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Chicago has a fantastic location on the shores of Lake Michigan and easy access to southern Wisconsin, northwestern Indiana, even southwestern Michigan. Once you've exhausted all the fun things to do with kids in Chicago, try one of these great Chicago day trips; They work just as well for weekend getaways.
Weekend Getaways Near Chicago For Families
As a Chicagoan and lover of road trips, I've spent my life exploring neighborhoods—suburbs reached by public transportation and small towns within hours of the Windy City. From sparkling lakeshore towns to historic sites to natural wonders, these are some of my family's favorite day trips from Chicago.
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Growing up, we tried to include Lake Michigan on our family road trips, mostly going to Wisconsin or Michigan. But once I had kids, we discovered the wonders of Illinois.
Waterfalls abound in Starved Rock State Park, especially in spring and early summer. Photo Credit: Jason Patrick Ross via Shutterstock
This beautiful place two hours from Chicago was our go-to place when the kids were little. Along the banks of the Illinois River, Starved Rock State Park has 13 miles of trails that wind along fascinating rock formations that you wouldn't expect to find on the plains of Illinois. The area was formed after glaciers melted during a period of intense warming 425,000,000 years ago and left soft sandstone in the Illinois River valley.
Visit in the spring when the winter melt leads to waterfalls in all 18 canyons, or in the fall when the leaves are at their most colorful. This is the best place to see the magnificent fall colors in the Midwest.
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Tip: if you visit in the spring, change clothes and bring the kids' rain boots - they'll get wet and muddy!
If you plan to spend the weekend, there are campground options, as well as the beautiful and historic Starved Rock Lodge, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. But kids may prefer the water park at nearby Grand Bear Resort.
It is Starved Rock's lesser known cousin. Located just a few miles to the south, Matthiessen has similar geology and great hiking trails. But if you are visiting the area in mid to late July, this place is not to be missed. That's when the sunflower fields are in full bloom.
Disconnect from the outside world and discover the wonders of Anderson Japanese Gardens. Photo credit: Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
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Okay, snobs here in Chicago. I grew up enjoying Rockford. It ended when I visited once when my kids were 8 and 10. I had to check them out at the Discovery Center museum! Mostly indoors, it has many levels full of hands-on learning fun. But I ditched it so my dinosaur-loving family could go to the Burpee Museum of Natural History to meet Jen, the teenage T-Rex. We spent so much time there that we never made it to the Rockford Art Museum.
If you're looking for outdoor things to do in Rockford during the summer, head to Anderson Japanese Gardens. While it might seem a little odd to find a Japanese garden in the middle of the Midwest, this gorgeous Zen spot comes courtesy of a Rockford businessman. Inspired by a visit to a Japanese garden in Portland, Oregon, John Anderson decided to transform his swampy yard near Rockford's Spring Creek into a tranquil, Japanese-style landscape. For a more tropical experience, try Nicholas Conservatory and Gardens.
Just a 20-minute L Line ride on the Green Line from downtown Chicago, Oak Park is the city's first western suburb and a mecca for architecture lovers who flock there to see Frank Lloyd Wright's home and studio.
Chances are your kids won't be too excited. It wasn't mine when they found out they were going to visit the house and studio on a school field trip. I had always wanted to see it, so I volunteered to chaperone. I have heard the third and fourth plaintiffs. Then I watched with a smile as they engaged in stories about Wright's children and pillow fights over the partition wall separating the boys' and girls' bedrooms. And when my kids begged me to buy them a set of the building blocks Wright used as a child, I said no that set him on his life's path.
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My brother-in-law lives half a mile from the Chicago Botanic Garden in north suburban Glencoe, so I almost failed to include it in the round. It almost feels like a neighborhood park. But it is. Phil. More. The Botanic Garden is 385 acres of gardens and natural areas and is home to a renowned bonsai collection.
Take the kids in the fall to see model trains with scale models of the US. those marks. Or visit during the holidays to see the best Christmas light displays in the Midwest. Before you go, download the free Model Train Bingo game to play with the kids.
Strollers are not allowed, so plan to bring a baby bear or some other baby-wearing device for children who don't walk the entire time when you visit.
The Morton Arboretum in the western suburb of Lisle is an easy day trip from Chicago. Photo credit: David Wilson via Wiki Commons
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Located in west suburban Lisle, the Morton Arboretum is even more popular in the fall when Chicagoans visit this "great outdoor museum" of trees to see the fall colors.
But I'm also up for walking the 16 miles of trails (it's dog-friendly) and watching the game move from one idyllic setting to another as it progresses. (Unfortunately, there were a lot of bees that summer, and I spent more time watching them buzz than watching the actors.)
The children's garden has two sections designed to help children learn while having fun: Backyard Discovery Gardens and Adventure Woods, connected by a central plaza. Toddlers can splash through secret streams, climb giant acorns, and slide down giant tree roots while learning about plants that can be found in their own backyard and beyond.
The city, just south of the Illinois-Wisconsin state line, is home to the Six Flags Great America amusement park. This is where Chicago kids go for thrilling roller coasters and scary Halloween experiences.
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Adults, of course, are welcome to join the kids. But here's a secret Chicago moms know: The amusement park is across the street from Gurney Mills, a giant shopping mall. So if your kids are old enough to do the amusement park themselves and you're more into shopping than thrills, this is a day trip that works for parents and tweens and teens.
This northern suburb is home to the third largest Holocaust museum in the world. The Illinois Holocaust Museum houses over 500 artifacts donated by Chicagoland Holocaust survivors. It features an authentic German railway car, impressive galleries and contemplative spaces inside and out.
Kim Orlando says the museum is dedicated not only to sharing the stories of the Holocaust, but also to educating people about the importance of speaking out against hatred and genocide.
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Just 90 minutes north of Chicago, this small town on the shores of Lake Michigan is home to one of the best children's museums in the country - the Betty Brin Children's Museum. It is home to a magnificent art museum that is as beautiful on the outside as it is on the inside. The Milwaukee Art Museum is covered in movable sunscreen with a 217-foot wingspan that unfolds and folds twice daily.
With older kids, don't miss a visit to the wonderful Discovery World Science Museum. When I visited, I saw as many dads engaged in hands-on demonstrations as children.
While Milwaukee is famous for its Summerfest music festival, I don't find it family-friendly. The music was loud and plentiful and much of it was included in festival admission, but the beer flowed freely and there were plenty of visitors. I was there without children, so I managed well. But if I had brought little children, I would not have had the joy and comfort.
Just 85 miles north and slightly west of Chicago, Lake Geneva is a summer playground for Chicagoans. The lake is the draw. You can take a boat ride, lounge on one of the small beaches, or walk part of the 26-mile Lake Shore Path to see the multi-million-dollar mansions on the lake.
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The same goes for ski resorts in the Midwest. Mountain Top at Grand Geneva Resort & Spa has 20 downhill ski runs, complete with chair lifts.
The best way to see the lake is via a US Mail boat tour.
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