Best Jungle Gyms In Chicago

Do your kids like to climb? Lucky for us in Chicago, there's playgrounds and parks galore. But if you're looking for more than a swing and a sandbox, there's some fabulous jungle gyms. All five of these are worth a trip, and all promise to entertain and delight your kids.

Skokie Exploritorium
4701 Oakton St.
Chicago, IL 60076
(847) 674-1500
www.skokieparks.org

While located just north of the city, Skokie Exploritorium is an indoor playground that both parents and kids love. Activities range from costume play to a water area (where the park provides some aprons to -- kind of -- keep those kiddos dry). There's also a toddler area with age-appropriate toys and other activities for the bigger kids too, including a towering jungle gym set complete with slides. The huge Light-Brite toy is another favorite. In other words? There's literally something for all kids to enjoy, and it comes at a reasonable price point: $3 for Skokie residents (both parents and kids) and $5 each for everyone else. Kids under one are allowed in for free.

Maggie Daley Park
337 E. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 552-3000
www.maggiedaleypark.com

No matter what the time of year, Maggie Daley Park has something going on. In the winter, ice skate around the skating ribbon, but in the warmer months, head to the whimsical play garden. These playgrounds and jungle gyms are inspired by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, as well as Alice in Wonderland. Kids from age 2 to 12 can run around, climb and have a blast on all the custom-designed play structures. For a jungle gym experience, head to the slide crater, which features plenty of exciting slides, as well as towers connected by a suspension bridge.

OZ Park
2021 N. Burling St.
Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 742-7898
www.chicagoparkdistrict.com

It should come as no surprise that this park is inspired by the Wonderful Wizard of Oz by author Lyman Frank Baum. Spread across 13 acres, in addition to statues, there's plenty of play areas inspired by things from the famous book. After strolling through the beautiful Emerald Garden, take the little ones to Dorothy's playlot, which is a wooden playground that kids of all ages will have fun climbing and swinging around in. There's even a great area for toddlers, too.

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Indian Boundary Park
2500 W. Lunt Ave.
Chicago, IL 60645
(773) 764-0338

The wooden playground at West Roger Park's Indian Boundary Park is just one part of this expansive park, and it's a magical place. Kids can climb up the jungle gym, swing from the monkey bars, walk the tightrope and so much more. When not running around the jungle gym, take a stroll through the park, cool down in the spray area and visit the ducks over in the pond.

Burnham Park
5491 S. Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60615
(312) 742-5369
www.chicagoparkdistrict.com

For a less crowded but still wonderful jungle gym, head to Burnham Park, which is perhaps most visited for its Promontory Point as well as the skate park, among other things, considering its spread across 600 acres! But if its the jungle gym you're looking for, it's located along 31st Street beach and near the skate park. In addition to Maggie Daley Park, it's one of the city's newest outdoor jungle gyms.

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Elizabeth SanFilippo is a freelance writer, who enjoys trying new foods from all over the world. But her favorite city for culinary treats will always be Chicago. When not blogging about food, she's working part-time at a culinary vacation company, The International Kitchen, based in the Windy City, as well as repping Younique cosmetics and skincare products. Some of her writing can be found at Examiner.com.