Category: Things to do with kids in Illinois

Segway Experience of Chicago

Glide along the skyline and view the city’s lakefront landmarks with your children on a hip and safe Segway human transporter. Stops include the Field Museum, the Lakefront Bike Path, Millennium Park, the Shedd Aquarium, the Adler Planetarium, Buckingham Fountain, and the Rose Gardens of Grant Park. A Chicago Architecture Foundation docent will guide you and your child through the lakefront’s architecture and open-space revolution. Your tour includes expert training on the Segway, which can glide over snow or grass and is environmentally friendly. Sunshine might be preferable but is not required; so rain ponchos and snowsuits are available seasonally.

Contact number: (800) 979-3370

Location: South Michigan Avenue and East Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60604

Learn more here.

Green City Market

Explore locally grown produce and food artistry with your children and teach them the value of sustainable farming in today’s world. The Green City Market is the result of collaboration between the city and local sustainable farmers and food artisans. It guarantees that its products are environmentally friendly, as well as delicious and nutritious. Support small family farms, enjoy chef demos, participate in forums on sustainability, and introduce your children to cooking with organic foods in the Edible Garden.

Contact number: (847) 424-2486

Location: 1750 North Clark, Chicago, IL 60614

Learn more here.

Chicago Park District Beaches

Probably the crown jewel of the city’s scenery is its gorgeous lakefront. There are 26 miles of beaches along the lake on which you and your children can walk, rollerblade, play, and swim. Admission is free and the beaches are some of the best maintained public grounds in the country. Chicago is so cold in the winter that the locals are pretty much obligated to make the most of warm weather, so pack a picnic and enjoy a day in the sun.

Contact number: (312) 742-3224

Location: 10 East North Boulevard, Chicago, IL

Learn more here.

Chicago Carriage Rides by J.C. Cutters, Ltd

On one of these rides, you and your child will gently bounce along to the clippity-clop rhythm of hoof steps and soak in city scenery aboard a classic Chicago Carriage. Flank the North Branch of the Chicago River’s natural wonder on a sunny summer day or snuggle together along a snow-frosted Magnificent Mile, surrounded by a halo of twinkling holiday lights. J.C. Cutters travels outside city bounds, as well, and will customize a path just for you. Reservations are highly recommended.

Contact number: (888) 664-6014

Location: North Michigan Avenue & East Chestnut Street, Chicago, IL 60611

Learn more here.

Eden Place Nature Center

At Eden Place Nature Center, we provide a range of ongoing programs and seasonal activities. We work to design age appropriate activities for our visitors and encourage adult caregivers to participate in the learning process with their children through play and exploration.

The primary focus at Eden Place is cultivating healthy, thriving and biologically diverse ecosystems. We care for our plants using only organic methods and we focus on cultivating native plant species that will provide habitat for local wildlife.

Contact number: (773) 624-8686

Location: 4417 S. Stewart Avenue, Chicago 60609

Learn more here.

Garfield Park Conservatory

Garfield Park Conservatory is one of the nation’s premier conservatories, with six multi-faceted greenhouses and two grand exhibition halls.

Tour the conservatory…imagine strolling through prehistoric ferns, stepping across trickling waterfalls, and experiencing a botanic haven in the City. Where your children can run, laugh, and learn. Discover a world under glass where plants are accessible, understandable, and most importantly fun!

Contact number: (312) 746-5100

Location: 300 North Central Park Ave., Chicago 60624

Learn more here.

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

After you’re done strolling through the lovely Lincoln Park, take your children to the Notebaert Nature Museum, where you can all learn about Illinois and prairie nature. The butterfly and green home displays are sure to impress you all, while you explore everything from the cicada to the water turtle and the way a river works. In all, a delightful way to learn local nature with your family. The museum also hosts a series of field trips and workshops.

Contact number: (773) 755-5100

Location:2430 North Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL 60614

Learn more here.

Lincoln Park Zoo

One of the nation’s oldest, the quaint Lincoln Park Zoo is also situated in the beautiful, surrounding Lincoln Park. Meet Anna and Lee, the polar bears, check out the zany penguins and make sure that you take your children to the Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo. Beyond having an amazing collection of animals for an inner-city zoo, it also has a formidable calendar, with events that range from Storytime with Mr. Singer to SuperZoo Picnic and Jammin’ at the Zoo (where you can hear the likes of Los Lobos play). A winner for children and parents of all ages.

Contact number: (312) 742-2000

Location: 2001 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614

Learn more here.

The Weiner’s Circle

Your cool parent cred will skyrocket after you surprise the children with a trip to the Weiner ‘s Circle. The cash only, hole-in-the-wall joint serves some of the city’s finest dogs (bright green relish, cucumbers, tomatoes, mustard and no ketchup), not to mention the meanest cheese fries west of Lake Michigan. The best part about it is that the ladies who serve you are paid to actually give you a hard time. See if your children can outwit the ladies. When the weather’s nice, you can all sit on a picnic bench together and watch the people and traffic of North Clark Street go by.

Contact number: (773) 477-7444

Location: 2622 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614

Learn more here.

The Palm Court Lounge at The Drake Hotel

Discover your children’s etiquette skills at a traditional afternoon tea in the Drake’s illustrious Palm Court Lounge. Feast on savory finger sandwiches, fruit bread, and scones with cream and jam while you sip your choice of tea (the fresh blackberry herbal flavor is scrumptious). Discuss your children’s latest adventures while a golden harp lulls your adult worries away and enjoy skillful, intermittent caroling by costumed professionals. Reservations are recommended unless you enjoy standing in very long lines.

Contact number: (312) 787-2200

Location: 140 East Walton Place,Chicago, IL 60611

Learn more here.