Favorite Kid-Friendly Activities in Chicago

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See all the sights of Chicago at your own pace! On a Chicago City Hop-on Hop-off Tour you can get off the bus at any scheduled stop to visit Chicago's most popular attractions, then pick up the tour where you left off or get on at any other regular stop on the route. For individuals and families, this is the best way to see the sites in a day!

Your fully-narrated trolley (heated in winter) or double decker bus will tour 13 magnificent miles of Chicago's downtown and The Loop, taking you by the city's premier shopping, dining and attractions. The tour is about two hours if you do not get off.

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No trip to Chicago is complete without a stroll down North Michigan Avenue, or "the Magnificent Mile" to those in the know (which includes most, if not all, tourists). This stretch of almost a mile to the north of the Chicago river is home to most of the city's powerhouse retailers, which attract locals and visitors year-round. It is worth noting that all land to the east of Michigan Avenue is landfill; it was built up from debris from the Great Fire of 1871. Also of note is the Chicago Water Tower, located at Chicago and Michigan Avenues, which provided much of the water to put out the Fire. For a break from shopping sprees, head beneath the street to the Billy Goat Tavern (stairs are at Illinois Street) for a cheezborger.

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When Louisa May Alcott penned her classic book Little Women, she probably never imagined that an American retail center would someday pay such a complete tribute to young girls, too. Just around the corner from the Magnificent Mile shopping district, this three-story complex features a playhouse showcasing The American Girl Review, a cafe offering delicious meals, and a shop featuring American Girls dolls and clothing. Girls aged seven and up will find this an irresistible getaway.

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Chicago has two giant black buildings with observation decks- the Willis Tower downtown, and the John Hancock Center, which is at the top of the Magnificent Mile. Both are popular with tourists, but given its location in Chicago's main shopping district, a visit to the Hancock Center can be more of an afterthought than a planned excursion. Visitors must pay a fee to visit the observatory, but can go to the Signature Room, a restaurant on a floor above the observatory deck, for "free" with the purchase of a drink at the bar (or an expensive meal, if you prefer). The views from either the observatory or the Signature Room are impressive, and on a clear day visitors can see up to four states- Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, and, of course, Illinois.

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The Family Pavilion At Navy Pier, located in Chicago is one of the most popular places in the city when it comes to family outings. There is a lot to choose from at the Family Pavilion, go watch a great movie at the IMAX Theatre or pay a visit to the Chicago Children's Museum. Take a stroll through the indoor botanical park or just check out the various shops and restaurants in the area.

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You cannot afford to miss the Navy Pier's most visible attraction, the 150 foot-high Ferris wheel. This fun ride is open year-round. It is not only fun for kids but for all age groups. It is modeled after the very first Ferris wheel, which was built for Chicago's 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. On the Navy Pier Ferris wheel you can enjoy breathtaking views of the Chicago skyline and lake-front. During the evening, the illuminated Ferris wheel with thousands of sparkling lights is a sight that one must not miss.

Our Local Expert Says:

If you only have time for one museum, the Field Museum is it. Full of history, excitement, and exploration!

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As part of the Museum Campus on the lakefront (in addition to the Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium), the Field Museum of Natural History is always at or toward the top of the list when it comes to popular cultural attractions in Chicago. The Field Museum was originally named the Columbian Museum of Chicago for the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893, but changed its name to honor Marshall Field, its first major benefactor, in 1905. Since 2000, the Field Museum has housed Sue, the world's most complete and best preserved Tyrannosaurus Rex to date, in its main hall. The building itself was designed by famous Chicago architect Daniel Burnham, the mind behind the White City at the 1893 Columbian Exposition. Admission is free on the Second Monday of every month, and on additional days throughout the year as designated on the Field's website: www.fieldmuseum.org/plan_visit/free_days.htm.

Our Local Expert Says:

Great activity for the entire family, located on Museum Campus.

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The Shedd is one of the world's largest indoor aquariums, and houses thousands of river, lake, and sea denizens in standard aquarium tanks and elaborate new habitats within its octagon-shaped marble building. The only problem with the Shedd is its steep admission price ($24.95 for adults). You can keep your costs down by buying the "Aquarium Only" admission, but you'll miss some of the most stunning exhibits. A CityPass can save you money if you visit enough of the other included attractions.

The first thing you'll see as you enter is the Caribbean Coral Reef. This 90,000-gallon circular tank occupies the Beaux Arts-style central rotunda, entertaining spectators who press up against the glass to ogle divers feeding nurse sharks, barracudas, stingrays, and a hawksbill sea turtle. A roving camera connected to video monitors on the tank's periphery gives visitors close-ups of the animals inside, but I'd recommend sticking around to catch one of the daily feedings, when a diver swims around the tank and (thanks to a microphone) talks about the species and their eating habits.

The exhibits surrounding the Caribbean coral reef re-create marine habitats around the world. The best is Amazon Rising: Seasons of the River, a rendering of the Amazon basin that showcases frogs and other animals as well as fish (although the sharp-toothed piranhas are pretty cool).

You'll pay extra to see the other Shedd highlights, but they're quite impressive, so I'd suggest shelling out for them if you plan to spend more than an hour here. The Oceanarium, with a wall of windows revealing the lake outside, replicates a Pacific Northwest coastal environment and creates the illusion of one uninterrupted expanse of sea. On a fixed performance schedule in a large pool flanked by an amphitheater, a crew of friendly trainers puts dolphins through their paces of leaping dives, breaches, and tail walking. Check out the Oceanarium schedule as soon as you get to the Shedd; seating can fill up quickly, so you'll want to get here early. If you're visiting during a summer weekend, you may also want to buy your Oceanarium ticket in advance to make sure you can catch a show that day. (Note: The Oceanarium will be closed for structural maintenance from Sept 2008 until early June 2009.)

Wild Reef -- Sharks at Shedd is a series of 26 connected habitats that house a Philippine coral reef patrolled by sharks and other predators. The floor-to-ceiling windows bring the toothy swimmers up close and personal (they even swim over your head at certain spots).

If you want a quality sit-down meal in a restaurant with a spectacular view of Lake Michigan, check out Soundings. There's also a family-friendly cafeteria.

Allow 2 to 3 hours.

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The building may be historic (it was the first planetarium in the Western Hemisphere), but some of the attractions here will captivate the most jaded video-game addict.

Your first stop should be the modern Sky Pavilion, where the don't-miss experience is the StarRider Theater. Settle down under the massive dome, and you'll take a half-hour interactive virtual-reality trip through the Milky Way and into deep space, featuring a computer-generated 3-D-graphics projection system and controls in the armrest of each seat. Six high-resolution video projectors form a seamless image above your head -- you'll feel as if you're literally floating in space. If you're looking for more entertainment, the Sky Theater shows movies with an astronomical bent; recent shows have included Secrets of Saturn and Mars Now!

The planetarium's exhibition galleries feature a variety of displays and interactive activities. If you're only going to see one exhibit (and have kids in tow), check out Shoot For the Moon, an exhibit on lunar exploration that's full of interactive stations (it also showcases the personal collection of astronaut Jim Lovell, captain of the infamous Apollo 13 mission, who now lives in the Chicago suburbs). Other exhibits include Bringing the Heavens to Earth, which traces the ways different cultures have tried to make sense of astronomical phenomena, and From the Night Sky to the Big Bang, which includes artifacts from the planetarium's extensive collection of astronomical instruments (although suitable for older children, these can get a bit boring for little ones unless they're real astronomy nuts).

The museum's cafe provides views of the lakefront and skyline. On the first Friday evening of the month, the museum stays open until 10pm, and visitors can view dramatic close-ups of the moon, the planets, and distant galaxies through a closed-circuit monitor connected to the planetarium's Doane Observatory telescope.

Allow 2 hours, more if you want to see more than one show.

Our Local Expert Says:

It may be a little further out of the way than other large Chicago museums, but it is worth the trek for the enjoyment of the whole family.

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Even if you don't plan on spending the day in Hyde Park, you'll likely pass through the neighborhood on your way to one of Chicago's most popular tourist attractions. The massive Museum of Science and Industry is the granddaddy of interactive museums, with some 2,000 exhibits. Schedule at least 3 hours here; a comprehensive visit can take all day, especially if you catch an OMNIMAX movie.

While the museum is constantly adding new displays to cover the latest scientific breakthroughs, you shouldn't miss certain tried-and-true exhibits that have been here for years and epitomize the museum for Chicagoans. The U-505, a German submarine that was captured in 1944 and arrived at the museum 10 years later, brings home the claustrophobic reality of underwater naval life. The sub is displayed in a dramatic indoor arena with exhibits and newsreel footage that put the U-boat in historical context (a guided tour of the sub's interior costs $7 extra, but the exhibit is worth visiting even if you don't go inside). The full-scale Coal Mine, which dates back to 1934, incorporates modern mining techniques into the exhibit -- but the best part is the simulated trip down into a dark, mysterious mine. Get to these exhibits quickly after the museum opens because they attract amusement-park-length lines during the day.

Kids who love planes, trains, and automobiles shouldn't miss All Aboard the Silver Streak, a refurbished Burlington Pioneer Zephyr train with onboard interactive exhibits; the massive model-train exhibit that makes up The Great Train Story; or Take Flight, an aviation exhibit featuring a full-size 727 airplane that revs up its engines and replays the voice recordings from a San Francisco-Chicago flight periodically throughout the day. More low-tech -- but fun for kids -- are The Farm (where children can sit at the wheel of a giant combine) and the Chick Hatchery inside the exhibit Genetics: Decoding Life, where you can watch as tiny newborn chicks poke their way out of eggs. ToyMaker 3000 immerses minicapitalists in the goings-on of a virtual company and includes an entire automated toy-making assembly line. If you have really little ones (under age 5), head for the Idea Factory, which is filled with hands-on play equipment (admission is limited to a set number of kids, so pick up a free timed ticket in advance).

I hate to indulge in gender stereotypes, but girls (myself included) love Colleen Moore's Fairy Castle, a lavishly decorated miniature palace filled with priceless treasures (yes, those are real diamonds and pearls in the chandeliers). The castle is hidden on the lower level. Also tucked away in an inconspicuous spot -- along the Blue stairwell between the Main Floor and the Balcony -- are the Human Body Slices, actual slivers of human cadavers that are guaranteed to impress teenagers in search of something truly gross.

A major addition to the museum is the Henry Crown Space Center, which documents the story of space exploration in copious detail, highlighted by a simulated space-shuttle experience through sight and sound at the center's five-story OMNIMAX Theater. The theater offers double features on the weekends; call for show times.

When you've worked up an appetite, you can visit the museum's large food court or the old-fashion ice-cream parlor; there's also an excellent gift shop.

Although it's quite a distance from the rest of Chicago's tourist attractions, the museum is easy enough to reach without a car; your best options are the no. 6 Jeffrey Express bus and the Metra Electric train from downtown (the no. 10 bus runs from downtown to the museum's front entrance during the summer).

Our Local Expert Says:

If you are in the mood for a relaxing day, Millennium Park is the perfect place for a afternoon picnic, where you can take in the art and architecture. In the summer catch a performance at Pritzker Pavilion, while enjoying a bottle of wine with friends from the Great Lawn.

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Chicago is full of must-see attractions, but at the top of the Can't Miss list is Millennium Park. It debuted in 2004, several years overdue, but it was worth the wait. It is a true gem, right downtown between Michigan Avenue and the lake. One can easily spend an afternoon just sitting on the benches at the perimeter of the Pritzker Pavilion, stare at their warped reflection in Cloud Gate ("The Bean" to locals), and watch the rotating faces in Crown Fountain spew water every five minutes or so. Immediately to the south of Millennium Park lie the Art Institute and Grant Park, which all together would make for a wonderfully relaxing day. If you only have time for one of the three, though, do not pass go, do not collect $200- without going to Millennium Park.

Our Local Expert Says:

Even if art is not your thing, you must visit the Art Institute for its brand new Modern Wing that overlooks Millennium Park.

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You can't -- and shouldn't -- miss the Art Institute. (You really have no excuse, since it's conveniently located right on Michigan Ave. in the heart of downtown.) No matter what medium or century interests you, the Art Institute has something in its collection to fit the bill. Japanese ukiyo-e prints, ancient Egyptian bronzes, Greek vases, 19th-century British photography, masterpieces by most of the greatest names in 20th-century sculpture, and modern American textiles are just some of the works on display, but for a general overview of the museum's collection, take the free "Highlights of the Art Institute" tour, offered at 2pm on Tuesday, Saturday, and Sunday.

If time is limited, head straight to the museum's renowned anthology of Impressionist art, which includes one of the world's largest collections of Monet paintings; this is one of the most popular areas of the museum, so arriving early pays off. Among the treasures, you'll find Seurat's pointillist masterpiece Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. The galleries of European and American contemporary art include paintings, sculptures, and mixed-media works by Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Salvador Dalí, Willem de Kooning, Jackson Pollock, and Andy Warhol. Visitors are sometimes surprised when they discover many of the icons that hang here (Grant Wood's American Gothic; Edward Hopper's Nighthawks).

Often overlooked but worth seeing are the Arthur Rubloff collection of delicate mid-19th-century glass paperweights, and the great hall of European arms and armor dating from the 15th to the 19th centuries. Composed of more than 1,500 objects, including armor, horse equipment, swords and daggers, polearms, and maces, the collection is one of the most important assemblages of its kind in the country. (If you do head down here, you'll see Marc Chagall's stunning stained-glass windows at the end of the gallery.)

Children younger than 12 get in for free, and the Art Institute goes the extra mile to entertain them. The Kraft Education Center on the lower level features interactive exhibits and has a list of "gallery games" to make visiting the museum more fun. When I was a kid, I was entranced by the Thorne Miniature Rooms, filled with tiny reproductions of furnished interiors from European and American history (heaven for a dollhouse fanatic).

The museum has a cafeteria and an elegant full-service restaurant, a picturesque courtyard cafe (open June-Sept), and a large shop. It offers a busy schedule of lectures, films, and other special presentations, as well as guided tours. The museum also has a research library. Allow 3 hours.

Touring the Art Institute -- If you want to enjoy your favorite masterpieces in something resembling peace and quiet, put some thought into the timing of your visit to the Art Institute, a museum so popular that it draws as much traffic as our jammed expressways.

Some tips for avoiding the rush hour: Many people don't realize the museum is open on Monday; keep this secret to yourself, and visit when the galleries are relatively subdued. Also, many visitors aren't aware that the museum stays open late on Thursdays, so consider stopping by after an early dinner (another bonus: free admission).

Our Local Expert Says:

A perfect choice for those looking for a family fun activity. Most of the day could easily be spent here viewing the animals, having a picnic in the open park areas, then walking to the lake to play on the beach. Plus, admission is FREE!

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As the only zoo in the City of Chicago, the Lincoln Park Zoo is free and open to the public 365 days a year. Founded in 1868, it is also one of the nation's oldest zoos. The Lincoln Park Zoo does an impressive job with its various exhibits, most notably the Regenstein Center for African Apes, where you can look a gorilla in the face (from the other side of the rail or glass, of course). The Lincoln Park Conservatory is directly to the north of the zoo, where you can take in some flora to complement your fauna fix from the zoo. A nice pre or post-zoo meal can be had at R.J. Grunt's, directly across the street. During the Christmas season the zoo lights up with a free light show every evening.

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An architecture river cruise is a perfect activity for sunny spring and summer days, and is fun for the whole family. Tour goers are treated to a 90 minute description and back story of how Chicago literally rebuilt itself after the Great Fire of 1871. Each tour guide will add his or her take on some of the buildings discussed, as well as the heavyweight architects behind them. Remember sunscreen!