Chicago Visitors Guide - 2025

Come face-to-face with lions, tigers, and bears at the always-free Lincoln Park Zoo in the heart of the city. See animals in sprawling landscaped habitats, such as gorilla families at play in a rainforest, at Brookfield Zoo Chicago in west suburban Brookfield.

At Navy Pier, kids can take a spin on the 200-foot-tall Centennial Wheel in Pier Park, catch a live outdoor show at Polk Bros Park, “drive” a CTA bus at the Chicago Children’s Museum, take a virtual flight over Chicago landmarks at Flyover, become immersed in nature at Illuminarium, and watch as summertime fireworks light up the night sky over Lake Michigan.

Customize your own slime from a rainbow of 25 vats and an array of scents at the Sloomoo Institute. Dive into a pool of rainbow sprinkles and eat unlimited frozen treats at the Museum of Ice Cream.

At Color Factory Chicago, kids can slide into a ball pit celebrating the many shades of green and revel in a room filled with Chicago flag-inspired confetti. Stretch your imagination in one of Yayoi Kusama’s famous Infinity Mirror Rooms at the Insta-worthy WNDR Museum. Explore mind-bending vignettes that challenge your perceptions at the Museum of Illusions Chicago.

Burn off energy at Maggie Daley Park. Rollerblade or ice skate along the scenic Skating Ribbon, scale the 40-foot-tall Climbing Wall, challenge the family to a round of City Mini Golf (featuring Chicago-themed landmarks), or swing and slide at the inventive Play Garden.

The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry invites kids to explore hundreds of hands-on exhibits, where they can board a World War II German submarine, stand inside a whipping tornado, and descend into an Illinois coal mine. Pet an armadillo or dance with hundreds of free-flying butterflies at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.

The lakefront Museum Campus is home to three of the city’s leading cultural institutions. At the Field Museum see SUE, the towering T. rex, and descend into a mummy’s tomb. The Shedd Aquarium is an aquatic wonderland that’s home to marine animals that include beluga whales and sharks. The Adler Planetarium whisks visitors through the solar system in two domed sky theatres.

The Bronzeville Children’s Museum brings African American history to life via exhibits designed for children ages 3 through 9. Enjoy quiet time at the American Writers Museum, where the Children’s Literature Gallery is a cozy reading area with popular kids’ books and a sweet squirrel-themed mural.

Scan here for information on sensory-friendly attractions.

6 FREE THINGS TO DO

1 Millennium Park was made with kids in mind. Splash around the Crown Fountain, snap a family selfie in front of the reflective Cloud Gate sculpture (also called “The Bean”), wander the tranquil Lurie Garden, and enjoy live music at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion.

2 At the Pullman National Historical Park, kids can explore a preserved 19th-century factory town and earn their Junior Ranger badge.

3 Rent a bicycle and tackle Big Marsh Bike Park’s six challenging trails and BMX jump.

4 Hike The 606, a 2.7-mile elevated urban trail with scenic lookouts and public art installations.

5 The Lincoln Park Conservatory brims with colorful exotic plants in a Victorian-era greenhouse.

6 In Jackson Park’s Japanese Garden of the Phoenix, watch for the blossoming cherry trees in spring and see Yoko Ono’s Sky Landing sculpture, composed of 12 stainless-steel lotus flower petals.