9 Kid-Friendly Must-Do Activities

1. BRAIN BUSTERS

Learn what it was like growing up on a farm during the Great Depression and the early post-war period (1930-1955) when visiting Stellwagen Farm in Orland Park (OrlandPark.org). The 60 acres still has descendants from the Stellwagen family working on the farm, which was originally purchased in 1859. Plus, visit “The world’s most perfect town,” one of the first racially diverse industrial communities when George Pullman launched the Pullman Palace Car Company. At the Pullman State Historic Site (NPS.gov/Pull), groups will experience the interactive exhibits at the Administration-Clock Tower Building, explore the factory grounds and tour Pullman homes. While in the historic district, groups can also see Hotel Florence, Greenstone Church and visit the A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum, which celebrates the contributions of porters and the experiences of the African American railroad worker.

2. FORE!!

Sure, there’s plenty of regular golf courses to choose from in the Chicago Southland, but most kids love to putt-putt for the fun of it!! Doing it in the Chicago Southland is easy at places like Ball Fore Mini Golf & Batting Cages in Chicago Ridge/Worth (ChicagoRidgeParks.com), Haunted Trails Family Entertainment Center in Burbank (HauntedTrailsBurbank.com), In The Game Hollywood Park in Crestwood (Crestwood.InTheGame.net), Space Golf in Orland Park (Space-Golf.com) and/or PGN Fun Village in Hickory Hills (PGN-Fun.com). If a Scooby Shot or Hyzer Flip is how you like to golf, there are over 12 disc golf courses in the Chicago Southland.

3. SUGAR RUSH

Sugar, Oh Honey, Honey…If you’re a Candy Girl (or Boy), you’ll love the sweet treats in the Chicago Southland. Ice cream lovers will melt at SoHo Sweets Creamery & Café in South Holland (SoHoSweets.co), Creamery in Homer Glen, The Plush Horse in Palos Park (ThePlushHorse.com), Gayety’s Chocolates & Ice Cream Co. in Lansing (EatMyChocolates.com) and/or Cunis Candies in South Holland (CunisCandies.weebly.com). Looking for nostalgic candy? Check out Dulcelandia in Chicago Ridge (Dulcelandia.com).

4. WHEELIE RIDERS

Whether you’re riding a strider, freewheeling or attempting a double, Big Marsh Bike Park’s (BigMarsh.org) 297-acre natural area and bike park is perfect for BMX bikers of all skill levels. If a leisurely family outing is more your speed, enjoy hundreds of bike trails in the Chicago Southland, including the Cal-Sag Trail and the Old Plank Road Trail, both of which include itineraries for your convenience. Scan the QR Code to access the Chicago Southland Trails App!

5. HOME RUNS

You won’t swing and miss at Homewood Bat Co. in Homewood (HomewoodBat.com), where they manufacture and sell professional-grade wood bats. And take that new bat to a Windy City ThunderBolts game in Crestwood (WCThunderBolts.com), where future MLB stars love to sign autographs for young fans at Ozinga Field, home to the 2023 Frontier League All-Star Game.

6. THE PALACE

While “Stranger Things” has The Palace for your 1980s video gaming, the Chicago Southland has multiple “Palaces” that include both classic games and state-of-the-art virtual reality experiences, like Dave & Buster’s in Orland Park (DaveandBusters.com); Gamma VR in Lansing (GammaVR.com) exclusively offers you the best in the virtual reality world; Haunted Trails Family Entertainment Center in Burbank (HauntedTrailsBurbank.com) offers both indoor and outdoor thrills and In The Game Hollywood Park in Crestwood (Crestwood.InTheGame.net) also offers indoor and outdoor entertainment.

7. DOWN & DIRTY

Roll your sleeves up and get ready to navigate the rock wall, test your balance on the high ropes or crate climbing at Irons Oaks Environmental Learning Center in Olympia Fields (IronsOaks.com). Or sit back and relax and let the ladies get their clothes grass stained on the pitch by attending a Chicago Stars FC soccer game in Bridgeview (ChicagoRedStars.com). But parents beware, a ketchup or mustard stain looms while your kids enjoy a hot dog at SeatGeek Stadium (SeatGeekStadium.com) while watching a National Women’s Soccer League game.

8. SUPER SOAKERS

Beat the summer heat at Centennial Park Aquatic Center in Orland Park (OrlandPark.org) on their slides, flume, waterfalls and lazy river, and coming soon to Calumet City, Blues Water Run (CalumetCity.org/BluesWaterRun). For a list of Chicago Southland community pools, splash pads and special events, visit VisitChicagoSouthland.com/Splashtastic.

9. COOL FUN

News Flash…It gets cold in the Chicago Southland, but don’t let that stop you from having fun. Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s Holiday Magic (CZS.org) includes ice skating beginning in November. Other seasonal outdoor venues like Winter Wonderland Ice Rink at Centennial Park in Orland Park (OrlandPark.org) and Christmas in the Commons in New Lenox (NewLenoxParks.org) offer ice skating as well. Don’t forget there’s plenty of public skating available throughout the region, including at the Arctic Ice Arena in Orland Park (ArcticIceArena.com), Homewood-Flossmoor Ice Arena in Flossmoor (HFParks.com) and Southwest Ice Arena in Crestwood (SouthwestIceArena.com). For general outdoor winter fun and games (not including ice skating), Winter on the Green at Breidert Green in Frankfort (FrankfortParks.org) is a great place for kids to have fun, but just say no if someone triple dog dares you!