Also called the Windy City, Chicago promises the best adventures for your whole family. From riding a giant Ferris wheels to loitering at the foot of giant dinosaurs and playing with penguins and seals, Chicago is one that never fails to make a child say “Wow”!
Chicago is one of the most popular cities in the United States because of its famous skyscrapers, skyline, architecture, and cultural centers. What parents still need to discover is the city’s love for children, hence, the collection of numerous kid-friendly activities to make a child’s day most memorable. So if you are a tourist, an expat, or a local in Chicago trying to rummage for loads of fun for your precious munchkins, this article is for you. We compiled the best things to do in Chicago with your kids in the list below.
Cost: $35.99 to $39.99
All children love to play detectives. Don’t be shy to admit it, parents do, too. In Chicago, your whole family can play detectives for a day at The Escape Game Chicago. Located in River North, The Escape Game Chicago is the perfect weekend adventure for your kids where they can have fun and at the same time test their problem solving skills. An added bonus is the kids can learn all about the dynamics of working with a team, i.e. their siblings or other children. At The Escape Game Chicago, kids can choose from among the featured themes, such as Gold Rush, Prison Break, and The Heist and Mission: Mars. In a given time, usually 60 minutes, every team is placed inside the room they have chosen, and they will figure out a way to get out. They can only seek the help of the game master and their teammates. Surely, the kids will enjoy every moment here.
Cost: $11 to $21
If your kids love science, there’s no doubt that you should take them to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. The largest science museum in the Western hemisphere, the Museum of Science and Industry features spinning tornados, trains, planes, and even a real-life U-boat. Inside the museum, kids can jump from one exhibit to the other, learning about how each button work and learning about how their favorite science concepts are crafted. Also, there is a kid’s area and a farm area, where kids can play and watch a baby chick come out of the egg shell. Yes, your kids will definitely want to see this museum!
Cost: $6 to $9
Even at a young age, children must be taught to appreciate and value nature from which every resource comes from. The best way to teach them this is taking the kids to natural parks, where they can breathe fresh air and admire the flowers. At the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, you can do exactly these things. The museum hosts an impressive butterfly greenhouse, a hatching area for wetland animals, and a huge collection of exotic animal exhibits. Children can also explore how rivers work as well as witness live native animals. They are also in for some nature-inspired artworks.
Cost: $29.95 to $39.95
One thing that’s always on a parent’s itinerary list for her kids is an aquarium. Thankfully, there are a lot of aquariums to choose from. Among the most visited aquariums is the Shedd Aquarium, which is home to more than 32,000 animals and has more than 5 million gallons of water. The Shedd Aquarium is a must-have item in your kiddie adventure list, because the children have a lot to experience inside. For instance, they can check out exhibits of Beluga Whales and the Caribbean Reef. They can also have a close-up look at the penguins, jellyfish, sharks, dolphins, sea otters, and other marine creatures. The Shedd Aquarium is undoubtedly one of the world’s biggest indoor aquariums. Kids can spend the day just idling around and admiring all the lovely creatures.
Cost: $8 to $12
Another attraction in Chicago which is known to locals but still unheard of by most tourists and expatriates is the Adler Planetarium. Listed as one of the most beautiful planetariums in the United States, the Adler Planetarium opens the sky’s magic for every spectator. The planetarium houses an aperture telescope through which your kids can view the moon. Children are also in for a treat to watch sky shows. Or they can pretend to be space explorers or astronauts for a day! Such a lovely experience for the children, don’t you think?
Cost: Free
Chicago’s newest downtown green space, the Maggie Daley Park is another must-go-to place in the city. Treat your kids to an outdoor adventure to pump up their adrenaline. The Maggie Daley Park has an outdoor climbing park, tennis courts, picnic spots, and even a skating ribbon. There is also an enchanted forest, a wave lawn, and a lot of slides inside the park. Truly, every kid will find something to satisfy their craving for an active experience at the Maggie Daley Park. Your kids will feel like Alice in Wonderland or Charlie in a Chocolate Factory for a day inside this cartoon-inspired play garden.
Cost: Free
Almost every local in Chicago knows of the Millennium Park – a 25-acre park where the famous “The Bean”, a three-story steel sculpture which is actually named Cloud Gate, can be found. The Cloud Gate is sure to amaze everyone with the reflection of the perfect Chicago skyline. Unsurprisingly, the Millennium Park is one of Chicago’s most popular attractions. It houses a 3.5-acre Lurie Garden, which boasts of a nature hunt scavenger experience with birds, worms, and bees, as well as a Crown Fountain, where kids can soak and splash around. At this park, kids can also listen to live music or watch movies in an outdoor concert pavilion, which is designed by Frank Gehry.
Cost: $15 to $18
Chicago is not complete without the iconic Navy Pier. And going to the Navy Pier will not be a full experience without riding the popular Centennial Ferris Wheel, a climate-controlled wheel which offers the most picturesque views of Chicago. The Centennial Ferris Wheel measures 200 feet – a high enough measurement to provide a 360-degree view of Chicago and the lakefront. The kids can ride an enclosed gondola all the way to the top to take in the beauty of the city. Besides the Centennial Ferris Wheel, the Navy Pier also has an old-fashioned Wave Swinger and an IMAX theater to further give the kids their well-deserved fun. There are also restaurants and fireworks display for a family bonding moment.
Cost: $17 to $24
We know your kids, as well as every other kid in the world, love to repeatedly watch the “Jurassic Park”. Well, because of dinosaurs, of course. In Chicago, the Field Museum of Natural History is a chance for the kids to stand at the foot of preserved dinosaurs. Kids can also see a real mummy and even watch a rotating schedule of 3D movies. The Field Museum also has the Crown Family Play Lab, where kids can spend an hour or two playing and learning at the same time.
Cost: $35 to $45
Who doesn’t love magic? For sure, no kid would get bored watching a live magic show. The Chicago Magic Lounge is a great place to let kids experience magic. When you get into this place, the place does not look like a place for entertainment, as it just looks like a small busy and boring Laundromat room. But when you push some buttons, it will open up to let you into another room with the receptionist. After checking in, the receptionist will just pull a book from the wall which opens another wall to lead the guests into the Magic Lounge itself. But that’s just a small part of what you are about to experience at this place. The magicians are all professional and did entertaining stunts which the kids will surely enjoy and even try to imitate. A bonus is a meet-and-greet with the magician after the show! What are you waiting for? Treat your kids to this unique magical experience!
Cost: $14.95
A museum like no other in Chicago, the Chicago Children’s Museum is another must-have in your list of adventures for your kids. At this museum, children can do all sorts of activities to expand their imagination, improve their social skills, and test their creativity. The kids can do painting, sketching, and scavenger hunting. They can also play and learn in interactive exhibits such as the Treehouse Trails, BIG Backyard, and WaterWays. Little boys and girls can also play house inside this museum. Indeed, this place is a kid’s paradise in Chicago.
Cost: $17 to $25
You are probably waiting for this to come up on our list, and here it is. The Willis Tower, a skyscraper and an identifiable symbol in Chicago, offers your whole family a chance to walk on air on a glass balcony. Located on the 103rd floor, the Skydeck Chicago is more than 1,300 feet high. It has a glass balcony and glass windows which offer a breathtaking view of Chicago. Children and adults alike will surely hold their breath while looking around the place. Your whole family can walk around the building so as to experience the view of Chicago from all angles. Older kids and parents can also treat themselves for a rather disorienting view of the street at the Ledge, which consists of a glass box extending 4.3 feet out of the Willis Tower.
Cost: Free
So you just want a relaxed adventure for you and the kids? We hear you! Head to the 606 Trail along the Bloomingdale Avenue. It was an abandoned rail line which had been converted into a new public park and a cycling path. Your kids can spend the afternoon biking on the trail or riding kiddie scooters. You can also bring mats and a picnic basket.
Cost: Free
A unique and productive activity you can take your kids to is tree planting at the Garfield Park Conservatory. It is one of the biggest conservatories in the United States, which features thousands of plant species. The conservatory is home to six greenhouses and two exhibition halls. In here, your kids will surely get their hands dirty for a great cause. In the process, they can learn all about planting. They can even plant a tree and become an eco-warrior!
Cost: Free
The last item on our list is another free activity to do in Chicago with kids. A visit to the Chicago Botanic Garden is sure to relax your mind and body after a highly stressful week. This 385-acre garden is part of the Cook County Forest Preserves. You can explore all its 27 different gardens in four natural habitats: Dixon Prairie, Skokie River Corridor, Lakes and Shores, and McDonald Woods. You can also visit the garden and participate in the various events it hosts, including Tai Chi, cooking shows, and plant shows. The Chicago Botanic Garden is open every day.
Share the fun you had with your kids in the comment section below.
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