Here are some great indoor and outdoor activities for Spring Break Ideas For Kids in Chicago. Vacationing in your hometown is the best idea for Spring Break when you only have five days off of school. Here is a 3-Day Itinerary for Spring Break in Chicago.

There are so many fun activities in Chicago for our family. We are going to enjoy a family staycation this Spring Break since we can’t really travel yet safely. We’ve been in lockdown mode for the past year and are ready to get and explore Chicago again. The museums are open again and so are many other activities. We are ready to create some new lasting memories this year.

We know we will be safe exploring Chicago because Chicago museums and Chicago attractions have adopted new health and safety practices, like enhanced cleaning and social distancing measures. We will be hitting local spots, seeing breathtaking views, going on adventures, and seeing all the top attractions as well as eating our way through Chicago that the whole family will enjoy!

Family Staycation in Chicago

DAY 1

360 CHICAGO

We are driving into Chicago from the suburbs on Monday morning with our suitcases packed. Our first destination is one of Chicago’s top attractions! Chicago’s sky-high observation decks at 360 CHICAGO. My kids are going to love the heart-pounding TILT ride. I’m still not sure if I will be brave enough to do it! Be sure to prepurchase your tickets as everything requires a reservation.

The 360 Chicago Observation Deck is located on the 94th floor of the John Hancock Center. Formerly known as the John Hancock Observatory, 360 Chicago offers views of Lake Michigan and Chicago’s bustling cityscape. First, you hop onto an elevator that is America's fastest elevators, which will take you 1,000 feet in 40 seconds going 20 mph! Then you will soar 1,000 feet over Michigan Avenue, 360 CHICAGO is one of the city’s most unique attractions.

360 CHICAGO offers amazing views of Chicago’s skyline and the lakefront. It’s also the only place you can enjoy TILT – Chicago’s highest thrill ride. This one-of-a-kind marvel tilts guests off the side of the building and provides the most thrilling views of Chicago.

Then we are heading to lunch in the area. We will let the kids pick. Normally we would eat at The Signature Room, but it is still closed during our Spring Break due to city restrictions. Most likely it will either be Sushi, Indian or Wildberry for pancakes!

SIGNATURE ROOM ON THE 95TH FLOOR

One of our favorite family restaurants in Chicago is the Signature Room on the 95th Floor - love their brunch so much!!. If you are ever in Chicago for the weekend, head to the 95th for some amazing views of the city. It’s on the 95th floor of the John Hancock building. The best part- head to the Ladies Room to take pictures - no joke!! The bathroom has THE best view!

ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO

Where – 111 South Michigan Ave.
Hours of Operation – Mon.-Wed. 10:30 am-5:pm, Thur. 10:30am-8pm, Fri. 10:30am-5pm, Sat. and Sun. 10am-5pm
Cost – $16 for Chicago residence. Kids under 14 are FREE. Thursday nights are also FREE from 5 pm-8 pm.
Parking – We parked in the underground parking across the street at Millennium Park and were able to walk around the city afterward.

After lunch, we are heading to the Art Institute of Chicago. We haven’t been in ages and both of my girls are quite budding artists and really want to go and check everything out again because they really can’t remember from our last visit. The Art Institute of Chicago has a massive collection of art so there is always something new to see. We will be wandering through the Impressionist rooms before checking out their special exhibit Monet and Chicago.

Classic Chicago Steakhouse

I’m sure we will be ready for dinner and we all love to head to Gibson’s Italia for special occasions! Then off to our hotel for a lovely night in! Gibson’s Italia is one of Chicago’s premier restaurants and is utterly the most delicious food ever! The only reason my son is spending the day with us in the city is to have dinner at Gibson’s! LOL

HOTELS NEAR THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO

Hampton Inn Chicago Downtown/N Loop/Michigan Ave | 68 E Wacker Pl
The Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center | 520 S Michigan Ave
Kimpton Hotel Monaco Chicago | 225 N Wabash Ave
Silversmith Hotel Chicago Downtown | 10 S Wabash Ave
Virgin Hotels Chicago | 203 N Wabash Ave
Staypineapple, An Iconic Hotel, The Loop Chicago | 1 W Washington St

Day 2

WALK MAGNIFICENT MILE

My kids love to order room service when we stay in a hotel, so that will be the first order of the day. Then we are headed out to take a Chicago tour. We really wanted to ride the triple-decker bus, The Big Bus Tour, since it a bit early (and very brisk) for the sightseeing cruises, which is a fantastic way to see the city’s top sights during the summer and fall months - it’s great for all ages too! However, all of these tours (bus and boat) have been suspended until May. But, we will be back this summer! We are just going to take a walking tour up and down The Mag Mile by ourselves! Get some good coffee, get some good donuts and enjoy the fresh air.

The Magnificent Mile (Michigan Avenue) is a free thing to do in Chicago and is one of the best-known areas in the city. Michigan Avenue hosts 13 blocks of shopping and restaurants from the Chicago Rivers to Oak Street. The architecture of the building is gorgeous! People-watching is one of my favorite activities too while walking along the Magnificent Mile.

Magnificent Mile North Michigan Avenue
American Girl Doll Place 835 N Michigan Ave, Water Tower Place
North Michigan Shops 900 N. Michigan Avenue
Water Tower Place 835 N. Michigan Avenue
Shops at North Bridge 520 N. Michigan Avenue

VISIT THE ZOO | LINCOLN PARK ZOO

Next on our continued site seeing for Day 2 of Staycation in Chicago with Kids is a trip to the zoo. We will be heading over to visit the animals at Lincoln Park Zoo. We did need to make a reservation due to current circumstances, but normally the Lincoln Park Zoo is free and open to every visitor. We are excited to see and meet loads of animals from all over the world at the outdoor exhibits.

Here’s a bit of information you probably won’t know, but the Lincoln Park Zoo is the oldest zoo in the United States It is also one of the only FREE ZOOS. They host over 1,000 animals that are amazing to watch. This free zoo has implemented timed reservations for all guests in order to support social distancing. Time slots fill up quickly, so be sure to make your reservation in advance.

Lincoln Park Zoo is open daily and free. 2001 North Clark Street • Chicago

Chicago-Style Pizza

After the zoo, we will be ready for an early dinner and my kiddos have already demanded Chicago Deep Dish Pizza. Gino’s East it is! Here is a bit of a history lesson on Gino’s Pizza restaurants: The original Gino's served deep dish at 162 E. Superior St., a block from the Magnificent Mile, from 1966 until 2000. In 2000, the building was torn down due to structural issues. The restaurant has two locations in the city now and that is where we will have dinner. It may seem cliche, but we really do LOVE Chicago Deep Dish Pizza from Gino’s East!

Gino’s East | 162 E Superior St or 521 South Dearborn

Day 3

Room service again in the morning and heading to some Chicago local sites. My kids have already requested that we not visit any museums this go around. We practically have them all memorized anyway, so it’s okay to skip this visit. Instead, we will play visitors in our city and visit the landmarks.

But, if you would like to squeeze in some museums, head to the museum campus. THree great museums all in one area, The Shedd Aquarium, The Field Museum (a family favorite), and Adler Planetarium. Take your pick from Chicago;’s most beloved and family-oriented and family-friendly museums. All of these Chicago museums are operating with limited capacity, rigorous sanitation, and plenty of social distancing — check museum websites for more details and make your reservations ahead of time.

The Field Museum 1400 S Lake Shore Dr
Adler Planetarium 1300 S Lake Shore Dr
Shedd Aquarium 1200 S. Lake Shore Drive

THE FIELD MUSEUM

The Field Museum is a revered Chicago institution and one of the world’s great museums of natural history. Their immersive exhibits explore everything from ancient cultures to the latest scientific discoveries, drawing from an astounding collection of more than 24 million objects. Explore an ancient Egyptian tomb, meet the planet’s largest creature, get eye-level with insects, discover ancient civilizations, and more.

SHEDD AQUARIUM

The Shedd Aquarium has more than 32,000 32,600 of species of sea life, but one-of-a-kind experiences, such as shark feedings, penguin encounters, beluga whales, dolphins, and more. They host a diverse, global animal collection surrounded by mouth-dropping architecture, and a commitment to 21st-century advances in animal care, environments, and interpretation. there are aquatic presentations like Waters of the World, Caribbean Reef, Amazon Rising, Wild Reef, Abbott Oceanarium, an aquatic show, and Stingray Touch experience, special programs and experiences.

ADLER PLANETARIUM

Walkthrough space and time at the Adler Planetarium. Did you know that Adler Planetarium is the US’s first planetarium!? Alder is a leader in science education. Immersive theater programs, special exhibitions, and events such as lectures and viewing parties allow you to journey through the vast universe – from the depths of powerful black holes to the heights of Voyager 1, the farthest human-made object from Earth

CHICAGO SIGHTS

Millennium Park and Millennium Park’s Crown Fountain
Cloud Gate, aka “The Bean”
Maggie Daley Park 337 E Randolph Dr
Jay Pritzker Pavilion Millennium Park
Lurie Garden Millennium Park

MILLENNIUM PARK

In the heart of Chicago is a beautiful 24-acre park. This popular park has a three-story steel sculpture called Cloud Gate or as most people fondly call it, The Bean. It is a local favorite and a spot we pretty much go to every time we are in the city. This is a huge tourist attraction and everyone who visits from out of town wants me to take them to The Bean for photo ops. Right next to The Bean is the Crown Fountain where my kids love to splash and run around.

Also right in this vicinity is Lurie Gardens, which is beautiful and a great spot for a lovely respite to see year-round flower displays and monthly garden walks. Then walk across the BP Pedestrian Bridge to Maggie Daley Park and let loose. Maggie Daley Park features activities including a climbing wall, tennis courts, interactive kids play areas, picnic groves, splash pads and so much more. If you happen to be in Chicago during the winter months, you can practice your ice skating skills at the ice skating ribbon at Maggie Daley Park. If you are visiting during the summer months, stick around for the Movies in the Parks in the evenings.

And no trip to Chicago would be complete without a visit to our favorite popcorn place!

Chicago Style Popcorn

For Chicago-style popcorn, you’ve got to try Garretts. There are several locations in the city, I stopped and got a bag at their Navy Pier location. There is a variety of flavors to choose from. I went for the Garrett Mix, a yummy combination of Caramel Crisp and Cheese Corn. Two great flavors in one bag.

I hope you can visit Chicago soon, especially if you are looking for Spring Break Ideas For Kids in Chicago. I have provided a 3-Day Itinerary for Chicago, which could easily be stretched out to 5 days. I have given some restaurant suggestions as well as some hotel suggestions. You now have loads of ideas on how to spend your time in Chicago if you visit.

BONUS:

DAY 4

We are heading back out to the suburbs simply because we want to spend a day hiking and exploring Starved Rock. This has been a family tradition since my kids were very tiny and we carried them in backpacks. Day 4 for us will be spent driving to Starved Rock State Park in Utica. This is a free activity and one my family really enjoys and looks forward to as soon as winter breaks.

Starved Rock State Park is a wilderness area on the Illinois River in the U.S. state of Illinois. It’s known for its steep sandstone canyons formed by glacial meltwater. Several, including St. Louis, French, and Wildcat canyons, have waterfalls. A wooded trail leads to Lover’s Leap Overlook, with views of the river and Starved Rock Dam. Park wildlife includes white-tailed deer, bald eagles, and birds.

Starved Rock State Park | 2678 E 875th Rd, Oglesby, IL

Get CityPASS

Are you planning a trip to Chicago soon? Are you local to Chicago and need a Staycation like us? Everyone can experience Chicago’s famous attractions at a 50% savings with the Chicago CityPASS. With the CityPASS, you will be able to take the time needed to enjoy each museum or attraction and have nine consecutive days to use the tickets. If you are not local to Chicago and are planning a small weekend getaway to my city or if you are coming to Chicago for your Spring Break vacation, be sure to look at possibly purchasing a CityPASS.

The CityPASS provides a 50% savings on combined Chicago attractions.