracker Jacks, America’s pastime, begging your parents for another Chicago-style hot dog–you can’t beat it.
Even if you’re not a fan of baseball, go for the one-of-a-kind stadium experience. Wrigley is a home run for nostalgia. Kids can take their picture with the 2016 World Series trophy, read the names of past greats on the brick sidewalks around the ballpark, and play around in the green space of the recently renovated Gallagher Way.
Ownership has poured a ton of money into updating the stadium and the immediate area around the ballpark. There’s quality new restaurant options within fifty feet of the gate and a hotel right in front, and both have Cubs lore littered throughout.
The neighborhood is shinier than it used to be. The vibe is more fun than in decades past. They’ve found a way to modernize the area while keeping the baseball experience as timeless as ever. Visiting Wrigley Stadium and catching a Cubs game is one of our favorite things to do in Chicago with kids.
Chicago Children’s Museum
The Chicago Children’s Museum is a no-brainer. Located at Navy Pier, another spot tailor-made for littles, the Museum is basically a big playground, where kids are too busy climbing, building, reading, and jumping to realize they’re learning so much at the same time.
Kids can build contraptions in the Tinkering Lab, get their hands messy in the Art Studio, explore Kids Town, and pretty much climb their way around the museum. Surprises await around every corner. The Chicago Children’s Museum is a great spot for kids to burn off some energy while building up their brains.
The knock on Navy Pier is that it’s a tourist trap–a line of pricey shops and overpriced rides. Sure, but we’ve never seen a place work so hard to give kids an experience to remember.
From the fountains in the park out front, to the rotating art exhibits (which are often interactive), the free concerts, the AR-enhanced screens and gizmos outside the shops, to the little maze, the rides, all the way up to that beautiful Ferris Wheel, that icon of the Chicago skyline–Navy Pier hustles to make your children smile.
Ride the Centennial Wheel in the city where Ferris Wheels were invented. Stroll along the water and get photos of the city’s amazing skyline. Catch the free fireworks display on Wednesday and Saturday nights in the summer. That’s when the Pier is at its best.
Maggie Daley Park
Maggie Daley Park is at the center of everything, and therefore a perfect stopover between a visit to the Museum Campus and your dinner reservations later in River North or the West Loop. It’s a free park with climbing walls, a gigantic playground, mini golf, and a huge playground even an adult could get blissfully lost in.
Expert’s tip: Need even more ideas for things to do in Chicago with kids? Check out our ideas of seven places to visit in Chicago for free.
Bike Ride on the Lakefront Trail
The Chicago Lakefront Trail is an 18.5 mile long scenic walking and bike path along Lake Michigan that will make you wonder why you don’t live in this perfect city. Along the path you can stop at any one of a dozen beaches, Navy Pier, your pick from several museums, or even the Zoo.
With Lake Michigan on one side and the Chicago skyline on the other, you’ll be stopping for unforgettable family photos all along the way.
You can pick up Divvy bikes just off the path in most neighborhoods, or you can rent bicycles just outside Navy Pier. The bike lanes are super safe and kid-friendly, though the Trail can get crowded in the summer. The Trail is a great way to cover a lot of the city without getting stuck in traffic.
SafeHouse Chicago
Located just a block off the Magnificent Mile, SafeHouse Chicago is a restaurant with junior spies in mind. The fun starts even before you enter. You have to find the secret red door to even get in, and then you’ll need the password to prove you’re a real spy.
Once inside, kids can have a blast with the spy-themed decor, gadgets and overall immersive experience. The menu offers Midwestern classics like cheese curds, burgers, and Chicago-style dogs, along with a decent selection of adult beverages for the grown up 007s.
