Making memories in Illinois-The perfect road trip itinerary for families

Create core memories with your child by taking them on a short two-day kid-friendly road trip in Illinois exploring Gurnee, Lake County and Rockford. From thrilling theme parks and interactive museums to scenic outdoor adventures, this trip, spanning 146 miles, is the perfect itinerary for spending the best quality time with family and an opportunity for the little explorers to learn and get exposed to new experiences while creating memories of a lifetime.

Day 1- Gurnee/Lake County

For an unforgettable stay, start by booking a room at Great Wolf Lodge, conveniently located about an hour north of Chicago in Gurnee. More than a hotel, Great Wolf Lodge is a water park resort experience with its enormous 80,000 square ft. indoor water park that the whole family will love. With thrilling waterslides, a giant tipping bucket, a multi-level splash-loaded treehouse, a wave pool, zero-depth entry water play areas for pre-swimmers, and more, every member of your family will have an amazing time. The resort also houses family-size bowling lanes, indoor miniature golf and an enormous redemption arcade, and the unforgettable MagiQuest adventure.Nearby is Six Flags Great America, the largest theme park in the Midwest. Roller coasters, shows and all sorts of attractions offer endless adventures for everyone in the family. Six Flags Great America features 17 heart-pounding coasters, a 20-acre water park, spectacular shows, a nighttime parade and three children’s areas. A must-try is the Tsunami Surge, the tallest water coaster in the world at a height of 86 feet.
When you need a break from the thrills, take in a bit of nature by visiting the Independence Grove Forest Preserve, a scenic 1,114-acre preserve offering a wide range of outdoor recreation and education opportunities or the Chicago Botanic Garden, a world-renowned living museum inspiring people to connect with plants. End this eventful day by stepping back in time at the Superdawg Drive-In, the perfect roadside diner to get you in the road trip mood.
Next, try out Lincolnshire’s Par-King Skill Golf, self-titled as “the world’s most unusual golf course” with two 18-hole courses, 19 moving obstacles and 7 water holes which you will find both a fun and challenging experience for pros and first-time golfers alike. The Cheesecake Factory is right nearby if you need to refuel. Also close by is Lambs Farm featuring a farmyard with a petting area and a variety of attractions like mini-golf, a mini-train ride, a cow bounce house, and an Old World carousel. There is also a pet shop, a thrift shop, and a country store and bakery for the whole family to engage and create memories.



For a great family dinner, head up to Wadsworth to The Shanty in Wadsworth. With its comfortable rustic atmosphere, this family-friendly restaurant has been featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives with Guy Fieri.

Day 2- Rockford

Let nature be your guide today. The Anderson Japanese Gardens, named one of the highest-quality Japanese gardens in North America, is the perfect place to start your day with some serenity. Inspired by calm and tranquillity, this 12-acre award-winning landscape consists of koi-filled ponds, winding paths, gentle streams, cascading waterfalls, raked gravel gardens, beautifully trained pines, and more. The Nicholas Conservatory and Gardens is another great place to get your child acquainted with nature. The conservatory includes an 11,000-square-foot plant exhibition area complete with water features, seating areas, and sculptures, all in a tropical plant setting.
Be sure to stop by Illinois Made maker Rockford Art Deli, a creative collective, located in downtown Rockford, for a souvenir. On the way, the Rockmen Guardians are also a great unique photo opportunity. Later, for lunch, try The Pomodoro and then grab a quick pastry from Crust and Crumbles before you continue your adventure.


Young and inquisitive minds need to look no further than the Burpee Museum of Natural History to dive into our distant past through a series of displays and exhibits. See award-winning exhibits such as T. rex Jane: Diary of a Dinosaur, and Homer, a sub-adult or "teen-age" Triceratops among many others. For those who need a little bit more activity, try the Discovery Center Museum which has over 250 interactive hands-on art and science exhibits, a planetarium, a TV studio, special events, travelling exhibits and entertaining classes for children and families.

Discovery Center boasts the nation's first community-built outdoor science park featuring 8,000 square feet of wooden fun including a two-story maze, water play area, dinosaur fossil dig pit and a Secret Garden. If you need a coffee to keep up with the kids, Illinois Made maker Rockford Roasting Company has got you covered. And when you are all wiped out, have your family rest at the new Embassy Suites Hotel sitting right on the Rockford riverfront.