Above photo taken at the Chicago Botanic Garden
Whether you live in the area or are just visiting, with the amount of things to do in the Windy City, choosing can be overwhelming. Factor in children and it gets even more complicated. As someone who has lived in the city for over 5 years and the surrounding suburbs the rest of my life, here are some of my favorite outdoor activities with kids.
- Lincoln Park Zoo: This zoo is set in the Lincoln Park area of the city with full downtown views. Not only is it picturesque but it is the perfect sized zoo for small children, as you can get through it all in a few hours. Other larger zoos are great for older kids but I always feel I’m missing out because they are so big we can’t see everything without spending a full day there. This zoo is compact in size but still has all the favorite animals of a larger zoo. My favorite are the flamingos!
Things to know: The zoo is free but parking is pricey, I recommend public transportation or if you’re local looking into the membership option, which included a discounted parking rate.
- Chicago Botanic Garden: Going for walks with my girls is one of the things I enjoy most in warmer months. Located approximately 40 minutes north of the city, the garden is the perfect place for long walks. There are many different exhibits at the garden and you could spend hours walking around. I love looking at all of the different types of flowers and the colors are so vivid. We always take our stroller and the girls alternate between walking and riding. Most of the paths are wide enough that I don’t feel bad bringing along our large double stroller. There are bathrooms throughout the property which is also nice in times of emergency! Don’t forget the sunscreen! Much of the garden is uncovered and on summer days the sun rays are strong!
Things to know: The garden is free, but again parking is expensive. Per their website discounts are available for Cook County residents.
- Maggie Daley Park: Located in the heart of downtown, Maggie Daley Park has several large jungle gyms for kids of all ages, a skating ribbon and plenty of opportunity for kids to run around. Exploring downtown is exciting but with kids can be a little nerve racking with how busy the streets are. Taking a break and letting them be able to be “free” in the park is a much need relief!
Things to know: Parking is very limited and costly, I recommend public transportation. If you are traveling via Metra the walk is a bit long, another option would be hopping on the water taxi and getting off at Michigan Ave. For activities like this we usually bring our smaller Kolcraft Umbrella Stroller, it’s much easier to fold and unfold and a lot lighter as well!
These are just some of my favorite spots to visit in or near Chicago. Even if you are only out in the suburbs going into the city can be challenging with small children but really is do-able! Share some of your favorite spots in the comments!
Hope you are enjoying your Sunday!