Chicago is family-friendly and encourages indoor and outdoor play for all ages. The city's gorgeous lakefront provides countless opportunities for family fitness. Various parks serve as sanctuaries in which you can practice yoga, explore gardens or ride bikes together. With museums, cultural centers and farmers' markets all at walking distance, you'll have no trouble finding plenty of healthy family activities in Chicago.
Biking
In warm weather, your kids will love to bike the 18-mile paved path along Lake Michigan. Bike Chicago’s lakefront tour is kid-friendly and will give you a chance to see Millennium Park, Navy Pier, the Lincoln Park Zoo, the Notebaert Nature Museum and North Avenue Beach. Alternatively, Bobby’s Bike Hike offers an easier two-hour “Tike Hike” geared toward younger kids. This tour combines learning Chicago history and trivia with stops to pet animals at the zoo and toss coins in a wishing fountain. You can rent bicycles at prominent tourist locations including Millennium Park, Navy Pier and Ohio Street Beach.
Walking
Tour the city on foot and you’ll get plenty of exercise while learning about the history of Chicago. Your whole family will be awed by the city’s architecture and natural surroundings, whether you tour the downtown area or one of the neighborhoods. If you’re visiting for the first time, you can catch the major sights on a tour of the Loop. The Magnificent Mile and Navy Pier tour is also fun for kids. If your family loves art, you might enjoy a walking tour of the River North and Gallery District. Book fans will enjoy touring Printer’s Row, where you can shop at independent bookstores along the way.
Swimming
The city has plenty of beaches where the family can swim safely with lifeguards on duty. Oak Street Beach, near Michigan Avenue’s Magnificent Mile, is convenient if you’re visiting the downtown area. If you’re on the north side of the city, the northern half of Kathy Osterman Beach (formerly Hollywood Beach) is a kid-friendly beach with shallow waters. If your family prefers pools to beaches, try one of Chicago’s indoor or outdoor public pools. Special “Family Swim” times are designated for kids of all ages and their parents. “Parent and Tot” swim times are allotted for children of 18 months to 3 years. The Park District offers a Junior Lifeguard Program for ages 8-15, swim lessons for ages 6-17 and a non-formal swim class called “Parent and Child Learn to Swim” for ages 4-7.
Skating
There are plenty of places to roller and ice skate in Chicago. In nice weather, you can skate outside at Lincoln Park, Grant Park or Millennium Park. If it’s rainy or cold, bring the family to the indoor roller rink at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park and Family Entertainment Center. In winter, Millennium Park’s outdoor ice rink is an excellent choice for a festive atmosphere. Kids also enjoy ice skating outdoors at the Daley Bicentennial Plaza at Grant Park and at the Rink at Wrigley. If you get too cold outside, there's an indoor ice skating rink at McFetridge Sports Center at California Park.
Miniature Golf
Kids love miniature golf, but you’ll enjoy it too. Navy Pier’s 18-hole miniature golf course weaves around the base of the Ferris wheel and takes you on a tour of Chicago themed golf holes. If you would rather golf in nature than at an amusement park, the 18-hole course at Diversey Driving Range and Mini-Golf in Lincoln Park features a natural landscape with islands of shrubbery, boulders and footbridges.
Farmers' Markets
Fun for all ages, Chicago’s farmers' markets are held throughout 20 neighborhoods of the city from May through October. At the Gary Comer Youth Center Harvest Table, in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood, student and guest chefs demonstrate recipes and offer tastings. The farmers' market at the Museum of Contemporary Art is a convenient stop if you’re planning to take the kids to an art exhibit. If you’re downtown, don’t miss the farmers' market at the Daley Center and Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) Plazas.
Classes
Taking a class together is a great way to bond with the kids. The Chicago Park District offers family classes focusing on physical activity for all ages, teaching good nutrition through healthy eating and cooking and promoting an overall healthy lifestyle. These classes vary by park and by season, but range from ballet to table tennis. A few Chicago studios offer family yoga classes with workouts geared toward teaching even the youngest children the benefits of yoga. The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum hosts regular family garden classes and nature walks. The Chicago Botanical Garden has weekend family classes where kids can learn how plants connect to science, art, history and culture.
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