Arranged Alphabetically.  Stared locations are great for photography!

Walk around the restored wetlands where the Mississippi River once flowed. The path splits into different directions, but all the routes are short, flat, and looped. You can cross the wetlands on a floating boardwalk surrounded by water lilies and try and catch a glimpse of fish, turtles, or a frog. Be sure to read the informational placards posted along the boardwalk. Venture to the other end of the boardwalk to continue your hike through Arlington Wetland’s nature trail. Native prairie grasses, wildflowers, and trees enclose the natural-surface pathway.

  • Don't Miss: the water lilies
  • Great For: peace, quiet
  • Drawbacks: Not a great deal of shade.

A 234-acre park with an 18-Hole Championship Golf Course, a lake for fishing, a clubhouse, picnic areas, a ball field, three playgrounds, restrooms, shelters, woodland, and open space.​

  • Trails: There is a one mile paved walkway around a lake that is stroller and pet friendly with benches to sit near the water.
  • Don't Miss: the woods
  • Great For: a hike with family and pets
  • Drawbacks: not a great deal of wildlife

This 2.5 acres has wide paved flat paths with lots of shade. The park contains more than 150 species of trees and most are labeled. This location is also next to the Bethalto Splash Pad, baseball fields, and small playground. A fitness path, war memorial, and perennial garden are located on the grounds.

  • Trails: wide paved flat paths with lots of shade
  • Don't Miss: The FREE splash pad and FREE Christmas stroll
  • Great For: A day outside with a short walk, the playground, and a nice splash pad.
  • Drawbacks: Parking can be crowded especially during events.

Can you make it up the 154 steps of Monks Mound? Monks Mound is the largest Earth Work in North America. Cahokia Mounds has a great deal to offer as the site of a pre-Columbian Native American city and a UNESCO site. The museum is open Thurs–Sun 9-5. Grounds are open dawn- dusk. Suggested donation for the interpretive center is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors, $2 for students, and $15 for families. Leashed dogs are welcome outdoors.

  • Trails: wide paved paths with varying amounts of shade
  • Don't Miss: The climb up Monks Mound
  • Great For: An interesting walk on a cool day
  • Drawbacks: Some hills and no shade on many paths.

A park with lots of shade trees, several pavilions, a boat ramp, a soccer field, barbecue grills, picnic tables, benches, a community garden, a workout area, playgrounds, drinking fountains, restrooms, and a seven-acre lake with fish, turtles, and ducks. Also has 2 playgrounds for younger and older kids. Pet friendly.

  • trails: about three miles of paved trails connect to the regional trail system via the MCT Schoolhouse Trail.
  • Great For: Watching animals
  • Don't Miss: The seven acre lake

A botanical garden featuring a half-mile paved walking path with lots of shade, a pergola, a wooden bridge, sculptures, and native trees. Butterfly, English cottage, wind sculpture, prairie, and Japanese themed gardens. A nice pond with benches. A great place for photos. Pet friendly

120-acres with playgrounds, 2 ponds with fish and frogs, concession stands, restrooms, rentable pavilions, a rentable gazebo, soccer fields and 3 miles of walking trails with shade trees. There are picnic tables under trees by a water fountain. Home to the Great Godfrey Corn Maze. Pet friendly. Little Free Library.

  • Trails: wide paved paths with lots of shade
  • Don't Miss: The relaxing views by the lake.
  • Great For: A lot to see without having to drive.
  • Drawbacks: Some litter.

704 acre park with tennis courts, a lake for fishing, ball diamonds, soccer fields, football fields, a 27 hole golf course, oriental garden, picnic area, nature trail, and rose garden. Also has restrooms, an interactive fountain, several playgrounds for all ages, a rose garden, bell tower, and oriental garden.

  • Trails: paved trails with beautiful views
  • Don't Miss: The oriental garden.
  • Great For: Bringing a book or sketch pad and relaxing.
  • Drawbacks: Difficult to meet a group. Be sure to give careful directions on which playground or field.

There are 5 picnic shelters, hunting, fishing, camping, and hiking. A shallow lake that is drained annually to provide habitat for shorebirds. At least 287 bird species have been found at this lake. Canadian geese winter here, as well as bald eagles.

5.8 acres of land within the local historic district. The small park features a bandstand gazebo, a picnic pavilion, three children's playground areas, a pond with turtles and ducks, restrooms, a lighted fountain, a waterfall, and a two-acre fishing lake. There is plenty of trees and shade. Pet Friendly.

Several acre park with small playground in between baseball fields, basketball courts, swings, pavilions, a large sledding hill, barbecue grills, a stroller friendly walking path, a walking/biking trail, restrooms, and red caboose at entrance. Undergoing construction. Great for sledding.

Trails open 8- 8pm, Tues.- Sun. Approximately 300 acres located along the bluffs of the Mississippi River with educational programming, a large playground, and ample parking. Rock Trail has a creek that is around 2-4 feet deep.

  • Trails: 4 unpaved well marked trails. If using stroller, rubber tires necessary. Rock Trail has a steep hill.
  • Don't Miss: Fantastic views of the Mississippi River and the sand box.
  • Great For: Whatever you make it!
  • Drawbacks: NOT pet friendly. Closed Mondays. Restroom are closed at 4pm on weekdays and on weekends.

Park designed to remove barriers so ALL children can play side by side with their peers and families. Includes a glider, slides, musical elements, wheelchair-accessible teeter totter, lots of climbing equipment, and unique swings. There is also a dog park with obstacles, a veteran memorial, and restrooms.

  • Trails: A stroller friendly walking trail with some shade.
  • Don't Miss: The zip line!
  • Great For: A playground that makes the grownups want to play.
  • Drawbacks: Not a great deal of nature.

Park runs along the shore of a lake. Has a frisbee golf course, (small) climbing wall, archery range, man made waterfall/creek area, restrooms, ponds, sand volleyball court, playground, picnic shelters, fishing, and a boat ramp. Leashed pets are welcome.

  • Trails: A 4+ mile wooded trail that is not stroller friendly.
  • Don't Miss: The autumn leaves.
  • Great For: A quiet walk in the woods.
  • Drawbacks: Fishing Lines are often discarded in water, local ordinance doesn't allow for swimming.

Has a large pond with fish, ducks, and swans. Also has 4 playgrounds. Younger kids may enjoy the toddler sized playground on the south side of the lake while older kids may prefer the playground north of the lake or next to the skate park. Also has fishing, a pedestrian bridge, shaded benches, covered picnic areas, BBQ grills, paved stroller friendly walking trails, baseball fields, soccer fields, tennis courts, sand volleyball, a gaga ball area, frisbee golf, a remote control car park, restrooms, and a skate park. There is a small petting zoo near the playground.

Open 10am-4pm, Fridays-Sundays. A place for sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife. Open to the public 365 days a year. Visitors view animals for FREE. Offers hands-on learning as well as an in-depth discussion to meet the needs of the group. Not Pet Friendly for the health and safety of on site wildlife.

40+ acre outdoor learning center with stroller friendly paved trails, dirt trails, elevated walks over wetlands, observation towers, an observation blind, lakes, prairies, forest, and an interpretive welcome center. Pet friendly.

A 30 acre farm with rest rooms, picnic shelters, a large garden, four hiking trails. Trails are not stroller friendly. There is an intricate play area with ride on toys, a wheel chair accessible swing, kids' wheelbarrows. Also has cows, goats, ponies, bunnies, chickens, tractors, and a farm house.

74 acre park with a stroller friendly paved trail around the park with lots of shade. Also has a 8 shelters, restrooms, basketball court, playgrounds for younger children, tennis courts, baseball fields, a skate park, and a fountain. Pet friendly. Over 1,000 native and rare trees accent the parks with formal gardens. The Wilson Park Pool, featuring a water slide and wading pool is also in the park. As well as an ice rink.

This large park has 3 playgrounds, a lake with wildlife, ball fields, a disc golf course, a lake with ducks and geese, restrooms, and a disc golf course. There are plenty places to sit either on benches or in pavilions. The park has lots of pretty hills and neat bridges, but trails are not very easy with a stroller.

Other fun ideas

Cinnamon rolls over a fire-pit are a fun and simple treat while staying warm outside. All you need is a tube of store-bought cinnamon rolls and a few long sticks. Wrap the cinnamon roll around the stick and let the kids roast them in the fire. The kids can rotate as they cook, cool enough to handle, pop them off the sticks, dunk them in the icing and enjoy!  Be sure to teach and practice fire safety.

Scavenger hunts can focus on items that can be found in the outside, in the house, or in the neighborhood. You can find a lot of examples on Pinterest. Include things like pinecones, acorns, animal tracks, puddles, feathers, evergreens, etc. 

Give each child a flashlight or headlamp and head out on a Night hike of a well-known trail. Play follow the leader or enjoy a trust walk with eyes closed.  Take a minute to listen to the silence or the animals.  Make sure to dress appropriately and tell someone where you’ll be and when you’ll be back.