Kid-Friendly Chicago: Where the Wild Things Are

60 E Ohio St, Chicago, IL 60611 (map)

At this vibrant pan-Asian restaurant, tykes with an international palate enjoy downsized portions of grown-up dishes like crispy orange chicken and pad thai while parents dig into build-your-own stir-fries and Asian-inflected cocktails.

640 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60610 (map)

Although there's no kids' menu per se, the entire menu at this retro, '50s-style diner reads like a childhood fantasy: grilled cheese, macaroni, chicken tenders and burgers, plus miniature hot fudge sundaes. Singing and dancing servers sporting bobby socks and poodle skirts take your order and dish out a little good-natured ribbing on the side.

2005 W Roscoe St, Chicago, IL 60618 (map)

The young and young-at-heart flip over cleverly named specialties like the Green Eggs & Ham...Sam breakfast, including eggs scrambled with spinach pesto, scallions and smoked ham. Weekend dinner brings entrees like fried chicken and waffles and puff pastry pot pies filled with chicken and fennel or ginger beef.

5201 S Harper Ave, Chicago, IL 60615 (map)

Hyde Park parents will appreciate this upscale American restaurant's family-friendly promotions. Children age 12 and under can sup on mini cheeseburgers or fried shrimp for free, Monday through Thursday from 5pm to 6:30pm, when parents order an entree. What's more, on Sundays, the wee one's brunch is half-price.

1559 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622 (map)

At this neighborhood wine bar known for its inventive, seasonal weekend brunch, tots get to feel like grown-ups with flights of fruit juice and flavored milk to match mom and dad's mimosa and bloody mary flights. Team that with blueberry pancakes or a breakfast sandwich with homemade sausage, and you've got a weekend kid-magnet.

111 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611 (map)

Every little girl's dream, this three-floor entertainment complex has tea parties, live musical theater and a hair salon just for dolls. New dolly delights lie around every corner. Just be prepared for the inevitable cry of "Mommy, will you buy this for me?"

600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611 (map)

With a 150-foot Ferris wheel, an 18-hole miniature golf course and the Chicago Children's Museum on the premises, it's a no-brainer for hours of all-ages entertainment. The Chicago Shakespeare Theater, also located on the Pier, often features family programming.

171 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601 (map)

Children get the star treatment when their parents book the Lil' Celebrities package at this downtown boutique hotel. A swag bag of goodies, including a kids' guidebook to Chicago and a pair of hip shades fit for a Hollywood A-lister, awaits budding superstars. But the red carpet magic doesn't stop there. Youngsters can play chef and create their own pizzas, not to mention build their own ice cream sundaes from a sundae bar that is set up right in their room!

323 E Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60601 (map)

Long a business traveler favorite, this Chicago River-hugging hotel is reaching out to the next generation of Trumps and Forbeses with their VIK ("Very Important Kid") package. Boasting an overnight stay in a designated Kids Suite with decorations and entertainment, the package also includes four tickets to one of three Chicago museums: the Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium or Field Museum.

8401 31st St, Brookfield, IL 60513 (map)

Two million people trek through this southwest suburban zoo each year, and it's easy to understand the attraction of the painstakingly recreated animal habitats and special programs like live musical performances and Zoo Camp. Plus, if the little ones get tired of walking somewhere between the polar bears and the alligators, they can hop on the open-air Motor Safari for a narrated tour.

1200 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605 (map)

Guaranteed kid-pleaser: the marine mammal show in the Oceanarium. Beluga whales, dolphins, sea otters and sea lions leap and play in a dramatic, glass-enclosed pool that seems to blend magically into Lake Michigan beyond. Stop at the Polar Play Zone, where tykes can touch colorful sea stars or dress up as penguins and let their imaginations run wild in the Icy South play area.