Top 10 Kid Friendly Things To Do and Attractions in Lincoln Park

"There is no admission fee to enter the Navy Pier, which offers free fireworks shows throughout the year and hosts a lineup of free entertainment and music each season. Head to the Navy Pier to see local arts and crafts vendors presenting their wares and to enjoy the scenic views of Lake Michigan."

"The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum opened in 1999 in Lincoln Park with a clear mission: to educate the public, especially urban dwellers, on the importance of maintaining the quality of nature that surrounds us and steps to take that can help the environment. Your little ones will learn a little bit about nature and the environment that surrounds them, with a look at Chicago's waterways, an animal habitat play area, a year-round butterfly garden and more. The museum also hosts traveling exhibits that change every few months."

"Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is one of the top things to do in Chicago with kids. Located in Lincoln Park museum, this is a great museum that creates hands-on experiences for the kids to enjoy themselves as well as learn something along the way. The museum is an informative curation of Illinois’ natural history and ecology."

"The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is a natural museum based in Chicago, Illinois. It is under the Chicago Academy of Sciences and was opened to the general public in 1999. It is located at the intersection of Fullerton Parkway and Cannon Drive, Lincoln Park."

"This park is a 119-acre, man-made peninsula with excellent spots for fishing and walking paths. This urban nature sanctuary has prairie grasslands, a five-acre pond and walking paths for wildlife watching. Northerly Island is also home to 12th Street Beach and Huntington Bank Pavilion."

"On a Sunday evening of 1871, the Great Chicago Fire swept the downtown. It destroyed the original church building of Wabash and Grand, and later, the renovated church was moved- to the new Michigan Avenue. Located in this Magnificant Mile, the Fourth Presbyterian Church is a mundane settlement of spire."

"Located at the start of the Magnificent Mile, LondonHouse Chicago offers modern chic rooms with full amenities. Some rooms have floor to ceiling windows overlooking the river. Don’t forget to check out the lobby bar or rooftop restaurant with views of the river."

"Sitting on Michigan Avenue and the Chicago River in a historic landmark building, LondonHouse features Chicago’s only tri-level rooftop bar. The hotel is less than 10 minutes’ walk from Millennium ..."

"A little walk-up stand in Little Italy with fantastic Italian ice, which we understand is not ice cream. But this is your summer power move when you need a break from the richness of creamier sweets (or just a palate cleanser between two other ice cream stops). All the flavors are good, but the go-to here is the lemon."

"Walk up and order from a menu filled with fresh Italian ice flavors with pieces of real fruit. This stand is only open from May to September each year so get it while you can."

"While the Chicago Water Tower was really only built to hide a standpipe, its intricate design symbolizes the value of simple things; like water supply. The story behind this structure is the important solution designed by Chesbrough to save the city from the inadequate water supply for the growing population. It is built with a characteristic Gothic Revival style, almost fairytale-like."

"Older school children and some older teens may enjoy the stunning architecture and impressive art collection found here. Located on the Magnificent Mile, Chicago’s one of the most easily recognized landmarks was built from 1867-1869 and survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Exhibits change regularly so check the website to see what’s on display before you visit."

"The Water Tower is Chicago’s oldest known building and is the only structure that survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Built in 1869, it sourced clean water from nearby Lake Michigan to use for fighting fires. But today you can visit it as a cultural venue that showcases art and photography exhibits."

"A Chinatown fixture for over twenty years, Triple Crown is cherished for its commitment to day-long dim sum. That means you can satisfy your cravings for shrimp dumplings, fried sesame balls, and puffy egg custard tarts right at 9:00 am or at 2:00 am, before the restaurant finally closes."

"The city’s premier restaurant for modern Chinese cuisine receives a lot of attention for its colorful xiao long bao but dessert is an equally eye-catching affair. The signature creation, called Lunar Blossom, is a pandan cake topped with almonds and a scoop of gelato. The whole thing is covered with a white chocolate shell, which breaks apart when dark chocolate ganache is poured over it at the table."

"Stop into this River North restaurant for refined and real Chinese cuisine. Imperial specializes in freshly made dim sum, hand-pulled Lamian noodles, and wok-fired entrées. Plus, they offer monthly cooking classes where you can learn how to noodle or make dumplings!"

"The views of the Chicago River from the outdoor decks of both Pizzeria Portofino and its upstairs neighbor (and fellow Lettuce Entertain You hotspot) RPM Seafood allow you to heckle the kayakers below as they drift by, but you won’t even be tempted as you soak up the sun — or admire the night time twinkling of office tower lights in the water. Whether you’re feasting on RPM’s Red Snapper Seviche and Tuna au Poivre or Portofino’s fennel sausage- and rapini-laden Pugliese Pizza and twirling strands of Cacio e Quattro Pepe bucatini on your fork, you’ll be living your best Chicago life. Pizzeria Portofino: Open daily at noon."

"Restaurants River North. It might not be the Cinque Terre, but Pizzeria Portofino's airy patio, decked out with white wicker couches and plenty of sunlight, does its best to bring the Italian coast to the riverfront. Order one of the restaurant's hand-stretched pizzas and an Aperol-spiked cocktail to complete the effect."

"Patrons enjoy lunch at Pizzeria Portofino on the Chicago River on Aug. 13, 2019. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune). The Riverwalk is a fun place for curious Epicureans, but along the way, many riverside restaurants have patios with delicious bites to boot."

"This sophisticated cake shop in Chicago claims to be the only company in the city using organic butter & eggs. Their cakes are guaranteed to taste as good as they look!. Choose from a variety of flavors, buttercream, and fillings including Belgium Chocolate, White Chocolate Italian Buttercream, or Creme Brulee."

"Decisions can be difficult when constructing your perfect ice cream cake. Choose from 10 different ice cream flavors, all made with organic milk and cream, and decide if you prefer crumbled brownies, blondies, or cookies as a base. Rachel Kamins launched Bartleby’s in 2018 after working for Ben & Jerry’s and Zingerman’s Bakehouse and calls herself the “caker, baker, and ice cream maker.” Fittingly, she makes everything, from the ice cream to the crushed cookies and brownies to all her sauces, from scratch."

"Goosefoot puts the pairings for its French-inspired tasting menus in your hands with its BYOB option, but you can visit Goosefoot Food & Wine nextdoor for excellent wine opions. The dining room is open and accepting reservations."