It’s summertime in the Stateline! Kids are out of school and parents are wondering what to do this summer. Stateline Kids is here to help! We’ve put together a HUGE list of local places, attractions, and events to keep you busy all summer!

Some of these activities are free, some are low cost, some you need to take a short road trip to visit (two hours or less) and others you can do at home!

If you do things on this list, let us know! We’d love to see your photos. Tag @Stateline_Kids on Instagram and Stateline Kids on Facebook! Use the hashtag #play815.

Happy Summer 2019, Stateline Families!

  1. Sign up for Kids Bowl Free at one of our participating local bowling alleys
  2. Cool off in one of the five area pools. Try one you’ve never been to like Hawkins Aquatic Center’s FREE pool!
  3. Visit one new playground in each city!
  4. Take a selfie at the Symbol in downtown Rockford.
  5. Sign your kid up for a week of summer camp
  6. Roast the perfect marshmallow. Here are some tips on how to do it over a campfire.
  7. Camp under the stars in the Stateline
  8. Build a sandcastle at one of our Stateline beaches
  9. Make a splash at Doty Spraypad
  10. Build a massive pillow and blanket fort in the living room. Here’s an option!
  11. Go berry picking
  12. Try a new ice cream shop or visit an old favorite
  13. Stop by your local library and sign up for their summer reading program
  14. Try a game of disc golf. Find your course here.
  15. Go to a Farmer’s Market and buy some local produce or baked goods
  16. Visit the Discovery Center Museum on a rainy day
  17. Create a chalk masterpiece on your driveway or sidewalk. Here are some fun ideas.
  18. Road trip! Head to Dixon, IL to check out My Play Village
  19. Visit Klehm Arboretum and see the children’s garden and new spray pad. Here’s a list of their donation days!
  20. Road trip! Head to adorable Milton, WI to play in the splash pad and get ice cream
  21. Create a swing painting work of art. Here’s how to do it.
  22. See a free movie under the stars. Don’t forget your blankets and chairs!
  23. Watch a fireworks display for the 4th
  24. Have a water balloon fight or play water balloon games. Here are some ideas.
  25. Try wakeboarding at West Rock Wake Park
  26. Dance in a rain shower
  27. Hike at Rock Cut State Park. Here are some maps of trails in the park.
  28. Check out the beautiful view and awesome playgrounds at Big Hill Park
  29. Take a selfie with the Turtle Island turtle and splash in the stream at Turtle Island Playground
  30. Put a blanket on the lawn and star gaze. Here’s a chart of which constellations you can see.
  31. Celebrate 815 day in downtown Rockford
  32. Road trip! Visit Madison Children’s Museum. You can get in free with a Discovery Center Membership.
  33. Go to Palmer Park wading pool in Janesville. It’s only $1 per person!
  34. Road trip! Visit Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison. Admission is free!
  35. Listen to a story and explore Anderson Japanese Gardens during their free Garden Explorers events throughout the summer
  36. Do a nature scavenger hunt at Severson Dells and play on the natural playground
  37. Visit Burpee Museum on Donation Day
  38. Meet the animals at the Children’s Farm in Lockwood Park
  39. Play a round of mini putt at Volcano Falls in Rockford
  40. Ride bikes or scooters around the LZ Peace Memorial path then stop at Saturn Park
  41. Test your skills on the Ninja Warrior course in Rockford
  42. Catch and release fireflies. Here’s a cute bug habitat.
  43. Be Italian for the day at Festa Italiana
  44. See Aladdin, Toy Story 4, The Secret Life of Pets 2, The Lion King, or another great movie at AMC Theaters for $5 before noon or all Tuesday if you’re a Stubs member!
  45. Attend a Rockford Rivets game. Kids Day is July 23rd!
  46. Watch a live performance of Madagascar in the open air Starlight Theater. Get tickets here.
  47. Road trip! See the trolls and Lego sculptures in Morton Arboretum in Lisle. Wednesdays are donation days!
  48. Watch a Ski Broncs show at Shorewood Park. All shows are free!
  49. Place your bet on which car will win at Rockford Speedway
  50. Enjoy a free evening concert at Music in the Park at the Sinnissippi Bandshell
  51. Groove in the Garden to Jim Gill
  52. Have a magical time at the Fairy Festival
  53. Wander through Victorian Village at Midway Village. Go on donation day!
  54. Take a walking tour of downtown Rockford to see the eight new murals
  55. Listen to live music and Street Dance in downtown Beloit
  56. Get some family photos taken
  57. Grab some paint and brushes and get the family to Paint on State
  58. Visit a new local splash pad or spray ground
  59. Road trip! Head to Crystal Lake to go indoor rock climbing
  60. Rides the rides and eat some fair food at the Winnebago or Boone county fair
  61. Float down the lazy river at Magic Waters
  62. Rent a paddleboat and take a spin around the Lagoon at Riverside Park
  63. Road trip! Drive to Fitchburg to check out the huge Fitchburg Splash Pad. It’s totally free!
  64. Dress up for Mommy and Me tea at Once Upon a Dream’s Royal Tea Room
  65. Let the kids set up a driveway lemonade stand. Here are some ideas.
  66. Listen to live music on Sundays in Belvidere Park
  67. Enjoy a Winnie the Pooh themed event at Nature in the Confluence
  68. Learn something and be entertained at a free chemistry show at First Free Rockford
  69. Visit Rockford City Market and take a free trolley ride
  70. Get muddy at International Mud Day at Nicholas Conservatory
  71. Save up your pennies for the Coin Carnival in Beloit
  72. Have a picnic outside at one of our local forest preserves
  73. Get a bird’s eye view at the super tall Price Park playground
  74. Road trip! Head to Schaumburg to visit Bison’s Bluff Nature Playground
  75. Spend some time in the cold ice skating at Riverview Ice House
  76. Burn off some energy on a rainy day in Sapora Playground. Monday and Wednesday are $4 days.
  77. Find a hidden neighborhood playground like Sunny Meadow Playground
  78. Set up a sprinkler and run in the yard. Here’s a fun rainbow sprinkler.
  79. Stop by Food Truck Tuesdays at Nicholas Conservatory and try some new food
  80. Go geocaching around the 815 and 608. Here’s how to do it.
  81. Road trip! Venture out to Green Meadows Petting Farm in East Troy, WI
  82. Adopt and raise a monarch butterfly from Burpee
  83. Hunt for, paint and hide kindness rocks in your city
  84. Spend the afternoon making slime. Here’s a recipe for fluffy slime.
  85. Head downtown to watch the Rock River Anything That Floats race
  86. Touch a truck at Mercyhealth Health and Safety Station
  87. Road trip! Stop by Janesville Farmers Market for Kids Day
  88. Sing along to Go, Go Joseph! at a performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Get tickets here.
  89. Set up a neighborhood car wash in your driveway
  90. Take a pony ride at Lockwood Park
  91. Ride bikes or scooters around Mulford Crest Park
  92. Make homemade play dough. Here’s a 5 minute recipe.
  93. Take a trip to Nickel World and play some arcade games
  94. Rent some roller skates and glide around SkateCo
  95. Take a selfie with the sock monkey statue at Midway Village
  96. Buy a brat or hotdog at Alpine Kiwanis Brat Days at Edgebrook
  97. Check out the Children’s Carnival at Belvidere Heritage Days
  98. Visit the reptile exhibit at Burpee Museum. Here’s a list of donation days.
  99. Take a walk around the peaceful Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville and visit the free Lions Beach
  100. Road trip! Jump, swing, climb, and play at Urban Air Trampoline Park in Crystal Lake
  101. Visit the animals at Summerfield Zoo

What adventures will you have this summer?

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