September–November 2026 · United States

Fall weekends with kids in Chicago

5 family outings in and around Chicago. Start with a harvest adventure, or keep it simple with a garden, park or woodland wander.

Seasonal details checked September 7. Opening dates vary; a seasonal date range does not mean every day is open.

Children reaching for apples on a tree during a family orchard outing

Representative image · Land O'Lakes, Inc. · Unsplash License · Display crop

A little harvest magic

Honey Hill Orchard

Waterman, Illinois

Coming up · Daily September 10–October 31 · crop availability varies

Free play area; picking bag required for each orchard visitor over age 2Family outing · check activity restrictions

Pair apple picking with a small farm play area, petting zoo and straw maze.

Check hours & plan your visit

Sources & checks

Official details checked 2026-09-07. Older independent guides support the experience, not this season’s dates. Crop availability, tickets and weather can change.

Mack Male from Edmonton, AB, Canada · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Display crop

An easy outdoor escape

Maggie Daley Park Play Garden

337 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601

Regular outing · check current hours

Free admission · extras may costAll ages

A ship, lighthouse, climbing walls, slides, and imaginative play zones sit beside a seasonal skating ribbon and downtown lawns.

Check hours & plan your visit

Sources & checks

Official details checked 2026-09-02. Older independent guides support the experience, not this season’s dates. Crop availability, tickets and weather can change.

Antonio Bovino from chicago, u.s.a · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 · Display crop

An easy outdoor escape

Lincoln Park Zoo

2001 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614

Regular outing · check current hours

Paid admission · check current ticketsAll ages

Chicago’s free zoo combines big animals, a children’s zoo, farm animals, nature boardwalks, and easy Lincoln Park pairings.

Check hours & plan your visit

Sources & checks

Official details checked 2026-09-02. Older independent guides support the experience, not this season’s dates. Crop availability, tickets and weather can change.

Olivier Bruchez from Lausanne, Switzerland · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Display crop

An easy outdoor escape

Garfield Park Conservatory

300 N Central Park Ave, Chicago, IL 60624

Regular outing · check current hours

Free admission · extras may costAll ages

Palm, fern, desert, and flower rooms make this free glasshouse a warm, weatherproof nature break on the West Side.

Check hours & plan your visit

Sources & checks

Official details checked 2026-09-02. Older independent guides support the experience, not this season’s dates. Crop availability, tickets and weather can change.

Warren LeMay from Chicago, IL, United States · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Display crop

An easy outdoor escape

Palmisano Park

2700 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60608

Regular outing · check current hours

Free admission · extras may costAll ages

A former limestone quarry now holds prairie paths, a hilltop skyline view, wetlands, and a fishing pond with plenty of room to roam.

Check hours & plan your visit

Sources & checks

Official details checked 2026-09-02. Older independent guides support the experience, not this season’s dates. Crop availability, tickets and weather can change.

Make it your kind of weekend

One good outing is enough.

Check the opening date, pick a manageable journey and leave room for a snack break. Gardens and parks are regular outings; foliage and harvest conditions vary with the weather.

Explore the full Chicago family guide →