Ah, summer. The school-free months children look forward to almost as much as Christmas. What`s a parent to do?
The answer is simple. Many amusement and water parks are right here in the Chicago area, where families can beat the heat and enjoy the day at a reasonable cost relatively close to home.
One of the first amusement parks that springs to mind is Six Flags Great America, the sprawling kids` paradise that also entertains adults with non-stomach-churning rides, shows and shops.
However, many other area parks also can accommodate family outings.
So here`s a list of some area amusement and water parks that kids and adults can enjoy, with rides, water slides and wave pools that may surprise you even if you once went over Niagra Falls in a barrel. Operating hours are included, but call ahead before leaving for any of these parks. Inclement weather forces many of the amusements, especially water slides and pools, to close.
Many parks also can be rented for private parties for the day or part of the day and therefore may be ”sold out.” Weekend prices apply on holidays. Most parking is free. Group rates are available at many facilities, but you must arrange your trip in advance.
Big Surf, 411 S. Maple St., Mt. Prospect; 708-253-SURF. Owned and operated by the Mt. Prospect Park District, this wave pool sponsors Friday giveaways in which patrons can win merchandise from the Chicago Bulls, Blackhawks and White Sox, plus tickets to Great America and Santa`s Village, gift certificates, scuba lessons and other prizes. Patrons are also entered in the grand prize drawing in mid-August for two United Airlines round-trip tickets (good anywhere in the continental United States). Open noon-dusk Mon.- Fri., 11 a.m.-dusk Sat.-Sun. Resident fees are $4 adults, $3 youths (ages 6-18) and $3 seniors. Non-resident fees are $6 adults, $4 youths, $3 seniors. Raft and tube rental is $3 plus a $1 refundable deposit. After 5 p.m., $1 discount on admission and tube rental.
Bolingbrook Park District Aquatic Center, 180 S. Canterbury Lane, Bolingbrook; 708-759-2837. Open year-round, this facility features an indoor pool with 3 1/2- to 4-foot waves that operate for 15 minutes and stop for 30 minutes. Toddlers can wade in the shallow end of the pool, which begins at 0 and ends at 10.6 feet deep. Inner tube rental is $3. Bathing caps required for anyone with shoulder-length or longer hair. Hours are noon-5 p.m., 6-8 p.m. daily through Labor Day. Admission for district residents is $4 adults, $3 children (3-17), $2 seniors, children under 2 free. Out-of-district rates are $1 higher except for seniors. Reduced admission and tube rental rates after 6 p.m.
Funway Amusements, Ill. Hwy. 25, 2 miles south of Batavia; 708-879-7323. Outdoor facilities include miniature golf, batting cages, go-carts that skid through turns, and bumper boats. The year-round indoor attractions include a roller rink, bumper cars, a bike shop and a video arcade. Hours are 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Mon.-Thurs.; 11 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat.; noon-10 p.m. Sun. Roller skating open 1-3:30 p.m. Mon., Wed., Fri.-Sun. Cost is $2.50 go-carts, miniature golf and bumper boats; $1.50 bumper cars; $1 batting cages (18 pitches); $3 roller skating ($1 skate rental).
Holiday Park Resort, Ill. Hwy. 134, half-mile east of U.S. Hwy. 12, Ingleside; 708-546-8222. Everyone in the family can find something to do here, with two lakes for swimming and boating (paddle boats, canoes and rowboats available for $6 per hour, $4 per half-hour) picnic tables and grills, miniature golf ($1.50 and bumper boats $2) and lifeguard-staffed beaches. A separate Water Safari Park ($5 all-day admission price) has two water slides and a slow-moving inner tube ride. Bungee jumping is new this year, in which thrill-seekers can make the 160-foot jump with either a harness around their arms and shoulders or have it attached to their ankles. Cost is $69 for the first jump, $30 for each additional jump. Hours are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Bungee-jumping hours are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Admission is $3 Mon.-Fri., $4 Sat.-Sun. Weekday special features resort/water park admission $7. Parking is $2.
Jungle Jim`s Playland, 723 W. Golf Rd., Des Plaines; 708-640-5500. This indoor children`s facility debuted this year and features a jungle play area, mini-roller coaster, bumper cars, ferris wheel, skill and sports games and spinning tops that spin on a base as the children spin the cars. There are also food and souvenir areas. Open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Tues.-Thurs.; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Fri.-Sat.; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun. Closed Mon. Admission is $5.95 Tues.-Fri.;
$6.95 Sat.-Sun.
Kiddieland, 8400 W. North Ave., Melrose Park; 708-343-8000. The Log Jammer will make some waves in this park`s lineup of family rides this year. The water ride, opening in mid-July, features a 35-foot, 45-degree drop ending in a great splash. Most of the park`s rides are geared toward children, but attractions like the tilt-a-whirl, bumper cars and skill and arcade games may interest teens. The Volcano Play Center, with ball crawl and sand box areas, is designed for very small children. Open 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. daily through Aug. 30; hours change after Labor Day. General admission $2.95, $1.95 seniors age 60 and over; tickets for individual attractions (most average 2-3 tickets) are 50 cents. Super Saver passes, good for admission and unlimited rides, are $10.95. Seniors age 60 and over are $5.95. Discounts after 6 p.m.
Magic Waters Theme Park, I-90 and U.S. Hwy. 20, Rockford; 815-332-3260. Attractions include two inner tube rides, picnic tables, shaded areas, three water slides, a kiddie pool and slide, hot tubs, a 707,000-gallon heated wave pool and sand volleyball courts. Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Admission is $7; children 3 and under are free. Raft rental $3. Season passes available.
Pirate`s Cove, 999 Leicester Rd., Elk Grove Village; 708-439-COVE or 708-437-9494. The Magical Dragon and Castle of Camelot (formerly Western Town) are new this year. The smoke-breathing dragon is really a slide for kids and the play area has jungle gyms, tires and ropes. The bumper boats are back, along with the jungle cruise (additional tickets needed for bumper boats and cruise), Icarus Space Ship, with video screen simulating blastoff, cable slide and replica pirate ship. Hours are 1:30-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. (and 5:30-8 p.m. Wed. and Fri.), noon-4 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Admission $2 for kids who are district residents; $3 for non-resident kids. Adults free. The adjacent Disney Pool has an outdoor pool open noon-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. and 1-5 p.m., 7-9 p.m. Sat.-Sun., and an indoor pool open 7-9 p.m. Wed.; 1-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Fri.-Sun. Cost is $2 residents, $3 non-residents.
Racing Rapids Action Park, Ill. Hwy. 25, 2 miles north of I-90, East Dundee; 708-426-6751. Adjacent to Santa`s Village, this water park has a giant slide, twister tube slide measuring 400 feet, the Lazy River tube ride, a children`s area with fountains, splash pools and a kid`s car wash with sprinklers and sponges. There are also go-carts and bumper boats. Hours are 11 a.m.-8 p.m. daily. Admission $10.95; combo admission (includes Santa`s Village) is $15.95.
Rainbow Falls, Elk Grove Boulevard and Arlington Heights Road, Elk Grove Village (behind Elk Grove High School); 708-437-5048. This facility, operated by the Elk Grove Park District, has three water slides, miniature golf, inner tube ride, wading pools and more. Hours 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; noon-5 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Resident admission is $5, non-resident $7.
Six Flags Great America, Ill. Hwy. 132, just east of I-94, Gurnee (exit East 132); 708-249-1776. This 300-acre park, the area`s biggest attraction, is home to water rides, shows, children`s activities, games and six roller coasters, including the much-hyped Batman the Ride (expect to wait at least 45 minutes, but the 2-minute roller coaster is well worth it). Divided into five themed areas representing different eras in American history, the park features an IMAX movie theater and attractions for the daredevils and fainthearted alike. Open at 10 a.m. daily; closes most days at 9 or 10 p.m.;
Open weekends through the end of September (hours subject to change without notice; always call ahead to verify). Admission $24 adults; $20 children
(4-10); $14 seniors age 60 and over; children age 3 and under free.
”Twicket” validation allows visitors to return the next day for $1. The Best Buy Ticket, $28, is good for any two days in the `92 season.
The Three Worlds of Santa`s Village, Ill. Hwy. 25, 2 miles north of Int. Hwy. 90, East Dundee; 708-426-6751. This old family favorite has 55 acres with three themed areas. Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Admission is $10.95; children under 2 free. Combo admission (includes Racing Rapids Water Park) is $15.95.
Thunder Mountain Rapids Water Slides, 131st Street and Cicero Avenue;
708-371-2222. This facility`s twin 805-foot-long slides are back to cool you off again this summer. The video arcade is also open. Open 11 a.m.-11 p.m. daily. Admission is $6.50 per hour, $4.25 per half-hour; daily passes (good from 11 a.m.-6 p.m.) are $9.25.
Wright`s Family Entertainment Centers, 2635 Bernice Rd., Lansing;
708-474-8989. Miniature golf, batting cages and go-carts are just a part of what this outdoor center offers. There is also a video arcade and the children`s play area, Cooter`s Tree House, has slides, rope-climbing and a ball crawl. Hours are 10 a.m.-midnight daily. Admission free; go-carts $2 per 3-minute ride, batting cages 50 cents (14 pitches), Cooter`s Tree House $2, miniature golf $4 adults, $3 seniors and kids (5-10), kids age 4 and under $2.
