In May, the three of us went to the USA, our son's first time. We started our little tour in Chicago. We planned two days for it and, with the Chicago CityPASS, visited plenty of attractions. You can find out what you can experience and which ones we recommend in this post.
Our first day in downtown Chicago started off very relaxed. Our little man let us sleep in (7:30 a.m. is a long time for him) despite the risk of jet lag. But he didn't seem to have it, as he fell asleep and slept through the night just like he does at home. You have to be a kid. Mom and Dad had more to contend with. We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast at the Hilton Chicago with lots of fruit and a large croissant for our little sunshine. The perfect start to the day.
Sightseeing tour with the Chicago CityPASS
We then began our Chicago tour with the Chicago CityPASS. We already had CityPASS in Seattle We had good experiences with it and definitely wanted to use it here as well. It allows you to visit the Shedd Aquarium, Skydeck Chicago, and the Field Museum. You have to choose between the Museum of Science and Industry and 360 Chicago Observation Deck, as well as the Adler Planetarium and the Art Institute of Chicago. With our little companion, only the Observation Deck and the Planetarium were options for us. So we headed to the Museum Campus, right on Lake Michigan, where the Shedd Aquarium, The Field Museum, and the Adler Planetarium are located. It's only a 20-minute walk from the Hilton Chicago.
Shedd Aquarium with the Chicago CityPASS
Our first stop was the Shedd Aquarium. Here, you can see many different underwater worlds: the Amazon, the Caribbean, the Arctic Ocean, and even the local rivers and lakes around Lake Michigan. Unfortunately, the museum is accessed via many steps, and the stroller entrance is quite hidden around the corner to the right.
The CityPASS includes admission and a 4D show, with a choice of Splash and Bubbles, Coastal Predators, and BBC Shark. We chose Splash and Bubbles because it was the only show for children. The film featured 3D glasses, light effects, vibrating seats, and soap bubbles for the bubbles. It was an animated fish film like "Finding Nemo" or "Shark Tale." The little guy had a blast, even though he didn't want to put on the 3D glasses. We also watched a free show with dolphins, penguins, and sea lions at the Abbott Oceanarium. It was beautifully designed and interactive for the kids, as well as informative, so they could have fun and learn.
The beluga whales were being fed as we passed by. What beautiful white animals, our little sunshine didn't want to leave. Across the street from the penguins, there's a small indoor playground. Here, children can pretend to be penguins in a research station, climbing and sliding down cardboard rocks.
When we left the aquarium around noon, there were many young protesters outside the entrance. They were complaining about the welfare of the imprisoned animals. Everyone who visits a zoo or aquarium should be aware of this, whether they want to see animals in captivity.
We then wanted to take the 146 bus into the city. What we didn't know was that you always have to have the exact change for the ticket. Unfortunately, we didn't. So we debated back and forth about what to do. The lady behind us smiled at us kindly and said, "No problem, I'll pay for you." She had a bus pass, which she just had to hold up, and the amount was paid for us. That was really super friendly; we couldn't thank her enough. It turned out that she was also from Europe; she was Polish, but lives in Chicago. We were actually going downtown to have a deep-dish pizza for lunch at Giordano's. But unfortunately, we had to expect a wait of 1 to 1.5 hours, and that was too long for us. So we went right around the corner to the Nutella Café and ate waffles and pancakes. They were also delicious, and since it had started to rain outside, we were nice and dry.
360 Chicago with the Chicago CityPASS
The rain grew heavier, and we decided against the beautiful Chicago Riverwalk. Instead, we headed "straight" to the John Hancock Tower, stopping off at the Apple Store and a large toy store. When we arrived there, the rain had stopped, but the clouds were extremely low.
Our Chicago CityPASS gave us free entry to Skydeck 360 Chicago, and we wanted to take advantage of it. So we went up anyway, because it was pretty empty due to the bad weather. Once we got to the top, as we feared, we had zero visibility. A white wall stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows. Our little man still had fun because you could walk around the window front in a circle. So he ran like crazy, lap after lap. Suddenly, a tiny gap in the clouds opened up, but as quickly as it had come, it disappeared again. We didn't worry about it, because the weather forecast was supposed to be better the next day, and we had planned to go to the Skydeck in the Willis Tower. Fingers crossed that we'll have a better view there.
Maggie Daley Park – Playground for all ages
In the late afternoon, the weather improved and a bit of sun came out. So that our son could also have his money's worth, we decided to go to a playground. Maggie Daley Park is located right next to Millennium Park. A huge facility, brand new, completely fenced in, and with security at the entrance, so no child can run away. Everything is beautifully green, and the paths and play areas are paved with rubber mats or rubber granules. Each attraction has its own themed area, such as the boat theme, in keeping with Lake Michigan. Our child loved the large net swings. A high climbing tower serves as a viewing point, with an oversized suspension bridge and every kind of slide you can imagine. From toddlers to older children and teenagers to parents, everyone can play and join in. We can honestly say that this playground is perfect! We haven't seen anything like it in Germany.
Our little sunshine was so exhausted afterward that he fell asleep in the stroller on the way to the hotel and didn't even wake up for dinner.
Which travel guide can you recommend for Chicago?
  | For the perfect city trip to Chicago, we recommend this travel guide. Here you will not only find a detailed city map, but also lots of information about all the important sights. You will also find great suggestions for excursions to the outlying districts. |
The Chicago CityPASS was kindly provided by "Choose Chicago." Once again, we thank you for your cooperation. This article represents our free and independent opinion. Further information on journalistic independence can be found under "Reporting on Chicago." Cooperation.
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