National Parks / Natural World in Illinois

Klehm Arboretum and Botanic Garden

Rockford

Klehm Arboretum and Botanic GardenExplore every season in the Heart of the Arboretum District: majestic colors of fall, hundreds of blooming crabapples in spring, butterfly gardens in summer, and snow-covered evergreens in winter.

Shedd Aquarium

Chicago

Shedd Aquarium Strap a mask and flippers onto your imagination and chart a course to Shedd Aquarium. Have you ever sailed the Pacific Northwest on a whale-watching cruise? Gotten eye-to-eye with a shark? Or followed a sea turtle as she soared through the Caribbean? At Shedd, it's all..

Lincoln Park Zoo

Chicago

Lincoln Park ZooLincoln Park Zoo is a world of wildlife in the shadow of skyscrapers. Located within a verdant park just minutes north of Chicago, the zoo has been a natural, free oasis for generations of animal lovers, who come to hear a lion's roar echo off nearby apartment buildings,..

Brookfield Zoo

Brookfield

Brookfield ZooBrookfield Zoo is located on 216 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, and is only twelve miles west of downtown Chicago--close to everything, but a world away! The animals are waiting, so come visit today!

Glen Oak Zoo

Peoria

Glen Oak ZooThe zoo aims enhance the greater Peoria area and its appeal by providing environments for people to discover, explore, preserve and enjoy the wonders of our natural world.

Henson Robinson Zoo

Springfield

Henson Robinson ZooThe zoo is now home to more than 300 animals native to Australia, Africa, Asia and North and South America. Over 90 species of native and exotic animals are housed here among naturalistic exhibits. The zoo participates in scientific research studies and conservation efforts..

Adler Planeterium

Chicago

Adler PlaneteriumThe Adler Planetarium America's First Planetarium was founded in 1930 by Chicago business leader Max Adler. The museum is home to three full-size theaters, including the all-digital projection Defiiti Space Theater, the Sky Theater which utilizes a Zeiss optical..

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum

Springfield

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and MuseumCombining scholarship and showmanship, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in downtown Springfield, Illinois communicates the amazing life and times of Abraham Lincoln in unforgettable ways.

Magic Waters Waterpark

Cherry Valley

Magic Waters Waterpark Magic Waters Waterpark is WAVES OF FUN! Rockford Park District operates this family-friendly waterpark with high standards for safety, cleanliness, and friendly customer service. We're close by and a good value, so you can spend an enjoyable day together at an affordable..

Raging Rivers Water Park

Grafton

Raging Rivers Water Park Along the scenic Great River Road in Grafton, Illinois, Raging Rivers WaterPark is cool when it's hot! From our zoomin' Cascade Body Flumes to our lazy Endless River, there's something for everyone.

Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum

Rockford

Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum is a treasure trove of a time gone by. Rockford, Illinois businessman Robert Hall Tinker built the home in 1865, perching it high on a limestone bluff overlooking Kent Creek. His inspiration came from an 1862 tour of Europe where he fell in love..

Burpee Museum of Natural History

Rockford

Burpee Museum of Natural History Welcome! Burpee Museum is a natural history museum specializing in paleontology, geology, biology, and Native American life. We have three floors of exhibits.

Discovery Center Museum

Rockford

Discovery Center MuseumThe amazing Discovery Center Museum is full of over 250 exciting hands-on exhibits spread over a two-floor area. Out in the museum's backyard, visitors can explore Rock River Discovery Park, a giant, multi-level science park with a hands-on twist! The museum also hosts..

Illinois Railway Museum

Union

Illinois Railway MuseumThe Illinois Railway Museum, as you see it today, is the result of decades of effort by a dynamic group of dedicated volunteers. All of the buildings, track, locomotives and cars were assembled here at Union on what was once farmland. We welcome all to our Museum and..

Museum of Science and Industry

Chicago

Museum of Science and Industry Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry, one of the largest science museums in the world, is home to more than 35,000 artifacts and nearly 14 acres of hands-on exhibits designed to spark scientific inquiry and creativity.

DuSable Museum of African American History

Chicago

DuSable Museum of African American HistoryThe DuSable Museum of African American History is the first museum of its type in the country and is the only major independent institution in Chicago established to preserve and interpret the historical experiences and achievements of African Americans.

Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum

Chicago

Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum The mission of the National Museum of Mexican Art (NMMA) is to stimulate and preserve knowledge and appreciation of Mexican culture through sponsoring events and exhibitions that exemplify the rich variety of visual and performing arts in the Mexican culture;to develop,..

Museum of Contemporary Art

Chicago

Museum of Contemporary Art One of the nation's largest facilities devoted to the art of our time, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) offers exhibitions of the most thought-provoking art created since 1945. The MCA documents contemporary visual culture through painting, sculpture, photography, video..

The Field Museum

Chicago

The Field Museum Mammoths and Mastodons: Titans of the Ice Age Opens March 5, 2010 Journey back in time to live among these larger than life creatures in the most captivating, interactive exhibition since the Ice Age, as only you can at The Field Museum.

The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

Chicago

The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum Kids love this place. They stand spellbound as a just-emerged butterfly with untested wings sees the world outside its chrysalis for the very first time. They search for stick bugs camouflaged on a twig. They squish through wetlands discovering why they are beautiful and..

Chicago Childrens Museum

Chicago

Chicago Childrens MuseumChicago Children's Museum's mission is to create a community where play and learning connect. The museum's primary audience is children up through the fifth grade including their families, along with the school and community groups that support and influence children's..

Kohl Children's Museum of Greater Chicago

Glenview

Kohl Children's Museum of Greater ChicagoKohl Children's Museum of Greater Chicago is a hands-on learning laboratory for children ages birth to 8. Our 17 hands-on, interactive exhibits are designed to make learning fun for young children.

DuPage Childrens Museum

Naperville

DuPage Childrens MuseumThe DuPage Children's Museum mission is to stimulate curiosity, creativity, thinking and problem solving in young children through: * self-directed, open-ended experiences * integration of the arts, science and math, and * the child-adult learning..

Dickson Mounds State Museum

Lewistown

Dickson Mounds State MuseumThe Dickson Mounds Museum, a branch of the Illinois State Museum and a National Historic Site, is one of the major on-site archaeological museums in the United States. It offers a unique opportunity to explore the world of the American Indian in an awe inspiring journey..

Lakeview Museum of Arts and Sciences

Peoria

Lakeview Museum of Arts and SciencesThe museum features exhibition galleries, Planetarium, Illinois Folk Art Gallery, Discovery Center, valuable collections of fine arts, folk arts and natural history, and educational programming for all ages. Lakeview is the largest private museum in downstate Illinois and..

Geology Museum

Macomb

Geology MuseumFounded in 1975, the Museum of Geology is an arm of Western Illinois University's Department of Geology. Originally conceived as a learning resource center for students enrolled in the natural sciences, it also serves the general public and is dedicated to cultural..

Monticello Railway Museum

Monticello

Monticello Railway MuseumMonticello Railway Museum, an all-volunteer organization in central Illinois with an operational railroad yard open to the public. We offer train rides on weekends and holidays from May through October, regardless of weather conditions

Chanute Aerospace Museum

Rantoul

Chanute Aerospace MuseumThe Chanute Air Museum collects, preserves, exhibits and interprets aviation and aerospace artifacts that relate to the life and accomplishments of Octave Chanute, Chanute Field/Chanute Air Force Base and its technical training programs, the history of military aviation..

Orpheum Children's Science Museum

Champaign

Orpheum Children's Science Museum Orpheum Children's Science Museum Where Science Takes Center Stage! We provide children of all ages the chance to explore and learn science at their own pace in an informal setting. Our exhibits are designed to be fun, but also to teach about science.

Illinois State Museum

Springfield

Illinois State MuseumThe Illinois State Museum promotes discovery, learning, and an appreciation of Illinois' natural, cultural, and artistic heritage. The Museum's extensive collections and research activities provide the foundation for exhibitions and public programs that tell the story of..

National Great Rivers Museum

East Alton

National Great Rivers Museum This 12,000-square-foot facility is the result of a collaboration of the Corps and the nonprofit Meeting of the Great Rivers Foundation and tells the story of the Mississippi River. The Museum features state of the art interactive displays and exhibits that help visitors..

Donleys Wild West Town

Union

Donleys Wild West TownThe excitement and charm of the Old West come alive at Donley's Wild West Town in Union, Illinois. Here you can experience life in the style of the Wild West where gunslingers have showdowns, and a narrow gauge train whistles past the Blacksmith's Shop, Print Shop, Jail,..

Historic Navy Pier

Chicago

Historic Navy PierFor over 10 years, Navy Pier has been the place where all of Chicagoland and Tourists alike come together to enjoy all the fun and beauty of a day on Lake Michigan. Navy Pier is a tradition, and when you look at all there is to do and experience it's easy to see why that..

Rink Side Sports and Family Entertainment Center

Gurnee

Rink Side Sports and Family Entertainment Center Rink Side Family Entertainment Center is an indoor facility that has SOMETHING FUN FOR EVERYONE-all under one roof! Along with the Ice Rink we have: Mini Golf! A Laser Tag Arena! Hundreds of Video & Prize Ticket Games! Rides!A Snack Bar!And we are in one of the largest..

Safariland

Villa Park

SafarilandHunt down the Tiger Terror Roller Coaster - the largest indoor roller coaster in Illinois! Or discover other jungle adventures including the Safari Speedway Go Karts and Snake Pit Bumper Cars. Other exciting journeys await kids of all ages aboard the Tilt-A-Whirl and..

Odyssey Fun World Tinley Park

Tinley Park

Odyssey Fun World Tinley ParkOdyssey Fun World feature the latest and high-tech redemption games, video games, rides, and attractions for all ages.

Odyssey Fun World Naperville

Naperville

Odyssey Fun World NapervilleOdyssey Fun World feature the latest and high-tech redemption games, video games, rides, and attractions for all ages.

Knights Action Park

Springfield

Knights Action ParkSlides, Rides, Games, & Fun! Illinois Favorite Family Fun Park Is "...Where The Action Is!" Feel like practicing your batting swing? Come to where the action is. Ready to cool down from the summer heat with water slides & a wave pool? Come to where the action is. Up for..

Rocksome Gardens

Arcola

Rocksome GardensRockome Gardens are well known in central Illinois as a family tourist attraction and Amish theme park. The park entertainments are low-key, such as a horse-drawn carriage ride down to the river, or watching park staff husk corn with antique farm equipment.

Carbondale Fun Park

Carbondale

Carbondale Fun ParkThis great family amusement park features go-carting, minaature golf and a games center with lots of video games and fun!

Gradys Family Fun Park

Bloomington

Gradys Family Fun ParkGrady's Family Fun Park consists of 12 Batting Cages, 18 Go Karts, 16 Bumper Boats, 16 Bumper Cars, an 18 hole Deluxe Miniature Golf Course, a Video Arcade, and various carnival rides including, Red Baron Airplane, Dragon Wagon, Family Himalaya, Family Sizzler, Western..

Haunted Trails Family Entertainment Center

Joliet

Haunted Trails Family Entertainment CenterHaunted Trails in Joliet is one of three Chicagoland family entertainment centers comprising the Trails Entertainment Center Corporation. It began as a small arcade and miniature golf facility in 1988, evolving into today's 14 acre indoor-outdoor complex accomodating group..

Haunted Trails Family Entertainment Center

Burbank

Haunted Trails Family Entertainment CenterHaunted Trails Burbank comprises of a 3.5 acre site located on Harlem Avenue in Burbank, IL near 79th Street. Attractions include miniature golf, go karts, kiddie karts, batting cages, rides, games, a 150 seat restaurant/ party room and an outdoor dining area for groups. It..

Enchanted Castle Family Fun Center

Lombard

Enchanted Castle Family Fun CenterAttractions include laser tag, miniature golf, indoor go-karts, bumper cars, a children\'s softplay area, 250 games, and dining accomodations for 625 guests featuring karaoke, an animatronics stage show and big screen entertainment center.

Hidden Cove Family Fun Park

Bourbonnais

Hidden Cove Family Fun ParkOur year around facility offers indoor and outdoor activities. The indoor activities include: a roller skating rink, giant 3 stall slide, bumper cars, fun jungle, outdoor paintball field, miniature bowling, video game arcade, and a redemption arcade. We also offer a full..

Sport Zone Park Family Fun Center

Aurora

Sport Zone Park Family Fun CenterWelcome to one of the suburbs most spectacular family entertainment facilities. Experience the challenge of the 18-hole inspired falls mini golf as it wraps its way around magnificent waterfalls that dot the course. The rushing water, the water spouts, palm trees, and..

Kiddieland

Melrose Park

KiddielandKIDDIELAND has over 30 rides and attractions. Founded in 1929, it is Chicagoland's oldest amusement park and has the reputation of being one of the finest traditional parks in the country. You can visit our History Page to see a brief outline of how we came to be and..

Going Bonkers

Quincy

Going BonkersA great place to meet new friends, play arcade games, eat good food and exercise while playing on the largest indoor playground, in climate controlled comfort.

Jump Zone

St Charles

Jump ZoneWe are the largest indoor play arena in the Fox Valley, offering 8 GIANT INFLATABLES in an indoor, climate-controlled arena. We specialize in children's birthday parties from ages 1 to 10. We have Open!Play schedules to accommodate individual fun with family and friends.

Kids Town

Wheaton

Kids TownIndoor Play Place

Wheels Of Time

Peoria

Wheels Of TimeIn 1979, two guys had many antique and collector autos stored in various places in the Peoria, Illinois area. They started thinking about storing them in one place, such as a building on the north edge of the city. Nothing could be found that suited their needs so they..

Fox River Trolley Museum

South Elgin

Fox River Trolley MuseumThe Fox River Trolley Museum is a great place for the whole family - EDUCATION THROUGH DEMONSTRATION and FUN! There are now two destinations - The Jon Duerr (Blackhawk) Forest Preserve and Castlemuir in South Elgin. The Jon Duerr (Blackhawk) Forest Preserve line opened in..

The Hancock Observatory

Chicago

The Hancock Observatory Located in the heart of downtown Chicago, John Hancock Observatory is oh so close to the jazz and theater communities, world class shopping, restaurants and nightlife.Feel why Chicago's called the windy city! Our unique open-air Skywalk takes you to the edge, 94 stories..

Johnny Gruelle Raggedy Ann and Andy Museum

Arcola

Johnny Gruelle Raggedy Ann and Andy MuseumThe Johnny Gruelle Raggedy Ann & Andy Museum opened to the public in May of 1999, in Arcola, Illinois. We are the only officially licensed Raggedy Ann & Andy museum in the world!