Make your plans today for a Chicago family vacation in December! There are so many fun things to do in Chicago in December. Our family has been taking an annual trip to Chicago every December for fourteen years. We have included attractions, places to stay and great places to eat. There is even a list of free things to do in Chicago in December with kids.
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my Disclosure policy using the menu above.
Navy Pier is one of the top places for kid’s activities in downtown Chicago. We have enjoyed the Shakespeare Theater that often times has children’s plays during the holidays. Winterwonder Fest is a kids’ winter playground with rides, games, ice skating (inside), shopping, and music. Families will love this fun indoor festival! Besides Winterwonder Fest, there are many restaurants, shops, and Art displays. There is something for everyone at Navy Pier.
Ice Skating
Ice Skating is easy to find in Chicago in December. Wherever there is a large group of people gathering there is probably ice skating. We skated at Millennium Park, Maggie Daley Park, Wrigley Field, and the Hofbrauhaus in Rosemont. There is a smooth ribbon of ice that swirls its way around Maggie Daley Park that your kids will love. Bring the whole family to skate at Maggie Daley Park. Rent skates at the park, have some hot cocoa and just enjoy your time outdoors. If an ice skating rink is more your preference then just walk across the bridge to Millenium Park to the skating rink. Either way, enjoy a few hours of ice skating, it’s the perfect winter activity.
American Girl Place
The American Girl Place at Watertower Place in Chicago has become a very popular destination for families visiting the windy city. There are many advantages to planning a trip to this activity-packed store in December. In December at Chicago American Girl Place you will have opportunities to sign up for cookie decorating, holiday tea, holiday hair salon makeover, take a trolley ride with your girl to see the Chicago lights, or watch an Americal Girl production of the Nutcracker. Whatever you decide to do make sure you make reservations!
Walnut Room
During your visit to Macy’s on State Street get the family dressed up and eat lunch or dinner at the Walnut Room. There are even a few dates open for breakfast, but check the website to make sure you pick the right date. We suggest you make a reservation online because the holidays are packed! This is such a beautiful location for a family meal with a towering 45 foot Christmas tree at the center and amazing Christmas decorations throughout.
Morton Arboretum
If you want to find the most perfect location to see Chicago Christmas lights in December go to Morton Arboretum. The lights illuminating the trees will be unlike any other light spectacular you have seen this season. The one-mile walking path (with inclines and declines) will take you through a perfect holiday light show. This show would not be available without a cost to viewers, check the website for ticket costs.
Magnificent Mile in Chicago in December
Your family will be in awe as they walk down this absolutely magnificent mile of shops, restaurants, things to do and sights to see. The Holiday Lights are the star of the show in December on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile. When planning your trip, in Chicago in December, leave this walk for after 4 pm and you will not be disappointed. The lights are so perfect, just like the city lights of the holidays you think of from the movies. However, extra fun things to do are also a draw. Don’t miss the horse-drawn carriage ride, River Walk and trolley tours, theatre and music. You could actually plan an entire family trip JUST on the Magnificent Mile.
Christmas Around the World in December at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry
Christmas Around the World at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago is one of the perfect fun places for kids in Chicago. With trees from many different countries and cultures, everyone in the family will enjoy this abundance of colors, lights and perfectly depicting ornaments. During the holiday season, the museum also has plenty of engaging exhibits and activities. We usually reserve at an entire day for this museum
Ryan Learning Center at The Art Institute of Chicago
Your entire family will love this engaging fun area of The Art Institute of Chicago. With hands-on experiences, performance art opportunities, planning a family journey through the museum and family art exhibits your family will love a day at The Art Institute of Chicago. In December watch for holiday-themed events like high school choirs singing and special family fun activities. Before you go check the calendar.
Glessner House Tour
The Glessner House is a late 19th-century family home that is decorated for Christmas in December. This home is preserved just as the Glessners used it back in time. Families with older children will love to see how this family lived and the detailed Christmas decorations of the time. This house is known for its architecture but will be remembered by your family for the wonderful details of how a family lived. Before going, check the website for special events like gingerbread house making or candlelight tours.
Free Things to do in Chicago in December with Kids
Caroling at Cloud Gate
If your family weekend in Chicago will start on a Friday night in December, don’t miss caroling at Cloud Gate. Cloud Gate is located in Millennium Park (AKA the bean!) Circe up the family around the bean and belt out your favorite Christmas carols with a few hundred other fun Christmas loving people. With so many other things to do in the area, this is a great way to start your Chicago family vacation.
Millennium Park
Millennium Park is always on our list of places to go in Chicago in December. There are always fun activities going on as well as Cloud Gate aka “The Bean”. Cloud Gate provides for at least an hour of fun. Looking at the skyline through the bean, finding different landmarks looking in the bean, putting our family in fun poses that make us look like we are lifting the bean and so much more. There are special programs going on during every season of the year. There is also a bridge that connects Millennium Park with Maggie Daley Park.
Maggie Daley Park
Maggie Daley Park is just about the most wonderful park in Chicago! There is a large playground, which is called the Play Garden, with slides, towers, and so much more. There are different areas of the Play Garden focus for different age levels, How Fun! Depending on the weather when your family visits, your children may be able to play in the park. Kids really don’t care how cold it is out, that’s why this is always a fun place for our kids. The ice skating ribbon (although not free) is a fun addition to the other activities. Maggie Daley has beautiful nature trails, that our kids have fun walking through.
Lincoln Park Zoo Lights
This is on the top of our list of fun places for kids in Chicago in December! The fact that this is a free activity makes it even better! Walkthrough the many light scenes throughout the zoo. One scene your family will be able to walk under! There are lights that dance to music, beautiful scenes throughout the park and even some indoor activities. This is the perfect evening activity for kids. Get bundled up and go to the zoo.
Holiday Market
The annual Christkindlemart is a German holiday market in downtown Chicago. Located at Daley Center this market is unlike any other you have been to. With authentic German ornaments, clocks and other amazing gifts, you do not want to miss this fun market. Many years we purchase many gifts for friends and family yet some years we just wander around looking at the shops. If you are looking for a place for lunch there are many different choices that will entice the entire family. Before you go check to see if Wrigley Field holiday market is open. The Christkindlemart at Gallagher Way is smaller but also less crowded and has ice skating.
Holiday Lights in Chicago in December
Even though there are great tree lightings in Chicago in November, those lights shine through December. Bundle up the family and head to Michigan Ave to see the lights. Walk up and down the Magnificent Mile to view a perfect mile of lights! Our family loves to go to State Street to see the beautiful Macy’s holiday windows. There is always a storyline throughout the windows and the lights are awesome too.
Macy’s on State Street Chicago
We include Macy’s on our list of free things to do in Chicago in December with kids because there are so many things to do at this department store for free! First, walk around the building on the State Street side to look at all the details in the Christmas windows. Our kids feel such joy and anticipation every year looking at these carefully crafted windows. After the windows head inside and look up! Each year the interior of Macy’s is completely decked out. “Deck the halls” yes, just like that! Head up to the 5th floor to Santaland! The REAL Santa is at Macy’s and this is the only Santa our kids go see each year. It is free to see Santa! Just wait, you are still not done! After Santa go to the top floor and look down at the 45 foot Christmas tree. With over 6,000 ornaments and changing lights, your kids will love this towering giant.
Unique Restaurants in Chicago for Families
Safe House
Having teenagers sometimes makes it more difficult to find a place that is entertaining enough to have a WOW factor. The Safe House is a WOW factor restaurant for pre-teens and teenagers. The spy theme and needing a secret password to get in is just the start of this fun unique place for families.
Hofbrauhaus
The atmosphere is all German! There are long tables that allowed us to sit with other fun-seeking patrons as we dined, danced, sang, laughed and enjoyed a family night out like no other. December at Chicago’s Hofbrauhaus brings out St. Nicholas for pictures and conversation. The live band kept us singing and dancing on our seats all night. This was a truly unique experience that we had never had before. German or not your family will love this exciting and yummy dinner.
Sugar Factory
Is there a better combination than sugar and families? Yes, sarcasm is implied but then again, this place is so much fun for families! As soon as you walk in the atmosphere is that of candy colors and excitement. Your family will love the artistic and yummy milkshakes, there is plenty to share, so don’t think you need to drop a ton of money just on milkshakes. The menu has something for everyone in your family and even fun drinks for mom and dad. The rows of candy are what caught the attention of our boys. Your family will thank you forever when you take them to the Sugar Factory.
Pizano’s
If pizza is your family’s game then Chicago is the food mecca! With all the places to eat pizza, how is a family to decide? Choose a place that has a wide variety of pizza choices, and has a great Chicago atmosphere. We like to try a new pizza place every time we go to Chicago but Pizanos is always our go-to for great pizza, a variety of crusts and other offerings and even a to-go order area. The atmosphere is 100% Chicago downtown feel and will provide your family with fun memories.
Family-Friendly Hotels in Chicago
Loews Hotel in Chicago – Snowed Inn Package
The Snowed Inn Package at Loews Chicago is the ultimate family weekend package in Chicago in December, January or February. There are so many things our family loves about this package! First, Marty ranked this as the number one package because it included parking! Parking in Chicago can cost a family fifty to sixty dollars a day. The kids love the Snowed Inn Package because of the TENT IN THE ROOM!! What? Yes, a tent in the hotel room for the kiddos. Not only that but there are also cookies to decorate (and eat!), movies to watch, hot cocoa to drink and on and on! We can’t wait to go back in February!
Four Seasons
Hotels in downtown Chicago run a wide variety from The Four Seasons luxury hotels to hole in the wall hotels (don’t go in there). The Four Seasons has an indoor pool, and a kids club with fun activities and adventures. Your family will love the luxury, restaurants and overall feel of this luxury hotel. The Four Seasons will not disappoint and during the winter often offers specials for families.
Embassy Suites
The Embassy Suites offers families two downtown locations both with indoor pools and plenty of amenities for families. We love the suite life, where our boys can have a separate area to chill out while the adults relax in their own area. We always like having a kitchenette too. After a long day of shopping and playing it is nice to hunker down in a suite with a little extra space.
Hilton Chicago Downtown
One of the most popular destinations for families in Chicago is the Hilton Chicago Downtown. This hotel has a great location for busy families spending the day out and about at museums and shopping. The indoor pool will provide for a few hours of exercise and fun for your kiddos as you kick back and read a book. There are so many dining options at Hilton Chicago Dowtown you don’t ever have to leave!
Winter Getaways from Chicago in December
If your family is looking for a place to unwind and relax after a busy Chicago weekend, try out these destinations, not far from the city.
Eagle Ridge Resort
Eagle Ridge Resort is one of our family’s favorite destinations. In December you will find a whirlwind of holiday festivities! Santa is there to take pictures with, the lodge is decorated in beautiful holiday colors and don’t miss The Nordic Center with sledding, ice skating, cross country skiing and more. Guests can shop at a holiday market and experience the Fire in the Sky with a DJ. The indoor pool was a big hit with our boys, on Friday nights kids sit in tubes and watch a movie, how fun!!!! The resort has restaurants that do not disappoint. Our boys loved the HUGE pretzel! The decorations are so amazing, our family is looking forward to going back soon!
Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva is the perfect getaway for families and couples. A picturesque downtown with holiday lights and decorations abounding will be the perfect backdrop for your family Christmas. The main street has shops and restaurants as well as historical buildings to see. Later in the winter, your family can enjoy ice skating and other fun winter activities.
Pin the Image Below! Thanks!
Pingback: 90 top things to do in winter |