Kick up some powder with the kids at Grand Geneva Resort. Photo courtesy of the resort

Outdoor Places To Play for Winter Fun in Chicago

1. Snow Tubing

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.

2. The Cosley Zoo

The Cosley Zoo is a great place for kids to see wild animals. 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. 

3. Go Skiing

You don’t have to venture too far from the city for kids to learn to ski and shred like the pros. Many ski hills offer kids lessons, fun on-site dining, activities such as ice skating, and more. 

4. Go Sledding

As soon as snow hits the ground, it’s time to bundle up and go sledding. Many of the hills on our sledding guide are close to home but make it a little more of an adventure than your neighborhood hill or park. 

5. Ice Skating 

One perk of a long, cold Chicago winter is the chance to glide across the ice at rinks throughout the city. From the city to the suburbs, click here to see our round-up of some of the best kid-friendly places to ice skate in Chicago with kids. 

6. Enjoy Igloos and Outdoor Dining

Want to eat in an igloo or a greenhouse, or maybe even dine carhop style? We know just where to do that on our handy guide to outdoor dining, igloos, and more.

7. Wilder Park Conservatory

Wilder Park Conservatory in Elmhurst is free for families to enjoy a bloom-filled break from winter. Be sure to check out the coi fish pond as well. Nearby Wilder Park is also great for burning some energy outdoors. 

8. Outdoor Hiking

Fend off stir-craziness and winter blues with one of these hikes.

9. Visit the Morton Arboretum

The Morton Arboretum is open to exploring in the winter and offers classes for kids and families. This is a great place to get outside in the winter seeing all the beautiful trees and landscaping in the winter months. 

10. Outdoor Activities at Home

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

11. Take a Trail Walk

Bundle up and take a walk along the Chicago Riverwalk, the Lakefront Trail, or the 606.

12. Visit the Chicago Botanic Garden

Explore the winter beauty at the Chicago Botanic Garden.

13. See the Lincoln Park Zoo

The Lincoln Park Zoo is free to the public and open all winter long. While much of the zoo is outside, there are plenty of indoor habitats and play spaces for kids to explore and warm up. 

14. Northerly Island Park

Just had a big snowfall? Make the most of it and go snowshoeing at Northerly Island Park.

15. At-Home Scavenger Hunt

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

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

Indoor Places To Play This Winter in Chicago

16. Brooklyn Boulders

Climb the walls (literally) at Brooklyn Boulders on the West Side.

17. WNDR Museum

Get tickets to the WNDR Museum for a hands-on immersive experience. 

18. Legoland Discovery Center

Check out the Legoland Discovery Center in Schaumburg. The epic Lego store is a great escape. Kids love looking at the new Lego sets and already built demos, while they file away ideas for their next birthday.

19. Visit an Indoor Water Park

Take a day trip to a nearby indoor water park like Great Wolf Lodge in Gurnee or Timber Ridge in Lake Geneva. Check out our full list of indoor waterparks here. 

20. Indoor Batting Cages

Get your swing ready for summer at an indoor batting cage. We've rounded up some of the best indoor batting cages here.

21. Go to an Indoor Skate Park

Shred at the kid-friendly indoor skateboard park. For places to go, check out our list of the best indoor and outdoor skate parks in Chicago. 

22. Indoor Skydiving

For a taste of what it means to literally fly, kids as young as 4 can try indoor skydiving.

23. Check out a Fod 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.

24. Safari Land

Ride Illinois' largest indoor roller coaster at Safari Land in Villa Park.

25. Visit a Museum

There are so many great museums for kids and adults in Chicagoland. From the Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum of Natural History, there is something for every history, science, and animal lover. 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. 

26. Sloomoo Institute

Enjoy slime without all the mess at home at the Sloomoo Institute. 

27. Lemont Ice and Lights Fest

Celebrate the new year with ice carvings in downtown Lemont. Visit live reindeer at General Fry's Landing, roast marshmallows with Lemont firefighters, enjoy free tractor high rides (weather permitting), and visit The Creamery Truck for free hot chocolates for the first 500 visitors.

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

 
Enjoy "Chicago Mix" popcorn at a family movie night. Photo by Brand X Pictures, courtesy of Canva

At-Home Activities for Winter Fun

28. Family Movie Night

Family movie night is such a fun way to have free family fun at home. Check out our favorite picks for family movie night here.

29. Make a Fun Indoor Activity 

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

30. Make Hot Cocoa Bombs

Whip up a batch of homemade hot cocoa bombs to enjoy when the flakes start to fly. See the full hot cocoa bomb recipe here.

31. Make an Indoor Fort

Build an epic indoor fort and set up shop inside for the day. Check out our favorite indoor fort ideas here.

32. LEGO

Pull out the mismatched Lego pieces and try one of these 100 projects.

33. At-Home Science Experiments

Give your brain a workout with these 64 science experiments that use common, everyday supplies.

34. Make Breakfast with Kids

Discover mug muffins, made in no time without needing the oven, and more in our roundup of easy breakfast ideas you can make at home. 

35. Cook a Kid-Friendly Recipe

Get cooking with our favorite kid-friendly recipes. Cooking is a great way to get the kids active, practice their measurements, and express their creativity.