Ultimate Summer Bucket List: 101 Things to do in Lake County this Summer

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We have been doing this Local. Family. Fun. thing since 2010, we know fun. In fact, this is our fifth list of things to do in the summer, each a little different all tons of fun (you can find the old ones at the end). We also have something a little extra special in it for you this year from Nestling Designs. So grab your calendars and start planning out your Greatest Summer!

Summer Bucket List
101 Things to do this Summer

Visit Lambs Farm, Libertyville. In addition to supporting a local non-for-profit while you visit the farm animals and ride the merry-go-round, there is also a nice playground there!
Be a pirate for a day at one of these Pirate Themed Parks.
Play like a superhero at Marvelocity: The Art of Alex Ross at the Dunn Museum. Try it for free on one of their FREE Thursday Night Events.
Visit a Beach! There are lots of Free swimming beaches in Lake County.
Visit Volo Bog it’s a State Natural Area and the only quaking bog in Illinois. Kari tells you about the trail in Little Hikes: Volo Bog.
Let the kids stay up late and watch a Sunset as a family.
Go on a Brick Safari at the Brookfield Zoo. It’s there all summer and we have a checklist and scavenger hunt.
Take a Story Walk several locations have short hikes with larger than life storybooks dotting the trail, read the story as you walk! Find them at Ryerson Woods, Nippersink Woods, and Heller Nature Center.

Play hopscotch or another old school game.
Build a Sand Castle
Spend a Family Day at Arlington Park, Jessica shared why it’s so fun and what to expect.
Have a YES Day and let the kids rule, and PLAY. Our friends at LFCDS tell you why it’s so important.
Learn to Dance! Little ones can join us at Twirl and Tap on June 22.
If your kids get up with the sun, we have a list of places that are for you!
Gaze at the stars at a local Astronomy Night, Volo Bog has one monthly and several libraries and the forest preserves hold events.
Wildlife Discovery Center Lake Forest is an LLC favorite, and did we mention it’s FREE?
Join us on Playground Tour! It’s going to be The Greatest Summer!
Go for a family hike, These Lake County Forest Preserves have playgrounds to give your little hikers motivation.
See a horse show like none other, the Tempel Lipizzans in Old Mill Creek is a Lake County Must-do (at least once!)
See a different kind of horsepower at a local Car Show and Cruise Nights.
Take in a Carillion Concert at the Chicago Botanic Gardens. They happen every Monday night and if you go early you can take a tour and see how it works.
Visit the Volo Bog and learn what one is and see the only one in Illinois!

Head to Bison’s Bluff in Schaumburg for an epic nature playground.
Dig for dinos and act our Jurassic World at one of these Paleo Playgrounds.
Have a campfire. Don’t have a firepit? Greenbelt Cultural Center hosts monthly Community Campfire Friday Nights.
Have a picnic dinner and enjoy the sounds of a community concert, like a mini-Ravinia without the tickets.
Don’t want to keep the kids up late? Hit up a Kiddie Concert for a rockin’ morning in the park.
What’s a concert without food? Head to Libertyville for Lunch in the Park and your kids can dance while you enjoy food from local restaurants.
Move movie night outside with a movie in the park.
Rained out? These free or cheap movies for kids are the perfect rainy day outing.
Splash pads! Tired of the local one find a different one on our list of Splash Pads and Spray Parks in Lake County.
Do your grocery shopping at the local Farmers Market and pick up a new-to-you vegetable.
Mini-Golf is fun for even the littlest putters. We have a list of some local courses and Natalie gives you the full scoop on Lighthouse Mini-Golf in Waukegan.
Speaking of Lighthouses, did you know there are some within driving distance of Lake County? Find a Lighthouse and go on an adventure.
Six Flags Great America, Gurnee: With such a variety of rides, shows, and water play, there is something for everyone. Here are some tips for going with kids and for dining there.
Sign-up for Summer Reading at your local library.
Go Geocaching. Don’t know what it is? We have a beginners guide.
Ice Cream. Have it for dinner, or breakfast, or just because. Ice Cream always makes a summer day better.

Visit Bonner Heritage Farm in Lindenhurst and let your kids play in the Agra-playland.
Visit a new-to-you library, we have the inside scoop on most of our local libraries. An LLC Favorite is the Wauconda Area Library.
Paint a Garden Gnome.
Learn to Cook with your Kids. Our Kids in the Kitchen series has some great starter recipes.
Another rainy day? Try an Arcade. Natalie tells you why her kids thing the People’s Choice Fun Center is the best day ever.
Go retro and take the kids Roller Skating.
Be a Ninja. Or at least read about them.
Take a ride on the Metra. Here are some places to stop on the Milwaukee North Line and the Union Pacific Line.
Join Camp Trike and let us tell you what to do every weekday.
Make a Blanket Fort.
Volunteer.
Have a Paper Airplane Contest.
Pick Berries. Make something tasty.
Visit a museum, there are plenty of free day options.
Visit the Racine Zoo it’s perfect for toddlers and preschoolers with a playground and space to move without being spread out.
Splash in a river, roll down hills, no it’s not Mayberry, it’s the Chicago Botanic Garden Children’s Garden.

must do september events in lake county — © M. Haak | Little Lake County.com | 2016

Spend the day in Kenosha, you can do it for practically nothing.
Up for a drive? Head to Starved Rock State Park, Natalie shared what it was like hiking with kids.
Spend the day in Chicago, we tell you how to do it for $20 or less. Don’t miss Maggie Daley Park.
Create your own Playground Crawl. Cheryl tells you how!
Visit Lindy’s Landing for some summer fun that doesn’t suck for the parents.
Go out to dinner, because Kids Eat Free and no one wants to cook in the summer.
Visit the Lake County Fair, we have tips to make it more fun with kids.
Make Sidewalk Art I like to give the kids easy geometric patterns or artist (I found them on Pinterest) we like copying Charley Hopper.
Make S’mores.
Take something apart. Give your kids $5 and head to Goodwill, The Salvation Army or the local dollar store and let them buy something that interests them, and then take it apart!
Let the kids set up a lemonade stand.
See a Play. Many of the local community theaters and park district have summer programs and shows.
Fly a Kite.
Watch a Boat parade.
See Fireworks.
Go to a Carnival.
See Hot Air Balloons up close.
Start a Parent-Child Book Club with some friends.
Visit the Volo Auto Museum and see some of your favorite Hollywood cars up close.
Go back in time at a local history museum.
Go to the drive-in, McHenry County still has one.
Do something kind for a neighbor.
Go Fishing.
Try Shaved Ice.

© C. Smith | Little Lake County.com | 2018

Go to an Art Festival we have an art scavenger hunt to keep the kids busy.
Visit a Nature Center.
Make your own Ice Cream.
Visit a Touch-a-Truck event.
Have a meal at a drive-in.
Plant a Fairy Garden.
Find a Food Truck in Lake County.
Take a Family Bike Ride.
Plan a Family Game Night. These are some of our favorite games.
See an Air Show. The Waukegan Air Show will be September 7, barely summer.
Play with the Raupp Museum in the Park this summer.
Go to the rodeo in Wauconda.
Visit the Bristol Renaissance Fair, we have a got a guide for your tiniest lords and ladies.
If you’re heading north, visit our favorite farm: Green Meadows Petting Farm.
Go camping, yes the living room and/or the backyard count.
Host a Messy Playdate.
Rent a pontoon boat for the day. There are a few places within a two-hour drive of Lake County where you can rent a pontoon. Spring Lake Marina in Antioch is a local marina that offers pontoon boat rentals.
Swim at Vernon Hills Aquatic Center. or Barefoot Bay. or Antioch Aqua Center.
Indoor go-kart racing is the new wave. Tell your kids to eat your dust at K1 Speed in Buffalo Grove this summer.
Go for a pony ride at Patch 22 in Wadsworth. (They are open on Sundays only, so plan accordingly)
Day trip to Milwaukee, WI. Our big city to the north has a huge amount of fun places to visit. Loralie has great suggestions for a Gas Tank Getaway to Milwaukee. A family favorite of ours in the Milwaukee Public Market. Tip — go hungry.
Day trip to Madison, WI. We went there for a day trip a few years ago and it was magical. The zoo, the downtown shopping, and Ella’s Deli. You need to go if you haven’t been. Also for the farmers market every weekend, but definitely Ella’s Deli. Melissa shares her ideas for a Gas Tank Getaway to Madison, and you know I think a visit to the carousel at Ella’s Deli is definitely worth the trip!
See girl power on display and catch a girls’ professional sporting event.