The Gardner School of Lincolnshire asked our parent partners for their best ideas for outdoor fun in Illinois. If you’ve been to all of them, you’re definitely a Lincolnshire parent! Here are their collected greatest hits for the most kid-friendly recreational spots in the area:
The Chicago Botanic Garden
The Chicago Botanic Garden is a great place to educate your child about the Earth and the environment around them. The Garden offers education and recreation for your entire family with wildflower gardens, hiking trails, and wildlife exhibits. Building an appreciation for nature is a way to spark curiosity about biological processes and ecosystems. Admission to the Garden is free, and its mission focuses on preserving the environment through active education. It is the perfect destination to unplug from your busy life and dig into the nature that’s around you while educating your child about the natural world. Your family will love being immersed in nature this close to the city center.
Lambs Farm
Lambs Farm is a unique organization near Libertyville, IL, that serves both as a residential home for people with developmental disabilities and as the location of several thriving businesses that employ residents. Children love to visit the farmyard, thrift shop, country store and bakery, and of course the garden and pet center, which houses adoptable animals. A visit to Lambs Farm is also a way to introduce your child to individuals with developmental disabilities and help encourage respect and inclusion while normalizing differences.
Kids’ Castle at Deerpath Park
Kid’s Castle is an impressive, sprawling playground tucked into scenic Deerpath Park, and local parents know it’s one of the best parks in the area for children of all ages to run wild! Some come just to visit the castle’s beloved dragon, while older children appreciate the park’s numerous slides and zip lines. With so many options for play, everyone from toddlers to school-age children stay occupied for hours at this park and will be eager to return!
Glencoe Beach
Even if your family is planning their first visit down to Glencoe Beach, it’d be a safe bet to go ahead and get season passes. This sandy lakefront is the perfect place to relax and play outdoors with the whole family on spring and summer weekends. In addition to building sandcastles and digging for treasure, children love the beach’s “Sprayground,” which features slides, swings, and structures for interactive water play. For the perfect ending to a long day of play, take in stunning sunset views from out on the Glencoe boardwalk.
Potawatomi Woods
This local treasure is home to a multitude of unique local flora. At 300 acres, Potawatomi woods remains one of the largest forest preserves in the county. There are plenty of options for shorter or longer hikes to take in the sights, including a half-mile accessible trail that guides visitors along the sedge meadow, a rare portion of intact prairie land. Picnic areas and open-air shelters are set up throughout the park and make an excellent destination for a shared meal outdoors or shady resting place.
Gillson Park Beach
For hot summer days when the only thing on anyone’s mind is where to go for a swim, Gillson Park Beach should be at the top of every parent’s mind! From Memorial Day to Labor Day, families can purchase season or day passes, and Wilmette residents receive a discount on both. For grilling season gatherings, residents can reserve picnic areas or pavilions at the beach free of charge. If it’s an on-the-water adventure you’re after, don’t forget to bring along kayaks and paddleboards or reserve a boat rental on the weekends!
Lake Minear
Lake Minear is a community-supported favorite with a rich history. Said to have been formed when a gravel miner hit a natural spring, Lake Minear has been through several generations of use and disuse before the Libertyville Boat Club came together to manage the lake and shoreline. Thanks to the eco-conscious care of the club, Lake Minear is now a beautiful, clean, well-conserved landmark and a favorite destination for creating memories with the family. Grass-covered berms filled with picnic areas and shade trees that branch out into the water make this a beautiful place to enjoy outdoor play in the sun or relax with a snack in the shade, all while taking in the beauty of the water.
Belvidere Park and Ganster Pool
With its kid-friendly children’s wading pool and multi-level diving boards, Ganster Pool is perfect for families with children of all ages. Outside of the summer months, Belvidere Park features 105 acres of green space for all sorts of family activities. Parents and children can cycle, run, play baseball, basketball, tennis, or volleyball, or climb on one of several playgrounds located within the park.
The Water Works
You would be hard-pressed to find a water park with better amenities, programs, classes, and pure aquatic style. This water adventure complex is built to suit the needs of both children and adults. It features three water slides, a rapid water channel, a water playground, a diving pool, a lap pool, and a whirlpool. Since the pools are indoors, no thunderclouds can interfere with an afternoon of splashing and playing. With regular lap swims for adults and swimming lessons for smaller tykes, The Water Works will help your children mature into confident swimmers after just a few weeks.
An Exceptional Preschool for Lincolnshire Parents
Parents trust The Gardner School of Lincolnshire to care for their children during the day so they can enjoy bonding family time at home. Children connect with our engaging curriculum and caring teachers. If you’re looking for an exceptional preschool experience in the Chicago area, we’d love to share more about what we do. Set up a virtual tour to learn more about how we fulfill our mission to Lincolnshire parents.
