I’ve been to Illinois a couple of times in the past couple of years. One of my best friends lives outside of Chicago so we try to visit whenever we can. But other than the sites in Chicago, there are lots of other places you can take your kids to and have a great time.
I’ve put together a list of a couple of places you should make sure to visit with your children if you have the time, whether you are passing through or spending some time in the state. Enjoy and let me know if you have a favorite place that I don’t have listed.
Silver Creek and Stephenson Railroad
When you ride the steam train, “Experience steam branch-line railroading behind our 1912 steam locomotive on a 3.4-mile round trip excursion into history.” You can ride a train, see a show or visit the museum while at Silver Creek and Stephenson railroad in Freeport, Il. Cost depends on what you plan on doing.
Chicago Children’s Museum
The Chicago Children’s Museum is located at Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois. The space is designed for experimentation, creativity, and learning for all children. Tickets are $14.95 each but you can purchase tickets online and save $1 a ticket. Check their website to see more of what they offer.
Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens
Located in Palos Heights, IL, Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens is an 85-acre non-profit park that includes woodlands, prairie, wetlands, gardens and a 10-acre lake. Want some time that is low key and have beautiful things around you? This is the place to be.
Children’s Discovery Museum
With tons of hands-on education in science & engineering with 3 stories of interactive exhibits, Children’s Discovery Museum is exactly where you want to be. It is located in Normal, IL and a great place to learn or just to have some fun.
The Field Museum
The Field Museum of Natural History is one of our favorite places to visit. It is located near the Chicago Children’s museum. Did you know that it is a natural history museum in Chicago, and is one of the largest such museums in the world? We loved the dinosaurs.
