Great Spots for Kids in Chicago

Zoos & Aquarium

 

Brookfield Zoo

You will find all kinds of animals, a carousel with unique animals, a playground, a butterfly house in the summer, and a Children's Zoo with farm animals.  Don't miss the Hamill Family Play Zoo, where you can be a zookeeper, vet, or a zoo animal.  Check out the Dolphin show and Motor Safari.  This summer, you can see sharks at Stingray Bay.

(recommended by NC)

 

Lincoln Park Zoo

A great zoo that's free!  Check out the Endangered Species Carousel, paddle boat rides, Swan boats, African Safari ride, or Children's Train ride.  Don't miss the Children's Zoo and the Farm-in-a-Zoo.

 

Cosley Zoo

A cute place to visit and also free!  This small zoo features domestic farm animals and native Illinois wildlife.

 

Shedd Aquarium

Here you will find all kinds of  fish, as well as turtles, penguins, and sea otters.  The Oceanarium has dolphins and Beluga whales.  Don't miss the sharks and stingrays at the Wild Reef.  Right now, the special exhibit includes Lizards and the Komodo King.

 

Museums

 

DuPage Children's Museum

Lots of great things to do here.  They have Build It Neighborhood for constructing with tools, Air Works with a giant wind tunnel, Water Ways with bubbles and a water area, a Young Explorers area just for tots under 3, and much more!

(recommended by NC)

 

Chicago Children's Museum

Check out Kids Town for grocery shopping and riding the bus, try the Climbing Schooner, dig at the Dinosaur Expedition, and play with the pumps, wheels, and pipes at Water Ways.  Right now you can also design your own skyscraper at Skyline.

(recommended by PC)

 

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

Don't miss the Butterfly Haven.  Check out Hands-on Habitat and splash around at River Works.  Learn to be green at the Extreme Green House.

 

Field Museum

Kids like the animal exhibits and the shiny gems. Check out the mummies of Ancient Egypt.  Don't miss Sue the T Rex.  Right now, a special exhibit features Mythic Creatures:  Dragons, Unicorns, & Mermaids.

 

Adler Planetarium

Great for school-aged kids.  Learn about the planets in the solar system.  Watch the fantastic shows.  Find out more about the astronauts going to the moon, and check out the new solar car.

 

Art Institute of Chicago

Great for school-aged kids.  They have a wonderful collection of Impressionist paintings and Asian art.  Don't miss the Thorne Miniature Rooms.

 

Museum of Science & Industry

Great for school-aged kids.  Don't miss the chick hatchery and the model trains.  Check out the Omnimax theater. 

 

Parks & Gardens

 

Morton Arboretum

The Children's Garden is fabulous!  Lots of bridges and structures for the kids to climb on.  Don't miss the stepping stones.  Check out the tadpoles in Wonder Pond.  Right now, David Rogers' Big Bugs are here.

(recommended by NC)

 

Chicago Botanic Garden

Here you'll find an amazing collection of beautiful plants and flowers.  Check out the Japanese Garden and Bonsai Collection.  Right now, they have a Model Railroad Garden, as well.

 

Lilacia Park

Tons of beautiful flowers bloom here every spring.  It's a nice place to walk and enjoy the lovely gardens.

 

Millennium Park

Check out the Crown Fountain, which features 2 glass video structures and a reflecting pool, and Cloud Gate, an elliptical sculpture.  Lurie Garden is a nice place to walk.  In the winter, there's an ice skating rink.  In the summer, there are outdoor concerts at the Pavilion.

 

Beaches

 

Indiana Dunes

A sandy beach on Lake Michigan, and about an hour away from Chicago.

 

Oak St Beach

Nice, sandy beach on Lake Michigan in downtown Chicago.

 

Amusement Parks

 

Kiddieland

This little amusement park is great for little ones.  There's a train, merry-go-round, car ride, boat ride, log ride, mini-roller coaster, bumper cars, and more!

 

Navy Pier

This place has a large ferris wheel and carousel.  The Chicago Children's Museum is located inside.  During the summer they have fireworks twice a week.  In December, their Winter Wonderland has an indoor ice-skating rink, train ride, and bounce houses. 

 

Blackberry Farm

Great fun in the warmer months.  They've got a train ride, wagon ride, carousel, and pony rides.  Don't miss the old-fashioned school house with a slate at each desk.

 

Bengtson's Pumpkin Fest

In October, they've got a fun house, haunted house, corn maze, pony rides, train ride, wagon ride, pig race, and lots of pumpkins.

 

Six Flags Great America

Tons of huge roller coaster rides for the big kids.  Also has milder rides for little ones and a fabulous water park, Hurricane Harbor.

 

Pirates' Cove

Here you'll find the Castle of Camelot, where kids can climb a maze of tunnels and ride down slides, or try the climbing wall, merry-go-round, train, and paddle boats.

(recommended by NC)

 

Jumps and Jiggles

An indoor playground with a maze of tunnels, a spiral slide, the Kiddy Hawk helicopter, the bouncing Yo-Yo Ball, a Cobra Copter, and the flying GyroCopter.

(recommended by NC)

 

Splash Parks, Pools, and Water Parks

 

Ty Warner Park

You'll find 2 playgrounds, a sand area, and a splash park.  In the summer, they have outdoor concerts, as well as fireworks on the 4th of July.

 

Sea Lion Water Park

Here you'll find a few different pool areas, including a zero-depth pool and a kiddie pool.

 

Itasca Water Park

A nice pool with a small-scale fort, slides, and fountains, very clean and cozy.

(recommended by NC)

 

Centennial Beach

This place has a nice large sand area next to a zero-depth pool.  Not actually a beach!

 

Splash Country Water Park

Check out the sand play area, slides, zero-depth pool with kids' play features, and lazy river with buckets, sprayers, and jets.

 

Key Lime Cove

This is an indoor waterpark resort paradise, but only for overnight guests.  Check out the wave pool, slides, whilrlpool ride, lazy river tube ride, and kiddie pool.

(recommended by AY)