Things to do with kids near Navy Pier
Written October 2026
Start on the pier. It's free to walk, the Chicago Children's Museum is right inside, and on warm days the fountain at the entrance is a splash pad.
When the kids are done with the pier, head west toward Michigan Avenue and the river. Maggie Daley Park, the boats and the deep-dish places are all within about a mile of the entrance.
On the pier
Chicago Children's Museum
Navy Pier
Indoors and right at the front of the pier, so it covers a rainy morning or a hot afternoon. There's a whole room set aside for babies and toddlers, which means the little one gets a turn too.
- Free entry
- No
- Restroom
- Yes
- Changing table
- Yes
- Wheelchair access
- Yes
Navy Pier
Navy Pier
Walking the pier costs nothing. The paid rides are a classic carousel and the 200-foot Ferris wheel, and the fountain by the entrance turns into a splash pad in summer.
Pack a towel and dry clothes from June on.
- Free entry
- Yes
- Restroom
- Yes
- Changing table
- Yes
- Wheelchair access
- Yes
Bar Sol
Navy Pier
Latin-inspired seafood out at the far end of the pier, with a patio on the lake and a kids' menu. They take reservations, worth having on a summer weekend.
- High chairs
- Yes
- Kids' menu
- Yes
- Changing table
- Yes
- Reservations
- Yes
Playgrounds and fountains
Everything from the Children's Museum to the river is close enough to walk with a stroller.
Maggie Daley Park
Loop
Three acres of play: rope nets, a play ship and a splash pad in season, with two climbing walls next door and a skating ribbon that turns into a scooter path in summer. If you only do one playground near the pier, make it this one.
- Restroom
- Yes
- Shade
- Yes
- Water play
- Yes
- Swings
- Yes
- Picnic tables
- Yes
- Accessible play
- Yes
- Wheelchair access
- Yes
- Ages
- All ages
Millennium Park
Loop
The Bean, and right beside it the Crown Fountain, two towers that spray water onto a shallow plaza made for wading.
- Free entry
- Yes
- Restroom
- Yes
- Wheelchair access
- Yes
McCormick Tribune Ice Rink
Loop
The winter version of the fountain: a free outdoor rink at Millennium Park, with skate rentals and free lessons.
- Free entry
- Yes
Park No. 546
Streeterville
A small park with a playground and a splash pad, for a quick play on the walk between the pier and Maggie Daley.
- Water play
- Yes
Lake Shore Park
Streeterville
A playground with a community garden and tennis courts around it, a few blocks north of Grand Avenue.
Seneca Park
Magnificent Mile
A playground by the old Water Tower, handy after American Girl Place or 360 Chicago.
- Swings
- Yes
Michigan Avenue and the river
Chicago Riverwalk
Loop
A paved path along the river, easy with a stroller, with a climbing structure called PlayCubes partway along. Boat tours leave from it, and there are restaurants along the water.
- Free entry
- Yes
- Restroom
- Yes
- Wheelchair access
- Yes
Wendella Tours & Cruises
Michigan Avenue Bridge
An architecture cruise on the river and out onto the lake, run by the same family since 1935. There's stroller storage and a restroom on board, so a toddler can come.
- Free entry
- No
- Restroom
- Yes
- Changing table
- Yes
- Wheelchair access
- Yes
360 CHICAGO
Magnificent Mile
The observation deck on the 94th floor of the old John Hancock Center, step-free from the street, with family restrooms.
- Free entry
- No
- Restroom
- Yes
- Changing table
- Yes
- Wheelchair access
- Yes
American Girl Place
Magnificent Mile
Two floors inside Water Tower Place: dolls, a salon that does the doll's hair, and a cafe where your kid and their doll have lunch at the same table. Walking in is free, and the cafe is by reservation.
- Free entry
- Yes
- Restroom
- Yes
- Wheelchair access
- Yes
Museum of Ice Cream Chicago
Magnificent Mile
Ticketed rooms of ice-cream-themed installations by the Tribune Tower, including one filled with plastic sprinkles. Strollers wait outside that room.
- Free entry
- No
- Wheelchair access
- Yes
Bubbles Academy
Magnificent Mile
Music, movement and art classes for kids up to 6, on the sixth level of the 900 N Michigan shops, with drop-in sessions. Good for a cold morning with a toddler.
- Free entry
- No
Where to eat
Deep-dish takes a while to bake, so order as soon as you sit down.
Pizzeria Uno
River North
The original deep-dish, since 1943. Kids get a lump of dough to play with while the pizza bakes.
- High chairs
- Yes
- Kids' menu
- Yes
- Reservations
- Yes
Lou Malnati's Pizzeria
Magnificent Mile
Deep-dish on Michigan Avenue, and the dessert is a warm chocolate chip cookie pizza with ice cream on top.
Gino's East
Magnificent Mile
The city's other famous deep-dish, a couple of blocks off Michigan Avenue, with high chairs and a kids' menu.
- High chairs
- Yes
- Kids' menu
- Yes
- Reservations
- No
Giordano's
Loop
Stuffed deep-dish a block from Millennium Park, with a kids' menu of pizza, pasta, chicken bites and ice cream. Easy after the Bean.
- Kids' menu
- Yes
Ed Debevic's
Streeterville
A retro diner where the servers sass you and dance on the counters. The tiny hot fudge sundae comes in a glass your kid gets to keep.
Billy Goat Tavern
Magnificent Mile
The original cheezborger counter, below street level near the Wrigley Building. The only way in is a flight of stairs, so fold the stroller.
- High chairs
- Yes
- Kids' menu
- Yes
- Reservations
- Yes
- Wheelchair access
- No
The Capital Grille
Streeterville
A steakhouse for the grown-up dinner of the trip, with a kids' menu and high chairs, and staff who are good with a family celebration. Book ahead.
- High chairs
- Yes
- Kids' menu
- Yes
- Reservations
- Yes
More in Chicago
3 days in Chicago
Things to do in Chicago with kids
The best family hotels in Chicago
Kid-friendly brunch in ChicagoPhoto credits
Chicago Children's Museum: chicagochildrensmuseum.org (Business website) · Navy Pier: Shaylaj (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Bar Sol: barsolnavypier.com (Business website) · Maggie Daley Park: Cole Camplese from Hinsdale, USA (CC BY 2.0) · Millennium Park: Beyond My Ken (CC BY-SA 4.0) · McCormick Tribune Ice Rink: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Chicago Riverwalk: Jules Verne Times Two (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wendella Tours & Cruises: bryan... (CC BY-SA 2.0) · 360 CHICAGO: David Wilson from Oak Park, Illinois, USA (CC BY 2.0) · American Girl Place: americangirl.com (Business website) · Bubbles Academy: bubblesacademy.com (Business website) · Pizzeria Uno: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Gino's East: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Giordano's: Carl Mikoy (CC BY 2.0) · Billy Goat Tavern: Ken Lund (CC BY-SA 2.0)