5 Illinois Summer Day Trips Your Kids Will Thank You For

If you're looking for day trips to take in Illinois that the whole family will enjoy this summer, here are 5 hidden gem-type options to consider.

Summer Fun in Illinois

Time is ticking away to get activities lined up for your kids before summer break begins. Between summer camps, bible schools, and reading programs at local libraries, Illinois has a TON of fun ways to keep kids entertained during summer break, but what about new ways for families to have fun in Illinois?

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Since most families can't afford to go on big vacations all summer long, finding cool road trip locations close to home is key.

I've lived in Northern Illinois my entire life, and I really think we are blessed to have so many cool family fun options to choose from each summer. Some of my family's favorites include:

• Discovery Center Museum
• Hurricane Harbor Rockford
• Burpee Museum of Natural History
• Summerfield Zoo in Belvidere
• Tilted 10
• Volcano Falls
• Nicholas Conservatory and Gardens

One might think with all those great options to choose from, why go anywhere else, right?

Here's the truth, Illinois is home to soo many more cool zoos, museums, parks and pools to enjoy, so why not take a little adventure to explore them all? It will feel a little bit more like a "vacation" then!

I recently went on a hunt for more cool hidden gem type attractions in Illinois that my family could drive to this summer, and here are 5 that immediately caught my eye...

Honestly, I could make a list containing hundreds of different family fun attractions to check out in Illinois, but those five are ones I'd never heard much about before.

Here are just a few more Illinois summer day trip options to consider as well:

• Raging Waves Waterpark in Yorkville, IL
• The drive-thru/walk-thru zoo at Aikman Wildlife Adventure in Arcola, IL
• Illinois Railway Museum in Union, IL