Is visiting Chicago with a 3-year-old the right decision? What things to do in Chicago with a 3-year-old? What are the options there to keep my kid engaged and entertained? Will visiting with my toddler prove expensive? What kid-friendly places or attractions are available in Chicago?
Read this Cheapfaremart travel guide to get answers to all those and similar questions.
Chicago is a perfectly kid-friendly city. Learning, entertainment, socializing, being responsible – traveling provides the best experience for anything. So, don’t postpone your travel just because you have a kid. Rather allow your kid to see and observe the world from the very beginning.
Find things to do in Chicago with kids
1. Enjoy free activities at Millennium Park
The Crown Fountain with its light-emitting diodes captures the attention of kids. The fountain composed of a black granite reflecting pool is walled by transparent glass brick towers. The fountain is composed of a black granite reflecting pool placed between a pair of transparent glass brick towers. Millennium Park is famed as one of the largest green roofs in the world, having been constructed on top of a railroad yard and large parking garages.
Ticket: Free
Hours: Sunday to Monday (6 am–11 pm)
Address: 201 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60602, USA
2. Explore Shedd Aquarium
Shedd Aquarium finds its way onto every traveler’s list coming to Chicago with kids. Let your kid develop the spirit of compassion, curiosity, and conservation for the aquatic animal world. Opened on May 30, 1930, the 5,000,000 US gal aquarium was for some time the largest indoor facility in the world. Today it holds some 32,000 animals including sea otters, lake sturgeons, giant river turtles, blacktip reef sharks and much more.
Ticket: Free
Hours: Weekdays: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Weekends: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Address: 1200 South Lake Shore Drive Chicago, Illinois, United States
3. The Art Institute of Chicago
You are the first teacher for your kid. Making your kid familiarize with the culture, history, and evolution of society is your responsibility. Tour the galleries of this Art Institute of Chicago to witness the rich artistic sensibilities of the people of the ancient time as well as the contemporary age. It has exhibits of American Art, Ancient and Byzantine Art, Asian Art, European Decorative Arts, European Painting and Sculpture, and Modern and Contemporary Art.
Ticket
Adult (Age 18-64): USD $35.00
Youth (Age 15-17): USD $29.00
Senior (Age 65+): USD $29.00
Student (with ID): USD $29.00
Hours:Weekdays: 10.30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Address: 111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603, USA
4. Chicago Children Museum (CCM)
CCM is an expert in creating experiences that are developmental “just right” for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Leave your kid in the special infant and crawler play areas if they want to stretch, explore and relax.
Special exhibits for your 3-year-old would be Treehouse Trails and Kids Town. Treehouse Trails is a make-believe forest setting with all sorts of trailing experiences – camping, climbing, burrowing, fishing, canoeing, and more. It helps to unleash the creativity of kids and develop a sense of responsibility. They love building forts. And serving stew in the log cabin. Kids enjoy the tasks of grown-up here – shopping at a grocery store, changing a tire, washing the car, driving a CTA bus.
Ticket
Advance Ticket Adult: $13.95
Advance Ticket Child: $13.95
Advance Ticket-Senior: $12.95
Hours: All Days (10.30 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
Address: 111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603, USA
5. Kids Too Love Beaches
Let your kids have all the fun – soaking sun on a beach chair, swinging in a hammock between trees, making his or her dream home with sands, enjoying caring winds, and watching the sunrise or sunsets. Centennial Beach in Naperville, 31st Street Beach, Gillson Park Beach in Wilmette, Ohio Street Beach and Glencoe Beach are some of the kid-friendly beaches where you may head to. However, don’t ignore the safety instructions.
