Top 10 Kid Friendly Things To Do and Attractions in North Riverside

"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."

"Play and learning are bridged together at this museum, where kids can: tackle the Cloud Buster, a 30-ton, 37-foot-tall steel dreamscape that celebrates adventure and risk-taking — qualities that are inherent to childhood — excavate dinosaur bones, explore the way water moves through pulleys and pipes, pretend to fight fires, and discover how our skyline full of buildings is created through architecture and engineering."

"Probably the most iconic part of Navy Pier is the Centennial Wheel, a large ferris wheel. It’s open year round, weather permitting. Towards the end of the pier, you can also get a really good view of the city. It also holds several free events from time to time, so make sure to check the calendar before you go."

"Located in Lincoln Park, the Peggy Notebaert Museum is dedicated to expanding knowledge of nature and environmental science. While this might sound advanced for a young child, the museum is actually very toddler-friendly with numerous hands-on exhibits. From an up close visit with critters to an obligatory “burn some energy” play space, the Peggy Notebaert is a gem in the city."

"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."

"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"

"Restaurants Ice cream parlors Bridgeport. The aroma of fresh waffles pervades the air of this Bridgeport parlor, evidence of the signature house-made waffle cones. Dipped in chocolate and adorned with brightly colored candies, these deep cones are indulgent carriers for both types of chocolate ice cream on offer (though our preference is for the darker variety)."

"The Roman Catholic Parish on West Adam Street is one of the few buildings that survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. This church is considered a cornerstone of Irish Culture in Chicago, where God’s grace is demonstrated- amidst the bustle. It is also an important landmark that preserves history."

"Address: 700 W Adams StSaturday Mass Times: 11:00am, 1:00pm, 3:00pm, and 5:00pmA/C: YesCost: $1,500.00Parishioner?. NoTime for photos after: 20 minutesCan you bring your own priest?. Yes, they suggest you reach out to a priest you think of first."

"Shopping Chocolate and candy Hyde Park. This Michigan-based brand might be best known for its decadent slabs of fudge, but you'd be remiss to not check out the tubs of creamy, small-batch ice cream also tucked under its glass display cases. Classic flavors are loaded up with treats like caramel, nuts, chocolate chips and other dreamy confections (yes, including fudge), then piled into house-made waffle cones that you can smell baking from across the block."

"If you can’t stop the kids from jumping on the bed all the time, Altitude Trampoline Park may be the answer. Take them to this 33,000 square feet space of indoor trampolines and other fun attractions, including monkey bars and foam pits. Kids will be able to jump and flip to their heart’s content and you are free to join in on the fun or just relax and watch."

"Visitors to this hidden gem will enjoy oak savanna, a forest, wetland and prairie all in one area. There are three trails from which to choose and explore: main loop, wetland and woodland and while you can take as long as you'd like, it's possible to do them all within an hour if you're in a hurry (although hopefully you're not because you want to stop at the lily pond, gaze at the free roaming deer and catch a turtle or finches as you take in the fresh air and scenery). Early Spring, locals from all over the city come by for the annual Maple Tree Tapping Festival where kids can enjoy free activities and see demonstrations on the Maple syrup process."

"North ParkYou could do worse than strolling through this 46-acre nature preserve with trails that wind through woodland, wetland, prairie, and savannah. You could also do worse than just chilling at the birding area and spotting rare specimens with your well-practiced/made-up bird calls."

"Oz Park is an ode to author L Frank Baum’s most famous book, The Wizard of Oz. Baum was a resident of the surrounding Lincoln Park neighborhood back in the 1890s, before it became the established community it is today. Between 1995 and 2007, the Oz Park Advisory Council commissioned sculptures of the book’s characters including the Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, Scarecrow, and Dorothy and Toto."

"OZ Park is a community garden that celebrates a fun-filled “The Wizard of Oz” theme. The park features “Dorothy’s Playlot”, with play equipment for young children to climb, swing, and run. Families can then leisurely enjoy their afternoon among the beautiful flowers in the “Emerald Garden”."

"I have been going here for as long as I can remember; it may be my original first favorite restaurant in Chicago. Fun fact, I posted that first picture to my feed back when I started my account back in 2014!. Eataly can only be described as an Italian food mecca… With several different restaurants, markets, wine bars, even a nutella bar, this place is a true destination and SO much fun."

"The first-floor market is a bustle of activity, with Italian groceries and housewares, coffee bars, gelato bars, and food counters, while the second floor hosts a number of Italian restaurants and counters for full meals and quick bites. The versatility of offerings to enjoy freshly made Italian cuisine is perfect for either short or long attention spans!"

"Nowhere else can you find the most authentic Italian gelato outside of Italy. Skip the Nutella bar and head straight for Eataly’s gelato this summer."

"Restaurants Italian West Loop. Named for both of his grandmothers and combining elements of Italian and Croatian cooking, Top Chef winner Joe Flamm's Rose Mary brings seasonal dishes to a cozy Fulton Market space lined with hanging plants. Flamm describes the menu as "Adriatic drinking food," packed with heart dishes like Gnocchi with beef cheek pašticada (a wine-soaking process) and pork ribs served with a cabbage and yogurt relish."

"The long-awaited Fulton Market restaurant helmed by Top Chef winner Joe Flamm, combining his passions for Italian and Croatian cooking. Why we love it: Flamm describes the offerings at Rose Mary as "Adriatic drinking food," and we agree with this assessment. Dishes like Gnocchi with beef cheek, pork ribs and tuna crudo pair perfectly with the glasses of organic wine and cocktails that incorporate Eastern European spirits."

"One of Chicago's most antipated restaurnat openings of the year has arrived. Former Spiagga chef, Joe Flamm's Rose Mary has arrived in Fulton Market with loads of early praise. Flamm leans one his experience with Italian classics by offering pasta and risottos menus, but also takes a new venture into Croatian fare."

"If you’ve ever dined at Gilt or Bavette’s, you would know how the chefs treat food. The same duo runs Ciccio Mio. They value and serve pasta with great honor and pride."