I embarked on a mission to uncover all the family-friendly hotspots in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago. With big attractions such as LEGOLAND Discovery Center, Medieval Times, Level 257 and Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg is no doubt one of the best places to hang out with the family. But did you know that this town offers more for families?
Volkening Heritage Farm
201 S. Plum Grove Road
Volkening Heritage Farm, a part of Spring Valley, allows guests to step back in time to a Schaumburg farm as it was in the 1880’s. Chat with people dressed in period clothing to learn about farm life as it was back then. Tour the farmhouse, and then take a turn at pumping water. Kids will love visiting with cows, horses and pigs, and seeing chickens walk around freely.
Tip: Make a day out of it by exploring the rest of Spring Valley. Traverse trails, and stop by the nature center and the cabin.
Volkening Lake
900 W. Schaumburg Road
Get ready for some fun on the lake! The whole family can pedal their way around the man-made lake on a paddleboat, or even row a canoe or kayak. Families can also go fishing and picnicking or go for a .7-mile stroll. And if you’d like to squeeze in a workout, there is a brand new fitness area with strength, balance and cardio equipment.
Atcher Island
730 S. Springinsguth Road
For splash-tastic fun, cool off at this small Polynesian-themed waterpark. Plunge down the circular water slide or take it easy at the pool. Younger kids will delight in the water playground complete with tipping buckets and sprayers. At just $9 for adults and $7 for kids, this makes for an affordable day out.
Safety Park
421 N. Springinsguth Road
If you have young tots, they will love this adorable mini-town located behind the Pat Shepherd Center. Safety Park is open to the public except when you book a birthday party or when they host special events such as ‘Sundays at Safety Park.’ Children will learn the rules of safety, watch a safety-related movie and then get to ride around the park.
FireZone
1100 National Pkwy
Located in an industrial park, FireZone is THE place to drop by if you have future firefighters on your hands or just kids that want to have fun! After donning a firefighter outfit, kids can continue to explore the fire station playhouse, take part in an ambulance adventure, slide down the fire pole, pretend to put out a fire with real fire hose, and ride on their newest addition, a fire rescue boat. Your little firefighters may find that the main highlight, though, will be pretending to drive the real fire truck.
Tip: FireZone has limited drop-in days and hours. Be sure to check their schedule before going.
Trickster Gallery
190 S. Roselle Road
More than just an art gallery, the Trickster Art Gallery offers opportunities to learn about Native American Indian culture and history. Kids can step inside the hand-made teepee and imagine how Indians lived, play a traditional drum and check out the authentic artifacts. And if you happen to be a Chicago Blackhawks fan (who isn’t?), you can learn about the history of the real Blackhawks.
Tip: Stop by the farmer’s market every Friday morning from 7 a.m. to noon.
Looking for more summer fun in the Northwest suburbs? Follow along our adventures on O the Places We Go, Facebook and Pinterest.
