Spring Break is here and sometimes I think the best way to keep busy during break with family is having a staycation! Chicago has so many things to do, especially when the weather gets nice. We put a list together of 20 things to do outside, with families or just exploring the city on a spring, sunny day!

The list has a range of free and paid activities, but aways check their websites or socials to make sure everything is updated.

If you are looking for some things to do with friends for a girl’s weekend, we put together a very detailed 3 day itinerary filled with in the West Loop! Check the West Loop Itinerary here.

20 Things to do over Spring Break:

1. Visit and explore Andersonville. Make sure to stop by the Women and Children’s Bookstore. They have a big kids section!

2. Brewery with a view at Metropolitan Brewery in Rockwell on the River in Avondale. You can sit inside or outside on their patio. Soul & Smoke just opened a new location there too so you can grab food and sit at the brewery. There’s always lots of families, dogs and nice to sit along the river!

3. Explore Henry C. Palmisano Park in Bridgeport. Great skyline views, a track, these climbing rocks and lots of people fish! It used to be an old quarry!

4. Osaka Gardens in Jackson Park. One of our favorite parks! Then you can see the Cherry Blossoms in Jackson Park- usually bloomed by the end of April, but it all depends! Worth checking if you there at the park.

5. Shedd Aquarium or Field Museum in the South Loop (FREE w/ Chicago Public Library Museum Pass).

6. Patio lunch with a view @robertspizzaco in Streeterville. It’s on an inlet along the river! The pizza is really, really good and it’s nice to dine along the river.

7. Maggie Daley Park in Millennium Park. The children’s park was recently remodeled.

8. Chicago Fireboat Cruise– very family friendly boat tour with a full bar and snacks aboard. We have brought our stroller in the past and they have been very accommodating! Might be a little chilly, but spring is a great time to take boat rides to avoid the summer crowds and ticket prices!

9. Spring Flower Show at @gpconservatory in Garfield Park. Free to enter but make reservations! Weekends book up quickly.

Garfield Park Conservatory

10. Chicago History Museum (free for IL residents below 18)- great to do on a rainy, spring day. They have a rather new Chicago Fire exhibit, great for kids under the age of 12. You can see the reel here from the exhibit.

11. Montrose Bird Conservatory at Montrose Beach. On a good day, you can catch a ton of bird species. Also one of my favorite views of the skyline from the Montrose Harbor.

12. Lincoln Park Zoo and then walk around the park. You can also grab Ranalli’s for lunch or treats at Vanille.

13. Drive in Movie at ChitownFutbol in Pilsen

14. Stroll Lincoln Square (Gene’s Sausage has a seasonal rooftop!) in Lincoln Square. Stop by Orso coffee shop and do some local shopping.

15. Walk across the 35th St bridge towards Burnham Park and find La Ronda Parakata in Bronzeville.

16. Green City Market is opening up April 1st! Then head to the zoo after.

17. Have lunch at a family friendly spot on Southport like Crosby’s, Corridor Brewery, or Cafe Tola.

18. Ping Tom Memorial Park in Chinatown and explore the area. The Chicago Public Library there is gorgeous! Then head to dumplings at Qing Xiang Yuan Dumplings- they don’t take reservations and do get really busy!

19. Visit Color Factory! Use code GOODLIFE for 20% tickets. See my reel here.

20. Shop along Michigan Avenue. There is a new Lego store in Water Tower or the American Girl store. Stop in the 900 shops. Then head to Labriola for lunch/dinner and they do have one of THE best happy hour deals in the city. Pizza is really good too!

This is just a tiny fraction of what there is to do when the weather finally breaks! You can always follow me on IG for more. You can find me on instagram at TheChicagoGoodLife! and enjoy your spring break!

Christine