Chicago With Kids: Our Go-To Weekend Spots
A local mom’s honest guide to the places we actually go back to — plus parking hacks, prices, and discounts.
I’ve lived in the Chicago area my entire life. I have four kids who range from “please carry me” to “please don’t talk to me in public.” And we’ve done just about every family activity this city has to offer.
Some of them? Once and done. Others? We keep going back. This is the keep-going-back list.
This isn’t a generic “top 10 things to do in Chicago” from someone who visited once. This is the real rotation — the places that survive the ultimate test: all four of my kids actually had fun and nobody had a meltdown in the parking lot afterward.
I’ve included prices, parking tips, and the money-saving tricks I actually use — because doing Chicago with four kids on a budget is basically its own extreme sport.
💰 Money-saving essentials before you go anywhere:
🎟️ Fever — discounted tickets to tons of Chicago experiences, pop-ups, and events. I use this constantly.
🅿️ SpotHero — compare and reserve parking in advance. Usually way cheaper than paying at the lot. Game changer downtown.
🏷️ Groupon — always check for deals on museums, experiences, and restaurants before you go. I’ve saved hundreds over the years.
🏞️ Maggie Daley Park
If you only go to one place on this list, make it Maggie Daley Park. It’s completely free, it’s massive, and it will exhaust your children in the best possible way.
The play garden is split by age — there’s a section for toddlers, a climbing wall for bigger kids, a suspension bridge that makes every child feel like Indiana Jones, and a slide built into the hillside that my kids have gone down approximately 4,000 times. In the summer, the skating ribbon converts to a mini golf course and rock climbing area. In the winter, the ice ribbon is one of the best skating experiences in the city — it winds through the park like a path with skyline views the whole way.
🦁 Lincoln Park Zoo
A world-class zoo with 200+ species of animals and it’s completely free. Every single day. 365 days a year. If you’re not taking advantage of this, what are you doing?
My kids never get tired of the gorillas at the Regenstein Center for African Apes, the sea lion pool (feeding times are the move), and the Farm-in-the-Zoo where little ones can get up close with goats and cows. The Endangered Species Carousel and the Lionel Train Adventure are paid add-ons but worth it for younger kids.
The zoo grounds are gorgeous — mature trees, lagoons, and the skyline peeking through. It’s honestly one of the most peaceful places in the city, which feels impossible with four kids but somehow works.
🎡 Navy Pier
Navy Pier gets a bad rap from locals as being “too touristy” but honestly? With kids, it delivers every single time. There’s enough here to fill an entire day — and the views of the skyline and lake are unbeatable.
Here’s what’s actually worth doing:
🎡 Centennial Wheel
The views are stunning and the enclosed gondolas mean even toddlers can ride. About $18/person for a standard ride.
🏛️ Chicago Children’s Museum
Three floors of hands-on exhibits designed for kids 0-10. The dinosaur exhibit and the water play area are always hits. Admission is around $20/person — check Groupon for deals.
✈️ Flyover Chicago
A flight simulation ride that “flies” you over Chicago landmarks — Navy Pier, Wrigley Field, the lakefront. It’s like a 4D movie in a flying theater. About $28/adult, $22/kid. Surprisingly cool even for adults.
🚢 Architecture Boat Tour
Departs right from Navy Pier. One of the best things you can do in Chicago, period. The guides walk you through the history of the skyline from the river. Adults ~$47, kids ~$30 depending on the tour company. Shoreline Sightseeing and Wendella are both great. Book in advance.
🚶♀️ Just Walking Around
Honestly, sometimes the best Navy Pier experience is just walking the pier, grabbing food, watching the street performers, and letting the kids run. Free fireworks on summer Wednesday and Saturday nights — one of Chicago’s best-kept-ish secrets.
🍦 Museum of Ice Cream
Yes, it’s touristy. Yes, it’s on Michigan Ave. And yes, my kids lost their minds in the sprinkle pool and talked about it for three weeks straight.
You walk through 14 interactive rooms, eating unlimited ice cream the entire time — including a Chicago-style ice cream hot dog that’s weirdly delicious — playing mini golf through giant donuts, and riding a little train called the Sprink-L. Plan for about 90 minutes. Is it educational? Not really. Is it a core memory for your kids? Absolutely.
🧪 Sloomoo Institute (The Slime Museum)
If your kids are slime-obsessed (and whose aren’t?), the Sloomoo Institute is the promised land. It’s 20,000 square feet of sensory playground dedicated entirely to slime — and the best part is all the mess stays THERE and not on your kitchen table.
They’ve got 30+ vats of different slime textures to play with, a slime obstacle course (barefoot, obviously), a slingshot station where you fling slime at your siblings (therapeutic for everyone), and at the end you make your own custom slime to take home — choosing from 40+ colors, 60 scents, and 150 charms.
The enhanced experience ($69) includes Sloomoo Falls where you stand under a waterfall of slime, old-school Nickelodeon style. My kids still bring this up at dinner like it was the greatest achievement of their lives.
🥟 Chinatown
Chinatown is one of our favorite family spots and honestly I think it’s wildly underrated as a “kids” destination. The food is incredible and cheap, the shops are a kid wonderland, and there’s a vibe to walking around the neighborhood that just feels like an adventure.
Here’s our go-to route from our last visit:
🎯 Claw It (@it.claw)
A claw machine arcade with every toy and character your kids are obsessed with. My kids would have stayed here all day. Budget a set amount in quarters or you WILL go broke.
🍦 ParTea (@partea2022_)
Ice cream art! They literally sculpt your ice cream into roses and characters. The kids were mesmerized and the flavors are amazing. Perfect Instagram moment too.
🛍️ Shopping on Wentworth
We went hunting for Labubus, Pokemon cards, and ninja weapons (yes, really). The little shops along Wentworth Ave are packed with treasures kids go wild for. Also a great spot to find Chinese candy — the kids loved picking out mystery flavors.
🍨 Legend Tasty House (@legend_tasty_house)
Rolled ice cream made right in front of you. The kids were hypnotized watching them chop and roll it. Delicious and very affordable.
🥘 Where to Eat
MingHin Cuisine — The most popular dim sum spot in Chinatown for good reason. All-day dim sum, kid-friendly, and the egg yolk buns are incredible. Expect a wait on weekends.
Triple Crown — Classic cart-service dim sum right at the Chinatown gate. Over 90 items. The kids love watching the carts roll by and picking what looks good.
Dolo — More modern vibe, smaller menu, everything made fresh to order. Great if you want dim sum without the chaos of a banquet hall.
🚢 Fun Way to Get There: Chicago Water Taxi
I haven’t done this yet but it’s on my list — you can take the Chicago Water Taxi from Michigan Ave or Ogilvie/Union Station directly to Chinatown. It drops you at Ping Tom Memorial Park. One-way tickets are about $6-10, the ride takes 30 minutes, and you get stunning river and skyline views the whole way. Runs daily Memorial Day through September. Kids under 3 ride free. Way more fun than driving or taking the Red Line.
⛏️ Minecraft Immersive Experience
If your kids are Minecraft kids (statistically, they probably are), this immersive experience brings the game to life with walk-through environments, interactive builds, and the kind of sensory experience that makes kids forget their iPads exist for a few hours.
My kids couldn’t stop talking about it. Even I was impressed — and I can barely tell the difference between a Creeper and an Enderman.
🎮 I’ve got a discount code for you:
RACH1010% off tickets — use at checkout!
🎃 Seasonal Pop-Ups
Chicago’s seasonal pop-ups are some of our favorite family outings — and they’re always rotating so there’s always something new to check out.
❄️ Jack Frost (Winter)
This one is SO much fun. Ice skating, light installations, winter games, food vendors, and holiday vibes everywhere. My kids were entertained for hours. It’s become an annual tradition for us.
🎃 Jack’s Pumpkin Pop-Up (Fall)
Pumpkin everything — drinks, food, decorations, photo ops. It’s festive without being cheesy and the kids love it. Multiple locations around the city.
I always check Fever for the latest pop-ups and discounted tickets. They always have seasonal stuff like immersive light shows, themed experiences, and holiday events.
🍝 Family Restaurants Worth the Trip
Finding restaurants where both the kids AND the adults have fun is harder than it should be. These are the ones where everyone leaves happy:
🧀 Eataly Chicago
📍 43 E Ohio St · The move here is the pasta tossed in a giant cheese wheel — it’s made right in front of you and the kids are mesmerized. Beyond that, it’s a massive Italian food hall where you can browse, sample, and eat your way through multiple restaurants, a Nutella bar, fresh pasta counters, and a gelato stand. Something for everyone.
🔥 Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ
📍 210 E Ohio St · Each table has a built-in grill where you cook your own food — the kids think this is the coolest thing ever. Order a bunch of different meats and veggies, grill them together, and at the end you roast your own s’mores. It’s interactive, it’s delicious, and it buys you an hour of kids being entertained by fire (supervised, obviously).
🍕 Lou Malnati’s
I can’t make a Chicago family list without including deep dish. Lou’s is our go-to — the Malnati Chicago Classic (sausage, butter crust) is the right answer. Multiple locations. Kids menu available. Go early or expect a wait.
🥞 Wildberry Pancakes & Café
Brunch with kids? Wildberry handles it. The pancakes are massive, the berry bliss crepes are life-changing, and they’re used to dealing with families. Multiple locations including one right by Millennium Park.
The Save-Worthy Cheat Sheet
💰 Save Money:
🎟️ Fever — discounted tickets to Chicago experiences and pop-ups
🅿️ SpotHero — pre-book parking and save vs. paying at the lot
🏷️ Groupon — check before every outing for deals
⛏️ Minecraft 10% off: Use code RACH10 at checkout
📍 Quick Reference:
🏞️ Maggie Daley Park — Free · All ages · Pack snacks
🦁 Lincoln Park Zoo — Free admission · All ages · Go early
🎡 Navy Pier — Free entry, attractions extra · Check Groupon
🍦 Ice Cream Museum — ~$50/person · Book in advance · Under 2 free
🧪 Sloomoo — ~$39/person · Wear old clothes · Pull hair back
🥟 Chinatown — Budget-friendly · Go early · Bring cash
⛏️ Minecraft — Code RACH10 for 10% off
❄️🎃 Seasonal Pop-Ups — Check Fever for current events
That’s Our Rotation
Chicago is one of the best cities in the world for families — and I’m not just saying that because I’m biased (I am). These are the spots we genuinely go back to, not because someone’s sponsoring this post, but because my kids ask to go.
If you try any of these, tag me on Instagram — I want to see your kids covered in slime, eating ice cream hot dogs, and conquering the climbing wall at Maggie Daley. That’s the good stuff.
And if you want more Chicago recs, family stuff, or AI hacks that have nothing to do with this post but are equally life-changing — come hang out:
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