Children's Activities in Lake County, Illinois

Lake County, Illinois is comprised of the northern portion of the Chicago metropolitan area. Its eastern edge sits along the shores of Lake Michigan providing many water-based activities. With several state parks, affluent suburban cities and numerous family-friendly attractions, you will find plenty of activities to keep the kids busy.

  1. Amusement Parks

    • The town of Gurnee, located about six miles in from the lake, is home to Six Flags Great America. Kids will have a hard time deciding which ride to try out first with so many choices. It has the heart-pounding thrill rides, kiddie rides and everything in between. In Libertyville, Aloha Falls Mini Golf features two outdoor courses varying in difficulty. One of the courses is centered around a waterfall with many ramps, jumps and turns to make it a challenge for any age. The beach course is a bit more forgiving providing a leisurely mini golf experience. Another golf option is in Lincolnshire. Par King Skill Golf not only has mini golf, but also an arcade, air hockey and a snack bar.

    Indoor Fun

    • When the weather keeps you and the kids inside, it is nice to have some indoor options. Brunswick Bowl in Waukegan features 32 bowling lanes, billiard tables, arcade games and snack food. The KeyLime Cove Indoor Waterpark Resort in Gurnee offers a number of excellent activities for kids. It has several tube waterslides for the big kids, kiddie splash pools for the little ones and a lazy river for everyone. The resort also features an arcade, art activities, pizza, hot dogs and ice cream.

    Outdoor Adventure

    • Chain O'Lakes State Park has close to a dozen lakes within a 2,793-acre recreational area. Kids will enjoy exploring the many hiking trails, fishing, swimming, boating and seeing lots of wildlife. Illinois Beach State Park sits along the sandy shores of Lake Michigan providing camping, hiking, fishing and all kinds of outdoor fun. The Chicago Botanical Garden in Glencoe would be an excellent stop for kids. Help build their appreciation of natural beauty in this 385-acre preserve. It has several lakes and islands, butterfly habitats, 26 different gardens and plenty of walking trails.

    Museums

    • The Lake County Discovery Museum in Wauconda provides a fun, interactive way to learn about the history of the county. It has a children's learning gallery geared to kids 10 and under. Hands-on exhibits include a leaf-blowing log, prairie themed activities and a puppet log. The facility also has a vortex roller coaster theater taking the kids through the history of Lake County in a thrilling sort of way. In Libertyville, the kids can have fun building with Legos at the C&A Robot Factory. The facility fosters creativity and machine building concepts through Legos and Lego bricks.

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