By Kent Ninomiya
Chicago is a child-friendly city. Visitors can choose from a long list of things to do with kids when visiting Chicago. Many of these activities are also of interest to adults, so the entire family can enjoy them together. Experiences range from sporting events to theater to museums to cool views of the Windy City. It is tough for kids to get bored when visiting Chicago.
Chicago Children's Museum
The Chicago Children's Museum is located on scenic Navy Pier on Lake Michigan. Kids are encouraged to touch, climb and play with anything they find there. Admission is free on Thursdays from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m., and the first Sunday of the month. There are also several rides on Navy Pier including a Ferris wheel and carousel.
Children's Theater
Chicago has many shows created especially for kids. Try the Chicago Children's Theatre at the Goodman, the Emerald City Theatre on N. Southport Avenue, and Rascal Children's Theater on N. Clark.
Views
Downtown Chicago is crammed with tall buildings. Kids love experiencing the amazing views of the city and Lake Michigan. You can see the highest view in Chicago on the Sears Tower Skydeck on the 110th floor. It is the tallest building in the United States. Many people prefer the view from the Observatory in the John Hancock Building. It is 1,000 feet above street level.
Lincoln Park Zoo
This zoo contains an impressive array of animals from all over the world. The best part about it is that admission is free 365 days a year. When you are done looking at the animals, walk over to Lincoln Park and rent a paddle boat on the lake.
Chicago Museums
Chicago has a wide range of museums that appeal to children with diverse interests. These include the Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, Art Institute of Chicago, Museum of Contemporary Art, Field Museum of Natural History, DuSable Museum of African American History, and Museum of Science and Industry. All these museums have at least one free admission day per week.
Sporting Events
Chicago is a sports town. It has legendary sports venues like Wrigley Field, Soldier Field and the United Center. Attend a game at any of these facilities. They provide intimate settings that get you up close to the action.
Resources
About the Author:
Kent Ninomiya is a veteran journalist with over 23 years experience as a television news anchor, reporter and managing editor. He traveled to more than 100 countries on all seven continents, including Antarctica. Ninomiya holds a Bachelor of Arts in social sciences with emphasis in history, political science and mass communications from the University of California at Berkeley.
