We are already halfway through summer vacation!
While no one loves local, family fun quite like Little Lake County, we also like to discover summer adventure just outside our borders. We’ve rounded up the destinations that our writers and readers agree are “worth the trip.” All listings are less than a two-hour drive from Lake County. So open up your calendar and fill in your remaining free days with one (or all) of these locations that are great for all ages. You just might win “Best Parent of the Year.”
Cook County, IL
Little Beans Cafe Evantson
430 Asbury Lane, Evanston | 847-807-3731
Funtopia
2050 Tower Dr., Glenview | (224) 432-5435
(former location of Make-a-Messterpiece)
Maggie Daley Park
337 E. Randolph Street, Chicago | (312) 552-3000
Medieval Times Schaumburg-Chicago Castle
2001 N. Roselle Road, Schaumburg

iFLY Chicago
800 West Scott St. | Chicago | (779) 368-4359
5520 Park Pl. | Rosemont | (779) 368-4359
August just happens to be the least windy month in the Windy City, so iFLY Indoor Skydiving has taken matters into their own hands to ensure the need for wind speed is fulfilled. Enjoy $20 off Monday through Thursday throughout August at the three Chicagoland iFLY locations (Lincoln Park – 800 W Scott Street, Rosemont – 5520 Park Place, and Naperville – 1752 Freedom Drive), in honor of this forecast phenomenon. As the largest indoor skydiving operation, iFLY allows people of all ages and abilities to experience human flight in a safe, comfortable and fun environment.

For more ideas for family fun in Chicagoland, visit our Spring Break Chicago-Style series. You can also visit these family-friendly websites covering the Chicago suburbs:
Go West Young Mom – Far Western Chicago suburbs
Kidlist – Near Western Chicago suburbs
Toddling Around Chicagoland – Greater Chicagoland area
Milwaukee County/Waukesha County, WI
Old World Wisconsin
W372 S9727 Hwy 67, Eagle, WI |(262) 594-6301

Discovery World
500 N. Harbor Dr, Milwaukee, WI | (414) 765-9966
For more ideas of family fun in the Milwaukee area, visit our Milwaukee edition of Gas Tank Getaways. For activities in Waukesha County, visit Lake Country Family Fun.
Kenosha/Racine County, WI
Choo-Choo Charlie’s
5414 13th Avenue, Kenosha, WI | (262) 220-3634
Green Meadows Petting Farm
33603 High Dr. (Hwy.20), East Troy, WI 53120 | (262) 534-2891
Racine Zoo
2131 N Main Street, Racine, WI
McHenry County, IL
Donley’s Wild West Town
8512 S Union Rd, Union, Illinois | (815) 923-9000

The Quarry Cable Park and Grille
5517 Northwest Hwy, Crystal Lake | (815) 455-9688
For more ideas for family fun in McHenry County, be sure to follow our monthly column, “Little McHenry County” sponsored by Raue Center for the Arts.
Gas Tank Getaways
If you’re willing to travel further afield and have an extra few days to spare, our guide to Midwest Gas Tank Getaways provides short road trip ideas that are less than six-hours drive from Lake County.
Which of these locations will you put on your social schedule?
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