Best Family Activities in Chicago
What are the most family friendly activities in Chicago? Fortunately, there’s no shortage of fun family activities in Chicago, from the rides and restaurants of Navy Pier to the ice skating and rock climbing opportunities at Millennium Park and Maggie Daley Park. Take a moment to learn about our top picks for the best family activities in Chicago. Then, take a moment to learn more about Skydeck Chicago, and contact our team if you’d like to arrange a trip to the top of Willis Tower for the best view in the Midwest!
The Top Family Friendly Activities in Chicago
There are so many family activities in Chicago to choose from, so you’re getting overwhelmed as you explore your options, we understand. To keep things simple, take a moment to explore these classic fun family activities in Chicago, any of which are sure to make your weekend one to remember:
Lincoln Park Zoo
On a budget and looking for one of the best fun family activities in Chicago? Head over to the Lincoln Park Zoo. It’s entirely free! Founded in 1868, it’s the fourth-oldest zoo in the U.S. And though it’s free, it’s frequently ranked as one of the top zoos in the nation!
Maggie Daley Park
Located right next to Millennium Park, you’ll find Maggie Daley Park, which is full of all kinds of family friendly activities in Chicago. Highlights include an outdoor rock climbing gym, a quarter-mile long ice-skating ribbon, and an absolute massive wooden playground for children.
Millennium Park
Next door to Maggie Daley Park, you’ll find Millennium Park. Since it opened in 2004, it’s gone on to become one of the top tourist attractions in the U.S. This is where you’ll find Cloud Gate, otherwise known as “The Bean.” But the thrills don’t stop there. Catch a concert at Jay Pritzker Pavilion, one of the most futuristic and interesting works of architecture in the city. Millennium Park also features its own ice-skating rink, as well as the Crown Fountain, Lurie Garden, the BP Pedestrian Bridge, as well a restaurant and bar!
Shedd Aquarium
This indoor public aquarium is home to 32,000 animals and ranks as the third biggest aquarium in the Western Hemisphere. From a beluga whale exhibit and dolphin shows to an Amazon River wing and Caribbean Reef section, there’s a tremendous variety of things to see, and we’re sure your family will have a wonderful time. Plus, it’s next door to the Adler Planetarium and the Field Museum, both of which just as easily could have made any list of top family activities in Chicago.
Visit Skydeck Chicago – the Top Family Attraction in Chicago!
And then, there’s Skydeck Chicago, which offers you and your family an unbeatable Chicago experience. You’ll make your way to the top of Willis Tower through a state-of-the-art interactive museum that acts as a miniature tour of everything the city has to offer. Once you’re on the highest accessible floor of Willis Tower, dubbed “The Ledge,” you and your family will enjoy a 360-degree view of all of the Chicago metroplex. But the views don’t stop there. You’ll also be able to see all of southern Lake Michigan and visibility into four different states, including Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin!