Chicago is a great city for families traveling with children. What's more, the Windy City also boasts many kid-friendly free year-round activities, including concerts from local and internationally acclaimed musicians, art exhibits, and theater performances. Check out our list of things to do in Chicago with kids, including...
- Shedd Aquarium
- The Field Museum
- Chicago Children’s Museum
- Museum of Science and Industry
- LEGOLAND® Discovery Center
- Brookfield Zoo
- Lincoln Park Zoo & Rides
- Navy Pier Centennial Wheel and Rides
- JourneyMaker at The Art Institute of Chicago
- and more...
Shedd Aquarium
Shedd Aquarium is known for being one of the best things to do in Chicago with kids. It's packed with kid-friendly exhibits and explores topics they'll find both fascinating and educational. For example, you'll get a diver's-eye-view of the underwater world's most interesting creatures.
The floor-to-ceiling exhibit windows put you eye-to-eye with beluga whales, moon jellies, parrotfish, sharks, and even the giant octopus. Shedd Aquarium's unique exhibits give your children the opportunity to be explorers for the day. Other popular exhibit areas include the Caribbean Reef and the Polar Play Zone, which both highlight important marine habitats and provide tons of interactive fun.
Getting In: Shedd Aquarium tickets are included on all Go City® Chicago passes.
The Field Museum
Come meet SUE, the world's largest T-Rex, in her own "throne room" at this famous science and anthropology museum. At this larger-than-life exhibit and many others, you and your family will travel back in time and all around the world. In addition to these astounding educational displays, the younger kids will enjoy "interpretative stations" that host hands-on activities like writing in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs.
You'll also find exhibits to appeal to older children as well, like the Cyrus Tang Hall of China, which details millennia of Chinese history, or the Evolving Planet exhibit, which explores 4 billion years of the history of Planet Earth. With Go City® Chicago passes, you also get admission to one special exhibit. Be sure to scope out their selection of visiting exhibitions to see what tickles your fancy!
Getting In: Field Museum tickets are included on all Go City® Chicago passes.
Adler Planetarium
Experience outer space without leaving Chicago at America's first planetarium. Let your child become a space voyager at "Planet Explorers," the most immersive, hands-on exhibition the museum has ever offered. Be sure to also check out "Planet Nine," their most exciting sky show, which follows the quest for a new ninth planet.
Catch a stellar space show in one of the museum's three full-size theaters. And don't let the fun stop when you leave; walk out onto Adler's north or south terraces to view the breathtaking Chicago skyline. This is a great place for photos, too. You'll love having pictures of the kids with Lake Michigan or the Chicago skyline in the background.
Getting In: Adler Planetarium tickets are included on all Go City® Chicago passes.
Chicago Children’s Museum
Amid dozens of restaurants and shops, the Navy Pierce Family Pavilion houses the Chicago Children's Museum (CCM). The CCM is a first-rate museum where play and learning come together for families with children through the age of 10. An especially popular exhibit is "Dinosaur Expedition," where little ones can explore a real fossil pit where the remains of a massive Suchomimus (a large, fish-eating dinosaur) were found.
The Tinkering Lab is ideal for creative kids, giving them space to invent anything they please with a variety of age-appropriate tools and materials. While you're in the area, check out the Navy Pier IMAX Theater to view re-mastered Hollywood hits on a 60-foot screen. Just beyond the pavilion, explore the famous Crystal Gardens, an enormous indoor botanical park that hosts over 70 full-size palm trees.
Getting In: Chicago Children's Museum tickets are included on all Go City® Chicago passes.
360 CHICAGO
360 CHICAGO is the popular observation deck on the 94th floor of the iconic John Hancock Tower located on Michigan Avenue. You'll get excellent views of Lake Michigan, Navy Pier (keep an eye out for the Ferris wheel), the city skyline and its surrounding suburbs, and more. Many interactive and engaging exhibits trace the history of Chicago.
Have adventurous kids? Consider purchasing a ticket to experience Tilt. You'll be able to look out over the Magnificent Mile below as the floor, wall, and ceiling move downwards to a 30-degree angle. Not for the faint of heart!
Getting In: 360 CHICAGO tickets are included on all Go City® Chicago passes.
LEGOLAND® Discovery Center
Who doesn’t love LEGO®? There are plenty of things to do with kids here. Take the whole family to explore this totally immersive indoor LEGO® wonderland, populated by exciting and interactive exhibits that bring your children’s favorite toys to life. Some of the most popular attractions at LEGOLAND® include the 4-D cinema experience, the Kingdom Quest Laser Ride, and construction demonstrations by the Master Model Builder.
Little ones will especially enjoy MINILAND, the interactive LEGO® world built just for them! This attraction is specifically geared toward younger children, although older kids and teens will still love the opportunity to play around with their favorite blocks.
Getting In: LEGOLAND® Discovery Center tickets are included on all Go City® Chicago passes.
Brookfield Zoo
Spend a day at Chicagoland’s largest zoo and meet some of the world’s most charming and fascinating creatures. This 216-acre nature park is filled with a wide variety of animals, plants, and even an animal-themed carousel – so your kids will find plenty to enjoy.
Don’t forget to take a ride on the Motor Safari tram, explore the “Great Bear Wilderness,” and pop into the “Butterflies!” exhibit. Little ones will particularly enjoy the Family Play Zoo, where they can explore and play to their heart's content. They can play at being zoo keepers, dress up like a playful lemur, and even exercise their creativity with some animal-themed crafts.
Lincoln Park Zoo & Rides
This smaller urban zoo is nestled in the heart of one of Chicago’s most popular parks, and its accessibility makes it a popular attraction for local families. Popular creatures at the Lincoln Park Zoo include the darling Red Pandas at the Kovler Lion House, the playful snow monkeys, the young snow leopard Taza, and many more.
They also offer fun attractions that kids will especially enjoy, including the marvelous Endangered Species Carousel, lovingly painted and crafted, and the Lionel Train Adventure, which all the little ones will love.
Getting In: Lincoln Park Zoo admission is free; your Go City® Chicago pass provides tickets to the Endangered Species Carousel and the Lionel Train Adventure.
Navy Pier Centennial Wheel and Rides
Navy Pier and its surrounding attractions are full of fun activities for kids and adults alike (see above for some more details on all the stuff you can enjoy while there). Take a stroll around the pier, sample some classic boardwalk eats, and take a spin on the iconic Ferris wheel for unbeatable views of the city. Use your Go City® Chicago pass to get a 4-Ride pass for Navy Pier attractions, including the ever-popular Centennial Wheel.
Getting In: Navy Pier Centennial Wheel & Ride tickets are included on all Go City® Chicago passes.
Bike and Roll Chicago
Looking for things to do in Chicago with kids that just don't stop? Burn off some excess energy and explore the city by bike. Chicago is a very bike-friendly city with 26 miles of easy lakefront trails. Use your rental as transportation to and from attractions you plan to visit, just ride north to Lincoln Park (home of the zoo and Chicago History Museum) or south to Grant Park and the Museum Campus. Bikes are also a good way to keep your kids active and to get the whole family some exercise.
Getting In: Chicago bike rentals from Navy Pier are included on all Go City® Chicago passes.
Museum of Science and Industry
Kids will love exploring the largest science museum in the Western hemisphere. Filled with exciting interactive exhibits, fun hands-on activities, and enlightening films, this museum is an educational haven for kids of all ages. Highlights of the museum include a replicated 40-foot tornado, a real German submarine dating from WWII, a 727 aircraft, a fully functional eco-friendly home, and much more! It’s the ideal attraction for the curious.
Getting In: Museum of Science and Industry admission are included on all Go City® Chicago passes.
The Art Institute of Chicago
No trip to Chicago is complete without a stop at the Art Institute, celebrated worldwide as a leading museum for high-quality art. With the huge variety of exhibits the Institute offers, there's bound to be something for the whole family. Be sure to try out JourneyMaker - a fun tool that allows your family to create your very own tour of the museum.
Choose one of eight storylines—like Superheroes, Time Travelers, or Strange and Wild Creatures—and then select works from the museum’s collection within that story. After you’ve made your selections, print out your personalized Journey Guide, which includes information, activities, and wayfinding directions. Then head into the museum for an art-filled adventure! There's also a convenient mobile app that you and your older children may find useful and entertaining.
Tall Ship Windy
Grab the family and jump on board Navy Pier's 148-foot, four-masted traditional schooner for a sailing adventure to remember. Whether you're a first-time sailor or more experienced on the open water, this unique view of Chicago is one you won't want to miss. Your boat-loving children will never forget this memorable experience.
Marvel at unparalleled views of the Chicago skyline while learning about the history and practice of sailing from the Windy's knowledgeable and creative crew. After some instruction, practice hoisting the sails yourself. Don't forget the camera!
Millennium Park
Take a stroll around this impeccably designed urban green space and be sure to note some of the park's design highlights and top attractions. The Pritzker Pavilion is where you'll find free or low-priced concerts in the warmer months. The kid-friendly Lurie Garden is the perfect place for them to explore nature, especially native Midwest flora. They'll love playing near the Crown Fountain come summertime, and the famous Cloud Gate Sculpture (also known as "the Bean") is the perfect place for silly photos.
Getting In: Admission to Millennium Park is free.
Save up to 50% on kid-friendly Chicago attractions
Planning your Chicago trip? With Go City®, you can explore big-name landmarks, local hotspots, and epic tours, all on one pass, all for one price. Not only that, but you'll enjoy savings of up to 50%, compared to buying individual attraction tickets.
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