How2Day: Things to Do With Families in the Chicago Suburbs

Chicago also has many attractions in the suburbs. Allan Baxter/Photodisc/Getty Images
Whether you live outside Chicago or in the city itself, take your family to one of the many suburban attractions. If your family lives in Chicago itself, make use of Chicago's extensive public transit system, including buses, the subway and the regional rail service, to get outside the city for a day.

The Mayan Adventure Indoor Water Park in Elmhurst (in Cook County and DuPage County) is located at the Waverton Hotel. The whole family will enjoy the water rides, which include a body slide, a tube slide and a plunge pool. There is also the more mellow tube ride down the OogabooLazy River. The water is kept at a constant 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Family members can compete against one another in water basketball in the family activity pool and by playing the Parrot Island Interactive Play Station. The park's Island Breeze Bar & Grill serves grilled food.

Brookfield Zoo, in the suburb of Brookfield, first opened in 1934 and is an important conservation center for plants and animals. Educational programs are also part of the zoo's mission and staff work with parents, teachers and children. Various exhibits replicate habitats and ecosystems from around the world. The Great Bear Wilderness contains polar bears and grizzly bears. Tropic World has different types of monkeys and orangutans. The butterfly exhibition is open in spring and summer and features North American species. The Fragile Hunters exhibition displays lions, tigers and leopards. Children love the shows starring bottlenose dolphins and the Children's Petting Zoo, which houses farmyard animals, such as ducks, sheep, cows and pigs.

The Enchanted Castle Family Entertainment Center is a favorite destination for a family day out in the suburb of Lombard. It has laser tag, mini golf, a softplay area and bumper cars. In addition to 250 games, there is an indoor go-kart track and an animatronics stage show. All the family can join in during the karaoke sessions. The center has its own themed restaurant called Dragon's Den with a separate menu for children.

Wagner Farm is located in Cook County on the northern shore. It is a fascinating insight into Glenview's history from the perspective of a family farm. The Wagners were German immigrants who worked the farm from 1885 to 1997. Today, the restored farmhouse, outbuildings and land serve as a museum of rural life. Visitors see draft horses, chickens and pigs in addition to the memorabilia at the heritage center and a 1930s-era grocery store.

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