Recently we spent a few weeks in the windy city of Chicago. Although we do not travel to big cities that often, Chicago is one of our favorite cities in the U.S.!
It’s been a long time since our last visit to Chicago, but some places still look familiar (in fact, a long time ago, we used to live here). There is something special in this vibrant city life, impressive architecture, and vast Lake Michigan. Did you know that Chicago was named the Best Big City in the U.S. for the 6th straight year by Condé Nast Traveler?
Let’s take a closer look at all the family-friendly activities in Chicago in the summer.
1. Explore Millennium Park
If you’re visiting Chicago, you can’t miss the famous Millennium Park located in the heart of the city. Its centerpiece is the iconic Cloud Gate sculpture, also known as “The Bean.” However, the park has so much more to offer than just this one attraction; you’ll find gardens, art installations, and a perfect space for outdoor activities like picnics, concerts, and festivals. Whether you’re a local looking for a peaceful escape or a tourist searching for one of Chicago’s top destinations, Millennium Park is a must-visit.
Make sure you stop by the Crown Fountain (two 50-foot glass block towers!), a one-of-a-kind addition to Chicago’s public art collection. Created by artist Jaume Plensa, it features video images of Chicago residents projected onto LED screens, with water seeming to spout from their mouths. This area was definitely an oasis to escape from the summer heat.
2. Visit the Field Museum
The Field Museum is an incredible place filled with more than 40 million artifacts with natural wonders and cultural artifacts. You should plan to spend at least a few hours there, exploring dozens of exhibitions – from the peak into ancient Egypt’s history, the Hall of Gems and Hall of Jades to the Griffin Halls of Evolving Planet.
💡 Good to Know
The Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and Adler Planetarium are all located within walking distance of one another in the Chicago Museum Campus.
You could park at Soldier Field North Garage for $25 for up to 4 hours, $30 for up to 12 hours, or at East Museum Lot for $30 for up to 12 hours.
Additionally, to find more affordable parking near Museum Campus, download the SpotHero app and discover available spots near the Field Museum. First-time users can save 5% on their purchases by using the promo code FIELDCHI at checkout.
Our daughter was fascinated by Elizabeth Morse Genius Hall of Dinosaurs! It’s amazing to think that these incredible creatures roamed the earth over 66 million years ago. With more than a dozen biggest animals in our history and the incredible T-Rex Sue, this Hall is not to be missed when visiting Field Museum.
Did you know Sue is one of the most famous dinosaur fossils ever discovered? At over 40 feet long and weighing over 9 tons, Sue is one of the largest and most complete T-Rex skeletons ever found, at around 90% recovered by bulk.
💡 Good to Know
The cost of general admission to the Field Museum for out-of-state adults is $28, out-of-state kids are $21, and kids under 3 can enter the Field Museum for free.
If you plan to visit a few landmarks in Chicago, we highly recommend investing in Chicago CityPASS®. This pass can save you up to 48% on admission tickets to the top 5 attractions in the city, including Field Museum.
3. Take an Architecture Chicago River Tour
Experiencing Chicago’s famous architecture from all three branches of the Chicago River is a unique and unforgettable experience. We decided to take the 75-minute Architecture River Boat Tour offered by Shoreline Sightseeing, a river tour company with over 80 years of experience. With over 40 iconic landmarks to discover, you can explore both hidden gems and well-known sites.
While cruising the river, we witnessed stunning panoramic city views and learned fascinating insights into Chicago’s history, architecture, and engineering.
We definitely recommend taking the pre-sunset tour for a spectacular night city lights view at the end!
💡Good to Know
The Architecture River Tours depart from two convenient locations: Michigan Avenue and Navy Pier. The admission tickets are $46.20 – $49.99 for adults, $26.25 – $28.00 for kids 3-12, and kids two and under can take a tour for free.
If you plan to visit a few landmarks in Chicago, we highly recommend investing in Chicago CityPASS®. This pass can save you up to 48% on admission tickets to the top 5 attractions in the city, including the Architecture River Tour. With the CityPASS®, you can visit these attractions at your own pace, in any order, over nine days.
4. Walk the suspension bridge at Maggie Daley Park
If you are looking for a space for the little ones (or not-so-little ones) to get their energy out in the Downtown Chicago area, check out Maggie Daley Park. This public and free-of-charge 20-acre recreational wonderland has replaced the former Daley Bicentennial Plaza and is connected to Millennium Park through the Pedestrian Bridge.
Featuring a range of exciting activities and attractions, Maggie Daley Park boasts a children’s playground, a climbing wall, mini golf, tennis courts, and picnic areas. It is also a space to host special events and programs in summer and to have an ice skating ring in winter!
5. See the city from the 103rd floor at Willis Tower
Do not miss the opportunity to visit Skydeck at Willis Tower when you are in Chicago! The view from the 103rd floor was absolutely breathtaking; you could see the entire city of Chicago. In fact, Skydeck is the tallest observation deck in the U.S.!
Willis Tower (originally the Sears Tower) is the tallest building in Chicago. Did you know, for 25 years, it was the tallest building in the world?
💡Good to Know
By purchasing the Chicago CityPASS®, you can save almost 50% on admission tickets to the best attractions in Chicago. Additionally, you will receive VIP access (expedited entry) to Skydeck and the Ledge, allowing you to skip the lines.
The highlight of the experience was definitely the Ledge, a glass balcony. Picture yourself standing on the 103rd floor, 1,353 ft. high, inside a glass box extending 4 ft. from the wall. Walking out onto the Ledge and looking straight down was both exhilarating and terrifying.
6. Visit the Museum of Science and Industry
The Museum of Science and Industry is located in Hyde Park and is the largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere and one of the largest in the world.
With a World War II submarine, a coal mine, and a 40-ft. tornado, the museum is packed with fascinating discoveries. It’s hard to believe all of this can fit in one place!
💡 Good to Know
The General Admission is $25.95 per adult and $14.95 per kids 3-12.
Don’t forget to invest in CityPASS® if you are visiting more than a few attractions in 9 days; it could save you 48% off admission to Chicago’s top 5 attractions—including MSI!
7. Go to the Beach at Lake Michigan
There is nothing like a fresh breeze from the gorgeous Lake Michigan on a hot summer day! Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes in North America and is actually the largest by surface lake in the world located entirely in one country!
This lake is an essential part of Chicago’s life and economy. You simply can’t imagine Chicago without its vast, deep, blue lake. Lake Michigan is a freshwater lake created about 15,000 years ago by melting glaciers; hence today, it is the city’s primary source of drinking water.
It is an excellent place to spend some time on the sandy beach, swim in the lake in the summer months or enjoy water activities if you are a water sports enthusiast – go sailing, jet skiing, or take a boat tour.
Some of our favorite beaches are Oak Street Beach, Montrose Beach, and North Avenue Beach.
8. Learn about our solar system at Adler Planetarium
Check out the very first planetarium in the United States and the Western Hemisphere, Adler Planetarium! Opened in 1930, this planetarium is a perfect place to learn about our solar system, Mission Moon, and about astronomy in different cultures.
The kids enjoyed the Sky Shows (we chose the two show ticket with Destination Solar System and The Dark Side of the Moon) in the iconic dome theater.
Overall, we felt this place was younger kids-oriented and spent around 2-3 hours there (you might need less time if you are not watching the shows).
9. Visit Shedd Aquarium
Shedd Aquarium is home to various aquatic animals, including dolphins, sharks, turtles, penguins, and so much more. With exhibits such as Caribbean Reef, Amazon Rising, Abbott Oceanarium, and a seasonal Stingray Touch, this aquarium is favored by families with young kids. The exhibits are well-maintained and provide a fascinating insight into the underwater world.
Did you know that the original architecture of the Shedd Aquarium was recognized as a National Historic Landmark?
💡Good to Know
The cost of admission to Shedd Aquarium is $36-$43 per adult (depending on the day of the week), and 27-$32 for kids 3-12.
If you plan to visit a few landmarks in Chicago, we highly recommend investing in Chicago CityPASS®. This pass can save you up to 48% on admission tickets to the top 5 attractions in the city, including Shedd Aquarium.
10. Try some Chicago-style food
Like any other place, Chicago has its own culinary specialties not to be missed. What do you try when in Chicago is the famous Chicago-style hotdog and Chicago-style deep-dish pizza!
Below is the recipe for the special hotdog, and you know what they say – under no circumstances put ketchup on your hotdog, or you are bound to end up on the wall of shame.
Our favorite places to enjoy the Chicago-style hotdog are Flub a Dub Chub’s and Portillo’s!
Deep-dish pizza is a popular style of pizza that originated in Chicago. It is characterized by its thick crust that is formed in a deep dish or skillet and topped with tomato sauce, cheese, and various toppings. This hearty, filling pizza is perfect for sharing with friends or family. Our favorite place to try it out is Gino’s East!
Bottom line
Chicago offers an abundance of family-friendly activities to delight visitors of all ages. From world-class museums like the Field Museum and Museum of Science and Industry to thrilling skyscraper views at Willis Tower, experiencing Chicago with kids promises adventure and lifelong memories. Don’t miss the chance to explore Millennium Park, Maggie Daley Park, Lake Michigan beaches, and Chicago’s unique culinary scene. With so many diverse attractions, Chicago is truly one of America’s greatest big cities for families to explore.
