Hey Chicago moms! Is our week in Chicago too touristy for you? Let us hear from you and we’ll feature your ideas next!
Jeff Pfaller is the rookie dad and blogger behind 365parents.com. He published all 365 posts into this this eBook, 365 First Time Parenting Tips: Infant Edition, for other first-time parents.
Jeff is also a recent transplant to Chicago, one of my favorite (pre-kids) cities of all time. He was kind enough to share his version of “A Week of Windy City Fun” with us — Enjoy!
Looking for stuff to do in the city by the lake, Chicago? There’s something for everybody, no matter who you are or what you like.
Animal Lover Monday
Head up to the North Side (be sure to deck the little guys out in Cubbies> gear) for some wild fun at the Lincoln Park Zoo. The best part? You get to see tons of animals. The second best part? It’s all free!
Beach Bum Tuesday
It got Chicago the World’s Fair way back in 1893. It got us a bid for the Olympics in 2018. The best part about this town is Lake Michigan in the summer. You can walk along the beach and through parks from Bryn Mawr and Sheridan all the way to Navy Pier. Grab a stroller, some sunblock and your best people watching specs.
Shop ’till You Drop Wednesday
Now that you’ve got a healthy tan, it’s time to head indoors for some shopping. Take a stroll up Chicago’s Magnificent Mile. It’s home to the best browsing in the Midwest and your baby will love all the colors, sounds and people of the big city. Plus, it’s not like you need another excuse to go shopping, right? Be sure to stop in Water Tower place for some Wow Bao. It’s like nothing you’ve ever eaten before.
Sail Away Thursday
Need a place that’s perfect, rain or shine? Make a stop at Navy Pier for lots of indoor/outdoor fun. Watch your baby’s smile grow as you ride higher and higher on the Ferris Wheel. Or head inside and stimulate their brain in the Chicago Children’s museum, filled with fun educational activities for everybody. Pick up some grub from any of the Dock Street Vendors. There’s enough variety there for even the pickiest of eaters.
Fireworks Friday
No visit to Chicago would be complete without catching a game, some hot dogs and night-time fireworks on the North Side or the South Side. That’s right, take your little one to their first major league ball game. The choice between the Cubs and the Sox isn’t one to be taken lightly, you could be waiting your whole life for a World Series.
Date Night Saturday
There’s something in this city for everybody. That includes some time alone for mom and dad. Head over to the Edgewater Lounge on 5600 N Ashland Ave. It’s got the finest micro-brews and fried plantains you could ever ask for. Or if you’re in the mood for finer fare, head downtown for dinner and a show, starting at Wildfire Restaurant and ending up stage left at Steppenwolf Theatre.
Fish Face Sunday
Time to wind down the week inside at Shedd Aquarium. Little ones will love the giant fish tank with every kind of fish imaginable, and the older kids will get a kick out of the dolphin show overlooking Lake Michigan. It’s one of the best views in the city.
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Thanks to Jeff for the great suggestions.
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OK, so I’ll preface this by saying I’m a Chicago local, so naturally I’m going to be a little turned off by the super touristy stuff. That said, you can do better than Navy Pier and the Mag Mile. Navy Pier is one big, chaotic food court/shopping mall, and aside from the Children’s Museum (which is moving off Navy Pier at some point), I don’t know any locals who ever go there. The Mag Mile is indeed impressive, but be prepared to see a lot of the same stores you’ve got back home at the suburban mall: Pottery Barn, the Gap, Victoria’s Secret. Exceptions include the chocolate empires of Ghirardelli and Hershey and the American Girl Place.
I think the Shedd Aquarium is a great suggestion. Other kid-friendly museums include the Museum of Science and Industry and the Field Museum. The Museum of Contemporary Art, the Chicago Cultural Center and the Mexican Fine Arts Museum are also worth a look. A little farther afield you’ll find the Garfield Park Conservatory, the Brookfield Zoo, the DuPage Children’s Museum, the Kohl Children’s Museum and the Morton Arboretum (which has a fantastic Children’s Garden).
You absolutely can’t miss Millennium Park, and if at all possible, sign up for an architectural boat cruise. Fun food ideas include Chicago-style pizza (Giordano’s and Lou Malnati’s are favorites), Chicago-style hot dogs (no ketchup!), Garrett’s Popcorn, dim sum in Chinatown, crepes and sandwiches from the Chicago Green Market and upscale Mexican for Mom and Dad (Rick Bayless’ Frontera Grill is top-notch).
I agree with Marketing Mommy. I have been a sitter in Chicago for 10 years and there are all kinds of fun FREE things for kids to do in the city. In the summer Millennium Park is great. There is a giant fountain area where cameras cast you or your kiddies pictures right up on the fountain. And everyone has to check out the bean! There are also free children’s concerts every day at 10am on the Randolph side of the park.
On Tuesdays Shedd Aquarium is free, and it is awsome. For older kids and adults, the Contemperary Art Museum is free every Tuesday as well. These innovative projects will change your mind about the way art in a museum is supposed to look.
On Wednesdays there is a great farmers market right next to the Lincoln Park Zoo. While you’re there take a look around the zoo (free admission). Hang out at the seal’s pool during feeding time, you will see some great moves! The children’s zoo is nice too. The cages are exposed so that little ones can see what is going on without being held by mom or dad.
Thursday is free general admission at the Nature Museum at Fullerton and Cannon Drive in Lincoln Park. The exhibits are very kid friendly and the butterfly house and river works are incredible. Also, do not miss story time next to the pretend Beaver Dam every Thursday at 11.
Nikki in the Garden at the Garfield Park Conservatory is free admission every day and it is worth the short trip! The sculptures and plant life are amazing and the kids can climb on and touch almost all the sculptures!
Bottom line, skip the shopping! The beach is nice but you can enjoy the beach many different places. With a little investigating you can take advantage of all Chicago has to offer for an awsome price, free!
Just outside Chicago things: Kohl Children’s Museum is wonderful - especially if you have a baby and an older child. Each big exhibit has a baby section so both kids can have fun at the same time. They also have nursing spots if you want a little privacy, but still can be near the exhibit.
The Chicago Botanic Gardens are beautiful and amazing all year round. Also a great spot for a baby/older kid combo. They have both indoor greenhouses as well as outdoor gardens, so you don’t need to wait for beautiful weather.
Old Orchard Shopping Mall (now owned by Westfield?) is an outdoor mall with tons of shops, but they also have a children’s play area and water gardens with a fountain and fish darting around.
Ravinia music festival has a great kids concert series with big name like Ralph’s World and Justin Roberts, but their “grownups” concerts are wonderful, too. You can sit on the lawns, enjoy a picnic, and hear live music as the sun goes down. (Some kids would appreciate the evening shows, some would do better to stick with the kid shows.)
Hooray for the Chicago Suburbs!
I used to live in Chicago…..good eats that you must go out of your way to try is Penny’s in Wrigleyville for a thai dinner, Ann Sather on Belmont Ave. for breakfast and definitely Potbelly’s Subs for lunch…locations around the city. There’s also a great Crate and Barrel outlet store on Halsted. For an adult-only evening out, Flannagan’s Wake is a great improv/audience involvement play http://www.flanaganswake.com.
A stroll along the lake is always a treat….and free! Enjoy - I miss it there!