Things to Do With Kids in Chicago - The Ultimate Guide

Erin P.:  Johnson's Farm is home to the largest garden center in the area. There is nothing like local, home grown Johnson strawberries - whether you want to go to the field to pick your own or purchase them pre-picked inside the market. They provide helpful tips for picking your own berries and produce and a tram out to the field. Join them for their fun farm weekends, too, for additional kids activities, including train rides, pedal cars, slides, tunnels, a jump pillow and more!

Kristy Pepping:  The Bronzeville Children's Museum opened in 1993 as the first and only African-American children's museum in the country. One hour tours are provided to introduce children to four different subject matters allowing them to play as they learn. Tours occur ever hour on the hour. Learn about African American inventors, STEM leaders, athletes, innovations in medicine and more. Each exhibit is play based, with age appropriate toys and activities to match.

The Museum of Science and Industry is one of the largest science museums in the world. Exhibits focus on the history and future of science and science education, and kids love the interactive exhibits and jaw-dropping experiences geared just for them. It has an amazing model train exhibit, too, that will wow train-enthusiast kids (and adults).

Sarah D.:  Northerly Island trails are an extension of the museum campus and Chicago's famous Lakefront Trail. These paved, pristine trails traverse a hilly, lakefront expanse of Illinois prairie and savanna that form a peninsula out into Lake Michigan. Renowned for the presence of migratory birds, Northerly Island is a sanctuary along the shoreline of a bustling city. With easy access via an on-site lot, this sanctuary is the perfect place to spend time in nature.

Chicago's most popular stargazing spot offers education and entertainment for visitors of all ages. Explore a variety of out-of-this-world exhibits and breathtaking shows, and check out the Planet Explorers area, where kids can climb, crawl, play, and join the crew on a mission to space!

Sarah Calamita:  If you have dinosaur lovers this is THE place to go. The great thing is you can go in and spend a few hours inside, but then it is right on the lake so you can spend time outside and walk the path along the lake! It is an amazing museum. Don't miss the SUE exhibit!

Erin P.:  My mom used to love taking us to Chicago and going for a ride on the Seadog, and I look forward to continuing the tradition with my own kids one day! You can enjoy views of Buckingham Fountain, Grant Park, Chicago Harbor, and Chicago’s Museum Campus. A great summer activity! Thrill seeking Chicago families should try the extreme thrill ride, where speeds hit 45 mph and they do 360 degree spins. You'll get wet!

Navy Pier offers restaurants, entertainment, a children's museum and a friendly venue for year-round special events. You'll also find a quick swing ride, spinning tea cups, carousel, drop tower and more. The 200-foot Centennial Wheel is available year round (weather permitting). The enclosed gondolas offer 360-degree views of Chicago and Lake Michigan. This iconic ride is a 'must-do adventure' for local and tourist families alike.

See whales, dolphins, sharks, stingrays, jellyfish and more! Many exhibits are play-based, like the Polar Play Zone, where your kiddo can slip into a penguin suit and waddle around! Experience touch tanks, animal chats, dolphin and whale shows, shark feedings and behind-the-scene tours, sleepover events, youth camps, and more.

Vanessa M.:   Chinatown is easily accessible by the CTA Red Line via the Cermak Station. Make sure to stop inside a few of the Chinatown shops on the way in! Enjoy fabulous food, shopping and culture.

Consistently rated one of the best guided tours in Chicago, Bobby's Bike Hire has a range of walking and biking tours specially tailored for tourists, families with young kids, date night, etc. It's a great way to catch up on Chicago history, learn about new places that you'll want to return to again and again, and (best of all) learn obscure facts that will impress your friends!

Yoli B:  The incredible 3-acre Play Garden at Maggie Daley Park is one of the best playgrounds in Chicago and is not to be missed. All of the playground equipment is special and includes slides, bridges, swings, boats and more. Each playground is moderately fenced in, as well. Check it out in warmer months and you may be able to hear the summer concerts from adjacent Millennium Park! Additional fun family activities like mini-golf and rock climbing have fees.

Millennium Park's Crown Fountain consists of two 50-foot glass block towers at each end of a shallow reflecting pool. It is a popular gathering place and one of the best splash pads in the city! The fountain acts as a public play area and offers people an escape from the summer heat while walking through the fountain's ankle-high water.

Millennium Park is located on famed Michigan Avenue and within walking distance to several hotels, restaurants, and shopping. It also provides the backdrop for several (often free!) cultural programs including concerts, exhibitions, awesome outdoor movie nights, and more. Kid specific attractions include an outdoor ice skating/roller skating ribbon, rock climbing, splash parks, mini golf, Maggie Daley Park playground, and lush gardens to run or take a leisurely stroll through.

The bright and colorful children's space located on the second floor of the massive Harold Washington Library offers plenty of fun kids activities in Chicago's South Loop. Areas organized by age are filled with fun STEAM and tech activities, play opportunities, a tween digital media space, and plenty of cozy seating and reading nooks.