A Springtime Chicago Bucket List for Families

Chicago winters are long enough that the first warm weekend in spring feels like a public holiday. Everyone is outside at once, the lakefront fills up, and you suddenly remember how much of this city happens outdoors. This list is for those first months: things that are at their best between the thaw and the start of summer, most of them free or close to it.

Outside

• Walk the Lakefront Trail. It runs for about eighteen miles along the shore. You don’t need all of it. Pick a stretch, bring a scooter or a balance bike, and turn around when the kids do.
• See the cherry blossoms in Jackson Park. The trees near the Garden of the Phoenix bloom for a short window, usually in April. Check the park district’s updates and go on a weekday if you can.
• Visit the lambs and chicks at the Farm-in-the-Zoo. Lincoln Park Zoo is free every day, and spring is when the farm side is at its liveliest.
• Climb at Maggie Daley Park. The climbing walls open once the ice ribbon is gone, and the Play Garden is at its best before the summer heat. We’ve written a full review of the park.
• Fly a kite at Montrose Beach. It’s breezy, it’s wide open, and there’s room for a kite to go wrong without hitting anyone.
• Find the tulips on the Magnificent Mile. The planters along Michigan Avenue are planted with thousands of bulbs every spring. It’s a good excuse for a walk downtown that isn’t about shopping.

When it rains, which it will

• Plan a museum around a free day. Spring is a good season for them, before the summer visitors arrive. Here’s how free museum days work.
• Spend an afternoon at the Harold Washington Library. The children’s library is huge, and the Winter Garden on the top floor is a calm place to sit when everyone needs a reset.
• Try the Garfield Park Conservatory. It’s warm, green and free (donations welcome), which is exactly what you want on a grey April day.

The traditions

• Watch the river turn green. The St. Patrick’s Day dyeing happens on the Saturday before the holiday. It’s crowded, so get there early or watch from further along the riverwalk.
• Go to opening day, or at least a spring game. Both ballparks sell cheaper seats early in the season, and a weekday afternoon game is a good first game for a small child.
• Start the farmers market habit. Neighborhood markets begin opening in late spring. Pick one near you and make it your Saturday routine.

Make it a list you’ll actually finish

The trick with any bucket list is to keep it short. Pick five things, write them somewhere the kids can see, and tick them off. Spring in Chicago is short too, and it’s better to do a few things properly than to spend every weekend rushing between all of them.