As a stay-at-home mom, I am perpetually bored. I am in constant search of things to do. I know it seems like it would be nice to just be home all the time, but I PROMISE you, it can make a girl go crazy. I can only hear the Mickey Mouse “Hot Diggity Dog” song so many times before I am tempted to run for the high hills. As a result, I began taking the kids out for numerous “adventures.”
We all benefit from some time out of the house, but I quickly learned how freaking expensive it is to keep up with these outings. Paying admission for 1 adult and 2 kids can add up fast, and I know darn well that I am not getting my money’s worth dragging a 4-year-old and 2-year-old around. Nothing is more aggravating to me than taking the kids somewhere and ending up $75 in the hole before we even get through the door! Not to mention the minute my 2-year-old has a meltdown, I am evacuating the place like it is on fire and I can kiss my $75 of fun goodbye! I decided during one of these episodes that we needed to start heading out to some low-budget entertainment.
It was so frustrating trying to find some of these hidden gems! The free stuff is rarely advertised, and I found a lot of these places through word-of-mouth. I was like an undercover mom spy last year, getting the scoop from random women I had never met at the playground. They probably thought I was a lunatic. It really shouldn’t have been that hard. So now….I will bestow this magical knowledge upon you!
This is my summer list! Everything on my list is cheap – $5 or less per person – if you follow my instructions. Most of it is even FREE! I am well aware of the fantastic attractions available to us in Chicagoland, but you won’t find them on this list. They are just too pricey! I live in the southwest burbs, so the things listed are within a reasonable distance of me. I categorized the list by activity. With each place I have included the address, summer hours, admission, parking and a link to the website. (If they have one, the link is highlighted in blue – some don’t have a website) I also provided some other random info that I love knowing ahead of time before heading out for a day with the kids. (Such as – if there is a picnic area, the bathroom situation, if it is stroller-friendly, etc.) I hope you can enjoy going on some of these adventures as much as we do! Happy exploring, my fellow adventurers!
Zoos:
FREE!
1000 Ray Moses Dr., Aurora, IL
Open daily from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
A small zoo located in Philips Park. Philips Park also has playgrounds, a free splash pad, a sunken garden and picnic area with tables. There are restrooms inside the visitor center. There is plenty of free parking, and most of the zoo is stroller-friendly. No concessions, but you can bring your own food/drink and eat in the picnic area. The zoo has a lot of decent exhibits for being free. They do ask for donations, but it is not required. There are donation boxes inside the visitor center and at the zoo entry.
$5 or less per person
1356 North Gary Ave., Wheaton, IL
Open daily from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
A very cute, clean little zoo! $4 per adult and all kids 17 and under are free! The whole zoo is stroller-friendly. There is a concession stand, but you can bring in your own food and drink. There is a picnic area with tables. Restrooms are on-site. Parking is free. You can feed the ducks and chickens daily. They also have a very cute “Backpack Explorer” self guided tour that my 4-year-old loves! You can rent a pack for $2 from the gift shop. (You only need 1 pack per family per visit.) The pack is full of little activities and items to help guide you through the zoo. Once you complete your tour of the zoo, you can return your completed pack to the gift shop and receive an Eco-Explorer button. There are 8 different themes to the packs, so you can get 8 buttons total throughout the summer! It makes for a new zoo experience every time you visit! We LOVE this zoo!
Gardens/Nature:
FREE!
500 N Chicago Avenue, Elwood, Illinois
Open daily from dawn to dusk
My favorite hidden gem to date! Totally free, beautiful children’s garden full of toys, musical instruments, art supplies and paths to explore. This garden has an evergreen maze, sunflower tunnel, mud kitchen, butterfly garden and so much more! My kids stay busy here for hours. Plenty of free parking. Huge playgrounds and working bathrooms across the parking lot. There are two picnic pavilions to choose from. One is inside the children’s garden and the other is by the bathrooms and playgrounds. Bring your own food and drink because there are no concessions available. Stroller-friendly. Be prepared with a change of clothes – Your kids WILL get dirty.
$5.00 or less per person
14158 W. 159th Street, Homer Glen, IL
Open weekdays and Sunday from 9:00 am – 6:00 pm, Saturdays from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm.
The cutest local farm that allows you to pick your own produce! My kids LOVE this place! So far we have picked our own strawberries, rhubarb, blackberries, cherries and apples here. They have tons of other stuff you can pick listed on their website. $5 per person to enter the field, and then you pay for what you pick by weight. (If you want to pick your produce all season, buy a Pick Pass for $25 per person. This gets you unlimited access to the field, plus 10% off your produce price for the entire year.) ALWAYS check the website before you head to the farm! They update it every morning with what is available for picking that day. The paths are all gravel and dirt, so I wouldn’t call this place stroller-friendly. We usually bring our red wagon with to help pull the produce. The farm supplies containers and bags if you need them. Since they sell everything you pick by weight, you can also bring your own produce bags or cardboard boxes if you want to be Earth friendly. (I do recommend using their supplied quart containers for berries.) I also recommend wearing closed toe shoes that you don’t mind getting muddy, a hat that keeps the sun out of your eyes, sunscreen, bug spray and old clothes. If you have little kids, I can promise your whole family WILL leave this place covered in fruit juice, mashed berries and dirt. They have port-a-potties by the farm stand, but nothing out in the field! Plan your potty checks ahead of time if you have little kids!
FREE!
2501 Highland Park Dr., Joliet, IL
Open daily from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Visit the Pilcher Park Nature Center to see exhibits of local wildlife, walk a few hiking trails, go fishing in Hickory Creek, take a walk through the Bird Haven Greenhouse, play on the playground and stop at one of the picnic tables for lunch. No concessions available, so bring your own food/drink. There is plenty of shade. Some of the trails are stroller-friendly. There are bathrooms available in the Nature Center and by the playground. Plenty of parking available throughout the park.
Little Red School House Nature Center – Willow Springs, IL
FREE!
9800 Willow Springs Rd., Willow Springs, IL
Open 9:00 am – 6:00 pm Monday-Thursday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Saturday-Sunday, CLOSED Friday
An adorable nature center full of educational fun for kids. Inside the new Green Schoolhouse and the same Little Red Schoolhouse from our childhood, you will find live animal exhibits and interactive exhibits about local wildlife and their habitats. It has a children’s museum feel to it. There are bathrooms inside, and stroller friendly paths around the nature center. There are some good benches on the grounds to stop and have a picnic. You can take a short hike around the nature trail to see some gardens, plants and wildlife – some of the trails may not be stroller-friendly if there was recent rain. We saw bullfrogs by the lily pads last year! Plenty of parking. Check their schedule of events on the website if you are looking for something extra, because they have a bunch of free, family-friendly, nature-based events throughout the summer.
Splash Pads:
- Brent Hassert Park – Crest Hill, IL
FREE!
19623 Renwick Rd., Crest Hill, IL
Open 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Plenty of free parking. A decent-sized, enclosed splash pad. It is attached to 2 different playgrounds with rubberized surfacing. It can get busy in the mornings, but lunchtime and afternoons are not as bad. There are bathrooms, a drinking fountain, concession machines and a picnic shelter attached to the splash pad area. Bring sunscreen and hats because there is very little shade here! We usually pack a picnic lunch and a change of clothes so that the girls can play on the playgrounds once they are done splashing. Stroller-friendly.
- The Promenade Mall – Children’s Play Area – Bolingbrook, IL
- Hobson Corner Park – Woodridge, IL
FREE!
2910 Hobson Rd., Woodridge, IL
Open 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
Free parking. Very basic with interactive fountains shooting up from the ground, but my kids still love it. I usually bring a couple small buckets for them to play with. Small area with a few tables to sit at, or bring a blanket to spread on the surrounding grass. Stroller-friendly. No restrooms, but a port-a-potty is there for emergencies!
$5 or less per person!
801 Blackhawk Dr., Westmont, IL
Open daily from 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
If I am going to pay for a splash pad, it better be good! When we do go here, the kids always freak out – It is by far their favorite splash pad! You pay $5 per non-resident child and adults are free. Plan to get wet with your little kids, because this splash pad is huge! (If your kids are older you might be able to get away with supervision from the side.) NO food is allowed inside the splash pad area. You can get your hand stamped and exit the splash pad to have snacks and such. There is a nice picnic pavilion, but come early to claim a table! There is also plenty of grassy area to claim with a picnic blanket, which is what we usually do. You can bring your own food and drinks for a picnic, but they also have a concession stand that offers snacks and drinks.There are bathrooms, but they are a little bit of a walk from the splash pad. There is a nice playground and a huge sand pit, so bring some sand toys to keep the kids busy. This park is stroller-friendly and has plenty of free parking.
Pools:
$5 or less per person – specific instructions below
500 W. Jackson Ave., Naperville, IL
Open Monday – Saturday 11:00 am – 8:00 pm and Sunday 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Zero-depth entry, sand-bottom pool with a couple of fountains for little ones to play in and a small slide. Also has platforms and diving boards in the deep water for older kids who can pass a swim test. Large sandy “beach” area for building sand castles and digging. My kids LOVE it here! It is pricey for normal admission and usually VERY crowded. This place makes my list because from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm you can get in for only $3 per non-resident on weekdays and Saturdays! Bonus: It is not as crowded at this time too.
Extra Details: Lifeguards on duty. There is free parking, but sometimes it fills up and you have to use the street parking on Jackson Street. Coast Guard approved floatation devices (such as puddle jumpers and life vests) are allowed. Somewhat stroller-friendly – There are paved sidewalks connecting the parking lot, pool area and concessions. Once you are in the pool area it is mostly sand and grass. Bathrooms and locker rooms are on-site. You can bring in your own food/drink. (I pack a small cooler.) They do have a concession stand/restaurant offering sandwiches, treats and drinks. There are plenty of picnic tables and lounge chairs to choose from, or bring a blanket to spread out on the grassy area. There are some shady spots too.
$5.00 or less per person – specific instructions below
16028 127th St., Lemont, IL
Open weekdays 12:00 – 7:00 pm and weekends 12:00 – 6:00 pm
A nice pool for little kids. Zero-depth entry with a few fountains to play in. A large water slide and diving board keep the older kids occupied. Normal admission is a little high, but this pool makes my list because on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays they open early for families with kids under 11 years old! You pay a discounted admission for this time slot. FREE for 2 and under, $6 per non-resident adult, $4 per non-resident child – OR – a non-resident family of 4 for $11. Not bad for a morning swim when you consider the cost of normal non-resident admission, plus less crowds!
Extra Details: Lifeguards on duty. Free parking and stroller-friendly. You can bring in your own food/drink. (I pack a small cooler.) They do have a small concession stand offering snacks and drinks. There are plenty of picnic tables and lounge chairs to choose from. Bathrooms and locker rooms are attached to pool area. Bring your own towels, hats and lots of sunscreen! Shade is hard to come by here unless you can grab one of the tables with an umbrella.
Sports:
$5.00 or less per person – specific instructions below
1 Mayor Art Schultz Drive, Joliet, IL
Click the link above for game schedule.
An affordable way to take your family out to the ballpark! A very family-friendly minor league team. They make my list because they have $2 Tuesdays – seats are $2 apiece! They have promotional theme nights such as Superhero night, Princess night, Lego night, Harry Potter night, etc. On Fridays there are post-game fireworks. On Sundays there are post-game meet and greets, so the kids can get autographs from their favorite players. After most games, they let the kids on the field to run the bases. My favorite way to go with little kids is buying $7 lawn seats. It is an open grassy area, and the kids have some freedom to run around if the game gets a little boring. Bring a blanket to sit on, and your glove to catch foul balls! If you want a regular seat it is still only $12, or you can get a club seat for $14. Parking for Slammers games is free, and you can also get to the game an hour early to enjoy discounted “early bird special” ballpark food and drink!
Music/Movies:
FREE!
Every Monday night from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at Central Square. (Corner of 9th St and Hamilton.) Click link for concert schedule.
Shop a farmer’s market, buy dinner off a food cart, let the kids jump in the free bouncy house, grab free treats (This past Monday had all you can eat ice cream, and last year we had snow cones every night), walk through the car show and enjoy a live music concert! The event is totally FREE, unless you choose to buy food/drink! Bring a blanket and some lawn chairs to claim a spot on the grass. You can also bring your own food/drink. Park in one of the downtown lots and walk over. Bathrooms inside Central Square building.
FREE!
New Lenox Commons, 1 Veterans Pkwy, New Lenox, IL
10 free movie nights total – click link above for schedule.
Starts at dusk, approx 8:00 pm. Bring a blanket and lawn chairs to claim your spot on the green and enjoy a movie outside. Concession stand available, but you can bring your own food/drink. (We have actually never gone to this, but I hear good things from a lot of people. I have no idea what the bathroom situation is. I will update this when I find out!)
FREE!
“Ratatouille” – June 3, “Tower Heist” – July 8, “The Lego Movie” – August 5 (Click link for more info.)
Movie starts at dusk (approx 8:00) on Breidert Green. (The big grassy area with a small stage in the middle of downtown.)
Bring a blanket, snacks and lawn chairs and enjoy a movie outside. Get there early to claim a good spot, and walk across the street to Kernel Sweet Tooth to grab popcorn and ice cream! (No bathrooms were on site that I could find, but I was able to use Kernel Sweet Tooth’s with one of my daughters last year after we purchased a snack.)
So there you have it. My list of local, cheap fun. Now go have a family adventure on me!
Just kidding….it will probably be free!
You. Are. Welcome.
🙂 Kaitlyn
P.S. If you liked this post, you may also like Good Cheap Getaway for some easy and quick family vacation ideas!
Great list! I picked up some new ideas. One other great one is Cantigny Park in Wheaton. $5 a carload. It’s Robert McCormick’s former estate. It has beautiful gardens, museums, outdoor picnic area and a nice playground. http://www.cantigny.org
My boys love Cantigny! They loved to climb on all the tanks that are throughout the gardens and the shredded tire is awesome for protection (girls will love it too) and don’t forget Morton Arboretum with all the treehouses, mazes, gardens, lakes and children’s play area!!!
A few more for your list! I could go all day on this topic – especially beginning with fantastic Glen Ellyn!
1) Willowbrook Wildlife Center (Glen Ellyn) – http://www.willowbrookwildlife.com/- Free wildlife rehabilitation center that is open to the public. They have an indoor animal hospital and outdoor path where you can view animals that were too injured to be released back in the wild. There’s also a nature path that winds around a pond and picnic tables.
2) Maryknoll Park (Glen Ellyn) – http://www.gepark.org/par_Maryknoll.htm- Fantastic park that is right off 355. Nice splash pad ($3 per child) but also a huge sand area, little kids playground, climbing equipment, zip line, and pavilion. The kids might also hit you up for mini golf and there’s a clubhouse that sells snacks.
3) Free entertainment at the Lakeside Pavillion at the College of Dupage (Glen Ellyn) – http://www.atthemac.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/SummerStage_Calendar2015_draft8.pdf- Who’s not up for sing-a-long Frozen????
4) Free Children’s Lunch Hour Entertainment (Naperville) – http://www.napervilleparks.org/childrenslunchhourentertainment- Tuesdays at 11:30
5) Wild Wednesdays at the Lake View Nature Center (OakBrook Terrace Forest Preserve) – http://obtpd.org/lvnc/seasonal/wild.php – Free! Wednesdays from 10:00 – 2:00. Hear a story, then go on a special hike and see the featured animal. You can also borrow fishing poles, rent a paddle boat ($3) and enjoy the nature center exhibits. Popcorn and lemonade for sale.
6) The Frog Lady at Heritage Park (OakBrook Terrace Forest Preserve) – http://www.obtpd.org/content/index.php – Free! Friday, June 19 at 1:00 pm. The Frog Lady brings over 20 live reptiles and amphibians for exciting, hands-on fun! Anyone willing may touch and even hold several of the animals after the show.
7) Kids’ Fun Day at Heritage Park (Oakbrook Terrace Forest Preserve) – http://www.obtpd.org/content/index.php – Free! Thursday, July 9 from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm. Come out for a fun day of inflatables, face painting, balloons, games & more!
8) Blackberry Farm (Aurora) -http://www.foxvalleyparkdistrict.org/facilities/blackberry-farm/ – Not super cheap… Children under 2 are free, $7 per child, $8 per adult (non-resident prices), but there are some family free days if you don’t mind the crowds. Admission includes unlimited rides on the train, hay wagon, pedal tractors, paddle boats, carousel and ponies, plus the adventure playground, discovery barn, and more.
9) Pirates Cove Children’s Theme Park (Elk Grove Park District) – http://www.elkgroveparks.org/Pirates_Cove/ – Again, not super cheap… $11 per child (non-resident). Really cute park that is especially for kids 1-9.
10) Kids Concerts at Cantigny (Wheaton) – http://cantigny.org/calendar/music-theater – Free with parking ($5) – Sundays (Rain or Shine) at Noon
11) Kids Summer Movies!
Cinemark – Summer Movie Clubhouse (Woodridge) – http://www.cinemark.com/images/smc2015/2015%20SMC%20-%20276color.pdf – $1 movies at Cinemark @ Seven Bridges – Wednesdays at 10:00 am beginning on June 10
Children’s Summer Series – Studio Movie Grill (Wheaton) – https://www.studiomoviegrill.com/Movies.aspx – $3 per person – Monday thru Friday at 11:00 am
Summer Movie Express – Cantera Stadium 17 (Warrenville) – http://www.regmovies.com/Movies/Summer-Movie-Express- $1 on Tuesday and Wednesday at 10:00 am
12) Kids Bowl Free – http://www.kidsbowlfree.com/- Register for a participating center on the site and your kids can bowl for free all summer! Each location has different age restrictions (in Lockport the minimum age is 6) but at some centers (Wheaton, New Lenox) there is no minimum age. Shoe rental is not included.
13) Kids Eat Free – http://thekrazycouponlady.com/tips/top-tip/guide-kids-eat-free-restaurants/ – Especially for when you don’t want to heat up your kitchen on hot summer day!
I love you! You don’t know how timely this was!!!
Great list, we’ve been to most but thank you for some new ideas!
Also try Willowbrook Wildlife Prarie in Glen Ellyn across from College of DuPage. It is also free, has a nice zoo of rescued animals indoor & out, bathrooms & picnic area (similar to Phillips Park Zoo) Walking path is fine gravel so a stroller or wagon would work 🙂
I’ll second the Willowbrook Wildlife Center. http://www.willowbrookwildlife.com I’ve been going here since I was a kid and now take my daughter a few times a year. She loves the “animal hospital.” There’s also a reading area inside with nature-themed books, as well as plenty of nature puzzles for small ones.
I live in New Lenox. There are bathrooms in the Concessions building. Thanks for the great list! http://www.newlenox.net/calendarView.aspx?cid=53250
Thank you for the bathroom update! I will add it to the post! 🙂
Need one for Indiana. I will venture to some of these though. Thank you!
Just a heads up they are taking out the hippos at the promenade mall to put a thru street in and I am not sure if they are relocating them anywhere.
Hi Kaitlyn! If you would like to contact me, I can give you free and cheap things to do from the Frankfort Square Park District in Frankfort, IL!
I would love a Frankfort Square list! 🙂
I would like info on Frankfort too please!
Blackberry Farm in Aurora has 5-6 free days this summer, but pretty inexpensive in general. Went there for the first time today with my 2 and 4 year old and we fell in love. Seriously! Farm animals, train ride, paddle boats, wagon rides, inexpensive concessions ($3 veggie burger!) and the biggest hit of the day? A stream lined with big flat rocks – full of happy, happy kids! LOVE! Please visit. I’m kicking myself for just discovering this today (Plainfield resident). Thanks for the kickass list! I will try ’em all!
Harvester park in Burr ridge, splash area, sand and regular park, totally free
Thanks again for your list
just wanted to let you the New Lenox movie night has indoor bathrooms attached to a concession stand that is open before, during and after the movie. We go a couple times a year and my kids love it. Sometimes they offer free things, bubbles, snow cones, or other things that go along with the movie theme. Thanks for all the info, having four kids I enjoy all your suggestions and plan on doing a few this summer.
Hickory Hills has 4 free concerts in the summer where they give out free popcorn, cups of pop and blow ups. Only thing you pay for is ice cream from the ice cream truck on site.
There is also a free splash pad in Oak Lawn, they have a huge park with electronic game the kids can play, fishing pond, basketball court, volleyball court and a cook out area that is shaded. They do have inside bathrooms at this location. Me and my children love this park and splash pad.
Where in Oak lawn?
The Round Barn in Manhattan has a few movie nights, too, and a goat and pony to check out. Great list!
Thanks for the list. Any more would be greatly appreciated even for Indiana area, don’t mind traveling a little.
Check out nwi town planner on Facebook for great things to do in Indiana. Lots of great fests listed!
This is a great list. If anyone has anymore to add please add them.
Check out Cantigny at http://www.cantigny.org for concerts and movie nights. It’s $5 parking fee great value with lots to do an see. Tanks to climb on, play ground, picnic area, Division 1 Museum and Mansion Tours.
And, you can get in for free with a city museum pass from your local library…in fact, the pass opens up a lot of great options!!
This is great thank you so much, Im a stay at home mom and Im always so bored and didnt know there was so much to do that didnt cost so much money.. SO THANK YOU SOO MUCH!!!!!
Just want to thank you for the list I have six boys so any outing becomes a lot of money
As a stay at home mom too, I understand the struggles of having three toddlers ( the oldest being 5) and no place to go that doesn’t cost you over a hundred bucks for the day. With the struggles and hope that your kids will enjoy it somehow. The places that you have mentioned, I live by and still had no idea that they existed or what they offered. thank you for this information. I plan on visiting each and every one of these.
Great info!
You could also follow my FB page and website for MORE FAMILY FUN!!
MY FAM N ME is your year-round guide to family fun!
* Listing FAMILY EVENTS for multiple suburbs including:
~ Farmers Markets
~ Cruisin’ Nights
~ Music in the Park
~ Parades/Fireworks
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There are quite a free events going on this weekend in the burbs! Get the details at http://www.myfamnme.com!
You could also join the FB page for event reminders,
activities, and giveaways 🙂
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GREAT LIST!!!!!!
Waukegan has an amazing park, Bowen Park, with splash pad, bathrooms and Picnic Pavillion and the best playground equipment I’ve ever seen. Down the road are the dunes, and in the other direction you can explore the marina with the cutest ice cream stand.
Thanks so much! There’s also a free splash pad/playground in Lisle right off of 53. It’s called Dragonfly Landing.
Thanks so much. As a grandmother of a 15 month old coming to visit for a few days, from out of state, this w gives us ideas of what and where to go.
I think Briedert Green in Frankfort has bathrooms in the strip mall just behind the stage building. They are at the far east end. Also, Bourbonnais has the Exploration Station Childrens Museum. Admission is $7 per adult or child. Under 12 months free… $1 more per person for the live animal room. Tuesdays and Thursdays are Donation Afternoons. A suggested $1 donation for admission AFTER 1:30pm. My kids love it here. The is an indoor castle to explore, a 50’s diner and grocery store to play in and a dress up area. Next door is Perry Farm, a living history farm with paved hiking trails, Indian caves, picnic areas and a playground.
Great list! No boring summer for us now!! Thank you!
This children’s museum is worth the drive, as good as any in larger cities. Come during Bear’s training camp just a few blocks away, lot’s of free childrens activities at that also, jump houses, etc.
Check out Klein Creek Farm in West Chicago,Il. It’s a little farm and museum(old farm house depicting life in the old days). They also schedule events.
Thanks for the great list! I have my 5 grandkids till the end of July (ages 6 thru 15). Most of the places sound like they’re for ages 10 & under??? Any ideas for all of them anywhere around the Oak Lawn area??
Free splash pad in oak lawn, west of central on 103rd.
Chicago ridge has splash pad too (has admission though).
Oak lawn childrens museum is a lot of fun if you get the free pass from library (otherwise it gets pricey -admission for adults and all kids over one year old!)
There are some great, free places to visit in the northern suburbs, too.
Wagner Farm in Glenview is a FREE working farm with horses, pigs, sheep, cows and chickens. There is a historical house you can look at on certain days, and a small indoor “museum” area with hands-on activities for kids. Every afternoon they milk the cow in a windowed room so you can see what it looks like. It’s run by the park district. The only thing that costs money is if you want to buy ice cream. http://wagnerfarm.org/
Glenview Park District also runs The Grove, a nature preserve area that features a cool indoor building with a lot of animals for kids to observe. Tons of turtles, snakes, some birds, fish, mice, beetles, frogs and even a chicken live in this cool place. They have crafts most of the time set up for the kids to do, in one room. Additionally, there is a nice walking path that has varying lengths and along the path you can visit a teepee the kids can go inside. We’ve seen all kinds of fun wildlife along this path. http://www.glenviewparks.org/facilities-parks/the-grove/
Right down the street from The Grove is another cool nature-y place that’s run free by Cook County Forest Preserve – River Trail Nature Center has some outdoor animals in cages that were injured that they now keep for educational purposes – a bald eagle, a fox, some owls, a hawk…. they also have an indoor area with turtles, snakes, fish, and more small creatures. Additionally, indoors they have a great play area – my kids have played here for hours. There’s a place for them to “fish” with magnet fishing poles, puppets of various animals, stuffed animals for role playing, a play table with forest scene stuff, tons of puzzles and nature games, as well as a great coloring area.
http://fpdcc.com/nature-centers/river-trail-nature-center/
We moved away and we really miss these great gems.
Peck Farm in Geneva is free and awesome: hiking trails, a silo to climb, and a butterfly garden
It’s a drive, but there’s also the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, IL. Always activities for youngsters, need to Google for times and admission.
There are also free splash pad / parks in Channahon, Il. and Minooka, IL.
This is great information, thank you!
For more FUN ideas, MY FAM N ME is your year-round guide to family fun!
* Listing FAMILY EVENTS for multiple suburbs including:
~ Farmers Markets
~ Cruisin’ Nights
~ Music in the Park
~ Parades/Fireworks
~ Benefits/Fundraisers
* LIST your benefit/fundraiser/garage sale FOR FREE
* ADVERTISE your business on our website
* GIVEAWAYS on Facebook
Don’t miss out on all the FAMILY FUN!!
http://www.myfamnme.com
https://m.facebook.com/myfamnme
This is very informative thank you so much for sharing it with us I will save this info for future referance my grandson is only 6 months old but the splash pad stuff will be fun for him next year!
Kaitlyn, where were you when I was raising my kids in Clarendon Hills years ago? You’re a terrific blogger!
Harvester Park in Burr Ridge is free and it has a zipline, There is a new elevated bike trail downtown Chicago with overlooks and stops. Thats free.
There is also a free exciting park in Naperville called Knoch Park