Chicago Itinerary Ideas: 101 Fun Things to Do with Kids

The Windy City is a terrific place and there are so many things to do with kids. Read this list of fun ideas for spending a family-friendly weekend in the city.

Drawing from our experiences with our daughter, I’m sharing my personally curated list of things to do with kids in Chicago, ensuring that your itinerary is packed with fun-filled adventures that will leave your little ones beaming with joy.

This list covers over 100 fun activities to do in Chicago with kids.

Things to Do with Kids

1. Touch stingrays, sturgeons, and starfish at the Shedd Aquarium
2. Start a Christmas tradition with lunch and photos at the Great Tree in Macy’s Christmas Walnut Room
3. Listen to the traditional German oom-pah-pah music and eat potato pancakes at the Christkindlemart in Daley Plaza
4. Splash around barefoot at the Crown Fountain in Millennium Park
5. Make a Mold-a-Rama of an animal at the Brookfield Zoo
6. Glide into the sky for an aerial view of Chicago on the Centennial Wheel at Navy Pier
7. Make a stuffed animal at Build-a-Bear
8. Ride the Polar Express at Union Station
9. Watch the summer fireworks at Navy Pier
10. Say hello to the Lions at the Art Institute of Chicago
11. See the Buckingham Fountain
12. Go biking on the 606 Trail
13. See a concert, play, or dance performance at Skylight Stage, Navy Pier
14. Spend the day at a Chicago beach
15. Learn how the Great Chicago Fire started at the Chicago History Museum
16. Tour the Chicago River Museum and see how the moveable bridges work
17. Marvel at the dinosaur collection at the Field Museum of Natural History
18. Munch a Chicago-style hotdog at The Weiner’s Circle
19. Explore the gardens and exhibits at the Chicago Conservatory
20. Go apple picking at a nearby orchard

21. Ride a 1920’s inspired carousel at Navy Pier
22. See the parade of floats on Lake Michigan at Venetian Nights
23. Spend the night at the Field Museum of Natural History
24. Climb the schooner nets at the Chicago Children’s Museum
25. Experience the first flight butterfly release (free-flying butterflies in the Peggy Notebaert greenhouse)
26. Visit the Nation’s Oldest Independent African American Museum
27. Get lost for a minute in a fully mirrored room that endlessly reflects you at the WNDR Museum
28. Walk through time and space and see constellations at the Adler Planetarium
29. Smile and wave to the camera at a local TV station on State St., (maybe you will be on the news)
30. Take in the views of Chicago’s most famous buildings on an architecture cruise
31. Take a tour of Chicago’s Wrigley Field and sit in the dugout
32. Take a virtual cooking class at The Kid’s Table
33. Sip a bubble tea in Chinatown
34. Go bowling at 10pin in Marina City
35. Create a scavenger hunt to find outdoor sculptures
36. Ride an endangered species carousel at Lincoln Park Zoo
37. Zoom around in a go-kart with Whirlyball
38. Go to a drive-in movie
39. Play mini-golf at Maggie Daley Park
40. Have your food delivered by train at The Junction

41. Make glazed ceramic arts at Glazed Expressions
42. Sail the Tall Ships on Lake Michigan
43. Try your skills in an Escape Room
44. Ascend the artistic walls at Climbzone
45. Experience a virtual reality arcade at Dave & Busters
46. Lift your pinkies up at an afternoon tea party
47. Eat a donut the size of your head at Dat Donut
48. Take an acting class at the Chicago Children’s Theater
49. Check out The Catcade, a Cat Cafe & Rescue center with feline-themed beverages in a laid-back setting with arcade games
50. Lick an Original Rainbow cone from top to bottom
51. Ride the Sea Dog at Navy Pier
52. Take an art class at The Paintbrush
53. Ride an electric boat at the Chicago Riverwalk
54. Play laser tag at Whirlyball
55. Go for a hike in LaBagh Woods
56. Visit one of several Chicago Farmer’s Markets
57. Go roller skating on the Lakefront Trail
58. See spectacular views spanning up to four states from the Skydeck
59. Splash around at the Adams Playground (water park)
60. See a live sporting event with your young fan(s)

61. Attend a Chicago neighborhood festival
62. Celebrate the Chinese New Year in Chinatown
63. Visit Dorothy and Scarecrow at Oz Park  
64. Fly a kite on Cricket Hill
65. Join a flashlight Easter Egg-Stravaganza at Lincoln Park Zoo 
66. Watch the Chicago River turn Green for St. Patrick’s Day
67. Spend the afternoon on the lake in large Swan Boats at Humboldt Park
68. Learn how to make puppets or attend a puppet festival
69. Cover the cultural and heritage history of African Americans at the DuSable Museum
70. Attend Chicago Playworks for Families & Young Audiences at Merle Reskin Theatre of performing arts 
71. Learn about money and see $1,000,000 in cash at the Federal Reserve Bank
72. See the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival
73. Have a wild encounter at the Hamil Family Play Zoo where kids are welcome to touch and play with zoo animals.  
74. Feel the zoom of the Blue Angels soaring through the sky at the Chicago Air and Water Show
75. Have a snowball fight in Grant Park
76. Have some classic Chicago eats like deep-dish pizza and Garrett’s Popcorn
77. Visit Cloudgate at Millenium Park
78. Ride a water taxi to Chinatown
79. Go birdwatching at the South Shore Nature Sanctuary
80. Try indoor skydiving at iFLY

81. Engage with interactive walls and see selected artwork and videos at the Chicago Cultural Center
82. Join the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Celebration at Maxwell Street Market
83. Immerse yourself in incredible food, music, and activities at The Taste of Chicago
84. See the light displays at Art on theMart
85. Sip hot chocolate with pastries at Mindy’s Bakery
86. Dine alfresco in Grant Park
87. See the Jessie White Tumblers at the annual Budd Billiken Parade
88. Opa! Enjoy plenty of music and entertainment including Greek bands and games for both kids and families in Greektown
89. Pick pumpkins from an impressive patch at Jack’s Popup
90. See the Medieval horses and fun floats at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade
91. Build a sandcastle at Oak Street Beach
92. Collect rocks and paint kind messages on them, then leave them for others to find
93. Watch the sunset over the Chicago skyline
94. Make a time capsule of things you find in Chicago
95. Experience Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns at the Chicago Botanic Garden
96. Learn the Mexican culture at the National Museum of Mexican Art
97. Find the perfect holiday tree at a popup tree farm
98. Go for a walk and collect colorful tree leaves, press them into a book, and then display them in a frame
99. See the holiday lights at the zoo
100. Take a magical journey on the Clara’s Christmas Eve dream at The Joffrey Ballet’s The Nutcracker
101. Stop by Santa’s Presidential Pad at the Swissotel Santa Suite
102. Lick an Italian ice on Taylor Street

Final Thoughts on Things to Do with Kids

One of the greatest joys (and pains) in life is being a parent. Speaking from experience, the years fly by and the next thing you know, your mini person is gaining independence, confidence, and a sense of self.

Single tear.

With this list of things to do with kids, you’ll never run out of ideas, especially when visiting Chicago. My husband and I have done absolutely everything on this list with our daughter and if time allowed, we’d do it again.

You’ll find that getting around Chicago is super easy when you plan activities for kids. Most transportation systems offer deep discounts or free rides for the little ones. 

Have fun while they are still young!