Looking for things to do in Chicago with kids? We have a mega list with 76 fun things you can do around Chicago! The kids will love it!
Animals and Nature in Chicago
Eden Place Nature Center
An Urban Oasis, located on the south side of Chicago.
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Garfield Park Conservatory
One of the largest and most stunning conservatories in the nation.
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Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Founded in 1857 to give scientists and nature aficionados a place to study and share the specimens they collected.
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Lincoln Park Zoo
A leader in animal conservation and care.
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Attractions and Landmarks in Chicago
The Chicago Cultural Center
A Chicago Landmark building that houses the city’s official reception venue where the Mayor of Chicago has welcomed Presidents and royalty, diplomats and community leaders.
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Hancock Observatory
Awesome place to visit, and it is very high which provides amazing views all around.
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Indoors in Chicago
Little Beans Café
Family Cafe and Imaginative Indoor Playground for Kids in Chicago.
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Purple Monkey Playroom
An indoor Chicago Playroom aimed at children 6 weeks to 6 years.
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Pump It Up Chicago
Fun for all ages in our private, indoor arenas with gigantic inflatables.
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Kid-friendly Eating in Chicago
The Weiner’s Circle
A hot dog stand in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois.
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The Palm Court Lounge at The Drake Hotel
Excellent in their music, the decor, and the service. Try your afternoon tea here.
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The Original Billy Goat Tavern
A chain of taverns located in Chicago
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Superdawg
A drive-in hot dog stand with carhop.
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Svea Restaurant
Excellent $5 pancakes cannot be beat.
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Rock ‘N Roll McDonald’s
A flagship McDonald’s restaurant located in Chicago.
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Lazo’s Tacos
Mexican food simple tastes done well.
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Harold’s Chicken Shack
The greatest southern fried Chicken.
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Gino’s East
Home of the famous deep-dish pizza tastes the same as it did back then.
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Foodlife at Water Tower Place
An urban dining venue with 14 distinctive kitchens that serve real food made from scratch daily.
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Eli’s Cheesecake World
Offers cheesecakes in a variety of flavors, baked in Chicago.
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Ed Debevic’s
Quirky servers in serve up great burgers, hot dogs, homemade chili, fries, salads, milkshakes, and ice cream sundaes with a side order of sass!
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Ann Sather
Not only do they have extremely tasty food, their service is magnificent.
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Live Performances in Chicago
The Second City
The world’s premier comedy club/theatre and school of improvisation.
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Steppenwolf Theater
A Tony Award-winning Chicago theatre company founded in 1974.
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Short Shakespeare!
Enjoy Shakespeare’s famous plays at Navy Pier’s Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
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Old Town School of Folk Music
Organization serving as a local and national resource for teaching, performing and celebrating folk music, art and culture from all countries.
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Noble Horse Theater
Dinner theatre featuring horseback performances of The Nutcracker, Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Quadrille.
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Chicago Kids Company
Take classic children’s stories and turn them into colorful new tales.
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Chicago Jazz Festival
A favorite Labor Day Weekend tradition.
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Chicago Gospel Festival
Runs from June 20-23 in Bronzeville and downtown.
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Chicago Country Music Festival
Enjoy 20 hours of live country music at Chicago Country Fest!
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Chicago Blues Festival
The largest free blues festival in the world and remains the largest of Chicago’s Music Festivals.
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Chicago Children’s Theater
Enjoy children’s theater, plays, musicals and other performances.
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Barrel of Monkeys Theater
Teaches creative writing workshops in Chicago Public Schools, and adapts the children’s writing into dynamic pieces of theater.
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Local Unique in Chicago
A place to experience artistic beauty in an upbeat yet laid-back environment.
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Rosebud Cafe — Taylor Street
Enjoy a home cooked meal away from home.
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O’Leary Fire Truck Tours
Specializes in providing exciting tours of the City of Chicago
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Navy Pier
A 3,300-foot long pier on the Chicago shoreline of Lake Michigan.
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Children in Paradise
Great little bookstore and children oasis.
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Chicago Outdoor Film Festival
Been showing classic films in Chicago’s Grant Park for 10 years.
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Chicago Chocolate Tours
One of Great Food Tours delicious walking tours.
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Chicago Architectural Boat Tours
The most venerable and polished of the tour-and-activity sites.
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Museums, Exhibits and Art Galleries in Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago
Museum houses more than 300000 works of art and includes among its treasures, American Gothic by Grant Wood.
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Shedd Aquarium
An indoor public aquarium in Chicago
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Museum of Contemporary Art
Collects, exhibits, and interprets art created since 1940 in all media and preserves it for future generations.
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Museum of Science and Industry
The largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere, enjoy live science experiences
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Chicago Children’s Museum
Families play & learn together on 3 floors of fun.
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American Indian Center of Chicago
Social and educational services, including program for children with storytelling, performance, and craft projects to introduce them to the Native American way.
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Field Museum
Sits on Lake Shore Drive next to Lake Michigan, part of a scenic complex known as the Museum Campus Chicago.
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Adler Planetarium
America’s first planetarium and a premiere resource for inspiring the next generation of space explorers.
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Outdoor Fun in Chicago
Taste of Chicago
The nation’s premier outdoor food festival showcasing the diversity of Chicago’s dining community.
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Millennium Park
A public park located in the Loop community area of Chicago
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Segway Experience of Chicago
Ideal for beginners and experienced riders, residents of Chicago.
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Green City Market
Sells locally farmed products in Chicago.
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Chicago Park District Beaches
Chicago’s 26 miles of public beaches offer the perfect settings for playing, relaxing and soaking it all in.
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Chicago Carriage Rides by J.C. Cutters, Ltd
Top the perfect romantic weekend in Chicago by treating yourself and your significant other to a horse carriage ride through downtown Chicago.
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Shopping in Chicago
Women and Children First
One of Chicago’s most popular indie bookstores.
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Uncle Fun
One-of-a-kind toy store that has been established for over two decades.
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Psychobaby
A hip, online style shop for cool baby clothes, kids clothing, baby gifts, personalized baby and kids tees and toys.
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Mini Me
A boutique featuring the finest in childrens couture.
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Build-A-Bear Workshop — Chicago
Create your very own Teddy Bear and other stuffed animals at the Build-A-Bear Workshop.
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American Girl Place — Chicago
A premiere lifestyle brand that offers a variety of age-appropriate, high-quality dolls, books, clothing, and accessories.
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Sports in Chicago
Chicago White Sox Baseball
A Major League Baseball team located in the south side of Chicago
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Chicago Fire Soccer
An American professional soccer club based in the Chicago suburb of Bridgeview
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Chicago Cubs Baseball
A professional baseball team located in Chicago
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Chicago Bulls Basketball
A professional basketball team based in Chicago.
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Chicago Blackhawks Hockey
A professional ice hockey team based in Chicago
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Offers award-winning, original tours of Chicago for a variety of interests, ages, and fitness levels.
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Waterparks in Chicago
Williams Water Playground
Totals 8.51 acres and the park offers an athletic field, playground equipment, a small recreation building, a spray pool, and horse shoe, tennis, and basketball courts, and an interactive water spray feature offers community children relief from Chicago’s hot summers.
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West Chatham Park Water Playground
Provide children a refreshing way to cool off on a hot summer day.
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Wilson Park Water Playground
Provides a playground, a putting green, horseshoe and tennis courts.
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Meyering Water Playground
3.1 acres and features two multi-purpose clubrooms.
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Archer Park Water Playground
Provide children a refreshing way to cool off on a hot summer day.
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Graver Park Water Playground
Enjoy this water playground with the family.
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Fosco Park
Features an indoor Olympic sized zero depth swimming pool, fitness center and meeting rooms
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Adams Water Playground
Provide children a refreshing way to cool off on a hot summer day.
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Photo credit: Kevin Dooley