Soldier Field Children’s Garden

Right next to Soldier Field, this little playground punches above its weight with a genuinely cool world theme that kids actually get into. The big draw is a massive granite sphere that floats on water — kids can spin it themselves, and honestly, adults get just as obsessed with it. It’s the kind of feature you don’t see at your average Chicago park, which makes it worth the trip even if you’re not coming for a game. There’s a drinking fountain nearby, so you’re not scrambling when someone inevitably gets soaked messing with the water.