Fosco Park

Fosco Park boasts of an 80,000 square foot Community Center, gyms, a fitness center, and a fantastic, FREE water playground. The outdoor playground is a great place to get wet this summer, and there are many ways to do it. Your kids may choose to stand beneath buckets that fill with water and then dump on their heads; they can play with water guns and sprayers, and take a ride down a water slide. Indoors, there’s a pool with zero-depth on one side for little ones just getting their feet wet.

Contact number: (312) 746-5086

Location: 1312 S. Racine Ave. Chicago

Learn more here.

Adams Water Playground

Tucked away in Lincoln Park, Adams Playground is truly a treasure in the community and welcomes neighbors into the park year-round.The park features a small field house that hosts indoor activities for the little ones – from Moms, Pops and Tots to Summer Camps.

Contact number: (312) 742-7787

Location: 1919 N. Seminary Ave. Chicago

Learn more here.

Little Beans Café

Little Beans is a family café and an imaginative playspace for kids of all ages. Kids can let their imaginations run wild in our custom interactive indoor village and playground, and families can relax with coffee and snacks in our cafe.

Contact number: (773) 251-1025

Location: 1809 W. Webster, Chicago

Learn more here.

Purple Monkey Playroom

Purple Monkey Playroom is a bright, nurturing destination for young children located in Bucktown. Purple Monkey’s thoughtful playroom is designed for infants through preschoolers to bounce, climb, build, read, color, and engage in imaginative play.

Contact number: (773) 772-8411

Location: 2040 N. Western Ave., Chicago

Learn more here.

The Strange Beauty Show

Strange Beauty Show: A Creative Hair Salon With a Rockin' Vibe

You will easily become the world’s coolest mother after taking your daughter on a trip to The Strange Beauty Show. Get all dolled up with your child and have a blast doing in it this combination salon, art gallery, and jukebox. Sisters Virginia and Audrey Olenick strive to offer a complete sensory experience at their Wicker Park locale by offering a wide variety of beauty services, showcasing the contemporary work of local artists, and spinning their extensive vinyl collection (you may opt to plug in your iPod for your own personal soundtrack). Watch your child have her hair wrapped while the ladies brighten your visage with funky-hued highlights

Contact number: (773) 252-9522

Location: 1118 North Ashland, Chicago, IL 60622″

Learn more here.

Rosebud Cafe — Taylor Street

Nestled in what was one of the scariest neighborhood’s in Chicago during the 1980s is Taylor Street. Otherwise known as Chicago’s Little Italy, the street is home to some of the best Italian-American food in the country, not to mention delicious ices. For the best Italian meal on the street, take your children to the Rosebud Cafe (their stuffed artichoke appetizer is amazing) and tell them about the days of Al Capone and Joey “The Clown” Lombardo. Oh, and don’t worry about the neighborhood anymore because it’s more than safe.

Contact number: (312) 942-1117

Location: 1500 West Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60607

Learn more here.