Whether you're looking to keep the kids active, get into the great outdoors, or simply unwind and relax on an Illinois family vacation, you'll find plenty of options for each. Come spring and summer, Lake Michigan is the place to be, with great swimming, boating, canoeing, fishing, and sunbathing to be had, from Chicago's city-backed Clark Street and Ohio Street beaches to the secluded sands of Leone Beach Park.
For thrill-seekers, spend the day at one of Illinois' family-focused amusement parks, from Six Flags Great America, Pirate's Cove, and White City Amusement Park on the shores of Lake Michigan to Grady's Family Fun Park in Bloomington or the gigantic Raging Rivers WaterPark in southern Illinois. If the beach isn't your thing, Illinois family vacations also boast plenty of outdoor adventures to keep you active.
Shawnee National Forest features vast, rolling hills, rustic lakes, and dramatic geological formations that provide plenty of swimming, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, and rock climbing opportunities for the more adventurous. If you want your vacation to be educational as well as fun, don't worry, the options are manifold: from re-tracing the steps of pioneers on the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail and visiting influential American architect Frank Lloyd Wright's Home and Studio to visiting one of Chicago's many world-class museums or taking in the view from the 1,353-ft high Skydeck of the iconic former Sears Tower.