Suburb Activity: Haunted Trails

If you are like me, you may have thought Haunted Trails was something open during the Halloween Season. But we were wrong! It is a Family Entertainment Center and open year round!

This entertainment center houses go karts, mini golf, rides, an arcade, and batting cages. There is a walk up counter style restaurant with quick service pizza, tacos, etc.

For the Go Karts, there are two levels (based on child's height) - one is a small kart the younger kids can drive (the 5-8 year olds we were with took about 534 turns around those tracks) and a larger kart and track for kids 54" or taller (or they can ride along with an adult).

This is a nice 18-hole course with a few fun experiences - of course with a haunted house theme.

The kids went a few times on the Small Roller Coaster and Crazy Cups ride (think of those spinning and turning rides that make you sick? Yep, same). Don't recommend letting them go on the Cups two times in a row, unless you want them pale and puke-y.

We wanted to maximize our time outside, so didn't spend time at the arcade or lazer room. While we didn't have time to try the batting cages, it looked like the variety of pitching speeds would have worked well for our 8 year old, but the slowest setting would have still been a bit too fast for our 6 year old.

Noteworthy:

• As we live on the South Side, this was an easy drive to the Burbank location.
• Good facility, service staff is friendly!
• Go Karts was definitely the biggest draw for us.
• Both moms got ill on the Crazy Cups. 

Age Recommendations: 5 years old+
The batting cages, mini golf, and go karts are a fit for all ages!

Cost Savings:
They sell packages/person which we took advantage of and have coupon deals on their site!

Location/Transportation:
Located in three suburbs: Burbank, Joliet, and Lombard (Enchanted Castle in this location)

At the Burbank location, there is a small parking area for cars.

Kid's Jury: 5 stars
We went with a group of kids and everyone had a great time!  (again, go karts were definitely the favorite among them)

Annual Event: Touch a Truck

If the weather is beautiful and you have a 3 year old interested in anything on wheels -- Glen Ellyn's Touch a Truck event.

Figuring my 5 year old son may be too old, my youngest and I left him and the husband at home.

There was a huge variety of trucks and vehicles, including a tow truck, emergency trucks, and a steam roller.  With the great weather, we were not the only ones seeking activities outdoors.  The attendance was strong, and turns out everything my son wanted to see was exactly what every other child was interested in touching.

So lines were not in our favor at the fire truck or ambulance.

Fortunately, we were content poking around the other options (favorites were the tow truck, train, and steam roller).  Additionally, Maryknoll Park is beautiful and had a lot of entertainment options.  We could have made the trip into a full day.

The park had two separate playground areas (including a small-person zip line (photo below) and unique merry go round climbing structure), large grassy knolls, platform tennis courts, mini-golf, picnic tables with plenty of shade, and public bathrooms.

Noteworthy: 

• The steam roller was interactive.  If you had an aluminum can, they would crush it and this was a favorite, as we saw many a soda breathe its final breath.
• Food trucks are available on site, which is great when you have a kid that although they have had a huge breakfast suddenly gets the munchies.
• There is a 3 minute train ride through part of the park ($1 per person).
• Remember: when the sun is out, a good mom brings sunglasses and sunscreen.  I am not a good mom.

Cost Savings: 

Free event, free parking, and $1* to ride the train??  Nothing better!

*One dollar, that is, if you don't have an angelic stranger approach you with their left-over tickets.

Location/Transportation:
Glen Ellyn
It was a 45-60 minute drive for us (we are in the South Loop), plenty of free parking is available and signage is good.  They had volunteers to help direct traffic as well.

Kid's Jury: 3.5 stars

The long lines meant we missed getting into the fire truck and ambulance, yet enjoyed the trucks we did get too.  And they provided several entry points to allow more contact options - the back of the ambulance; side of the fire engine.

Fortunately, the park has a lot to offer, so we had fun in the shorter lines and then headed to the train and park playground areas afterward.