2013 Travel Guide
Enjoy Illinois App
Showing 1-96 of 115 items found in Outdoors & Play
Azoosment Park at Santa's Village
Azoosment Park at Santa's Village is an amusement park/petting zoo. Unlimited pony rides and amusement rides with one paid admission.
CITY: East Dundee
Magic Waters Waterpark
Some of the many fun water attractions include the five-story Abyss (a dark tunnel tube ride), the two-person Splash Blaster water coaster, Tsunami Bay (Illinois' largest wave pool), Splash Magic River, and Little Lagoon for the tykes. The newest ride is the Double Dare Drop speed slides. Each slide drops riders 75 feet, making the thrill ride the steepest speed slide in northern Illinois.
CITY: Cherry Valley
Kane County Flea Market
Browse the wares of hundreds of dealers at the Kane County Flea Market in St. Charles, held the first weekend of each month (rain or shine) at the Kane County Fairgrounds.
CITY: St. Charles
Belvidere Park District
The Belvidere Park District spans stretches of the Kishwaukee River and Mill Race. It's a great place for fishing, biking and playing tennis, and includes a playground, picnic shelters, pool, swinging bridge and the historic Baltic Mill.
CITY: Belvidere
Goebbert's Pumpkin Farm and Garden Center
Fall: festival with haunted house, corn maze, farm animals, and more. Spring/Summer: large selection of annuals, perennials, vegetable plants, trees, shrubs, aquatic plants, roses, planters, and gourmet food items. Admission is free - cost for some activities.
CITY: South Barrington
Gurler House
Bea Gurler was nine years old when her father George moved his family into the house in 1893. Her cousins, the children of her father’s brother Henry, had been living since 1888 in the Ellwood Mansion. Everyone said it was magnificent. Bea’s parents George and Zillah, evidently shared a taste in homes that favored the elegance of simplicity. It was the unimposing yet dignified structure on Pine Street–where the back door was always open. George and Henry Gurler were both prominent businessmen, and joint owners of a number of dairies. They quickly became world-famous and respected by many dairy farmers. Bea eventually made it a goal of hers to renovate The Gurler House to be the home that she once new and loved. The Gurler House hosts an annual Folk Music Festival every summer, where people are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the music. While you are at The Gurler House, make sure to take a walk through their beautiful garden.
CITY: DeKalb
Kane County Fairgrounds
Open area with both indoor buildings and outdoor displays. Special events are held here nearly every weekend, including the famous Kane County Flea Market.
CITY: St. Charles
Raging Buffalo Snowboard Park
World's first exclusive snowboard area, USASA regional event location, state of the art snowmaking system.
CITY: Algonquin
Edwards Orchard
Open August through November, come visit our farm this fall to share in our rustic culture and enjoy a taste of the season. Many varieties of apples to taste. Also available, in season, are raspberries, pumpkins, home-made goodies, and our famous apple cider donuts. Take a horse drawn ride out to the orchard to pick your own apples too. Family tradition starts here! There's a petting zoo too.
CITY: Poplar Grove
Summerfield Farm & Zoo
Summerfield Zoo is home to a large variety of exotic animals, ranging from reindeer and monkeys to camels and mountain lions. We are proud to offer an up close and personal animal experience. While at the zoo, enjoy our education and fun animal encounter presentations. Summerfield Zoo is open selected weekends May through November.
CITY: Belvidere
Fox River Bike Trail
Dawn until dusk, a 36 m. trail is the forefront of outdoor recreation passing through Elgin, St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia and Aurora. It winds along the banks of the Fox River through miles of prairie grass, overshadowing trees and blooming flowers.
CITY: Elgin
Kuipers Family Farm
Kuipers Family Farm is a 230 acre entertainment farm. U-Pick Apple Orchard September thru October. Orchard Store is open thru Mid December offering apples, pasteurized apple cider, our famous cider donuts, home baked pies, cream & butter fudge & country gifts and goodies. Have we grown a challenge for you at The Amazing Maize Maze open weekends only thru October. U-Pick Pumpkin Farm Mid September thru October features Scarecrow Acres where customers can enjoy hay wagon and pony rides, the Haunted Forest, a petting corral and much more down-on-the-farm fun! U-Cut or precut Christmas Trees Nov. thru Mid Dec. Apples: McIntosh, Prima, Gala, Honeycrisp, Jonamac, Cameo, Ozark Gold, Cortland, Empire, Fuji, Jonathan, Golden Delicious, Golden Supreme, Spartan, Shizuka, Goldrush, Blushing Golden, Breaburn, Ida Red, Mutsu, Red Delicious, Rome Beauty, Granny Smith plus new upcoming varieties.
CITY: Maple Park
Coral Woods - McHenry County Conservation District
This sugar maple forest provides the sweet sap necessary for annual maple sugar programs, and is also known for its magnificent display of spring wildflowers. Activities include hiking, x-country skiing, picnic shelters and scenic views.
CITY: Marengo
Canoe Shack
Canoe and Kayak rentals along the Fox River. These trips offer many hiking, picnicking and wildlife observation opportunities, as well as historic sites, small lime bluffs, and the country's only waterfall. Relax and enjoy the beautiful Fox River.
CITY: St. Charles
Volo Bog State Natural Area
Just 45 minutes northwest of Chicago is a state natural area featuring the state's only quaking bog with an open water center. Volo Bog State Natural Area was created when the melting of glaciers pushed deep into the ground 12,000 years ago.
CITY: Ingleside
Illinois Lincoln Highway
Take a journey on the Illinois Lincoln Highway, a 179 mile National Scenic Byway. From the Indiana border, west toward the mighty MIssissippi, you will find an adventure filled with variety, rich in history and heritage. As you travel the Lincoln Highway route across northern Illinois, take time to discover each communities' unique culture and special offerings and find a past era woven together with the present.
CITY: Belvidere
St. Charles Paddlewheel River Boats
Cruise the scenic Fox River from Pottawatomie Park in St. Charles on the Fox River Queen or the St. Charles Belle paddlewheel riverboats.
CITY: St. Charles
Boone County Conservation District
The enchanting charm of Boone County’s Buffalo Creek creates a picturesque scene of nature at its finest. With a mission of preserving nature for generations to come, the area offers numerous educational events and festivals.
CITY: Belvidere
Illinois Lincoln Highway Interpretive Gazebo - DeKalb
The Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition presents 16 Interpretive Gazebos along the Lincoln Highway, a 179-mile National Scenic Byway in Northern Illinois. The DeKalb gazebo offers a unique and interactive way for visitors to learn the significance of the highway in DeKalb while enjoying stories of the early Lincoln Highway and its other Illinois communities.
CITY: DeKalb
Royal Oak Farm Fruit Orchard
Enjoy 22 varieties of pick-your-own and pre-picked apples from August through October, breakfast or lunch in the Country Restaurant, a miniature train ride, carousel, petting zoo, gift shop and bakery, and seasonal events that include Applefest and Pumpkinfest.
CITY: Harvard
Great Western Trail
This 17-mile trail replaces the abandoned main line of the Chicago Great Western Railroad. It is a flat easy ride connecting the communities of St. Charles and Sycamore.
CITY: St. Charles
Yaeger's Farm Market
Farm products available for purchase include plants, fresh fruits and vegetables, plus a wide variety of Amish jams and jellies. A pumpkin patch and corn maze are featured in the fall.
CITY: DeKalb
Natural Resource Center
The Natural Resource Center is located at Russell Preserve, and is open to the public on weekends. The Center offers a great stop for exploration and live animal viewing for all members of the family. The Center can be reserved by school groups and other organizations for outdoor educational field trips. While there, take a walk through Russell Preserve, beneath mature oaks and hickories, surrounded by woodland wildflowers. In the winter, Russell Preserve is a great place for tobogganning.
CITY: Genoa
Richardson Adventure Farm & Corn Maze
Richardson Adventure Farm offers 5 mazes with 33 acres of maze fields. For example, there is the Finger Fortune Trail for a quick maze that only takes 10 minutes. On another adventure, the Quiz Maze, answer fun quiz questions to guide you through and if you have the wrong answers, you'll go the wrong way! Family fun at every turn in the World's Largest Corn Maze, pumpkin patch, & Christmas trees. Fans of the board game, Clue, will instantly recognize the similarity to our maze game, FSI Farm Scene Investigation. Also enjoy the 50' tall observation tower, a Zip Line that is 30' high and 700' long, the ZORB Ride, beautiful wooded picnic area, free campfires, 3 wooden bridges in the corn maze, pedal carts and trikes, feed the goats, corn cabin, concessions for sale and free wagon ride to the five acre maze (weekends).
CITY: Spring Grove
Round Lake Area Park District
Round Lake Area Park District offers visitors a wide range of activities and facilities to enjoy. They include the Renwood Golf Course, the new sports center, the Prairie Grass Nature Museum, community theatre, outdoor pool/aquatic center, fitness center, child development center, teen center, senior center and acres of picturesque parklands. Private parties/outings at any of the facilities can be accommodated.
CITY: Round Lake
Bonnie Dundee Golf Course
Offering good par fours with difficult par threes, this course is architecturally classic and slightly rolling, with medium-size greens.
CITY: Carpentersville
Wing Park Golf Course
Accessible and perfect for a quick nine, Wing Park's greens are small and hard to hit. The course is a manageable length for beginners and seniors.
CITY: Elgin
Whisper Creek Golf Course
This beautiful course is set on 240 acres rich in bluegrass, protected wetland environments, and even magnificent rock formations with casading waterfalls.
CITY: Huntley
Fox River Trail (St. Charles Illinois)
32 miles of biking, hiking and cross-country skiing featuring some of the most scenic trails of the Fox River. Points of interest include Carpenters Dam, Fox River Shores, Tyler Creek, Voyageur Landing, Shoemaker Nature Center and Fabyan Forest Preserve.
CITY: St. Charles
Sycamore Family Sports Center
Enjoy family fun at the Sports Center with a golf driving range, an 18-hole mini golf course, six batting cages from Little League to professional, go-karts and soccer kicking cages.
CITY: Sycamore
Von Bergens Country Market
In fall enjoy farm animals, pumpkin picking, a train ride, seasonal decorations and a craft corner. An annual antique tractor show is held in September.
CITY: Hebron
Moraine Hills State Park
More than 10 miles of one-way trails throughout its 2,052 acres of rolling hills make Moraine Hills popular for hikers and bicyclists.
CITY: McHenry
Marengo Ridge - McHenry County Conservation District
The major glacial feature at Marengo Ridge Conservation area is the Marengo Ridge, from which the site derives its name. Left by the retreating Wisconsin glacier, the Marengo Ridge moraine is 40 miles long and 3 miles wide, creating one of the steepest vertical moraines in Illinois, at 1,050 feet above sea level. This rugged, fire-protected topography supported wooded communities dominated by oak species. Site features hiking trails, campground, picnic shelters, scenic views, x-country skiing, and fishing.
CITY: Marengo
Chain O'Lakes State Park
Located in the heart of Illinois' largest concentration of natural lakes, Chain O'Lakes State Park is a water oriented recreation area with outstanding opportunities for boaters, anglers and skiers. The park borders three natural lakes - Grass, Marie and Nippersink - and the Fox River. The park also contains a 44-acre lake within its boundaries. Comprising of over 6,000 acres; the recreational opportunities include two campgrounds with over 230 sites with a youth group area to accommodate 150 youngsters, seven picnic areas and trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding with horse rental and horse-drawn wagon rides are available May-Oct. Hunting, ice fishing and ice skating are offered in the fall and winter months.
CITY: Spring Grove
Leiseberg Park
Leiseberg Park plays host to local Bartlett events, festivals and fairs.
CITY: Bartlett
Bartlett HIlls Golf Course
This 18-hole course features a practice range, pro shop, snack shop and banquet facilities.
CITY: Bartlett
Lincoln Highway Interpretive Mural -- DeKalb
The Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition has produced many Interpretive Murals along the Illinois Lincoln Highway National Scenic Byway and its corridor in northern Illinois. The DeKalb mural depicts the history, heritage, and events of the highway and its impact on DeKalb and the other communities along the Illinois route.
CITY: DeKalb
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Kingston Fest & Kardboard Boat Regatta!
Kingston Fest is a craft and vendor fair, live music and games in the shady Kingston Township Park. Bring your swimsuit and try the new dual slide Water Slide. Race your friends on two huge obstacle courses! Kiddie Bouncer and slide combo are $1 for tickets, 25 cents for other children’s games. Community games will be at 12:30, 1:30 and 2:30. There will be horseshoe, bags and softball tournaments. The Kardboard Boat Regatta is always great family fun, watch boats made out of cardboard race on the Kishwaukee River.
CITY: Kingston
Stade Dairy Farm
A producer of milk, vegetables and grains since 1977, the farm offers tours, and presents the annual Shades of Autumn festival during the month of September.
CITY: McHenry
Apple Orchard Golf Course
Apple Orchard is a par 27, nine-hole course with a pro shop and snack bar.
CITY: Bartlett
Lincoln Highway Interpretive Mural - Genoa
The Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition has produced many Interpretive Murals along the Illinois Lincoln Highway National Scenic Byway and its corridor in northern Illinois. The Genoa mural depicts the history, heritage, and events of the highway and its impact on Genoa and the other communities along the Illinois route.
CITY: Genoa
Chain O' Lakes State Park
2,793-acre state park and a 3,230-acre conservation area provide a water-oriented recreation area for boaters, anglers, and skiers.
CITY: Spring Grove
Boone County Fairgrounds
Location for many events including craft shows, auto shows, animal shows, softball & volleyball games, and the Boone County Fair (held in August). Also see one-room school house relocated from northern Boone County.
CITY: Belvidere
Richardson Farm Corn Mazes
Enjoy hours of fun solving giant mazes. Varying difficulty, new theme each year. Picnic area, concessions, petting zoo, and ample parking. Christmas Trees in December.
CITY: Spring Grove
Lincoln Highway Interpretive Mural - Cortland
The Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition has produced many Interpretive Murals along the Illinois Lincoln Highway National Scenic Byway and its corridor in northern Illinois. The Cortland mural depicts the history, heritage, and events of the highway and its impact on Cortland and the other communities along the Illinois route.
CITY: Cortland
River View Miniature Golf Course
Most challenging course in the Fox Valley Area! Naturally landscaped greens - multiple obstacles - sand traps - waterfall and babbling brook - windmill - lighthouse - bridges. Daily specials & discounts. Scenic views along the Fox River.
CITY: St. Charles
Golf Club of Illinois
Hailed by Golf Digest as "The best example of target golf yet built," the Golf Club includes pot bunkers, double greens, fescue-covered mounds and water hazards.
CITY: Algonquin
Villa Olivia Country Club Ski Area
Skiwee for kids 4-9 years old, snow tubing, ski, dining, golf, lessons, snowboarding, sleigh rides.
CITY: Bartlett
Lippold Park Family Golf Center
The mini putt courses have been designed with separate themes, including the handicapped accessible Sports-N-Courts with a sports theme, and Tees-N-Trees with a prairie theme.
CITY: Crystal Lake
Elgin Park District
Outdoor ice skating; new refrigerated skating system; warming shelters available.
CITY: Elgin
Spartan Meadows Golf Club
This course is a challenge for all levels, with competitive rates and a friendly staff.
CITY: Elgin
Primrose Farm Park
Park has ball fields, sand volleyball courts, basketball courts, tennis courts, soccer goal posts, playground, benches & picnic tables, parking lot, pavilion and restrooms. A great family and group park.
CITY: St. Charles
Streamwood Oaks Golf Club
Championship 9-hole course. Water comes into play on all 9 holes -- a challenge for any golfer. Full-service pro shop. The club house has a beautiful central fireplace and exterior patio.
CITY: Streamwood
Swanhills Golf
This beautiful 18-hole golf course is enjoyable for all levels of golfers, located just minutes from Rockford in Belvidere.
CITY: Belvidere
Boone Creek Golf Course
This course has 27 holes, rated at a par 71, along with nine holes at a par 35.
CITY: McHenry
Red Tail Golf Club
This 18-hole championship golf course has been rated 4 stars by Golf Digest, 4-1/2 stars by Chicagoland Golf, and has been voted one of the best values in all of Illinois.
CITY: Crystal Lake
Buena Vista Golf Course
Buena Vista is a par 32, nine-hole golf course with a driving range, pro shop and snack bar. Open seven days a week during the season, weather permitting.
CITY: DeKalb
Pottawatomie Park
Historic park offers swimming pools, picnic areas, shelters, playgrounds, sand volleyball court, seasonal canoe and pedal boat rentals. Nine-hole golf course, 18 hole miniature golf course. Multi-use community center, paddlewheel riverboat cruises, tennis courts, native plant demonstration garden, paved bike trails, fishing. Located only the Fox River Trail.
CITY: St. Charles
Countryside West
This nine-hole public golf course, opened in 1966, is a par 34 at 2,465 yards. Rental carts are available.
CITY: DeKalb
Oak Club Genoa
This picturesque, 18-hole watered course winds through wooded and lowland areas along the meandering Kishwaukee River. Oak Club is rated among the region's top 20 courses by Chicagoland Golf.
CITY: Genoa
Chapel Hill Country Club
Enjoy the delightful rural atmosphere at this semi-private facility located near the banks of the Fox River in lovely McHenry. Accept the challenge to play the longest hole in Illinois, measuring over 700 yards.
CITY: McHenry
Hunter Country Club
This 18-hole, par 72 championship golf course has a restaurant on the premises. Carts are not mandatory, as this is a walking course.
CITY: Richmond
Canoe & Pedal Boat Rentals: Pottawatomie Park
Enjoy the scenery from the waters of the Fox River! Rentals Mid-May through Mid-August. All rentals launch from the River View Miniature Golf Complex within Pottawatomie Park. Deposit required. Children age 15 and younger must be accompanied by an adult (age 18+). All rentals are subject to safe river & weather conditions. Sorry, no boat rentals on July 4th.
CITY: St. Charles
Hickory Knolls Discovery Center
A destination unlike any other--part educational facility and part entertainment venue! LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, indoor turtle pond and wetland exhibit, live animal displays, interactive floor-to-ceiling murals, birthday parties, facility rentals.
CITY: St. Charles
Oney's Tree Farm
Enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride to find your perfect Christmas tree and browse the gift shop.
CITY: Woodstock
Chalet Hills Golf Club
This championship 18-hole golf course with 6,950 yards offers bent grass fairways, and beautiful rolling hills and vistas. Power carts are required Friday through Sunday and holidays.
CITY: Cary
Prairie Pines Golf Course
Located 2 1/2 miles west of Annie Glidden Road on Route 38 in Dekalb, Illinois. The nine-hole, par 34 facility features a gently rolling course on 53 acres surrounded by farmland. Soothing views of pine trees and beautiful fields make the experience a pleasure and prevent worries about errant shots hitting homes nearby. Water features are promenant on holes number 2 and 3 and a meandering stream through the course provides ample challenge. Thinking of an outing or a family reunion? You can rent the whole facility at a reasonable price for a few hours or the whole day. Besides access to nine holes of golf and carts, "The Pines" offers fishing in their ponds, a large outdoor barbeque and plenty of space for horseshoes, volleyball, or bag games.
CITY: DeKalb
Flatwater Canoe & Kayak Rental
Come out and experience one of the best water trails in the area and one of a limited number of Class A creeks in Illinois, the Nippersink. Flatwater Canoe & Kayak Rentals encourages you and your friends to escape for the experience of this creek. This water trail offers a variety of stunning scenic views as well as unique wildlife and waterfowl native to northern Illinois. A full-service canoe & kayak company; you can expect not only superior service, but service with integrity and excellence. Accommodate the individual, a two-person outing, or corporate gatherings up to 40 people.
CITY: Richmond
Mt. St. Mary Park
Riverside park offering paved bike trails, fishing, picnic areas, shelter & tennis courts, outdoor arboretum, skateboard park, playground, canoe launch, picturesque pond and waterfall. Located on the Fox River Trail.
CITY: St. Charles
Great Western Trail
The western-most, and older, section of the Great Western Trail is located between St. Charles in Kane County and eastern Sycamore in DeKalb County. This section of right-of-way was abandoned in 1977. The 18-mile (20km) crushed-stone path traverses unincorporated rural townships, natural wetlands, some restored prairie and farmland. The trail also passes through Virgil and Lily Lake and parallels Illinois Route 64,
CITY: St. Charles
Sycamore Golf Club
This par 71, 18-hole golf club offers watered bent grass fairways, a putting green, swimming pool, tennis courts and horse shoes.
CITY: Sycamore
Turnberry Country Club
This private member-owned golf club features an 18-hole course, along with a swimming pool and tennis courts.
CITY: Crystal Lake
Ferson Creek Park
Beautiful park along the Fox River & Ferson Creek offers picnic sites, shelter, playground, fishing and and canoe launch.
CITY: St. Charles
Randall Oaks Golf Course
With undulating and quick greens, the course's front nine rolls and winds through 200-year old oak trees, while the back side is longer, with more water and strong winds.
CITY: West Dundee
River Heights Golf Course
River Heights Golf Course is an 18-hole facility that winds along the banks of the Kiswaukee River in DaKalb County, offering a challenging mix of traditional and links-type holes for the weekend player or serious golfer.
CITY: DeKalb
Green Tree Golf Course
Our facilities include indoor meeting, banquet and reception facilities for small groups or up to 1,000 guests with full food and bar service. Our nine hole championship golf course is creative and challenging. The Executive Chip ‘n Putt course is designed to be fun and flexible.Outdoor facilities include the Tikki Hut Bar and Grille, Orchard Picnic Area, mobile sound stage, horseshoe pits, bocce ball courts, badminton and volleyball sets, table tennis and card tables. We will provide children amusements per your request.We invite and will help you mix-and-match our facilities and services to come as close to, as is possible, pleasing each and every one of your guests – from golf outings to multi-activity fun-a-thons with something for everyone!
CITY: DeKalb
Bowes Creek Country Club
Bowes Creek delivers a private club experience to the public golfer! It offers annual memberships for a day, or just enjoy Porter's Pub - an English inspired eatery.
CITY: Elgin
Pottawatomie Park Golf
This nine-hole course was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr.
CITY: St. Charles
Splash Park at Campton Hills Park
The splash park has many interactive water play features for children of all ages to enjoy. Some features include spray columns, spray loops, dumping buckets, spray cannons, bubblers, geysers and water wheels. These water features are constructed on top of a safety surface. The facility has a sand play area with water and sand play toys. This facility also has deck chairs and shade structures.
CITY: St. Charles
Deer Run Golf Center
This golf center features a driving range, chipping green, putting green and adventure golf.
CITY: Woodstock
Crystal Woods Golf Club
This beautiful par 72, 18-hole golf course in a scenic rural setting features a driving range and banquet facility.
CITY: Woodstock
