Chicago with Kids

Chicago offers a variety of exciting and educational activities for children and teens. Navy Pier, with its rides, shops and outdoor shows, is the city's most popular attraction. The Giant Ferris Wheel is the highlight of the visit, offering a spectacular panoramic view of the Chicago skyline.

Ask them to keep a journal.

In restaurants, waiting in line, in the car...whenever things get annoying, pull out the logbook. Ideally, discuss it with your children before you leave and ask them to choose one with you. It will contain all the family's memories of the trip, and the children will take turns filling it out, either individually or in groups. It will contain clippings from tourist brochures, tickets for restaurants or attractions, but most of all, drawings and texts that describe everyone's personal impressions (it would be great if the adults could participate as well, it always motivates them more).

So each day, as soon as there's a bit of a wait, one of the children is asked to record the family's recent activities in the logbook. To help them a little, ask them to answer some key recurring questions: date, time, type of activity, duration, what they thought of it, what other family members thought of it - this will also keep the other children busy - a special anecdote, etc. It's also a good idea to have each child keep "his or her own" North Diary. What wonderful memories to rediscover at home!

Materials Needed 1 (or more) logbook(s) (blank or squared notebook, "mobile" format, not too large), 3-4 pens, 3-4 gray pencils, 1 box of colored pencils, 1 pencil sharpener. 1 eraser, 1 glue stick, 1 pair of scissors (be careful, don't take them in the airplane cabin). Possibly: 1 ruler, 1 roll of tape, ...

Plan Mini Contests

Just "seeing" Willis Tower or Trump Tower can be a bit of a chore... So liven up your visit with mini-contests that sometimes lead to a small reward (or the chance to choose the next attraction, restaurant, coffee shop, etc.). For example:

• Guess the height of the Willis Tower as accurately as possible to choose the next attraction.
• Whoever can name every ingredient in a Chicago-style hot dog (or deep dish pizza) gets dessert.
• Whoever can name the three tallest buildings in the city gets to choose the restaurant for the evening.
• Whoever can name the most buildings on the elevated train gets to choose the next stop.

Navy Pier

Chicago's Navy Pier is a giant open-air carnival with rides, food booths, souvenir shops, cruise ships and spectacular views of Chicago's skyscrapers. It's the city's most popular tourist attraction.

A must-see for children is the Ferris wheel at the end of the pier and all the rides that surround it in a delightful atmosphere escaped from another time. Teens can enjoy shopping and live music. In the summer, don't miss the fireworks at dusk.

Willis Tower (Skydeck)

When you tell your little ones that the Willis Tower has remained the world's tallest skyscraper for over 25 years, they won't believe their eyes! It is still one of the tallest buildings on the North American continent.

Get a good dose of adrenaline at the top of the Willis Tower with its 4 glass cabins that go all the way to the ground, literally suspended in mid-air. Teens love it!

But why not just walk around the base of the tower and unscrew your neck to try and see the top? Have them look for the glass cabins at the top of the skyscraper. And try to guess the height of the tower (1,451 feet, 442 meters) and the number of floors (108 floors): whoever comes closest gets to choose the next attraction!

Cloud Gate, Millennium Park

Art? Why not? Chicago is a pioneer in "public art," and many works by major artists are displayed outdoors, free of charge. In Millennium Park on the lakefront, the Cloud Gate resembles a large polished bean, reflecting the city and visitors around it. You can't resist the temptation to take a photo and enter the secret chamber, an arch formed by the bean, to play with other reflections. Very, very popular with the whole family.

Suggest that your child try a thousand inventive poses, such as "wearing" the bean with perspective effects. Give him the camera and let him photograph the atypical skyline reflected in this amazing contemporary sculpture. Finally, enjoy a Chicago dog at one of the many stands around Cloud Gate. Can you identify all the ingredients?

Portillo's Hot Dog Chicago

Eating out with the little ones can be a real pain. Except maybe at Portillo's, where the show is around every corner. Behind the counters, employees put on a show by shouting out the order number in a 1930s gangster movie setting. Hot dogs are served, of course, including the Chicago specialty, the Chicago dog: no ketchup or mayonnaise, lots of greens, and a pure beef sausage.

An old car sits among vintage gas pumps, street signs, and old movie posters. A mezzanine overlooks the cavernous room where the food-ordering counters bustle.

John Hancock Observatory

Located at the top of the John Hancock Center, the observatory is said to offer the best panoramic views of the city of Chicago. Can your kids find Willis Tower? Trump Tower? And Navy Pier, dominated by the Ferris wheel? For younger visitors, there is an audio tour that introduces them to Chicago's most famous skyscrapers and the city's history. On a clear day, you can see up to four different states from this point.

Fun Fact: The elevator to the observatory is the fastest in the world!

Chicago Picasso

A work of art that you can climb? Slide on it like a toboggan? Play hide and seek? Picasso's monumental sculpture, which is open to the public free of charge, is happily transformed into a playground, and children love it. Amazing, isn't it?

Family art is an institution in Chicago. It's called "public art," and everyone is invited to make it their own, with these usually monumental, always playful works planted here and there in Chicago's parks, plazas, and streets. Picasso himself was a pioneer of the movement with this large sculpture, nicknamed "The Picasso" by Chicagoans for lack of a name.

Chicago Beaches

Chicago has 33 beaches, most of which are sandy. There's something for everyone. Families will find shallow water for the little ones to splash around in, picnic areas, playgrounds... The most popular beaches are in Lincoln Park.

Enchant your children with the story of the "singing sand" that crunches underfoot (thanks to its high quartz content, but don't tell them: it's magic!).

Crown Fountain, Millennium park

The Crown Fountain in Millennium Park is not like any other fountain. It's actually LED projections of giant faces of Chicagoans with a trickle of water coming out of their mouths. Kids have fun dodging the water jets and splashing around in a wide, barely submerged pool that literally makes you feel like you are walking on water.

Playing is allowed and highly recommended - and not just for the little ones! Ideal for cooling off on a hot summer's day.

Grant Park

Located on the shores of Lake Michigan and just steps from downtown, Grant Park offers a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of the city. There are playgrounds for the little ones and ice cream, hot dogs and sodas for the grown-ups.

The Buckingham Fountain, overlooking the lake, is simply monumental, inspired by Versailles: it's even said to be the largest in the world! (but be warned: you can't swim in it).

Riverwalk, along the banks of the Chicago River

There's no better way to stretch your legs than on the Chicago Riverwalk, a concrete walkway perfect for strollers. You can also rent rollerblades, bicycles and more.

Skyscrapers frame the water, which is crisscrossed by dozens of bridges. Chicago is said to have every type of bridge in existence: ask the little ones to observe the differences between them and wait for a big ship to approach; most bridges split in two and rise when larger ships pass.

There are several pleasant terraces where you can enjoy a drink or a bite to eat.

Taste of Chicago

Taste of Chicago, Chicago's food festival, is the city's largest event and the largest festival of its kind in the world. Here you can discover the big names in Chicago's restaurant scene - as well as traditional fast food (!) - and sample a variety of local specialties (including Chicago dog and deep dish pizza), some for free.

The whole family can enjoy themselves in a fun fair atmosphere. Held every summer in Grant Park.

Chicago Theatre

On the Magnificent Mile, the temple of shopping, the big sign overlooking the Chicago Theatre has something to say to every generation: it has appeared in a whole series of movies, TV series and photographs. It's a true symbol, an escape from another time, with its neon lights and bulbs forming a magical eaves.

Inside, you'll find family-friendly programming, thanks in particular to the presence of hit musicals.