Top 10 Kid Friendly Things To Do and Attractions in 31st Street Harbor

"Navy Pier is one of Chicago’s most popular attractions and is certainly not your average pier. Stretching over 3,000-feet into Lake Michigan, Navy Pier is packed full of entertainment, offering 50-acres of shops, restaurants, parks, and attractions. Enjoy a ride on the Centennial Wheel that stands prominently in the middle of Pier Park, and there’s often live music, art exhibitions, and firework displays throughout the summer."

"Set where the Chicago Portage enters Lake Michigan, the Navy Pier is a multifaceted visitor attraction extending over the water for six city blocks. As one of the top days out in the Midwest, an attraction of this magnitude is hard to sum up in one paragraph. But in 50 acres you’ll come across the vast multisensory Funhouse Maze and the 65-metre Centennial Wheel, footed by fairground rides and amusements."

"Head over to Navy Pier to go up on the Centennial Ferris Wheel!. A fun way to get an amazing view of Chicago and the lakefront. You can get tickets through the Go Chicago Explorer Pass or check with the Loew’s hotel – they sometimes have specials going where you can get tickets with your stay."

"2430 N Cannon DrHours: Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm; Sat-Sun, 10am-5pm (Thursdays are suggested donation days for Illinois residents year-round.)Suggested donation: $9, $7 for students and seniors, $6 for children (3-12), free for children under 3"

"Children under 3, active-duty military, veterans, and Illinois K-12 teachers are always free. Thursdays are suggested donation days for Illinois residents. Meet the fish at the Shedd Aquarium."

"This Irish ice cream shop offers unique flavors such as bright blue Cookie Monster ice cream that’s worth a blue mouth. However, their most stand-out menu item is the Lucky Charms topping. You can top your favorite ice cream cone with pieces of the best childhood cereal."

"Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user TheCulinaryGeek used under CC BY 2.0. Cone Gourmet Ice Cream is a neighborhood ice cream and dessert shop owned by a family in Chicago and reflects a retro vibe. The shop offers an insane list of snacks and sweet snacks."

"Description: Cone Chicago is a family-owned ice cream shop specializing in unique flavors like birthday cake ice cream covered in Lucky Charms."

"Restaurants Ice cream parlors Logan Square. The Freeze is a vintage time warp, and while there aren’t nearly as many locations of the fast food restaurant (formerly known as Tastee Freez) as once dotted Chicago (there were dozens), you can still find one in Logan Square. Waffle and sugar cones are filled with a high peak of soft serve and dipped in throwback flavors like butterscotch, cotton candy and peanut butter."

"Logan SquareSoft serve piled high and burgers served hot top the bill at this retro Logan Square drive-in. Formerly known as Tastee Freez and dating to 1950, The Freeze is a go-to spot that often draws long lines of customers encircling it during the warmer months. If you like your ice cream served velvety smooth and topped with a heaping dose of nostalgia, it’s hard to beat any order here."

"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."

"Athena’s expansive outdoor patio — complete with a fountain and columns meant to evoke ancient Athens — comes with a retractable roof, making it an ideal any-weather restaurant option. Rain or shine, enjoy dolmades, spanakopita, various kebabs, and baklava that are great for (sanitary) sharing at the classic Greektown restaurant. Pair with a bottle from the extensive Greek wine selection, or sip on a seasonal cocktail such as the Greek lemonade, made with ouzo, gin, mint, and lemon."

"Chicago’s Greektown is ideal for transporting you to the sunny Mediterranean — precisely the vibe you want on a springy day. Soak up some rays on the patio while feasting on Greek staples like saganaki, feta-stuffed chicken and braised lamb shank."

"The frozen Greek yogurt at Ema is much healthier than what you’ll find at Pinkberry, topped with a drizzle of savory extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle of sea salt. Chef CJ Jacobson makes his own Greek yogurt culture at Ema, then adds sugar and cream. “Our yogurt only has three ingredients in the mix,” he explains."

"Chef CJ Jacobson showcases a California-inspired take on Mediterranean cuisine at his River North eatery. During lunchtime, Ēma switches to a self-serve experience to accommodate those short on time. The hot and cold bars — priced by the pound — are brimming with greens, grains, meats, and hummus spreads."

"Tacos are popular at any hour but even more so during lunchtime. This fast-casual spot, originally hailing from St. Louis, does things a bit differently by blending Mexican and Korean flavors. The results are tacos, burritos, nachos, and waffle fries sporting sweet-and-savory bulgogi beef, spicy pork, soy-marinated chicken, and tofu."

"Chinatown’s Chiu Quon Bakery & Dim Sum hits the spot with their BBQ pork buns and, more importantly, cakes: cream cake, chocolate cake, tiramisu, chestnut cake and more. That said, their mixed fruit cake is a fan-favorite. This cash-only bakery has a counter and some tables off to the side, but otherwise isn’t adorned or decorated in any specific style."

"The oldest bakery in Chinatown has been at it for more than three decades. Peruse the cases to discover rows and rows of Chinese pastries that include barbecue pork buns, egg custard tarts, and butterfly cookies. The affordable price points — most items are a dollar or less — mean folks are able to fill up a whole box with goodies for just a few bucks."

"With four stars out of 342 reviews on Yelp, the bakery, which offers dim sum and more, has proven to be a local favorite for those looking for a cheap option. Look for pastries and steamed buns on the menu."