Outdoor Things to Do in Winter in Chicago

1. Snow Tubing

Snow tubing is a great way to get the kids' adrenaline going while enjoying winter outside. Check out our guide for the best local snow tubing hills and ski resorts that offer snow tubing as well.

2. The Cosley Zoo

The Cosley Zoo is one of our favorite Animal Encounters and Petting Zoos Near Chicago. Its smaller size makes this great for little ones and cold days. While you can make a day of it, you can also see most of the zoo and play areas within an hour. This is great for getting a little fresh air without an all-day commitment. 

3. Skiing

You don’t have to venture too far from the city for kids to learn to ski and shred like the pros. Many ski hills offer kids lessons, fun on-site dining, activities such as ice skating, and more. 

4. Sledding

As soon as snow hits the ground, it’s time to bundle up and go sledding. Find a neighborhood sledding hill nearby in our Best Sledding Hills in Chicago list. 

 
Many of Chicago's outdoor skating rinks are free. Photo by Maureen Wilkey 

5. Ice Skating 

One perk of a long, cold Chicago winter is the chance to glide across the ice at rinks throughout the city.

6. Wilder Park Conservatory

Wilder Park Conservatory in Elmhurst is free for families to enjoy a bloom-filled break from winter. Be sure to check out the koi fish pond as well. Nearby Wilder Park is also great for burning some energy outdoors. 

7. Hiking

Fend off stir-craziness and winter blues with one of these Kid-Friendly Winter Hikes.

8. Morton Arboretum

The Morton Arboretum is open to exploring in the winter and offers classes for kids and families. 

9. Outdoor Activities at Home

Discover these 35-plus activities that will keep kids entertained all winter long.

10. Stroller Walks

Bundle up and try one of the Best Stroller-Friendly Walks in Chicago.

 
Chicago Botanic Garden in Winter. Photo by Raed Mansour via Flickr 2.0

11. Visit the Chicago Botanic Garden

Explore the winter beauty at the Chicago Botanic Garden.

12. Lincoln Park Zoo

The Lincoln Park Zoo is free to the public and open all winter long. While much of the zoo is outside, there are plenty of indoor habitats and play spaces for kids to explore and warm up. 

13. Northerly Island Park

Just had a big snowfall? Make the most of it and go snowshoeing at Northerly Island Park.

14. At-Home Scavenger Hunt

Set up a scavenger hunt for your kids; it can take place outside, inside, or both.

15. Lemont Ice and Lights Fest

Celebrate the new year with ice carvings in downtown Lemont. Visit live reindeer at General Fry's Landing, roast marshmallows with Lemont firefighters, enjoy free tractor high rides (weather permitting), and visit The Creamery Truck for free hot chocolates for the first 500 visitors.

RELATED: Skiing, Snowboarding, and Winter Sports Guide for Kids in Chicago

Indoor Places To Play This Winter in Chicago

16. Ninja Warrior or Climbing Gyms

Climb the walls (literally) at a Chicago-area ninja warrior or climbing gym. 

 
Exploring the WNDR Museum in Chicago.

17. WNDR Museum

Get tickets to the WNDR Museum, one of the best Indoor Places for Tweens and Teens in Chicago. 

18. Legoland Discovery Center

The Legoland Discovery Center in Schaumburg is a great place to look at the new Lego sets and demos and file away ideas for the next birthday.

19. Indoor Water Parks

Take a day trip to a nearby indoor water park like Great Wolf Lodge in Gurnee or Timber Ridge in Lake Geneva. 

20. Indoor Batting Cages

Get your swing ready for summer at an indoor batting cage. 

 
Escape rooms are a fun indoor activity for the whole family. Photo courtesy of Escape Factor in Forest Park

21. Escape Rooms

Especially great for teens and big kids, but also a fun activity for the whole family to complete together. 

22. Roller skating rinks

Trade blades for wheels when the weather gets too bad for ice skating. 

23. Check out a Food Hall

Munch your way through the aisles at one of Chicago's great food halls: Revival is a fun place to sample different dishes, while the massive Eataly is HQ for all things Italian.

24. Indoor playgrounds

Chicago's indoor play spaces are great to help smaller kids burn off energy.

25. Visit a Museum

There are so many great museums for kids and adults in Chicagoland. From the Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum of Natural History, there is something for every history, science, and animal lover. For a museum outing that won't break the bank, be sure to also check out our list of all the free admission days here. 

 
Sloomoo Institute photo by Lauren Laroche

26. Sloomoo Institute

Enjoy slime without all the mess at home at the Sloomoo Institute. 

RELATED: At-Home Guide: 100s of Activities for Kids and Families

At-Home Activities for Winter Fun

28. Family Movie Night

Family movie night is such a fun way to have free family fun at home. 

29. Snow Day Activities

We have rounded up a few ways to keep them happily entertained when it’s too cold to go outside here.

 
Hot cocoa bombs are a fun winter activity that you can do at home. Photo by Ally Noel

30. Make Hot Cocoa Bombs

Whip up a batch of homemade hot cocoa bombs to enjoy when the flakes start to fly. 

31. Make an Indoor Fort

Build an epic indoor fort and set up shop inside for the day. 

32. Lego Projects

Pull out the mismatched Lego pieces and try one of these 100 projects.

33. At-Home Science Experiments

Give your brain a workout with these 64 science experiments that use common, everyday supplies.

34. Make Breakfast with Kids

Discover mug muffins, made in no time without needing the oven, and more in our roundup of easy breakfast ideas you can make at home. 

35. Cook a Kid-Friendly Recipe

Get cooking with our favorite kid-friendly recipes. Cooking is a great way to get the kids active, practice their measurements, and express their creativity.