Summer is starting to look a little bit more normal this year. If you’re like my family and I and are making up for lost time, then you may be eager to make the most out of this summer. Not sure what to do? Believe me, there is so much out there! If you need a little help, look no further. Here are some ideas of what to do in the Chicago area this summer. The hard part this year will be deciding how to fit in all the fun! So what are you waiting for – get out and start enjoying the summer!

I’ll be continually adding items so bookmark this page.

• Pick your very own luscious strawberries from the vine. We had a fun time at Heider’s Berry Farm a few years back.  For a laid back experience, Cody’s Farm is one not to miss. One of our favorite places, Stade’s, will also have strawberry picking this year. Check out our adventure a couple years back. (McHenry). Last year, we had fun strawberry picking at Tom’s Farm Market. (Huntley) Here’s a roundup of our favorite strawberry picking spots.
• Grow a caterpillar or frog or ladybug! Both kids and adults will be fascinated with “growing” their own butterfly.
• Find a new favorite ice cream place. Try Julie Ann’s Custard (Crystal Lake) or Rusty’s Malt Shop (Richmond) or Milk House Ice Cream (Pingree Grove) or Cary Dairy (Cary).
• Celebrate National Donut Day on June 3rd and grab donuts from a new spot. 
• Tie dye anything is super trendy right now. Why not commemorate this summer with your own tie dye t-shirt or socks or a hat? Here’s a fun take on a Fourth of July tie dye shirt. We made our own last summer through our library and had a blast!
• Go on a pony ride at Tower Hill Stables (Hampshire)
• Blow bubbles or make your own bubbles. Here’s a quick recipe: 4 cups warm water, 1/2 cup dish soap, 1/2 cup sugar. Mix sugar and water and stir sugar until it dissolves. Add dish soap and stir. If you have the patience, let it sit for a few hours.
• Have a Dole Whip battle. Disney has released their official Dole Whip recipe and so has Holiday World (one of our fav amusement parks in the Midwest.) Try both and see which one the family likes better.
• Walk through a bog. What’s a bog? Learn all about it at the Volo Bog nature center then walk through yourself. While you there head to their unstructured nature play space. (Volo)
• Roar! Say hi to the dinosaurs at Dinosaur Gardens at Volo Auto Museum. While you’re here, you need to see all the cool cars! (Volo)
• Hike at a state park. A couple of our favorites in Illinois include Matthiessen State Park and Starved Rock.
• Ready for a self-guided adventure? Check out McHenry County’s District’s Activities in a Box program. Choose a different theme each week, pick up a kit, and participate.
• Visit a zoo AND an amusement park AND water park! Santa’s Village Azoosment is the best of ALL worlds! (East Dundee)
• Rainy day? No worries. Play retro arcade games at Underground Retrocade. (West Dundee)
• Tee up! Mini golf spots are slowly opening up. Some include Lippold Family Golf Center (Crystal Lake) or River View Miniature Golf (St. Charles)
• Go on a playground crawl to find the best new playground.  Some favorites include Deicke Park and South Ridge Park.
• Taste delicious gourmet popcorn at Mama Lee’s Gourmet Popcorn. (Elgin, West Dundee)
• Read, read, and read. Join your local library reading program or take part in the Scholastic Read-a-Palooza.
• Bike the Fox River Bike Trail and explore many of the family-friendly stops like Van’s Ice Cream and Dairy Queen.
• Farmers Markets are happening again this summer. Time to go pick fresh produce at a farmer’s market. One of our favorites is Woodstock Farmer’s Market on the historic square. (Woodstock)
• Find the “secret” waterfall in South Elgin.
• Waterparks are now open. Splash around at Raging Waves. (Yorkville)
• Celebrate National Donut Day with a self-guided donut crawl!
• Have you tried geocaching? We’ll definitely be outside more this summer and we’d like to try this. Sounds fun! Here are great tips from Travel Inspired Living.
• Sip on bubble tea! Some of our favorite spots include Umbrella Tea House (Schaumburg), Presotea (Crystal Lake), Tours de Jour (Schaumburg)
• Try a new sport. How about disc golf? Besides a disc, it’s totally free! Try it at Fel-Pro RRR (Cary) or Lippold Park (Crystal Lake) or Randall Oaks Park (West Dundee)
• Find your favorite sculpture at International Sculpture Park (Schaumburg), Mount St. Mary’s Sculpture Park (St. Charles), or Nathan Manilow Park.
• Spend half a day explore Randall Oaks Park where they have a zoo, a playground, and a “hidden playground.” (West Dundee) Make sure to pack a picnic!
• Become an Outdoor Explorer! Sign up through McHenry County Conservation District and receive a booklet of fun ideas for the outdoors. Complete 10 of the pages and receive a prize!
• See Elk at Busse Woods. Review here. (Elk Grove Village)
• Go on a unique animal encounter. How about goat yoga or a chance to walk goats? Or meet and feed alpacas? Here are more animal encounters for you to try.
• Go fish! Catch and release fishing is available at Twin Lakes. Rent a boat for more fun! (Palatine)
• Try foods from a different culture. For Filipino food, try Pinoy Street Grill (Arlington Heights). Asian food at Roll n Donuts Cafe never disappoints. (Algonquin)
• Get lost in a sunflower maze. We had an absolutely amazing time at Von Bergen’s and Goebbert’s. Stay tuned for the newest sunflower fest at Richardson’s Adventure Farm.

• Pretend you’re Bill Murray from Groundhog Day and take a walking tour around downtown Woodstock.
• Follow the Julie Ann’s custard truck! On Fridays and Saturdays it will be at Veteran Acres (1-8 p.m.)  (Crystal Lake) Check their schedule here. Pro tip: Pack the bathing suits and splash away at the free splash pad here.
• Have a special occasion to celebrate? Or geek out over science? Have the Purple Me Green science truck come to your house.
• Watch butterflies fly all around you at Crystal Lake Butterfly House at their Nature Center. (Crystal Lake)
• Plant a fairy garden. We adore this Fairy Garden Nature Cottage!
• Discover your favorite Asian foods at Mitsuwa. Grab some noodles for lunch. (Arlington Heights)
• Pedal a paddleboat on the lake at Twin Lakes Recreation Area (Palatine) or rent a cool dragon paddleboat at Main Beach (Crystal Lake)
• Buy candy at an old-time candy shop like Around the Corner Candy. (West Dundee)
• Witness how donuts are made at Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. Call first to see when they have a fresh batch cooking.  (Elk Grove Village)
• Catch a flick at the drive-in. As the Chicagoland’s only option, The McHenry Outdoor Theater is one you can’t miss, has been opened since 1955. For a bargain, pack the car on Tuesdays for $12 admission per car. Read about our experience here. (McHenry)
• Visit two Joliet gems: take a hike and then visit the greenhouse. (Joliet)
• Take photos at the picturesque Walton Island Park. (Elgin)
• Go on an art walk to find sculptures and murals. (Elgin)
• Discover all that Rosemont has to offer. Review here. (Rosemont)
• Enjoy the beautiful gardens at Friendship Park Conservatory. Read a review by Queen of the Land of Twigs and Berries. (Des Plaines)
• Play at a nature play space. Try Wahoo Woods (East Dundee), Chipmunk Woods at Volo Bog (Ingleside), Prairie Patch at Lincoln Marsh (Wheaton), Crab Tree Nature Center (Barrington), Lake Katherine (Palos Heights), Heller Nature Center (Highland Park).
• Climb the tanks at Cantigny, then take a stroll around the gardens. This summer they are adding “Alebrijes: Creatures of a Dream World” featuring mythical animals inspired by Mexican folklore. Don’t believe me? Here are more reasons why you NEED to visit at Cantigny. (Wheaton)
• Try a new unique treat – rolled ice cream! You can’t go wrong with any of the flavors at Moo’s (Aurora) or Coco Rolls (Crystal Lake).
• Have the next American Ninja Warrior? The ninja park in Schaumburg or Homer Glen or South Ridge Park in Hoffman will definitely satisfy.
• Looking for a quick trip over the border in Wisconsin? Lake Geneva never disappoints or a trip to Kenosha’s downtown and lakefront would be fun. The Racine Zoo offers a walk thru safari.
• The animals have missed you! Visit them at any of the major Chicagoland zoos like Brookfield Zoo or Lincoln Park Zoo. If you’re up for a mini road trip, the Milwaukee Zoo is great too.
• Get ice cream from the ice cream truck. Nothing says summer like ice cream from the summer truck!
• Explore Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens. Find waterfalls, an easy picturesque mile hike around the Lake, a nature play area, and gardens! (Palos Heights)
• Go on the ultimate classic road trip on Route 66 in Illinois.
• Frida is invading Chicagoland this summer with the new exhibition of Frida Kahlo: Timeless. And yes, it’s kid-friendly! Read all about it here. (Glen Ellyn)
• The Morton Arboretum is always worth a visit. See their newest Human + Nature exhibit. (Lisle)
• Step into the whimsical Children’s Garden in Elwood. Totally free!

• Take a hike and see horses? Yes, please. Hike at Danada then hit up the Sensory Garden in Lisle for a fun horse-themed trip.
• Spend an affordable day out enjoying Lords Park with a brand new playground (free), the Elgin Public Museum ($2/pp), and a small zoo (free). (Elgin) Read all about the fun here.
• Have a play date at Peppa Pig World of Play. 
• Love the circus? Circus Vazquez comes to Old Orchard in June.

What’s on your 2021 summer bucket list? Do you have any ideas for a fun summer that I forgot to include?