Day trip outside of Chicago with kids?

We will be in Chicago for a week towards the end of July (our 3rd visit) and already know what we want to do Chicago wise but thought that this time we might rent a car one day and take a day trip somewhere. We have two children (6 and 10). We already have a day planned to take the train to the Brookfield Zoo. Can anyone suggest somewhere that we might drive to for the day that would interest the kids as well?

Day trip outside of Chicago with kids?

Like trains?

http://www.irm.org/

Day trip outside of Chicago with kids?

You can drive to Lake Geneva in Wisconsin - takes about two hours. Or drive round the bottom of the lake to somwhere on the Michicagn shores. Many places to choose from with little towns and beaches.

Starved Rock State Park might be an idea.

http://www.starvedrockstatepark.org/

Starved Rock is a beautiful park with a large picnic area, fishing, canoeing, and a full-service restaurant. It might be a little difficult with a 6-year old, because there are miles of trails, and it feels like most of them are vertical! However, I was there last weekend and there were lots of kids, and even toddlers.

thelocaltourist.com/daytrips/starvedrockil.h…

Another place I highly recommend, especially with children those ages, is Naperville. You can get there taking the Metra from Union Station (my son loved sitting up top when he was those ages). When you get off the train head south on Washington and you%26#39;ll walk right by the DuPage Children%26#39;s Museum. Washington will also take you to the Riverwalk, (an easy stroll along the Dupage River), Naper Settlement, and Centennial Beach. Plus there%26#39;s tons of shopping. It%26#39;s really a family-oriented community.

thelocaltourist.com/daytrips/naperville.htm

If you have access to a car, you might want to visit Cantigny. It is a park just west of Wheaton. It is about a one hour drive from downtown Chicago. The park has a collection of WWII tanks to see and climb around on. Kids love this part. It has a small war museum, lovely gardens, and the McCormick Mansion to tour. There is something for everyone to enjoy.

The grounds are very beautiful and it is just a nice place to stroll around for a morning or afternoon. Then you could go on to Geneva or St. Charles--both charming western suburb villages that offer great restaurants and shops.

Thank you so much for your suggestions! I%26#39;m going to check out all these links.

My top picks would be Starved Rock in Utica or Indiana Dunes Beach. Both are about 1-1.5 hour drive, you can spend the whole day there and both areas are very unique that you will not see everywhere. Starved rock used to be non-tourisy but there have been several water parks and lodges that have since been built.These new lodges have not affected or impacted the park they just add to more selections while you are there. Either area is great for a picinic but if you don%26#39;t feel like packing one make sure you have lunch on the outside patio of the state lodge with a view over the park. There are also several little ';dives'; on the water front for the boaters but I couldn%26#39;t tell you how to drive to them.

Indiana Dunes or West Beach are right off the expressway so there are several areas to stop and dine. There is also camping at the dunes.

Lake Geneva is very nice but typical ';lake touristy'; and might not engage the kids as they would not identify anything specific like they would Starved Rock or Indiana Dunes.

Oops sorry sometimes you forget about your own backyard. I 2nd Naperville. It%26#39;s also a great day trip and do everything already mentioned but don%26#39;t forget about icecream cookies and walking on the riverwalk watching the ducks.Check with tourism and there will probably be a fest of somekind in July.

Actually if you%26#39;re up to something really different and want to make a long day trip, Wisconsin Dells north of Madison, WI would be fun for the family.

http://www.dells.com/

About 2 hours west of Chicago is a waterpark called Magic Waters. It%26#39;s located in Rockford, IL. There is also a great waterpark in Wisconsin Dells called Noah%26#39;s Ark. In Gurnee (about an hour and a half away), you%26#39;ll find a six flags and a connected waterpark.