Chicago with Kids: The Ultimate Travel Guide (2025)
This post contains affiliate links and ads. Affiliate links and ads support my work at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your ongoing support!Chicago is a vibrant city brimming with culture, history, and excitement, making it the perfect destination for a family getaway! Our family loves visiting Chicago and, over the years, it has become one of our childrens’ favorite places to visit. Chicago is only a four drive away from our home, making it the perfect option for a long-weekend trip. However, as a large city with an international airport and major train station, you can easily get to Chicago from just about anywhere by car, plane or train!
Exploring Chicago with children is easy and relatively stress free. It’s a very walkable city, plenty of reliable public transportation options and street/structure parking near all of the major attractions.
While there are many attractive neighborhoods throughout the city, when we visit Chicago with our children, we tend to stay near the Magnificent Mile for walkability.
If you’re planning a trip to Chicago, you’ll want to save this post! Today, I’m sharing our favorite places to visit, eat and stay while we are in Chicago as a family. Get ready to pack your bags for an unforgettable trip to Chicago!
Family-Friendly Attractions You Won’t Want to Miss!
There is no shortage of fun, engaging, and interesting things to do with your children in Chicago. Each time we visit, we find something new to experience. We tend to gravitate toward cultural attractions that offer something interesting for everyone and avoid “Instagram” money grabs… although there are plenty of those, too! Here is our list of KID APPROVED attractions to consider for your next trip to Chicago!
ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO: When our older children came home from school requesting we add the Art Institute of Chicago to our itinerary, how could we say no? This iconic museum is not only a treasure trove of art but also offers family-friendly activities. Start your visit in the fantastic Family Room, which offers hands-on art activities and crafts, comfortable place to hang out, books to read and easy access to restrooms. Children can also create their own guided tour, or you can follow along the recommended guide which will make sure you see the most famous works, including American Gothic and the stunning collection of impressionist paintings.
THE SHEDD AQUARIUM: Home to thousands of aquatic animals, the Shedd is a world of underwater wonders. Be sure to check the day’s schedule and make time to catch one of the Animal Spotlight shows, where you’ll be introduced to either the dolphins, a seal or the beluga whales. Take your time exploring the various exhibits and if your kids need to shake out their sillies, head down to the penguins and enjoy the play area!
CHICAGO CHILDREN’S MUSEUM: Located on Navy Pier, the Children’s Museum is a paradise for little explorers! From the interactive Tinkering Lab to the life-sized ship in the WaterWays exhibit, your kids will be engaged and entertained for hours. During the warming months, and when weather permits, there is also an outdoor play area to enjoy.
CENTENNIAL WHEEL AT NAVY PIER: After the Children’s Museum, walk down Navy Pier to enjoy the views of Lake Michigan and take a ride on the Centennial Wheel. Now an iconic part of the cityscape, the Centennial Wheel is the perfect way to enjoy the views of the city. Navy Pier also offers shopping, restaurants, the IMAX theater and other attractions so you can really make a day of it!
MILLENNIUM PARK & MAGGIE DALY PARK: One of the most recognizable icons of the city, Cloud Gate, or more colliqually known as “The Bean” takes center stage at Millennium Park. If it’s your first time visiting the city, it’s an absolute right of passage to spend some time taking photos near the silver, mirrored sculpture. Once you have your picture perfect moment, let the kids run loose at Maggie Daly Park. Just down the street, this gorgeous park offers an incredible playground for kids, an ice skating ribbon during the winter months, rock climbing walls and more.
THE LINCOLN PARK ZOO: Free to enter, this zoo is home to a variety of animals, from playful monkeys to majestic lions. The zoo’s beautiful gardens make for great strolling and the interactive, nature-inspired play areas give the kids plenty of space to stretch and explore. In the winter, you can enjoy the holiday light display and in the summer months, splash pads offer kids a chance to cool down. There is also a carousel, restaurants, and shopping onsite.
THE AMERICAN GIRL STORE (WATER TOWER PLACE): One thing to know about me is that American Girl was my identity as a child and I’m so happy to be able to share my love for AG with my daughter! Visiting the American Girl Store is always on our to-do list and each time we visit we try something new. If you want to eat at the restaurant or visit the Spa & Salon, be sure to make reservations in advance. You can get lucky and get a walk-in or same day appointment, but I only recommend that if you have a flexibility in your day’s agenda. My daughter loved celebrating her birthday at the restaurant and the staff made it a super special experience for her and her doll. My husband and son were also surprised by how much they enjoyed the food and the overall experience! *By the way, the LEGO store is conveniently located right outside the mall entrance on the second floor if the boys need a place to hang while you shop!
Of course, there’s always more to do! Here are a few places we haven’t been to yet, but plan to visit in the future:
Professional Sports Game
Where to Eat in Chicago with Kids
Once upon a time ago, my husband and I loved trying up-and-coming restaurants, fine dining establishments and outrageous cocktail bars when we were in Chicago. Nowadays, when we are traveling with kids, we’re looking for food we can all enjoy. Kids menus, low-key, family-friendly and affordable. Here are a few of our go-tos that our kids enjoy, too!
LOU MALNATIS: An absolute must to experience the famed Chicago-style pizza, although we prefer the thin crust ourselves! There are several locations (and we’ve been to just about all of them) and the food is always amazing. Each location has a bit of different vibe that syncs with the neighborhood. Make a reservation ahead of time, as it’s always crowded and there can be a wait. Plan to split a pizza or two, but there is also a wonderful kids menu.
JAKE MELNICK’S CORNER PUB: Award-winning wings, a great beer list and a “can’t miss” Kids Menu is all tucked away in this unassuming corner pub. Filled with sports memorabilia and families, it’s a great choice when you need to “just eat!” without a reservation. It’s right off of Michigan Avenue, which makes it centrally located, and there is also outdoor seating when the weather is nice.
NUTELLA CAFE: If your children are Nutella fiends like mine, the Nutella Cafe is worth a visit for a fun and unique experience. Located on Michigan Avenue, it’s definitely a tourist spot, but it’s quick serve so you can pop in for breakfast or a cup of coffee and a treat. Choose from crepes, pancakes, overnight oats, chia seed pudding and toasty baguettes, all topped with — you guessed it, Nutella! The food was decent, but the highlight was taking home a personalized jar of Nutella to enjoy at home.
RJ GRUNTS: Near Lincoln Park Zoo, we popped in RJ Grunts to grab lunch before heading into the Zoo. Another pub style restaurant, it was filled with families and offered an extensive menu so there was something for everyone. The food was fantastic and we all enjoyed what we ordered, from wraps to burgers to kids’ mac and cheese. If the Zoo is on your itinerary, this is a great place to eat and you won’t have to move your car!
Where to Stay with Kids in Chicago
Our kids’ requests when it comes to hotels are pretty simple. They want a pool and they want a TV. As parents, we like a bit of space and some conveniences! Here are three mid-range hotels I’ve stayed at and would recommend for families:
THE DOUBLETREE HILTON: The DoubleTree never disappoints with their warm oatmeal chocolate chip cookies at check-in and that’s generally enough to win over the children. If you’re traveling in the summer months, there’s a beautiful outdoor pool to enjoy. The rooms are tidy, sleek and clean. Additionally, there’s a lounge with a Starbucks, grab and go breakfasts, and a full menu as well.
HILTON SUITES MAGNIFICENT MILE: Ask for a Lake View and enjoy the views of the water with the convenience of a great location. Just around the corner from American Girl and only a couple blocks from Michigan Avenue, this is a great location for home base. There is also an indoor pool with Lake views, although unfortunately it was closed when we stayed there, so I can’t personally speak for the experience. There is a charming Aussie influenced bar and restaurant attached to the hotel. We loved the extra space the suite provided, allowing us to put the baby to bed and watch a movie with our older kids.
HYATT CENTRIC: Another great option, the Hyatt Centric is billed as a luxury boutique experience. It’s a great location off of Michigan Avenue and there is an indoor pool, as well as any other convenience you could need. We loved the city views — the kids loved looking out the floor length windows, admiring the building and busyness below.
The Windy City is a wonderful place to visit with the family and is guaranteed to give everyone something to be excited about. From the world-class museums, top-notch restaurants and endless shopping, you’ll keep busy from sun up to sun down! Chicago is also a very walkable, livable city.
There are parks and playgrounds hidden throughout the neighborhoods which offer a place to rest and unwind while the kids play and explore. You can essentially do as much, or as little, as you want and fill a long weekend with new experiences and lifelong memories.
If you’re heading to Chicago, or revisiting the city with kids in tow, I hope you find our guide helpful in planning your trip!
What is your favorite experience in Chicago? Leave your questions and recommendations below!
