Things To Do in Chicago with Teens

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If you have teens in your family, you owe it to yourself and them to schedule a trip to Chicago soon.  There are so many fun things to do in Chicago. It’s one of the most popular cities in America to visit, especially for families. There is so much to see and do within Chicago’s city limits that it’s hard to narrow it down, but we created a list of the best things to do in Chicago with teens. It includes some well-known stops as well as some other activities that you may not know about yet. 

Here’s a look at our list of the best things to do in Chicago. 

SHEDD Aquarium

One of the largest indoor Aquariums in the world, SHEDD Aquarium will impress you and your teen. Check out divers in SHEDD’s Caribbean Reef, which offers a 360-degree view of an underwater reef community. They have penguins. They have dolphins. They have a giant octopus. They have the biggest (and creepiest) spider crabs you’ve ever seen. The SHEDD Aquarium will show you things you didn’t even know existed!

Stan’s Donuts

You can’t go wrong with donuts, and Chicago has a rich donut tradition. Stan’s Donuts is one of the best. This historic donut shop started in Los Angeles, California in 1963, and after a partnership with Chicago’s Labriola Baking Company, Stan’s made its way to Chicago in 2014.  Tons of flavors, from the standard glazed to the insane Dreamsicle Bar. With locations all over Chicago, Stan’s Donuts is always close enough to warrant a stop.

Giordano’s

You can’t go to Chicago and not get deep dish Pizza. I’ve heard that Chicagoans don’t actually like deep dish pizza and that it’s only tourists who eat it, but I’m sure that’s not 100% true.  There are plenty of places that stake the claim to the best deep dish pizza in Chicago. I’m sure they are all amazing. Giordano’s made our list over others simply because it’s the only one we have tried during our Chicago adventures so far. However, the spot is well deserved. The pizza is out of this world, the atmosphere is electric, and the cheese pull will blow your mind! Because we plan on traveling to Chicago often, we will get to all the other pizza shops in Chicago soon enough.

Museum of Science & Industry

The Museum of Science & Industry is insane! It’s huge (over 400,000 square feet) and covers anything and everything science-related. It features a U-505 Submarine, a baby chick hatchery, virtual reality exhibits, and a massive model railroad. Make sure to check out “You: The Experience” and “The Science behind Pixar Films” exhibits. The entire museum is a lesson on how to create hands-on experiences that make learning fun. There’s also a five-story dome movie theater at the Museum of Science & Industry. Any trip to Chicago with teens needs to include a stop at the Museum of Science & Industry.

Tilt

Located on the 360 Chicago Observation Deck in the John Hancock Building, Tilt provides a little more thrill than the normal observation deck experience. Basically, you lean up against a glass wall, and then the wall tilts out 30 degrees, giving you one of the best views in Chicago at over 1000 feet high. The most terrifying part is the fact that the operator only tilts you out 10 degrees to start, stops you for a second, and then keeps going. You can feel your whole body tense up as you hit that sudden stop. If you and your teens aren’t up to the challenge, it’s just as fun to watch other people freak out. However you choose to experience the observation deck, the spectacular views of Chicago are well worth the elevator trip up 94 floors. 

Navy Pier

Navy Pier is probably the most popular tourist destination in Chicago. With its location along the Lake Michigan shore, Navy Pier combines amusement rides, a museum, restaurants, shopping, dinner cruises, gardens, and more for one of the most unique spots within the city. Navy Pier is home to Centennial Wheel, a huge ferris wheel standing over 200 feet tall. Centennial Wheel is open all year (weather permitting) and offers unbelievable views of Chicago.

Magnificent Mile

If your teens like to shop, there are few places on the planet they will enjoy more than the Magnificent Mile. The Magnificent Mile is a one-mile stretch of North Michigan Avenue right through the heart of Chicago that is lined with shops, flagship stores, boutiques, malls, and restaurants. Basically, any store a teenager would be interested in is located along the Magnificent Mile. Chicago is the place to be for great shopping, and it all starts on the Magnificent Mile. 

SkyDeck at Willis Tower

Willis Tower, formerly Sears Tower, is a 110-story building right in the heart of Chicago. It was the tallest building in the world until 1998. Now it is 8th highest in the world and the tallest in the Western Hemisphere. The SkyDeck, however, is what sets Willis Tower apart from other tall buildings. The Skydeck is an observation deck located on the 103rd floor of Willis Tower. You can see four states from the SkyDeck. You can also see straight down 1,353 feet, thanks to what they call “The Ledge”. The Ledge is made up of glass boxes that extend out from the SkyDeck over 4 feet. The floor is glass as well, which provides you with one of the scariest moments of your life if you dare look down. They say the glass is 

Cloud Gate at Millennium Park

Its real name is Cloud Gate, but it’s more affectionately known as The Bean. Cloud Gate was created by British artist Anish Kapoor. There’s nothing like it, and you haven’t truly visited Chicago if you haven’t taken a selfie in front of the Bean. The rest of Millennium Park is worth the visit as well, but it’s hard to compete with a 110-ton sculpture that looks like it’s from another world.

Art Institute of Chicago

The Art Institute of Chicago is one of the largest and oldest art museums in the United States. Featuring over 300,000 pieces of artwork, the Art Institute is a massive museum and perfect for any art-loving teenager to visit. It is home to artwork from some of the most famous artists in history, like Van Gogh, Cassatt, Seurat, and Picasso. The Art Institute has been named one of the Top Museums in the World (#4 in 2017) by TripAdvisor for five years in a row. The Art Institute also makes a cameo in one of the most famous scenes in the movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

Portillo’s

Known for their Chicago-style hot dogs and their Italian beef, Portillo’s is a fast-casual-style restaurant with locations all over the city and beyond. What started as a simple hot dog stand in the city has turned into a franchise that was sold for 1 billion dollars in 2014. Chicagoans take their hot dogs and Italian beef very seriously, and while there are many other great places in town, Portillo’s makes our list. Just make sure you don’t put ketchup on your hot dog.

Maggie Daley Park

Millennium Park and Cloud Gate get all the love, but Maggie Daley Park is well worth the short walk on the pedestrian bridge that connects the two parks. Honestly, it wasn’t until my second trip to Millennium Park that I ventured far enough over to spot Maggie Daley Park. I can’t believe I missed it, seeing that it is a 20-acre park filled with climbing walls, mini-golf, playgrounds, tennis courts, huge gardens, and an ice skating ribbon.

Chicago Riverwalk

Running along the south bank of the Chicago River, the Riverwalk is one of the hippest spots in Chicago. The Riverwalk is over a mile long and filled with restaurants, beautiful scenery, artwork, and walkways, and even features a museum. There is plenty of activity along the river, too, with kayaking, fishing, boat tours, bike rentals, and more. Teens will love all the options in this wondering scenic area of the Windy City.

What are your favorite things to do in Chicago? Let us know in the comments below.

Kevin Payne

Kevin Payne is the budgeting and family travel enthusiast behind FamilyMoneyAdventure.com. He’s also the host of the Family Money Adventure Show podcast, where he helps families learn to manage their money better so they can afford to do the things they love. 

Kevin is a freelance writer specializing in personal finance and travel. He is a regular contributor to USA Today, Forbes Advisor, Bankrate, Fox Business, Credible, and CreditCards.com.