10 Best Things to Do in Chicago with Kids

Chicago with kids is affordable, easy to navigate, and packed with attractions. I fell hard for Chicago on my first visit over 20 years ago, and have returned again and again over the years. I also love sharing my love of the Windy City with my children. Take a look at my picks for the 10 best activities in Chicago with kids. Whether this is your first visit or your tenth, I bet you'll love exploring one of my favorite cities.

Thank you Embassy Suites for hosting my stay in Chicago with my daughter. 

1. Enjoy free activities at Millennium Park.

City vacations can be pretty expensive for families. Thankfully, exploring Chicago with kids can actually be budget-friendly with free entrance to some of the city's best-known outdoor attractions. Start with Millennium Park for excellent cultural events like free music concerts, outdoor film screenings, and seasonal festivals.

Next, wander through the park's stunning gardens. When it's time to cool off, head to the renowned Crown Fountain for some splash time. The Cloud Gate sculpture (better known as “The Bean”) entices squeals of delight as kids practice their best poses reflected in the stainless steel sculpture.

2. Explore Shedd Aquarium.  

A visit to the massive Shedd Aquarium is a sure-fire hit when visiting Chicago with kids. Situated just inside the front entrance, the mesmerizing Caribbean Reef provides a stunning 360-degree view of sea creatures including colorful fish, stingrays, sharks, and friendly sea turtles. Kids will flip for the aquatic shows in the amphitheater, where the talents of dolphins and beluga whales are showcased.

Get kids excited to visit Shedd with Edward and Annie: A Penguin Adventure. This book follows two adorable penguins as they waddle through the aquarium.

3. Pick your favorite family-friendly Chicago museum.

First-time Chicago visitors may be surprised by the city's abundant museums designed with families and curious learners in mind. Natural history buffs will love meeting the Field Museum‘s famous resident, Sue the Tyrannosaurus Rex. Space enthusiasts gravitate towards the Adler Planetarium, the first planetarium to open its doors in the Western Hemisphere. And although the Museum of Science & Industry is a bit farther away from other Chicago attractions, it's a fantastic interactive museum with hands-on exhibits.

4. Get artsy with the kids.

The Art Institute of Chicago, renowned as one of the world's best art galleries, is one of my top picks every time I visit Chicago with kids. This is the place to inspire budding artists with a walk through the museum's extensive collection of impressionist paintings and exhibitions featuring art from America, Africa, Asia, and beyond. Guests can pick up audio guides designed for kids ages 5 to 10 before exploring. The museum also hosts a number of art classes for children through their School of the Art Institute of Chicago to refine their skills and nurture their love of all things creativity. If your kids can't get enough, then you can always make time for another visit, as admission is always free for kids under age 14.

5. Play at Navy Pier.

Navy Pier is one of Chicago's most popular attractions for good reason — it's just plain awesome! The 150-foot Centennial Wheel towers above Pier Park theme park for an uplifting ride. Other fun attractions include a carousel, climbing walls, remote control boats, the Pepsi Wave Swinger, and Light Tower.

There's also lots to do if the temperature is soaring or you're visiting Chicago with kids during inclement weather. Try the Chicago Children's Museum to cool off or warm up, depending on the season. There your family can wander through three floors of epic activities designed for kids ages 10 and under.

Families who just can't get enough of Navy Pier can scour the shops, tasty restaurants, and food carts to extend your afternoon into the evening hours. Navy Pier is an easy walk from Michigan Avenue or you can climb aboard one of the city's free trolleys, which run from below Michigan Avenue to the pier.

6. Set sail on a Chicago Architecture River cruise.

A sightseeing cruise on the Chicago River is a great way to spend an hour or two. Kids and grown-ups alike learn about the city's unique architecture and get a good look at some of the many drawbridges that are raised periodically to allow boats to pass. Some cruises even head out onto Lake Michigan for a view of the city's skyline. You might think an architecture boat tour won't appeal to kids, but my daughter just loved the cruise. The entertaining commentary and jovial tour guide helped win her over! Book your Chicago Architecture River Cruise now!

7. Shop 'til you drop.

Many visitors to Chicago come for the endless shopping options alone. The stretch of Michigan Avenue known as the Magnificent Mile is rife with tourists and makes a popular choice for exploring Chicago with kids.

Here's a warning: if you have young daughters, it will be nearly impossible to spend time in Chicago without paying a visit to the American Girl Place. You might as well embrace the experience! For families with boys who just can't take all of the extreme girliness, there's also a LEGO Store outside the second-level entrance. Of course, there are plenty of stores to please mom and dad along the Magnificent Mile as well!

8. Go above it all in Chicago.

Take in Chicago from above from the 360 Chicago Observation Deck. My daughter was wowed by the view of the bustling Navy Pier below. Look up to see Willis Tower soaring over Chicago. Parents may remember it as the Sears Tower before it was christened with its current name. Here's a fun fact for your kids. Willis Tower was once the tallest building in the entire Western Hemisphere. That is until One World Trade Center in New York made a stake for its claim.

A few blocks from the 360 Chicago Observation Deck, you can reach the 103rd floor Willis Tower Skydeck. From here families take in incredible views spanning across four states. Feeling brave? Step out onto The Ledge, a glass balcony that extends four feet from the side of the building. Try to keep your knees from shaking as you look at Chicago from over 1,300 feet in the sky.

9. Dig into Chicago's deep dish pizza.

Traditional dishes often become synonymous with a destination and visitors feel compelled to savor them. To sink your teeth into this city's famous dish, you must try Chicago-style deep dish pizza. Well, I have a confession. During all of my visits to Chicago with kids, I had never eaten its famous pizza! Shocking, I know. I finally dined at Gino's East and discovered what all the fuss was really about. Parents can be thankful that Chicago's signature dish is one that even picky kids will adore.

Hungry for more options? Take a look at these restaurants in Chicago that reviewers recommend for their deep dish pizza on TripAdvisor. To taste even more of the city's cuisine, be sure to sign up for a Chicago food tour.

10. Take the kids out to a Chicago ballgame.

Sport-loving families are in luck. Chicago is home to several teams with seasonal sporting events and attractions. My family loves attending both Cubs and White Sox games. However, our recent tour of Wrigley Field is my absolute most memorable sports experience. We had an incredible time learning about the history of this famed ballpark. There was an endless supply of Chicago sports trivia and fun facts during this behind-the-scenes tour. It doesn't get any better than that for a baseball fan like me!

Save Money with CityPass Chicago

Want a pro tip for family travel planning? If you will visit many of the marquee attractions in Chicago with kids, then purchase a CityPASS. You'll snag VIP access to five of the city's top attractions with 50+ percent savings!

Where to Stay in Chicago with Kids

If you're looking for stylish and expansive suites perfectly situated to explore Chicago with kids, then I bet your family will love Embassy Suites Chicago just as much as my daughter and I did. Read my full review of Embassy Suites Chicago!

More Things to Do in Chicago with Kids

Bond as a family during your trip by booking an adventure with the Escape Game Chicago. Work together to decode clues and solve a mystery. Choose from such themes as Prison Break, The Heist, Mission: Mars, Gold Rush, and Special Ops. Read a full review of the Escape Game.

For additional Windy City activities, take a look at additional Chicago tours below from our partner, GetYourGuide.

If you want more information about Illinois' most popular city, Fodor's Guides are always helpful in planning trips so take a peek at Fodor's Chicago.

For those who like lots of pictures in travel guides, go with the DK Eye Witness Travel Guide: Chicago instead.

Get your kids on the travel planning with 11 Places for Kids in Chicago You Must Not Miss.

I also find it helpful to arrive in a new city with a paper map, like this Chicago PopOut Map.

Keep These Chicago with Kids Tips

Thinking about planning a family vacation to Chicago? Be sure to keep these kid-friendly Chicago activities handy by saving the image below to Pinterest!

Have you visited Chicago with kids? What is your family's favorite Windy City activity? Let us know in the comments below!