Have family visiting? Need something fun to do with the kids but you’ve run out of ideas? We’ve all been there! Therefore, I compiled a list of some things my kids really enjoy doing in Chicago in the summer. Hope it helps!
1.) Check out the parks (Millenium and Maggie Daley)
Millennium park is a Chicago trademark. The kids will love just running around and seeing their reflection in the giant bean. However, it does only entertain them for so long. That’s why having Maggie Daley park a quick walk away is the perfect second stop on your trip. The park is pretty epic with super long slides, a bouncy bridge, and swings everywhere. Maggie Daley can entertain the kids for hours after your stop at the bean because it is a must see.
Had to check myself out in the bean reflection:) 
Maggie Daley park is a hit for kids of all ages! (image from Chicago Architecture Center)
2. Walk Michigan Ave to Dylan’s Candy Bar
Whenever I can get a nice walk in and the kids outside its a good day. That’s why making your way down Michigan ave to Dylan’s Candy Bar is the best. With the candy in mind the kids will be motivated to actually get there and you get some great views in the process. Once you are in the store you will feel like you were transported into Willy Wonka with the two floors of candy heaven. Grab a bag for the kids and they can fill it up with candy and it will get weighed at the end for a price. Dylan’s Candy Bar is a good place to go any season to get some tasty treats:)
grab a bag and fill it up with the candy dispensers! (image from the magnificentmile.com) 
Cute, colorful, and yummy! (image from magnificentmile.com)
3. Check out the Chicago Children’s Museum
The children’s museum has so many different exhibits that it is bound to be a hit even if you have kids at different ages. My kids really enjoy splashing in the water ways exhibit and digging in the dinosaur expedition in particular. The museum is impressively large and you are bound to find an exhibit that interests your family. It is actually located inside the next location I’m going to talk about, Navy Pier!
Waterways exhibit (image from chicagochildrensmuseum) Dinosaur exhibition exibit (image from chicagochildrensmuseum) Kolver Family Climbing Schooner (image from chicagochildrensmuseum)
4. Navy Pier
Navy Pier is another Chicago landmark that is good for kids and adults! It is always fun to walk down the board walk which is right on the lake. Get dinner, ride the ferris wheel, check out the other kids rides, go on a boat tour, and then finally watch fireworks! If you really want to see fireworks make sure to check the firework schedule online first. Another Navy Pier attraction to check out is The Sea Dog. The Sea Dog is a super fast speed boat at Navy Pier that you can ride through lake Michigan and around the city. It is a huge tourist attraction because it is really fun to ride! PSA you will get wet! Definitely something to check out:)
The navy pier board walk and new ferris wheel as of 2016 (image from nbcchicago.com) 
The sea dog reaches speeds up to 45mph, you will get wet! (image from tripster.com)
5. Magnificent Mile Shopping
The Magnificent Mile is Chicago’s premier commercial district and a great place to go shopping! Stores such as the Disney Store, the LEGO Store, American Girl Place, Garrett’s Popcorn, and Candyality are all great options on the shopping strip. Be prepared to spend the big bucks because your kids will go crazy!
This lego storm trooper is bound to please! (image from themagnificentmile.com) 
The Disney Store is huge and will hopefully live up to your kids imagination! (image from themaginifcentmile.com)
6. Explore the Chicago Botanic Garden
The Chicago Botanic garden is truly a beautiful place to visit with kids! It has 27 gardens, 4 natural areas, and has 6 miles of shoreline. My boys were fascinated by all the flowers and they thought the butterfly sanctuary was really special:) Visiting the botanic gardens is a unique experience everyone will love.
Stunning garden of flowers! (timeout.com)
kids can look for koi fish and other aquatic life at the family cove! (image from chicagobotanic.org)
Magical archway with vines growing on it (image from enjoyillinois.com)
7. Lincoln Park conservatory
The Lincoln park conservatory is a great place to take kids that are ages 5 and under. It has four display houses and a beautiful Victorian glass green house with exotic plants and palm trees inside! It is a nice compromise if you don’t want to be inside or outside the whole day because you can do both. The best part is that it’s just a quick walk to Lincoln park zoo so you can hit both destinations!
The sparkling glass green house (image from lincolnparkconservancy.com) 
The flower room is gorgeous! (image from cpplunkett.photos)
8. Lincoln Park Zoo
The Lincoln Park Zoo is an amazing free zoo where your kids can learn about all different types of animals. Some of my kids favorites were the lions that are at the center of the zoo, the reptile house, and the gorilla exhibit. The zoo is really a special place and I think its important for kids to learn about and see animals up close! I also like that the zoo has a comprehensive animal care program and treats the animals humanely and encourages natural behaviors. It is always important to support good facilities:)
I thought this baby rhino was just the cutest thing ever (image from lpzoo.com) 
The lions always look majestic laying on the rocks at the popular exhibit. Wait until you hear them roar! (image from chicago.thelocaltourist.com)
9. Go on a beach adventure
Oak Street Beach is a super fun place to get in the sun and splash in the water with the kiddos. It is located on North Lake Shore Drive and is a long and skinny beach that merges with a cement boardwalk. The only drawback to Oak Street is that it is almost always very crowded and can get pretty hectic with little ones. Meeting up with friends so you can relax and watch the kids together might be a good idea if you go to Oak Street! Additionally, the Evanston beach near where I live are a lot more calm and not too far of a drive so that is an option as well.
You can see in this pic the beach gets pretty crowded but you still have some space
(image from pinterest)
The skyline is pretty amazing behind oak street beach (image from pinterest)
10. Sea creatures at the Shedd Aquarium
The Shedd is a great place for a rainy day! It is similar to the zoo, but with only sea creatures. Something about the blue glow of the tanks makes the animals swimming inside even more enticing to the kids. The shedd does a good job of making your visit a more interactive experience than the zoo though. If you bring your kids to a dolphin show they will jump right out of the water and do tricks in front of you. They also have times where you can pet sting rays:) This place is a must if you are in Chicago!
Get an up close view of Beluga whales and dolphins! (image from Chicago Tribune) 
Feel like you are underwater when walking through this tank (image from theknockturnal)
Check out other Chicago related activities here and here! And enjoy your day downtown:) XO, Z