Things to do with kids in Evanston
Evanston is the most comfortable North Shore town for kids: the downtown library gives its whole third floor to children and opens onto restaurants and ice cream, the beach under the lighthouse is a ten-minute walk toward the lake, and the lakefill lawns at Northwestern are made for running.
A summer day is Lighthouse Beach and the nature play area by the lighthouse, then back downtown to eat; a cold day is the Evanston or Skokie library followed by the half-mile loop at Emily Oaks Nature Center. Ten minutes south is the big playground and lagoon at Indian Boundary Park, west is the Kohl Children's Museum and Wagner Farm in Glenview, and fifteen minutes north is the Chicago Botanic Garden, with Lightscape in winter.
- 6 places
- 5 free
- 4 stroller-friendly
- closest is 5 min away
6 places
Drive times from Evanston
Evanston Public Library kids' area
5.0Evanston · 5 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Library garage under the building (Church St entrance, recently free for the first stretch, check the website); 5-minute walk from the Purple Line Davis station
Indian Boundary Park playground and lagoon
5.0Chicago · 10 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free street parking (Lunt / Estes Ave)
Skokie Public Library kids' area
5.0Skokie · 10 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free library lot (5215 Oakton St)
Lighthouse Beach
5.0Evanston · 10 min drive
3 h · carrier recommended
$ · Parking: Small lot beside the Grosse Point Lighthouse and street parking on Sheridan Rd, hard to find after 10am on weekends
Emily Oaks Nature Center
5.0Skokie · 15 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free nature center lot (4650 Brummel St)
Montrose Beach and dunes
5.0Chicago · 15 min drive
3 h · carrier recommended
Free · Parking: Lots of free parking along Montrose Harbor, usually available even on weekend afternoons
💡 Good to know
- Evanston beaches require a daily pass for non-residents in season, and the spaces by the lighthouse are hard to find after 10am on weekends; the Purple Line's Davis stop lands between the library and the restaurants.