My favourite thing about Chicago is that the best kid stuff is often free. When the weather plays nice we just head for the lakefront and sort it out from there — very on-brand for how we travel.
Lincoln Park Zoo — actually free
One of the last big free zoos in the country. Lions, gorillas, penguins, and a little children's zoo and farm, all with no ticket. Easy to pop in for an hour or lose a whole morning; either way your wallet survives intact.
Maggie Daley Park
Right next to Millennium Park, this playground is a small work of art — pirate-themed climbing structures, slides, a winding 'enchanted forest' path. In winter the skating ribbon loops through the trees and is worth the cold hands.
Beaches and bikes
In summer, North Avenue Beach is the family pick — soft sand, gentle water, a boat-shaped beach house. Rent bikes or a surrey and roll the flat, car-free Lakefront Trail; the skyline payoff is the kind of thing kids actually remember. As always, if something's changed, tell me in the comments.
