4.5Millennium Park(25.0k reviews) - Very nice park Sunday: 6:00 AM - 11:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Points of Interest & Landmarks • Parks
Three square blocks of open lakefront complete with a Ferris Wheel, outdoor music pavillion and ice skating rink; expected to become one of the city's most popular sites.See more..
4.0Navy Pier(15.1k reviews) - A Must-Stop for your Chicago Stay Sunday: 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Amusement & Theme Parks • Piers & Boardwalks
Opened in 1995, Navy Pier is a 50-acre scenic waterfront destination that’s home to countless restaurants, exhibitions, shops, entertainment, and more. Take a ride on the 200-foot-tall Ferris wheel, explore the interactive Chicago Children’s Museum, enjoy a free concert, or go on an art and mural hunt—all against the spectacular views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline. Adrenaline seekers will love the speedboat tours; otherwise, unwind on a sightseeing cruise. Parking can be rather pricey, so it’s best to make your way there via public transportation. You'll likely pass by the pier on a cruise of the Chicago River. – TripadvisorSee more..
4.0Six Flags Great America(2.716 reviews) - A quick review of an opening weekend visit – Sunday April 25, 2021. Sunday: 10:30 AM - 7:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Amusement & Theme Parks • Water Parks
Six Flags Great America is Chicago's biggest, most popular theme park! If your family is looking for things to do in Chicago, IL you’ve come to the right place. With dozens of rides and attractions, including soaring rollercoasters and enchanting children’s rides for families with young children, live entertainment, classic dining options, acclaimed holiday shows, and special events like Fright Fest and Holiday in the Park, there’s always something new and exciting happening in the park!See more..
Known for its magnificent rock formations of St. Peter sandstone, this scenic park offers many hiking and horseback riding trails plus fishing and boating along the banks of the Illinois River.See more..
4.5Maggie Daley Park(1.338 reviews) - Terrific free park - #1 free place in city for kids Parks • Playgrounds
Having been to Chicago many times, I'd say this is the #1 free place in the city to go with 5-12 year olds (with possible exception of Lincoln Park Zoo). There are a number of free towers, slides, and other very creative places for kids to play; plenty of benches for adults to sit in, and some other options like a climbing wall and bunji jump if you want to spend a bit of $. Easy to get to on public transportation or uber. Not a "hidden" gem but definitely a gem.See more..
4.5Morton Arboretum(980 reviews) - Lovely drive through groves of trees plus scupture Sunday: 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM Parks • Gardens
Only 25 miles west of Chicago, there's something for everyone in all four seasons at The Morton Arboretum. Whether you seek a quiet hike in the woods or an active family day out, The Morton Arboretum offers a wide variety of fun activities, events, tours, and classes for all ages and interests. Here you'll find an oasis of 16 miles of hiking trails and nine miles of paved roads, perfect for hiking, running, biking or just exploring. From a guided tour on an open-air tram to the award-winning Children's Garden and Maze Garden, to seasonal exhibits and lunch in The Ginkgo Restaurant overlooking Meadow Lake, the Arboretum is a unique place to explore, discover, escape, and connect with trees and nature.See more..
4.5Lincoln Park(866 reviews) - Another great park Sunday: 6:00 AM - 11:00 PM Parks
Home to the Lincoln Park Zoo, this popular park is also located in a neighborhood called Lincoln Park.See more..
This is the place to go! Starved Rock is absolutely wonderful, but when you get away from the crowds, and do a quick 2-3 mile hike up and down, this is it. Cannot recommend it enough and has half the crowds of Starved Rock. But, be aware, the hikes here start with going down like 80 steps. Then the real good hikes go further down.... It's awesome if you can do it. They have full bathroom faciliies here for people with young kids, and a neat reproduction of cabin the original owner of the land, I believe, created as a mock up for their grandkids. You can go inside it before descending the stairs and it's unique, along side the 100 person pavilion next to it. Make sure you see the waterfall on the north side of the park from both up above and down below.See more..
5.0Long Hollow Canopy Tours(349 reviews) - Great time near Galena, Illinois!! Temporarily closed - Closed until Apr 1, 2023 Zipline & Aerial Adventure Parks • Nature & Wildlife Tours
Had a great time with guides Joey and Ella. Long Hollow was very responsive after booking online with adjusting the number of participants a couple of times. Our group of 8 ages 14-47 had a fabulous time and would recommend to anyone in the Galena area. Challenging but everyone felt safe and guides were great!!See more..
4.5Giant City State Park(303 reviews) - Quiet and peaceful Sunday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM State Parks
Nice quiet spot. We booked online, but came a day earlier. It was easy to just fill out the envelope and pay for the extra day. It is nice because you can do this any time of day and do not have to find someone. The shower house was very clean. There are so many trees that make it shaded and relaxing. Not sure about all the campsites, but our firepit had a grate to cook. The playground is excellent with a playset and swings. I really cannot stress how quiet and peaceful it was. We went mid-August and it was not full. Will go back again.See more..
3.5Raging Waves Waterpark(283 reviews) - Fun With a Group! Temporarily closed - Closed until May 26, 2023 Spent More than 3 hours Water Parks
Get Ready to Take Back Your Summer! Raging Waves is Illinois’ largest outdoor waterpark, located on more than 58 acres in Yorkville, Ill., 45 minutes west of the Chicago loop. Every summer, families visit this Aussie-themed, family-friendly waterpark, which features 32 water slides, 3 kiddie areas, a wave pool, a 1/4 mile long lazy river, 43 private cabanas, and more. Open in 2008, Raging Waves was named by USA Today as a top summer destination.See more..
If you go to Main Street in Galena, you must walk up the steps by the river and cross over to Grant Park. It is high on a hill with a bunch of walking paths, a statue of Ulysses S Grant, a beautiful fountain, a gazebo, and some historic cannons on display. The view of downtown Galena is fantastic. There are plenty of benches to just sit and enjoy the views. It is one of the nicest small parks I have ever been to.See more..
Discover exciting rides, water slides, and more at Santa’s Village Amusement & Water Park, the place for FUN. FAMILY. MEMORIES. Santa's Village (located in East Dundee, Illinois) has been a family entertainment destination since 1959. Over the years, the park has added several new thrill rides and attractions while restoring some classic favorites. The park has a pay-one-price admission which includes unlimited use of all rides, water slides, the petting zoo and entertainment. In addition, there are games of skill, shops, restaurants, and parking is always free. Santa’s Village is a great place for corporate outings, youth camps, school field trips, family reunions and birthday parties. For more information visit our website at: SantasVillageDundee.comSee more..
Illinois' third oldest state park is rich in history.See more..
4.0Illinois Beach State Park(187 reviews) - Beautiful lake front park & campground. Sunday: State Parks • Beaches
This is a gorgeous state park with mature trees, miles of paved trails, and lovely sand beaches. I'm here camping at the Adeline Jay campground. The only reason the park didn't get 5 stars is because of the showers/washrooms. They are clean, but old and need repair. Some broken tiles, leaking taps, leaking toilets and shower curtains that must be 40 years old and barely hanging on. It does the trick though, & the water pressure is better than I have at home. The sites aren't very level, but they are spacious and gorgeous. The campground hosts, Bonnie & her husband, were absolutely wonderful. I'd definitely come again. Also, they are building a new beach store/ concession that will be open in 2022. This park is a treasure. See more..
Rich in American Indian history, this 2,500-acre park offers a variety of outdoor activities including boating, fishing, hunting, picnicking and hiking.See more..
4.5Cave-in-Rock State Park(171 reviews) - Cool Cave along the River Sunday: 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM State Parks
We visitied Cave-in-Rock State Park while vacationing in Shawnee National Forest. It's just a short 0.25 mile hike from the parking to the very impressive cave. Right along the river, it may have been used by bandits and outlaws in the frontier days. The cave is huge and you can walk a good ways in. There is an opening in the ceiling so even the interior of the cave is slightly illuminated. Good idea to bring a flashlight or use your phone in any case. It's a really cool landmark and definitely worth a stop if visiting the area.See more..
Scenic park of 3,092 acres that offers many recreational options such as camping, hiking, horseback riding and cross-country skiing.See more..
4.0Fort Massac State Park(159 reviews) - A great place to stop for the night, relax and get a fresh start in the morning! State Parks
We stopped here for the night passing through from Branson Mo to Nashville Tn. $18 for an overnight stay, not used to that! The campgrounds were well kept, sites were HUGE!!! Electric only so be sure to fill up your fresh water holding tank in the RV. (we didn't know this but fortunately we had 1/2 tank of water) Very quiet so resting was easy. Only 5-8 minutes from HARRAH'S casino if you're so inclined to drop a couple hundred dollar donation there :)See more..
4.5Lilacia Park(153 reviews) - Hidden Little Gem Sunday: 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM Parks
Visited Lilacia Park in Lombard one afternoon the last week of July. It is a gem of a lovely spot in downtown Lombard. Though it was past the blooms for Lilacs, there were a few stragglers still in nice bloom. Also, there were lots of other flowers, plants, and a pond with fountain to enjoy. The garden itself is a lovely place with easily walkable paths. There were quite a few photo sessions in progress taking in the nice scenery. It was peaceful except for the occasional train that went by. Surprisingly, the only map of the park was kind of hidden out of the way at the Coach House building. I am sure Lilacia Park would be a much lovelier place to visit when the Lilacs (and Tulips, I understand) are in bloom in May.See more..
4.0Magic Waters Waterpark(143 reviews) - Great, fun, safe time Sunday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Water Parks
Magic Waters Waterpark is a family-friendly, outdoor water park with high standards for safety, cleanliness, and friendly customer service. Magic Waters is conveniently located just off Interstate 90/39 in Rockford, Illinois, near the northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin border, not far from the Chicago area. The waterpark is home to Illinois' largest wave pool, a 75-foot tall speed slide, and much more!See more..
Every time we come it is an amazing experience! Every trip through southern Illinois included “Castle Park” as my daughter would call it . It is such a wonderful place for a family to enjoy. Thank you to the family who built it what a wonderful tribute to your son!See more..
5.0Krape Park(142 reviews) - Family fun Sunday: 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM Parks
Such a great park. There is no much to do and see at this park, I'm surprised they don't charge admission. We road the pedal boats, walked the paved trails and checked out the water fall. However, there was so much more than that. A person could easily spend the entire afternoon thereSee more..
This extraordinary forest preserve is worth a visit any time of the year. Becuase of this season's heavy snowfalls, not all of the paths had been cleared. You could tell from tracks in the snow that this did not stop visitors with appropriate footwear from striking out across the terrain. During this particular visit, ice skating was forbidden, but ice fishing was going on. I couldn't resist taking photos of groups of fisherpeople scattered across the lake -- some drilling holes as I watched. The thaw is coming. Because this property is so large and has so much parking, it is very easy to social distance during your visit. See earlier reviews for more details (May 9, 2020; July 18, 2017; and September 4, 2016).See more..
We went to Grafton for a day trip and heard this park was worth the short trip up Illinois 100 - Illinois River Road. We were able to see the confluence of the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. The park itself is very pretty, several trails and pullouts for those driving. The lodge is a work of art... built in 1930s by CCC, it features beautiful stone fireplace and large cedar logs from Oregon. Visitors center is very informative, with several exhibits on local history and ecology. We saw the large campground and equine center while touring, and both looked nice. Plan to come back when we have more time - maybe in the winter during Bald Eagle season.See more..
We’ve been coming to KAP for years and it never disappoints. Lots of stuff to do for little kids and big kids. Wednesday is the best day to go, BOGO with a County Market receipt! My kids, ages 15 and 24, like just about everything. I only do the lazy river, wave pool and adult pool. It would be nice if they offered shade over the lounge chairs next to the zero depth entry pool. People move those all over to find shade. The restrooms were clean when we first arrived early but were really dirty and no toilet paper or soap in the ladies restroom by closing time. Restroom checks all day would be nice. The new bar is nice. They have several offerings including strawberry daiquiris and margaritas. My daiquiri was $6.75 but had a fair amount of alcohol. Overall a fun place!See more..
5.0Meadowbrook Park(126 reviews) - walk in beauty Parks • Playgrounds
Meadowbrook park has much to offer. A community built playground for children, and two walking paths. One is long and loops around the entire park, and the other is a short loop filled with outdoor sculptures which change frequently. It's a lovely place to just take a walk!See more..
4.5Kankakee River State Park(116 reviews) - Good camping spot for canoeing the Kankakee river Sunday: State Parks
Most of the camping spots here are the drive-in type where you park in your campsite and put up your tent next to the car. The Potawatomi sites have electricity at each site and full bathrooms (toilets/urinals, sinks, & showers) which lessens complaints from the non-campers. It is an easy 20 minute drive over to Reed's canoes in Bourbonnais. My wife and I took two canoes with our two boys and made the 12 mile journey in 3 hours 30 minutes. Sites are on the small side but that was all we needed. It's a state park...not a Hilton ;)See more..
4.0Buffalo Rock State Park(116 reviews) - Bison and Effigy Mounds Sunday: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM State Parks
We visited Buffalo Rock State Park for a hike with our dog. It was nice to get away from the crowds at Starved Rock. There are two bison and a calf in an enclosure. A hiking trail leads to some views of the Illinois River and past the Effigy Tumuli. They are earthen mounds constructed by an artist to be similar to the effigy mounds built by Native Americans. You can only really see them from above, they're too big to see from ground level. Overall, a nice little park and not so crowded.See more..
Best known as home to the statue "Eternal Indian," this park is set on high bluffs along the Rock River.See more..
4.5Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park(106 reviews) - Awesome experience Sunday: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Zipline & Aerial Adventure Parks
My 5 year old and I did the Treetop Journey (1 hour) and had a blast. He was so proud of himself he was on a high the rest of the day! The obstacles were challenging enough that I enjoyed them (i tried not to hold on too much), but manageable enough that we were able to get through all three courses w/o any issues within the hour. The setting is beautiful, the obstacles are not too repetitive, and it's so fun to be able to ride the zipline various times. Not every Go Ape has the Journey option which is suitable for adventurous kids 5 and up (though the min is by inches, 39 I believe) and we're so lucky this is accessible to us. All staff members we encountered were great. I think the admission fee is reasonable for what you get.See more..
Moraine Hills is a wonderful State Park that has a lot to offer. Several hiking and bicycle trails with multiple parking lots as starting locations for your adventure. There is a large pond (small lake) with a trail around it where fishing is possible in good weather. I have never done that but it looks very peaceful and quite and you could bring your own canoe or kayak or rent a row boat for a fun day. Wet lands provide a stop over for water birds when they are in season so it is possible to see some Geese or Herons...maybe even some Hawks or Eagles. In the right season you are likely to see many frogs or some turtles too. This property is well attended by the Illinois Conservation Department and many volunteers contribute to the care and maintenance. Friends of Moraine Hills State Park provide bird feeding stations and attract a fine assortment of song birds. You can watch them from the parking lot if you wish.See more..
4.5Sinnissippi Park(101 reviews) - Awesome Riverfront Park Parks • Gardens
On the banks of the Rock River, this park includes beautiful gardens and a popular jogging, walking and nature path.See more..
5.0Grafton Zipline Adventures(96 reviews) - Far exceeded the expectation Zipline & Aerial Adventure Parks
My daughter wanted a special birthday after covid killed our plans last year. Well she got her wish. Seven of the immediate family hit the zip lines and finished the day riding the ski life to the restaurant for a scenic dinner. Zak and Dek were great guides on the zip lines, staying professional while playfully reassuring the family chickens how safe they were. Thus, everyone had a great time and vowed to do it again real soon... thanks guys... you rock. Dinner was amazing and two bottles of delicious wine was just the right way to top it all off. AERIE'S RESORT in Grafton is a must stop on any river adventureSee more..
I was traveling through western Kentucky into Missouri and I decided to stop at Fort Defiance on the southern tip of Illinois. This was the site of an old Civil War camp (long gone). What makes it amazing is that it sits on the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, and you can walk right down to the water. There is not much there, just an observation deck, a small monument, a picnic table, a trash can, and a portapotty. Still, I was excited to stop there - a 15 minute visit. You'll probably have to drive over either river to get there.See more..
Easy to get to off of I-70. We stopped quickly as a storm was rolling in but we has the place to ourselves. This is a great view of the Arch. You can admire it from 3 different vantage points on the platform. Due to COVID-19 the bathrooms are closed.See more..
4.0Raging Rivers(91 reviews) - Stayed until they closed down for the day! Sunday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Water Parks
Along the scenic Great River Road in Grafton, Illinois, Raging Rivers WaterPark is cool when it's hot! From our zoomin' Cascade Body Flumes to our lazy Endless River, there's something for everyone!See more..
John Martinson studied art the University of Wisconsin in Madison from 1974 to 1976, moved to Galena in 1979 and opened his art studio in 1986. Located at 620 South West Street, off U.S. Highway 20, off Gear Street, west of downtown Galena, it is lovingly described as "two acres of creative steel." Open from 10 to 6 daily, visitors are free to walk through the wooded property and view more than a dozen large, welded steel sculptures. Maps are available to take a self-guided tour along a wooded path where pieces are identified by title and year. See the on-site studio where John is often working. Spread over two acres of natural outdoor space, this open air park offers an array of funky, whimsical, welded steel sculpture, including two 40-foot towers, a giant tinkertoy and a 9/11 sculpture of a tiny plane and a giant cube. Junk art? Hardly. It's fun to see what an artist can do with a piece of steel.See more..
4.0Shabbona Lake State Park(80 reviews) - Nice out of the way park for a getaway State Parks • Parks
Very nice well kept park with beautiful lake for fishing. Big campground with wooded or lakefront sites. Don’t miss the pokanoka cafe onsite by the marina! Their food is delicious and priced well for the portions . They also have ice cream and cookies for your sweet tooth. It’s family ran and friendly service . Their meat is sourced from their own farm - the pokanoka burger is yummy as is everything on menu can’t go wrong! They have indoor and outdoor dining overlooking lake which adds to the atmosphere. There is also a camp store and fishing/bait shop at the park . If that isn’t enough the town of Rochelle is only 1/2 hrs away with train viewing platform and multiple restaurants.See more..
A Peoria Park District facility, Forest Park serves as the doorway to more than 500 acres designated as part of the Illinois State Nature Preserve. The center provides visitors with more than seven miles of trails that lead through dense forest, along trickling stream beds, and over dramatic hillsides. The A-frame trail head features a small natural history museum, nature store, and a room dedicated to bird-watching. Trails and museum are free and open to the public. NO PETS ALLOWED!See more..
I visited Washington Park after a busy day sightseeing in Springfield. I walked around the gazebo and other areas before heading out to pick up dinner. Then I ordered carry out so I could eat it in the park on a bench. It was a very relaxing dinner! (There are ample parking spots and trash cans.) I walked around the Rose Garden, the Angel of Hope memorial, and the outside of the Botanical Gardens before the half hour carillon concert. More details are on their Facebook page. The park was filled with locals and the trails were in use by many.See more..
4.5Gillson Park(74 reviews) - A few changes in 2020 Sunday: 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM Parks
Lots of things have changed due to Covid. You can only swim at the swimming beach which is season passes only this year (for residents and non-residents). No day passes like other years. Same goes for parking, only seasonal parking passes for beach parking, otherwise find street parking. The free area (non-swimming) is narrow due to beach erosion so it gets very busy during the weekend. Lots of people ignore Park District staff and life guards and get into the water (at the non-swimming beach) regardless. Still a good place but please understand what is available when you come this year, things are not quite the same. Not many changes for season pass holders (no concessions and only one restroom open). All staff is wearing masks.See more..
Surround yourself with spectacular displays of spring blooming bulbs or the blazing color of autumn, the Garden offers a tranquil setting to enjoy the beauty of each passing season. Established in 1951, Luthy Botanical Garden encompasses five acres and offers over a dozen theme gardens, a Conservatory, a garden gift shop educational programming, numerous events, a rotating sculpture exhibit and magnificent floral displays.See more..
2.5Odyssey Fun World(72 reviews) - What a waste of money Sunday: 12:00 PM - 9:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Amusement & Theme Parks
If you are looking for a zombie paintball hayride ....KEEP LOOKING i wanted to do something fun for my 10yr and 13yr old boys zombie safari is a big rip off first of all it is $22 to do it. Then first half of it is just zombie cutouts to shoot and there were only 4-6 real people to shoot. Then halfway through they stop for more paintballs and want $5 for more paintballs and your supposed to get 100 paintballs but I swear I only shot my gun probably 20times ...something seems shady Do yourself a favor don't stop here keep goingSee more..
Named for a large sandstone butte along the Rock River, this park has no camping.See more..
4.5Zip Chicago(69 reviews) - Best Zipline Exoerience Sunday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Zipline & Aerial Adventure Parks
The entire experience from booking, being able to get answers before the event, check-in, guides, the course, and the family that runs Zip Chicago is absolutely the best. I would recommend the Zipline experience to anyone. We had people afraid of heights, an 80th birthday, etc and everyone of us loved it. They went out of the way to make the experience and 80th birthday event special.See more..
4.0Kickapoo State Recreation Area(68 reviews) - You’ve found what you’ve been looking for Sunday: 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM State Parks
A ravaged strip-mine site was converted into a densely forested state park.See more..
