Things to Do with Kids in Chicago

Chicago’s nearly 600 parks and 26 miles of lakefront make it easy to enjoy the great outdoors in the middle of the city. Families can choose from a number of fun kid-friendly activities, including biking along Lake Michigan, kayaking on the Chicago River, and rock climbing in Maggie Daley Park. Come discover all the amazing all-ages outdoor adventures at your fingertips in Chicago.

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Get on or near the water

Join a Chicago River kayak tour with Urban Kayaks. Choose an array of cool guided tours, like the Ultimate Fireworks Outing, a Sunset Tour, a Historic Chicago Tour, and more. Or rent some kayaks and explore on your own.

Head to North Avenue Beach or Montrose Beach on Lake Michigan to rent a kayak from Kayak Chicago. Or your family can choose from several different guided kayak tours on the lake, including ones with views of the summer fireworks.

If your family is into stand-up paddleboarding, spend some time at picturesque 31st Street Harbor and Chicago Water Sport Rentals. More advanced paddlers can join the one-hour SUP Yoga class that begins with stretching on land before heading out onto Lake Michigan. Besides SUP, Chicago Water Sport also rents jet skis and kayaks. Kayak Chicago also offers stand-up paddleboard rentals at the Montrose Beach location.

Head to the lakefront for a scenic beach day, where kids can swim, build sandcastles, play volleyball, and more with a stunning skyline backdrop. Or ride Lake Michigan’s waves with Jet Ski Chicago, located at popular North Avenue Beach.

Finally, head to bustling Navy Pier for the ultimate family-friendly day on the lakefront. This iconic Chicago attraction is home to epic views of the surrounding lake and city, plus lots of ways for little ones to have fun outdoors. Catch a free movie or concert, take a spin on the giant Ferris wheel, ride classic carnival rides, and more.

Run, jump, and play

Back on land, reach 40 feet into the sky with a climb to the top of the Maggie Daley Park Climbing Wall. Complete with sculptural rocks and boulders, this outdoor climbing park is perfect for beginners and experts alike. Instruction is provided by park staff, with 25-100 climbers allowed on the wall at once.

Also at Maggie Daley Park, kids can take a loop around the Skating Ribbon. You can rent a pair of rollerblades or a scooter at the fieldhouse and whoosh along the landscaped path that weaves through the park. In the winter, the ribbon becomes the city’s most unique ice rink.

In iconic Millennium Park, kids will love splashing around in the interactive Crown Fountain. Keep an eye out for kid-friendly favorites playing during the Millennium Park Summer Film series, when you can catch free movie screenings under the stars.

Kids can test their skateboarding skills and perform sick tricks on the concrete ramps, grinding rails, and quarter pipes at two lakefront skate parks: Grant Park Skate Park and Burnham 31st Street Skate Park.

End the day with a hole-in-one at Diversey Mini-Golf, where 18 holes of putt-putt fun include footbridges and cascading waterfalls. The course is nestled in the heart of Lincoln Park, close to the lakefront.

Take a walk or ride

Mandatory Photo Credit:
Abel Arciniega :: @tequilagraphics

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Zip around town on a guided Segway tour focused on architecture or history with Absolutely Chicago Segway Tours. The popular Chicago Lakefront Museum Tour rides through the rose gardens of Grant Park and past Buckingham Fountain, with a trek to the Museum Campus.

Stroll around the Garfield Park Conservatory, a stunning glass greenhouse filled with plants from around the world and surrounded by acres of outdoor gardens. Kids will love the Sensory Garden, where touching and smelling is encouraged.

Take it easy with a leisurely pedal along the Lakefront Trail, which spans 18 miles, passing scenic parks, boat harbors, and beaches. See the sights on your own or join a guided Bobby’s Bike Hike tour, led by an entertaining local.

Finally, rent wheels from a Divvy bike-share station and cruise The 606, an elevated 2.7-mile trail that connects four of Chicago’s neighborhoods: Wicker Park/Bucktown, Logan Square, and Humboldt Park.