West Town

Best Free Public Pools in Chicago for Families

Submitted by Bonnie Broeren on Thu, 07/11/2019 - 9:33am

Summer takes its sweet time coming to Chicago, but when it finally arrives, you can find Chicagoans swimming, floating, and soaking up the sun at one of Chicago’s fifty (!) free outdoor swimming pools. Many Chicago public pools have separate splash pads, water playgrounds, or kiddie pools with zero entry for the littlest swimmers, and a few even have water slides! Most public pools are also ADA accessible, and offer locker rooms and bathrooms. While most pools do not have concession stands, there is usually an entrepreneurial neighbor with a popsicle cart nearby.

Each pool has its own schedule with dedicated times for adults, families, classes, camps, all-female swim, all-male swim, and more. Be sure to check the schedule (and the pool rules!) before you go. Here are a few of our favorite FREE outdoor pools in Chicago for no-cost summer fun with kids.

16 Cool Water Playgrounds and Splash Parks for Chicago Kids

Submitted by Siobhan Adcock on Thu, 05/30/2019 - 10:43am

When summer comes, smart Chicago parents make sure they've always got a sprinkler "go bag" packed and ready in the trunk, stroller, or tote: towel, sunscreen, water shoes, swim diaper (if you've got a really little mermaid), and spare clothes. Because in a city with this many awesome water playgrounds, splash parks, and spraygrounds, it pays to be prepared.

Our favorite water play zones in Chicago and the suburbs feature interactive sprinklers, sprayers, cannons, and gushers so everybody can get good and soaked—and some spots offer extra-wet bonuses like waterslides and pools. Chicago Park District water playgrounds turn on in June and keep the fun flowing through Labor Day weekend, although most water parks in the suburbs open Memorial Day weekend, and a few water parks remain open on weekends through the end of September.

Read on for 16 great water playgrounds that are as wet as they can get.

Easter Egg Hunts in Chicago and the Suburbs

Submitted by Siobhan Adcock on Wed, 04/10/2019 - 11:34am

Celebrate Easter with kids at one of Chicago’s fun, treat-filled egg hunts. Most are outdoors at neighborhood parks and offer additional spring fun, including crafts, music, and photo ops with the Easter Bunny.

Easter egg hunts tend to be fast-paced and crowded, so arrive early and expect competition for those eggs. If you or your little one are crowd-averse, consider one of the hunts that costs a small fee, since they usually limit the number of participants and tend to be a bit less crowded than the free egg hunts.

While Easter Sunday is April 21 this year, most of the Easter egg hunts in Chicago are scheduled for the weekend before Easter. Our list is organized into hunts alphabetically by 'hood, with hunts in downtown Chicago neighborhoods as well as Easter egg hunts in the Chicago suburbs.

Be sure to click through to our listings for all the info, including prices, addresses, and times. Sign up for our FREE newsletters to get posts like this delivered to your inbox.

15 Best Indoor Birthday Party Spots for Chicago Kids

Submitted by Siobhan Adcock on Tue, 02/26/2019 - 5:02pm

Chicago doesn’t lack for indoor fun zones for kids, and when it comes to indoor birthday party places, there are so many awesome options you’ll never have to celebrate in the same spot twice. From bounce houses to cooking classes to climbing walls and beyond, here are the best ways to celebrate a birthday indoors in Chicago.