What are some recs for things to do when going to Chicago with kids ages 8-10? |
What time of year? If summer, cubs game, white Sox game, oak street beach, neighborhood festivals. Museums or navy pier work any time of year |
Shed aquarium
Museum of Science and Industry Baseball game Were favorites for my kids |
You can get really cheap White Sox tickets. The team is horrible, but it's a fun ballpark with great food. |
Lincoln Park Zoo Wrigley Field game Maggie Daley Playground Chicago river boat ride |
Museum of Science and Industry is a must |
We go to Lincoln Park zoo a lot because we have family who lives walking distance. it is a fine zoo if you happen to live nearby or have kids who love zoos, but I would not go out of your way to go there. Millennium Park is fun. I would also check out whether there is any good, family -friendly theater when you are there. |
architectural boat tour is a must for everyone
Museum of Science and Industry and Field Museum Millenium park to see the bean and there is a great playground at Maggie Daley park next door and a climbing wall place. Riverwalk - the tiki bar is fun for a drink as they have cornhole, etc. |
I live in Chicago - what age are your kids? I can send restaurant recs, etc.
Maggie Daley Park at Millenium Park is my kid's favorite- https://maggiedaleypark.com/ |
Planetarium and Field Museum
Navy Pier Aug for air water show - North Ave beach 2nd city comedy Neighborhood fests pretty much every weekend Architecture boat ride Cubs or Sox game 96th Fl of Hancock or too of what used to be called Sears Tower |
Museum of Science and Industry
Field Museum Millenium Park (the Bean, fountains, concerts in the amphitheater) & Maggie Daley park next door Architectural Boat Tour Sky Deck at Willis Tower Lakefront walks, beaches Take a water taxi Cubs game at Wrigley Sloomoo Walk around Lincoln Park Soooooo much eating! |
God there's like 1001 things in Chicago for kids. I'm from Chicago and my advice is google. It's prob the best town during summer in US for families no joke. |
Restaurants and other things my Chicago tween likes:
Pequod's in Lincoln Park for deep dish (Lou Malnati's is a chain and is second to Pequods IMHO) Yolk for breakfast Benihana at Water Tower Scooter's Frozen Custard in Lakeview Summer House Santa Monica Frasca in Lakeview Tuco and Blondie in Lakeview (Wrigleyville is part of Lakeview) There are many street festivals in neighborhoods that are fun for kids every weekend in Chicago (live music, food, beer, etc) Mine does not love the architectural boat tour, has been twice for field trips. You could look into renting one of these donut or retro boats, we did this and it was fun. They go maximum of 4 mph or something like that so hard ot crash (https://www.chicagoelectricboats.com/) Sea dog or Tall Ship Windy from Navy Pier Navy Pier Ferris Wheel Go to the beach - Foster Avenue or Olive Beach (downtown) Ride bikes along the lakefront Cubs game at Wrigley Sloomoo Institute Field, MSI (currently has a James Bond exhibit), Shedd, Adler Planetarium Walking on the lakefront path around the Shedd Kayaking on the lake Maggie Daley Park and Millenium Park - bring a bathing suit for the Crown Fountain! |
^ if you do Sky Deck do the "fast pass" because it's a really long wait. Also need to purchase tickets in advance, will probably be sold if you try to buy at the door. |
These are some questionable dining suggestions. Yolk is a chain. And also Benihana? That's like going to Cheesecake Factory. Nothing special about it and another chain. |