Maggie Daley Park, Chicago

Maggie Daley Park screams fun, and if you have kids, this park is likely to become their dream playground. Curbed by Millennium Park, within Grant Park’s campus, this sprawling 20-acre lakefront is a family-friendly paradise jam-packed with whimsical play spaces divided by appropriate age levels and inspired by classic children’s books.

To reach this lakeside oasis, all you need to do is take the BP Pedestrian Bridge from Millennium Park. The first thing you’ll notice is rollerbladers (or ice-skaters in the winter) gliding down a quarter-of-a-mile (40 km) Skating Ribbon meandering through trees, lawns and a 3-acre Play Garden. The latter is every child’s dream come true (think The Enchanted Forest with upside trees, the Slide Crater with a Tower Bridge to climb, and The Harbor where full-sized play boats nestle amongst the greenery). Also found within the park are a mirror maze, mega slide, mini golf, tennis, but above all, both literally and colloquially, the larger-than-life (19,000 square foot) rock-climbing park – the first of its kind in Chicago – with two enormous walls fit to take between 25 and 100 climbers at a time!

Regardless, whether you’re a total beginner or accomplished expert – there’s a surface fit for everyone. The area is split into three climbing types: bouldering, lead-harnessed and top rope. All this is completely free and, on top of that, you can treat yourself to some great views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago city skyline from 40 feet up! Just take your pick from any of the fun things you can do at Maggie Daley Park and enjoy a family-friendly workout!