Chicago: The Ultimate Family City Break Chicago is the perfect destination for families seeking a city break
Chicago: The Ultimate Family City Break
Chicago is the perfect destination for families seeking a city break packed with adventure, culture and unforgettable experiences. Whether travelling with young children, teenagers or multiple generations, visitors can enjoy everything from interactive museums and outdoor attractions to iconic landmarks, lakefront activities and spectacular skyline views. Combining world-class entertainment with rich history and hands-on learning, Chicago offers something for every age group. Choose Chicago has rounded up a selection of summer favourites.
F1 Arcade Chicago *Opening this Summer*
The world’s first official Formula 1® experiential hospitality brand will arrive in River North this summer. Featuring 70 full-motion racing simulators, an elevated food and cocktail programme for the whole family, and the brand’s first-ever rooftop terrace concept, F1® Arcade blends social gaming, nightlife energy, and immersive sports entertainment in a one-of-a-kind downtown venue.
HOW: For more information on F1 Arcade, please visit f1arcade.com
Pokemon Fossil Museum at the Field Museum *New This Spring*
The Pokémon Fossil Museum debuted in North America at the Field Museum in Chicago. Running from 22 May 2026 to 11 April 2027, this unique exhibition brings together the worlds of Pokémon and palaeontology, inviting families to compare Fossil Pokémon such as Tyrantrum and Archeops with real prehistoric fossils, including the museum’s world-famous SUE the T. rex. Combining hands-on learning with interactive displays and beloved Pokémon characters, it’s an exciting experience that will inspire curious minds of all ages.
HOW: The Field Museum offers tickets to the Pokémon Fossil Museum priced from £13 per person. For information and to book, please visit www.fieldmuseum.org
Lincoln Park Zoo *free admission*
Set across 35 acres in Lincoln Park, Lincoln Park Zoo is the fourth-oldest zoo in the United States and one of the few that remains completely free to visit. Here, visitors can come face-to-face with gorillas and chimpanzees, hear lions roar, and watch black bears from their den as they explore the grounds. Located just minutes from Downtown, the zoo also offers striking views of Chicago’s skyline rising behind the park, providing visitors with wildlife, green space, and city scenery all in one place.
HOW: Admission to Lincoln Park Zoo is free. For more information on Lincoln Park Zoo, please visit www.lpzoo.org
Flyover Chicago
Experience the city of Chicago from a soaring bird’s-eye view with Flyover Chicago, the city’s latest family-friendly attraction. The signature Flyover experience, Believe Chicago, highlights the vibrant tapestry of the city by combining state-of-the-art technology, a giant 65″ spherical screen, and realistic flight motion for a unique virtual reality experience that soars over the city. Located at Navy Pier, visitors can also see the city from another angle along one of its most famous tourist landmarks.
HOW: Flyover Chicago offers tickets priced from £23 per adult and £15 per child aged under 13. For more information and to book, please visit experienceflyover.com
Chicago’s Beaches 
With miles of stunning Lake Michigan shoreline, Chicago is home to over 20 public beaches, offering families the perfect opportunity to enjoy a beach day in the heart of the city. Hire bikes or hop on a Divvy cycle and cruise the scenic Lakefront Trail, which links many of Chicago’s most popular beaches, parks and attractions, all while taking in spectacular skyline views. After a day by the water, cool off with a stop at the iconic Rainbow Cone, a Chicago institution famous for its five-flavour stacked ice cream treat that’s delighted families for almost a century.
WNDR Museum
Swap the traditional museum experience for one that’s made to be explored at WNDR Museum. Packed with immersive art installations, interactive exhibits and playful experiences, WNDR Museum is a hidden gem in the city. From mind-bending optical illusions to digital displays and the iconic Infinity Mirror Room by renowned artist Yayoi Kusama, it’s a place where creativity comes to life, and every room offers a new photo-worthy surprise.
HOW: WNDR Museum offers tickets priced from £21 per person. For more information and to book, please visit www.wndrmuseum.com
For more information on Chicago, please visit choosechicago.com
Chicago Hotel Deals with Expedia
Taste of Chicago 2026 restaurants
Each year, dozens of local food vendors dish out their best bites for thousands of Taste of Chicago attendees.
The lineup represents classic Chicago dishes — like Chicago-style hot dogs, deep dish pizza, and cheesecake — alongside a true melting pot of international influences tied to the city’s history as a global metropolis.
This year’s list of restaurants includes a mix of longtime participants and newcomers to the festival.
Check out the list of Chicago restaurant vendors at Taste of Chicago 2026:
- AFRICAN FOOD PALACE
- ArePA George
- Badou Senegalese Cuisine
- BILLY GOAT TAVERN
- BJ’s Market & Bakery
- Bust Outs
- Chicago Eats Sweet Honey Tea & Leamonade
- Chicago’s Doghouse
- Churro Factory
- Connie’s Pizza
- Dao Thai Restaurant
- Doom Street Eats
- Esperanza Kitchen Delights
- Franco’s Ristorante
- Frannie’s Cafe
- Gaby’s funnel cakes #1 Inc
- Harold’s Chicken 55
- Joey G’s Mac N Cheese
- Josephine’s Cooking
- Khmai
- LC Pho Restaurant
- Lexington Betty Smoke House
- Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria
- Ponce Restaurant
- Porkchop
- Rainbow Cone
- Rickshaw
- Robinson’s No.1 Ribs
- S2 Express Grill
- Saffron Street Chicago
- Seoul Taco
- Star Of Siam
- Tacotlan
- Tandoor Char House
- The Eli’s Cheesecake Company
- The Sole Ingredient Catering LLC
- Thimi’s Empanadas
- Yum Dum Inc.
The Taste of Chicago vendors also includes more than a dozen local food trucks, a Snack Shack with sweet treats, rotating pop-up vendors, plus a designated beer hall and cocktail lounge featuring a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage offerings. Check out the full food vendor schedule.
Explore more: Mark your calendar for these can’t-miss Chicago food festivals.
Taste of Chicago 2026 concerts
Alongside a mouth-watering selection of local restaurants, the Taste of Chicago also includes a star-studded lineup of national and international artists at free nightly concerts in Grant Park.
Dance the night away at the Main Stage, featuring a slate of award-winning artists. Or check out the Goose Island Stage for a showcase of local and up-and-coming artists.
Check out this year’s free headliners at Taste of Chicago:
- Beach Bunny, indie rock pop favourites
- Common, Chicago hip-hop icon
- Babyface, Legendary R&B singer, songwriter, and producer
- Julieta Venegas, international Mexican Latin pop-rock sensation
- Original Koffee, Grammy-winning Reggae singer-songwriter
Other performers include Friko, Funkadesi, Recoechi + Kaicrewsade, Opal Staples & Isaiah Sharkey and Opal Staples & Isaiah Sharkey. Check out the full concert schedule.
More things to do at Taste of Chicago
Along with dozens of local food vendors, a few popular Taste of Chicago events typically include:
- Chicago SummerDance: Celebrate summer and Chicago’s vibrant dance community with live music and dancing from Chicago SummerDance. Each day will cover a variety of dance styles, including salsa, flamenco, footwork, bachata, Afrobeats, hip hop, line dancing, K-pop, house, and more.
- Family-friendly activities: The festival’s kid-friendly area will feature games and activities for all ages, including interactive art and inflatables.
- Eli’s Cheesecake Birthday Celebration: Eli’s Cheesecake hosts the annual Eli’s Cheesecake Birthday Celebration, carrying on the longstanding tradition of cutting a ceremonial 1,000-pound Eli’s Cheesecake. Attendees will receive a free piece of cake following the ceremony.
About Taste of Chicago
Taste of Chicago has been a foodie staple for more than 40 years. The first Taste of Chicago was held on a single day on the Fourth of July in 1980, taking up three city blocks on North Michigan Avenue. Today, the event has grown into one of the largest free-admission food festivals in the world.
Each year, the Taste of Chicago brings dozens of the city’s best restaurants, chefs, and food trucks to downtown Grant Park. The line-up represents the full depth and breadth of the city’s legendary dining scene, from classic Chicago spots to international options to trending newcomers.
At the festival, attendees can stroll the rows of booths and choose from everything from single bites to full meals from each vendor. Most restaurants offer sample-size portions, allowing food-lovers to try a wide variety of different cuisines.
The event also includes free nightly concerts, known for attracting big names; plenty of beer, wine, and cocktail options; interactive activities; giveaways; kid-friendly things to do, and more.
Getting to Taste of Chicago
Street closures: The following streets will be closed during Taste of Chicago:
- Columbus from Monroe to Balbo
- Jackson from Michigan to Jean Baptiste Point du Sable Lake Shore Drive
- Ida B. Wells from Michigan to Columbus
Public transportation: The Taste of Chicago is accessible via bus or train. Visit www.transitchicago.com to plan your trip.
Parking: Park right near the action with Millennium Garages. Keep in mind there will be street closures and increased traffic in the area.
Biking: Bike parking is available on the perimeter of Grant and Millennium Parks.