Chicago, Illinois, is bursting with fun activities for the whole family. Whether your family includes young children, teenagers or a wide range of ages, the city has a lot to offer. Although Chicago can get very cold in the winter, the rest of the year presents mild temperatures that provide a great opportunity to go hiking, kayaking or bicycling. On less agreeable weather days, visit one of Chicago's world-class museums.
Zoo
The Lincoln Park Zoo offers beautiful views of the Chicago skyline and a chance for families to learn more about animals and their habitats. The zoo has hundreds of animals, including birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians. Kids can visit the Pritzker Family Children's Zoo, designed to make kids feel "At Home in the Woods." Expect to see turtles, red wolves, beavers, snakes and black bears. For families with infants, check out Mom/Dad and Baby Yoga. Held at the Nature Boardwalk, the class is made up of four sessions that help stretch muscles.
Conservatory
Chicago's Garfield Conservatory is an educational way to spend the afternoon with the family. With six greenhouses and two exhibition halls, families will enjoy touring the greenhouses and learning about nature and the environment. Families can participate in fitness workshops, as well as learn more about composting and green living. At the conservatory's Elizabeth Moore Genius Children's Garden, kids and families can learn about wild animals and about planting a garden. Throughout the year, Garfield Conservatory holds exciting events such as flower shows, a county fair and documentary viewings.
Bike Trails
Chicago is a great city to go on a family bike ride. The Chicago Lakefront Trail, an 18-mile long paved trail, runs north to south. Families can bike any portion of the trail, which begins at 71st Street on the south end and ends at Hollywood Avenue on the north end. Along the trail, take a break from biking to visit attractions such as Buckingham Fountain, Lincoln Park and Navy Pier. Chicago Bike Trails warns that the trail can get crowded, so consider going in the early morning or evening on weekends, or enjoy the trail on a weekday.
Educational Planetarium
For an educational indoor activity, head to one of Chicago's world-class museums. The Adler Planetarium has three theaters and many interesting astronomy exhibitions to interest every member of the family. Kids can learn about the Milky Way Galaxy, telescopes, planets and the moon. Many exhibits are hands-on, including a solar system exhibition where kids can drive a rover to examine the surface of Mars.
Children's Museum
At the Chicago Children's Museum, kids can learn while still having fun. At the Dinosaur Expedition, kids can go on an expedition to the Sahara and dig in an excavation pit. For future entrepreneurs, visit the Inventing Lab. Kids can play with gadgets and even invent their own flying machine. At the Skyline exhibit, families can learn more about engineering, science, art and technology and the role they play in Chicago's skyscrapers.
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