eATLAS’ Guide to Family-Friendly Chicago

Big cities can be intimidating for children, but Amy Bizzarri’s Kids Treasure Hunt of the Loop visits 10 places that fill youngsters with delight and wonder, including Millennium and Maggie Daley Parks, Garrett Popcorn, and the Picasso sculpture in Daley Plaza.

By Dave Lifton (@daveeatschicago)

Chicago’s two most-visited destinations are also its most family-friendly. In 2024, Navy Pier added the thrilling Flyover and Illuminarium to its already impressive list of attractions, which includes the Chicago Children’s Museum, Centennial Wheel, and Funhouse Maze. Play a round of mini-golf, hop on a sight-seeing cruise of Lake Michigan or the Chicago River, or check out some of the best souvenir shops in the city.

No trip to Chicago is complete without visiting its centerpiece, Millennium Park. It’s most famous for Cloud Gate (aka “The Bean”), but the park bristles with activity during the summer at the Crown Fountain, an immersive reflecting pool, and free concerts nightly at the Pritzker Pavilion. In the winter, there’s ice skating at McCormick Tribune Plaza. From Millennium Park, take the BP Bridge across Columbus Dr. to Maggie Daley Park, which features a play garden, Chicago-themed mini-golf course, ice- and roller-skating ribbon, and a climbing wall for all levels.

Located only a few miles north of downtown is Lincoln Park Zoo. The 49-acre free zoo is home to almost 200 species from around the world. In addition to the animals, children will love the carousel and train rides. Be sure to also check out the adjacent Nature Boardwalk, which offers some of the best views of the city’s world-famous skyline.

A short walk from the zoo is the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. Famous for its butterfly haven where you can interact with 1,000 butterflies, the museum also has exhibits dedicated to birds, endangered species of the wetlands, and how the Chicago area may have looked in the 17^th century.

The Museum Campus consists of three historic buildings located a short walk from each other. Open since 1894, The Field Museum of Natural History is best known for Sue, a 40-foot long, 67-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, and its permanent exhibits are devoted to artifacts from sub-Saharan Africa, China, and ancient Egypt; gems; meteorites; and oceans.

The Shedd Aquarium is the most-visited of the three, averaging 2 million guests annually.  Inside, guest can see and even interact with marine life from all over the world. Explore the vast reaches of space at the Adler Planetarium through its exhibits and the seven sky shows to choose from at its domed theater.

More wonders of the world are on display in Hyde Park at the Griffin Museum of Science & Industry. Venture down into a coal mine, go inside a captured German submarine, see a modern spacecraft or newly hatched baby chicks. The museum also often has temporary exhibits dedicated to the science of pop cultural phenomena, such as Marvel, Pixar, or James Bond.

But not all of the city’s museums are educational. Check out the Museum of Illusions in the Loop, where you can experience more than 60 rooms, installations, and images that have you questioning if what you’re seeing is real. The Museum of Ice Cream on the Magnificent Mile is devoted to everybody’s favorite treat, with 14 colorful interactive exhibits, including a sprinkle pool and an ice cream-themed putt-putt course. Both delight the senses and provide plenty of photo opportunities.

You can see Chicago—all of it—and beyond at two observation decks. Located on the 103^rd floor of the Willis Tower, The Skydeck offers dazzling views from 1,353 feet above the ground. 360 Chicago is on the 94^th floor of the former John Hancock Center, and has stunning views of Lake Michigan. Both skyscrapers challenge daring visitors. The Skydeck has The Ledge, a glass-enclosed box that hangs four feet over the street, and 360 Chicago has TILT, where the windows angle downward as you’re standing behind them.

A large part of a family’s enjoyment of Chicago is knowing where to eat. Our most famous food is deep-dish pizza, and Lou Malnati’s combination of consistency, tradition, and number of locations throughout the city make it a favorite. The dragged-through-the-garden hot dog can be found everywhere, but we love Portillo’s in River North and Luke’s in the Loop for their Chicago-themed décor as well as their food. For sweets, Garrett Popcorn’s has many locations throughout downtown, and it’s known for its classic mix of caramel and cheese flavors. Another iconic Chicago dessert is the Rainbow Cone, which is five flavors of ice cream stacked on top of each other. In addition to a shop on the Magnificent Mile, Rainbow Cone has trucks at Navy Pier, Lincoln Park Zoo, and the Shedd Aquarium.

For all its famous architecture, history, and culture, what truly makes Chicago a world-class city is the number of amenities and attractions it has that the whole family can enjoy.