Settled on the picturesque Fox River less than an hour west of Chicago, Geneva, Illinois is rapidly gaining a reputation as the place to be if you’re a kid. This historic town has postcard-worthy downtown views, outdoor adventure, indoor play spaces and treats galore. Geneva awaits you with a variety of fun for you and every member of your family. Here are some of our absolute faves in the area.
1. Kids of all ages can have a blast cooling off this summer in the Moore Park Spray Ground, which just opened in 2017.
2. Looking for the venue for your kid’s next princess party? It’s a Girl Thing, a shop on the outskirts of downtown, is the place. The birthday girl and her friends can dress-up, do some crafts and even meet a Disney princess. Check their calendar for fun meet-and-greet events with the Disney princesses.
3. Pack a blanket and some snacks, and get ready for some cinema under the stars at the monthly Movies in the Park during the summer.
4. Rain or shine, Funway Ultimate Entertainment Center in nearby Batavia is a sure bet. Bowl, roller skate or play some laser tag if you want to stay inside. If it’s nice out, go-carts, bumper boats and miniature golf await you.
5. Meet other moms and get fit at the Fit4Mom Stroller Stride classes in St. Charles. Even better, babies come, too!
6. For some quality time in nature, head to the 385-acre Peck Farm Park where you can watch monarchs in the butterfly house, stroll the sensory garden and visit the Hawks Hollow Nature Playground.
7. Jump on a bike and explore the network of trails, like the Fox River Trail and the Illinois Prairie Path, that line the area.
8. Stellar activities call for refueling with some stellar pizza. At Doughocracy, pizza and brews (only for the kids-at-heart) are the name of the game. Choose any of their spectacular signature pies (The Green Mile, Spaghetti & Meatballs), or build your own.
9. Kids big and small will be in awe of the Fabyan Windmill, a Dutch windmill from the 1850s located in the Fabyan Forest Preserve. Moved from Lombard in 1914, it’s fully restored and you can get a tour to see the many cogs at work on weekends.
10. Next time we get more than four inches of snow, grab your sled and head to the Fabyan Forest Preserve and join the locals at a favorite hill right by the windmill!
11. “Eat Dessert First” is the motto at the All Chocolate Kitchen, a haven for treats and coffees of all kinds. Their chef, Alain Roby, is the Guinness World Record holder for the world’s largest candy cane!
12. For gently used and new kids’ stuff, locals love the Good Cents Children shop. Proud to be the largest children’s resale shop in the Midwest, their shelves boast brand name clothes in sizes newborn through 12, as well as toys, books, costumes and dancewear.
13. Kids love the treehouse-themed playground (with a zip line!) and adults love the waterside views at Island Park. Pack a lunch to enjoy in the pavilion.
14. It would be nearly impossible to have a bad time at Fun Republic, an indoor playground in nearby St. Charles where kids of all ages can slide, jump, climb and exercise their incredible imaginations.
15. Engage in some friendly competition at Stone Creek Miniature Golf Course. This river-themed course features 18 challenging holes for you to master.
16. Take your mini yogi for some stretching and relaxation at Prana Yoga Center. Look for the series tailored to you, like Mommy and Baby, Child Blossom Yoga, and prenatal.
17. Have some chocolate fondue fun with your family at Graham’s 318 Coffeehouse.
18. Take your budding musician for some studio time at Absolute Music Academy. Their unique school gets kids involved in music production and offers not-run-of-the-mill classes like DJ lessons.
19. Practice your triple axle or best hockey moves at any of the Geneva Park District’s outdoor skating rinks.
20. When summer heats up, try the water slides and toddler sandy play area at Sunset Pool. When your brood is hungry after all that water play, head to their Palm Tree Café for some refreshments.
