If you’re looking for some fun activities for the whole family to enjoy this summer in Illinois, you should go visit Aurora. Below, I’ve put together a top 10 list with the best places to go and have fun in town.
10. Shop at Chicago Premium Outlets
Enjoy the benefits of outlet shopping at the Chicago Premium Outlets when you visit Aurora. This mall has it all, including the finest designer labels and brands, and it’s a bargain hunter’s paradise!
Besides shopping, you can also enjoy fun outdoor summer activities.
The Chicago Premium Outlets are located at 1650 Premium Outlet Boulevard, Aurora (see on map).
9. Go to the movies
Cool off from the heat of summer in Illinois by going to an IMAX movie at the Randall 15 IMAX cinema when you visit Illinois.
This Goodrich Quality Theater is located at 550 N Randall Rd, Batavia (see on map).
8. Visit the Aurora Regional Fire Museum
Visit Aurora and discover a part of the area’s history at the Aurora Regional Fire Museum while you spend your summer in Illinois. The Museum is located in the old Central Fire Station of Aurora and it features many interactive exhibits for children, families, and firefighters, too.
Getting There, Getting Water, Getting Rescued is the museum’s main exhibit and it traces the evolution of the tools and technology used by firefighters over the years. Besides that, you should also check out the horse stalls, the Vajen-Bader smoke mask and what was hidden underneath the floorboards of the former central fire station.
While you visit Aurora Regional Fire Museum during your summer in Illinois, you will also see and hear how the modern fire apparatus clears the streets with sirens, air horns, and green lights, and compare that to the vintage firefighter and fire engine clips.
Last, but not least, you will enter a fully restored 1894 fire station with five pieces of fire apparatus on display.
The Aurora Regional Fire Museum museum is located at 53 North Broadway, Aurora (see on map).
7. Go on a Chicago day trip
Take a Metra train trip to downtown Chicago when you visit Aurora to spend summer in Illinois. The BNSF Railway will take you directly to Union Station in the heart of downtown Chicago, Union Station.
Hop on a free trolley from the Union Station to a variety of fun locations downtown, such as the Museo Campus or the Navy Pier
6. Shop at the local farmers markets
Take a break from hot meals and enjoy the fresh fruits and vegetables at the farmers’ markets this summer in Illinois. Kane County Farmers Markets are located in Aurora, Batavia, Elgin, Geneva, St. Charles, and Sugar Grove. In addition, you can find DuPage County Farmers Markets in the cities of Naperville, Lombard, Glen Ellyn, Downers Grove, and Lisle.
5. Visit the SciTech Hands On Museum
Go to the SciTech Hands On Museum when you visit Aurora to be amazed by over 200 interactive science and technology exhibits on the three floors of the historic post office building. Adults and kids alike will enjoy exploring technology from ancient times to modern space travel.
During your summer in Illinois, you can also discover full-body mechanics tests in the outdoor Fox Motion Park.
After learning about science in a fun and engaging way, you can go to the STEAMart Discovery Store to buy toys, tools, and gizmos as souvenirs.
The SciTech Hands On Museum is located at 8 W Benton St, Aurora (see on map).
4. Discover Fox Valley on your summer in Illinois
Explore the picturesque little shops in the Fox Valley. Naperville, Geneva, and St. Charles are only a handful of all the wonderful cities in this region that combine the small town feeling with a downtown shopping experience. History, charm, and treasures are waiting for you the next time you visit Aurora’s vicinities.
3. Visit the Naper Settlement
The Naper Settlement combines history and fun in Naperville. It is a village museum with 19th-century houses, shops, and public buildings with a collection of historical facts and furniture.
The wonderful Naper Settlement is located at 523 S Webster St, Naperville (see on map).
2. Explore the Philips Park Zoo for free
The Philips Park Zoo is probably the best-kept secret you’ll uncover when you visit Aurora during your summer in Illinois. This small zoo features rescued animals like bald eagles, gray wolves, cougars, arctic foxes, platinum red foxes, North American river otters, llamas, and many more.
The Philips Park Zoo is located at 1000 Ray Moses Dr, Aurora (see on map).
1. Cool off in a water park when you visit Aurora
There’s no better way to cool off from the heat of summer in Illinois than in a family-friendly water park. Luckily, you don’t have to travel far to find one when you visit Aurora, as the Fox Valley Park District sponsors two local parks. They both feature swimming pools, water slides, and fun activities for the whole family.
Splash Country Water Park is located at 195 S Barnes Rd, Aurora (see on map)
The Philips Park Aquatic Center is at 828 Montgomery Rd, Aurora (see on map).
Featured image: Center for Neighborhood Technology Hey and Associates, Inc. / CC BY-SA
Mirela Letailleur is a Romanian travel blogger living in the South of France. She writes on The Travel Bunny travel blog about affordable travel in Europe, creator of unique free travel guides, local travel expert. Problem solver. Wannabe coffee guru.
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