Millennium Park

Chicago's free outdoor rink at Millennium Park, with free lessons and skate rentals available.

A landmark 1893 athletic-club building across from Millennium Park, now a Hyatt hotel whose old lap pool is a tiled event space rather than a place to swim.

Home of Giordano's stuffed deep-dish pizza a block from Millennium Park, with a kids' menu of pizza, pasta, chicken bites and ice cream.

A three-acre play garden downtown with rope nets, a play ship and a seasonal splash pad, next to two rock-climbing walls and a looping ice-skating ribbon that turns into a scooter path in summer.

A major art museum where kids under 14 get in free, with a family learning center, tiny miniature rooms and stained glass kids recognize.

A Loop hotel inside the Aqua Tower with a seasonal rooftop pool and cabanas plus an indoor lap pool and whirlpool, free cribs and connecting rooms.