By Jeffrey Brian Airman
Illinois is full of great activities for families with kids. There are many fun choices for kids right in the
Chicago area. The Brookfield Zoo has kid-focused activities and shows. The Chicago Children's Museum is full of hands-on learning for the whole family. Everyone can cool down at Magic Waters Waterpark. Kids have an opportunity to learn something, get some exercise, get wet and use their imagination all in beautiful Illinois.
Brookfield Zoo
The Brookfield Zoo offers many different tours and classes for children and families. It holds weeklong zoo camps for preschool to middle-school-aged children every summer. The camp teaches conservation and prepares youth to protect animals into the future.The zoo also offers a tour for scouts to earn their "Zoo World" patch. Zoo Lab is a very popular camp series focusing on the science of running a modern zoo. Kids are given the opportunity to see everything that goes on behind the scenes of a working zoo. A series of animal encounter hands-on tours is also available. These specialized tours are great for kids to get that true one-on-one experience with the animals of their choice.
Brookfield Zoo
3300 Golf Road
Brookfield, IL 60513
(708) 485-0263
Chicago Children's Museum
The Chicago Children's Museum is a fun place for adults with kids to play and learn at the same time. You are free to walk around with your kids and discover the many hands-on displays. You can also request a guided tour and have a staff educator lead you through the many experiences the museum offers. This guide will explain how each display represents a scientific concept. These displays often offer a fun challenge for the whole family. There are areas dedicated to things ranging from dinosaurs to the science in our own backyards. The Chicago Children's Museum holds special events year-round. It holds a series of art, music, food and science days to promote kid-friendly activities and families learning together. On your way out, stop at the CCM gift and toy store. It has many educational toys, souvenirs and great art gifts.
Chicago Children's Museum
700 East Grand Avenue
at Navy Pier
Chicago, IL 60611-3428
(312) 527-1000
Magic Waters Waterpark
Magic Waters Waterpark is a great way for families with kids to take a break and cool down from the summer heat. It offers areas for every-age kid in the family. Little Lagoon is designed specifically for toddlers and babies. It has shorter water slides, splash zones and shallow pools. The bigger kids will enjoy Splash Magic Island with its 50-foot tower of water cannons and a 1,000-gallon bucket that fills and dumps on all below. Breaker beach and Wave Pool is a great place for the entire family. The 707,000-gallon pool alternates from calm to waves to mimic the ocean's movements. Families can swim and splash or just lay back on a float and relax in this huge wave pool.
Magic Waters Waterpark
7820 CherryVale North Blvd.
Cherry Valley, IL 61016
(800) 373-1679
Resources
About the Author:
Jeffrey Brian Airman is a writer, musician and food blogger. A 15-year veteran of the restaurant industry, Airman has used his experience to cover food, restaurants, cooking and do-it-yourself projects. Airman also studied nursing at San Diego State University.
