Best Outdoor Winter Activities for Kids in Chicago

1. Snow Tubing in DuPage County

Snow tubing is a great way to get the kids' adrenaline going while enjoying winter outside. Check out our guide for the best local snow tubing hills and ski resorts that offer snow tubing as well. If you live in or around DuPage County, check out Blackwell Forest Preserve — it's Mount Hoy offers tubes to rent for just $10 a day.

2. Visit one of the best local zoos

The great thing about Chicago is that it has several different zoos for different lengths of outings, so you can go even if it's cold out! The Cosley Zoo is one of our favorite Animal Encounters and Petting Zoos Near Chicago. Its smaller size makes this great for little ones and cold days. While you can make a day of it, you can also see most of the zoo and play areas within an hour. This is great for getting a little fresh air without an all-day commitment. Lincoln Park Zoo is great because it's in the heart of the city and FREE! With a variety of indoor and outdoor exhibits, you can pop indoors when it gets a little chilly. Or make it an all day affair at Brookfield Zoo Chicago with the new Tropic Forest habitat and Holiday Magic!

3.  Go skiing in the suburbs at Villa Olivia or Four Lakes.

You don’t have to venture too far from the city for kids to learn to ski and shred like the pros. Many of the Best Places to Snowboard and Ski in Chicago offer kids lessons, fun on-site dining, activities such as ice skating, and more. You don't even have to leave the suburbs — Four Lakes in Lisle is great for first timers (but has no chair lifts); Villa Olivia has a good hill for a single-day trip.

4. Sled in Caldwell Woods or Horner Park

You wouldn't think Chicago would have as many good sled hills as it does! Caldwell Woods has a great lighted hill, and Horner Park is good for smaller kids. As soon as snow hits the ground, it’s time to bundle up and go sledding. Find a neighborhood sledding hill nearby in our Best Sledding Hills in Chicago list. 

 
Many of Chicago's outdoor skating rinks are free. Photo by Maureen Wilkey 

5. Go Ice Skating by The Bean, or in your favorite neighborhood.

One perk of a long, cold Chicago winter is the chance to glide across the ice at rinks throughout the city. If you can plan ahead, the Millennium Park rink is especially festive at the holidays, but Chicago Park District has many free skating rinks and ponds. We like Warren Park because of its bonus sled hill. Buy a pair of skates at Play It Again Sports — that may be your only skating expense for the whole winter.

6. See some greenery at a conservatory

Most of the conservatories in Chicago are free! Garfield Park Conservatory is the biggest and can be a half to full-day adventure, but Lincoln Park Conservatory is a lot of fun and a good pairing with a trip to Lincoln Park Zoo or Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. Both have flower shows going on for the winter. If you're in the suburbs and don't want to trek into the city, try Oak Park Conservatory or Wilder Park Conservatory in Elmhurst.

7. Hike at Starved Rock State Park or Northerly Island

Starved Rock has frozen waterfalls — how cool is that? Sometimes there are ice climbers clambering up and down them. And Northerly Island often has fun snowtrekking or birding events for all ages. Fend off stir-craziness and winter blues with one of these Kid-Friendly Winter Hikes. And if you head to Starved Rock, check out our full review for a great list of recommendations.

8. Visit Morton Arboretum

The Morton Arboretum is open for winter exploring and offers classes for kids and families.  Its Illumination display around the holidays invites families to hug trees and explore lights in nature during the cold season.

9. Outdoor Activities at Home

Discover these 35-plus activities that will keep kids entertained all winter long.

 
Chicago Botanic Garden in Winter. Photo by Raed Mansour via Flickr 2.0

10. Visit the Chicago Botanic Garden

Explore the winter beauty at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Its Lightscape event during the holiday season is amazing, and there's all kinds of flora to enjoy throughout the winter

11. At-Home Scavenger Hunt

Set up a scavenger hunt for your kids; it can take place outside, inside, or both.

12. Attend an ice carving event

Lots of business districts host ice carving events and festivals for locals to enjoy. Visit Downers Grove, Elmhurst, or Lemont Ice and Lights Fest on select weekends to see what's coming out of the ice!

RELATED: Skiing, Snowboarding, and Winter Sports Guide for Kids in Chicago

Indoor Places To Play This Winter in Chicago

13. Get your energy out at a Ninja Warrior or Climbing Gyms

Climb the walls (literally) at a Chicago-area ninja warrior or climbing gym. My kids have been to countless winter birthday parties at Ultimate Ninja and come home exhausted every time.

 
Exploring the WNDR Museum in Chicago.

14. Check out the WNDR Museum

Get tickets to the WNDR Museum, one of the best Indoor Places for Tweens and Teens in Chicago. It changes all the time, so if you went last winter, it will be different this winter!

15. Build something at Legoland Discovery Center

The Legoland Discovery Center in Schaumburg is a great place to look at the new Lego sets and demos and file away ideas for the next birthday. There's even rides for little kids, making it feel like a mini theme park day.

16. Swim and slide at Indoor Water Parks

Take a day trip to a nearby indoor water park like Great Wolf Lodge in Gurnee or Timber Ridge in Lake Geneva. This gets you a little warmth and keeps your kids in swimming shape for summer!

17. Take a swing at an Indoor Batting Cage

Get your swing ready for summer at an indoor batting cage. The Bo Jackson Dome in Bensenville has training as well as indvidual bat cage rentals.

 
Escape rooms are a fun indoor activity for the whole family. Photo courtesy of Escape Factor in Forest Park

18. Try to get out of an Escape Room

Especially great for teens and big kids, but also a fun activity for the whole family to complete together. We just barely made it out of the Theater at Escape the Room in Oak Brook! These fun activities are great for math and logic skills, but disguised as a story and a game.

19. Get on a roll at a roller skating rink

Trade blades for wheels when the weather gets too bad for ice skating. My daughter recently learned to rollerblade at Coachlite Skate Center in Roselle and she's hooked!

20. Eat at a Food Hall

Munch your way through the aisles at one of Chicago's great food halls: Revival is a fun place to sample different dishes, while the massive Eataly is HQ for all things Italian.

21. Play at an indoor playground

Chicago's indoor play spaces are great to help smaller kids burn off energy. If your kids are giving carnival energy, take them to Jumps 'n Jiggles in Elk Grove Village to take a ride on the carousel!

22. Visit a Museum recommended in our reviews

There are so many great museums for kids and adults in Chicagoland. We have great reviews for Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum of Natural History that will walk you through all the must-see exhibits. For a museum outing that won't break the bank, be sure to also check out our list of all the free admission days here.  Need a staycation? The Field Museum is offered Dozin' with the Dinos experiences twice a month from January through April.

 
Sloomoo Institute photo by Lauren Laroche

23. Get slimy at Sloomoo Institute

Enjoy slime without all the mess at home at the Sloomoo Institute. Your kids can get elbow deep in slime without worries about it getting stuck in your carpet or to your walls!

RELATED: At-Home Guide: 100s of Activities for Kids and Families

At-Home Activities for Winter Fun

24. Enjoy a family movie night

Family movie night is such a fun way to have free family fun at home. 

25. Snow Day Activities

We have rounded up a few ways to keep them happily entertained when it’s too cold to go outside here.

 
Hot cocoa bombs are a fun winter activity that you can do at home. Photo by Ally Noel

Winter Trips for Chicago Families

26. Visit the Ice Castles in Lake Geneva

This is an amazing walk through Elsa's wonderland, but it books up fast! If you don't get in, try one of these other great day trips.

27. Winter Family Camp at YMCA Camp Nawakwa

This is a new one we're considering this year. Try ice fishing, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and human curling on long weekends throughout winter.

Cool New Experiences for Chicago Kids this Winter

28. Float into the Balloon Museum in Logan Square

The EmotionAir experience is an art museum, but kids (and adults) can touch, play, and jump in the ball pit throughout! 

29. Go back in time at EXP Rosemont

This VR space near O'Hare gives families the chance to go back in time to explore evolution from the time of the dinosaurs onward, or to explore the pyramids of ancient Egypt. 

30. Visit a Holiday Pop-Up

Jack Frost's Pop Up in Fulton Market and Winterland at Gallagher Way both have all kinds of fun ways to entertain families this holiday season.

FAQ About Winter Activities in Chicago

Q: What are the best indoor activities for toddlers in winter?
 A: Look for soft-play areas, storytimes, and small museums that cater to young kids. Sometimes with toddlers and Chicago winters, it's best just to find something to do at home. Getting in and out of coats, boots and car seats isn't always worth the trip, unless you're really going nuts at home!

Q: Where can I find free winter activities in Chicago?
 A: Libraries, parks, and local community centers often host no-cost family events. If it's cold enough, ice skating is usually free once you buy your own skates. Sledding is also a great free option.

Q: What are some winter activities that work for all ages?
 A: Outdoor light shows, train rides, and indoor play zones are always hits. Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, The Field Museum, and Chicago area zoos usually have something for everyone, too!

Q: Is there snow in Chicago during winter?
 A: We're updating this article the weekend after Thanksgiving and there's currently two inches of snow on the ground. It usually snows in Chicago during the winter, but the last two winters have been sparse. Also look out for below-zero windchills for a handful of days in January.