Hey Chicago families!
We’re back this week with a guide for parents. If you’ve got kids and you’re trying to figure out what to actually do with them in this city, we put together a list of the best family-friendly spots in Chicago, broken down by what kind of outing you’re looking for.
We’re the Ben Lalez Team. We’ve been helping families buy and sell homes across Chicago for over a decade, and a big part of what we do is understanding what makes different parts of the city work for different people. Families with kids have very specific needs, and we think knowing where to take your children on a Saturday matters just as much as knowing the school ratings.
Every week, we publish an article about something interesting or useful in Chicago, so be sure to check back or subscribe to our newsletter to get them sent right to your inbox.
Now, whether you’ve got toddlers or teenagers, there’s something on this list for you. We’ve included pricing, hours, and practical details so you can actually plan around nap schedules, budgets, and attention spans. Let’s get into it.
Museums And Science Centers
Shedd Aquarium
The Shedd is one of those places that has something for every age group. The aquarium has 32,000 animals, and the exhibits are spread out enough that you can spend anywhere from 2 to 4 hours.
Chicago residents pay $19.95 for general admission. There are also Illinois Resident Free Hours on select dates, which require reservations. If you book online, there’s a small convenience fee per order, but you can call to reserve by phone and avoid it.
Hours vary by day, so check the official calendar before you go. They do security screening at the entrance, and it’s touchless.
The Shedd is on the Museum Campus along with the Field Museum and Adler Planetarium, so you can combine visits if your kids have the energy. But we’d recommend picking one as your main stop rather than trying to do all three in a single day.
Field Museum
The Field Museum has close to 40 million specimens and artifacts. Kids always make a beeline for the dinosaur exhibits, and family-friendly guided tours are available daily at no extra cost.
Ticket prices vary, but guests generally start around $30 and Chicago residents around $21. Illinois residents get free admission on Wednesdays with a reservation. Kids under 3 are always free, and the Museums for All program offers $3 general admission per person with an EBT or WIC card.
Strollers are allowed in most areas, with some restrictions for ticketed exhibitions. They have accessible restrooms, including a family restroom with an adult changing table, and sensory bags are available if your child needs them.
Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry is probably the most hands-on museum in the city for kids. It’s the kind of place where you do the thing rather than just look at it. There are interactive exhibits on genetics, space exploration, weather, and engineering. There’s a coal mine you can go into, a captured German U-boat you can walk through, and a 40-foot tornado exhibit. Kids between 4 and 14 can have a lot of fun there, so we recommend checking it out.
General admission is $25.95 for adults and $14.95 for children 3-11. Chicago residents get $9 off adult tickets and $5 off children’s tickets. The museum also publishes Illinois Free Days throughout the year, including several in February. Note that general admission doesn’t automatically include all special experiences, so check what’s ticketed separately before you go.
The museum says children should be accompanied by an adult (18+) for safety. Also worth knowing: wagons are not allowed as mobility devices in public areas.
Adler Planetarium
The Adler was the first planetarium in the Western Hemisphere when it opened in 1930. The main draw for kids is the dome sky shows, where you sit back and watch the cosmos projected above you. They also have interactive exhibits where kids can try landing the Space Shuttle and touch real meteorites.
Museum entry is $25 for adults and $13 for children 3-11. If you want to add a sky show, the bundle is $32 adult and $20 child. Illinois resident free days are available, and Museums for All offers $1 per guest for museum entry with a $3 add-on for shows.
Hours include daytime access plus Wednesday evenings from 4 to 10 pm with timed entry. They close on certain dates, so check the schedule before heading out. Best for ages 6 and up, though space-loving teens do well here too.
One thing to know: the Adler is on Museum Campus, and parking rates in that area can spike on days with stadium or concert events at Soldier Field. The Adler doesn’t control those rates.
Plan for about 2 to 3.5 hours including one or two sky shows.
Chicago Children’s Museum
This one is built specifically for young kids. The sweet spot is ages 1 through 8. It’s all hands-on, play-based exhibits, and you should plan for high engagement and a fair amount of sensory stimulation.
Illinois residents pay $21 per person, non-Illinois residents pay $25. Kids under 1 are free, and veterans and active military get free admission with valid ID. The museum is closed on Tuesdays, and last admission is 60 minutes before closing.
They have a nursing room with chairs, changing tables, family bathrooms, and strollers are allowed throughout. Wheelchairs are available for checkout in both adult and child sizes. The accessible entrance is at Navy Pier’s Family Pavilion.
Expect to spend about 2 to 4 hours here, sometimes longer if your kids find a favorite zone and camp out in it.
You can find their website here.
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Lincoln Park is one of the better options for younger kids, with the Butterfly Haven being the main attraction. Starting February 2026, the Butterfly Haven becomes a ticketed add-on at $5 for nonmembers on top of regular admission.
Basic admission is $15 for adults ($17 out of state), $8 for children 1-12 ($10 out of state), and free for infants under 12 months. Illinois resident free days are published, though the Butterfly Haven is not included on those days unless purchased separately.
Hours are daily 10 am to 4 pm. They have coat check that supports stroller check, and a limited number of strollers are available for rental. Strollers are not allowed inside the Butterfly Haven, but there’s stroller parking near the entrance.
Plan for about 90 minutes to 2.5 hours.
Zoos
Lincoln Park Zoo
Lincoln Park Zoo is free, which makes it one of the easiest outings to plan. It works well for ages 2 through 12, and it pairs nicely with a walk through Lincoln Park or a stop at the nearby conservatory.
Current hours are 10 am opening, with buildings closing at 4:30 pm and gates closing at 5 pm. There may be early closures for events. Parking is paid, with member benefits available.
The Visitor Center includes first aid, stroller and wheelchair availability, and a quiet room that can be used for breastfeeding, prayer, or just a break. CTA buses 22, 36, 151, and 156 serve the area, and the Armitage and Fullerton train stations are nearby.
Brookfield Zoo
Brookfield Zoo is a bigger commitment than Lincoln Park Zoo. It’s about 30 minutes west of downtown, and the walking footprint is larger, so a stroller is helpful for younger kids. Best for ages 3 to 12.
General admission is $29.95 for adults, $24.95 for seniors, and $20.95 for children 3-11. Under 2 is free. Parking passes are separate ($17 North Gate, $20 South Gate).
The zoo publishes free days for all guests from January 5 through February 28, 2026, except January 19 and February 16. Parking and attraction fees still apply on free days. Museums for All offers up to four free admissions with EBT and ID.
Winter hours are 10 am to 4 pm daily, closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. They rent wagons, strollers (including dolphin strollers), wheelchairs, and ECVs, and they have KultureCity sensory support resources available.
Plan for 3 to 5 hours.
Parks And Outdoor Spots
Maggie Daley Park Play Garden
The Play Garden at Maggie Daley Park is one of the best playgrounds in the city for kids ages 2 to 10. It’s free, and it’s right next to Millennium Park downtown. There are multiple playground zones with climbing structures and imaginative play areas.
Hours vary by season, so check the Play Garden page before heading out. Best reached via downtown transit and walking. Plan for 1 to 2 hours as a standalone stop, or longer if you combine it with the Skating Ribbon.
Maggie Daley Park Skating Ribbon
The Skating Ribbon is a quarter-mile winding ice path rather than a standard rink. It’s open until March 8, 2026, with daily timed sessions.
If you bring your own skates, the first session is free Monday through Thursday, then $5 after that. Skate rentals are $17 online or $19 walk-up on weekdays, and $21 online or $23 walk-up on weekends and holidays. Skate aids are $11 and lockers are $3-$5.
Advanced reservations are required for all sessions. Best for ages 5 and up, though younger kids can use the skate aids.
Theaters
Chicago Children’s Theatre
Chicago Children’s Theatre is in the West Loop with productions designed for kids. Ticket prices vary by show, but they offer “20 for $20” lottery tickets in limited quantities. Lap seats for children under 18 months are available through guest services.
The building has ramp entrance access, elevator access, stroller parking, and family bathrooms with changing tables. Strollers are not permitted inside the Studio Theatre during performances.
Free And Budget-Friendly Options
If you’re looking to keep costs down, here are the best free or low-cost options on this list.
Lincoln Park Zoo is always free. The Thomas Hughes Children’s Library at the Harold Washington Library Center is free and open Monday through Thursday 9 am to 8 pm, Friday and Saturday 9 am to 5 pm, and Sunday 1 to 5 pm. Phone: (312) 747-4200.
Chicago Public Library branches across the city run free family storytimes and early literacy activities. Check your local branch for the schedule.
Maggie Daley Park Play Garden is free. The conservatories are free or low cost for Chicago residents.
Beyond the always-free options, several museums publish Illinois Resident Free Days throughout the year. The Field Museum offers free Wednesdays for Illinois residents. Shedd has select free hours. Adler offers free Wednesday evenings for Illinois residents. Brookfield Zoo has free days from January through February. And MSI publishes Illinois Free Days on their website.
If you qualify for Museums for All (EBT or WIC card), you can access deeply discounted admission at Shedd, Field, Adler, and MSI.
Final Thoughts
Chicago has an unusual number of world-class family attractions packed into a relatively small area, and many of them are either free or deeply discounted for residents.
We’re almost through winter, so don’t stay bundled up at home, even though it’s really been one crazy winter with all the recent storms! The kids will like getting out of the house (and it’s a perfect opportunity to give them something else to focus on besides your nerves).
By the way, if you didn’t see our recent article on Chicago’s ice skating rinks, check it out. We covered every public rink in the city and a few nearby suburban spots. And our guide to the Top Chicago Events for the rest of the winter 2026 has events that you might enjoy as parents.
Until next week, stay warm and if you need to talk real estate, contact us and let’s talk!
