Indian Camp Creek Park The 3 level playground has cushioned turf, climbing towers, a spiraling slide, stand-out climbers, an extended rope swing, a climbing net, a storefront with braille alphabet, and a paved water play area.
O'Day Park Nestled in the countryside just off Highway DD. The 57-acre park offers the area's first adventure playground. Kids can climb an obstacle course with netting, swings, rock walls, and much more. There is a creek with a movable damn and stepping stones. There are also miles of paved and natural paths.
Queeny Park Playground A great fit for lower elementary aged children. (Young children may pick try to eat pea gravel ground cover. My 3 year old took a bit to warm up, but loved it.) The park's main feature is a pyramid made of stone and concrete. There are tunnels, mountains, and slides. The ground cover is pea gravel, so make sure to have closed toe shoes. There is also not a great deal of shade. An overcast day is a perfect fit for this playground. Around the playground, you can find 564 acres of parkland with a huge dog-park.
Veterans Tribute Park The playground is divided into a motion-activated water play area, a music area, an adventure playscape, swings, and a hillside slide. There is also a 1.6 mile trail, two lakes for fishing, play fields, a dog park, shelters, and a raised boardwalk. The two lakes are stocked for catch-and-release fishing.
Emmenneger Park
is a little of everything I love in the outdoors. There is a shallow creek which my kids can play in without me having to be hyper vigilant, a rope swing, quiet trails, nice views, and a rocky beach. If you walk a bit down the trail, there are some spectacular views and access to the much deeper river. Be careful on the river, water moves fast.
Cost: FREE
Best for Ages: All Ages
Great For: Peace, quiet, adventure, and views.
Drawbacks: Longer Drive
Finger Lake State Park One of two ATV parks in the state parks system. Spacious campground, leafy trees, and hilly terrain. Also has a 2.75-mile Kelley Branch Mountain Bike Trail and a 4.5-mile water trail. (About 2 hours)
Fugitive Beach (Rolla, MO) Waterslides, beach, jumps, & games. Play area for toddlers, beach volley ball. Shade Rentals on website only. Generally Opens Memorial Weekend (About 2 hours drive from Madison County)
Cost: Entry $13.75 ages 10 & younger, $15.75 for 11 & up. 10am-6pm. Cash/CC
Best for Ages: Great for all ages.
Great For: Families with a range of ages.
Drawbacks: Can get expensive.
Lake Lou Yaeger
At Milnot Beach, there is lots to do right outside of Madison County. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday 12-5pm and weekends & holidays 11am-6pm, weather permitting. Lifejackets, water apparatus, and diving boards are available and included in entrance fee. Lifeguards are on staff and attentive.
Cost: $7 for adults, $5 for children aged 5-17. Under 5 admitted free. Family season pass looks like a great deal and includes 10 members.
Best for Ages: Perfect for anyone comfortable in water. Lifejackets are available and permitted for all ages. Lifejackets are required for all on the blow up equipment.
Great For: Families with a range of ages.
Drawbacks: Can get crowded on the beach. Pulling onto floating equipment can be difficult.
Mastodon State Historic Site
Has a long shallow creek with many shady wading areas. To get to the creek, park near the playground. Go past the bathrooms and across the bridge. The creek is ideal for splashing around. It can have a crowd on weekends and holidays, but there is usually enough space to spread out. Pet Friendly.
Don't Miss: Finding crayfish, snakes, and turtles!
Great For: A picnic in nature.
Drawbacks: No seats at the creek. Bring your own chairs. There are deep areas of the creek, so keep an eye on kids.
Trails: Great trails with beautiful views and tons to discover.
Sybraris Pool Suites (Multiple Sites in Chicago Area) Features either a hot tub attached to a pool or a separate whirlpool tub. All suites come with a private pool, a king-size bed, massage chair, and a fireplace. (About 4 hours)
Crown Ridge Tiger Sanctuary
Tours are Thurs.- Sun. at 11, 1 & 3. No reservations required. Monday- Wednesday tours by reservation. Learn about the animals as you view the big cats. The Education Center has tiger artifacts. Pathways are paved and accessible. $10 per person, 3 and under are free. (About 2 hours)
Endangered Wolf Center
To preserve and protect Mexican wolves, red wolves and other wild canid species, with purpose and passion, through carefully managed breeding, reintroduction and inspiring education programs. Reservations are required for tours. Call 636-938-5900 or visiting endangeredwolfcenter.org. (About 1 hour)
Go Ape
Offers amazing views of the natural lake and surrounding woodlands. Navigate suspended obstacles, Tarzan swings, and ziplines. (About 1 hour)
Grant's Farm Enjoy evenings filled with live music, food and animals! Simply purchase a Parking Ticket for the date of your choice. (Admission to the park is free.)
Marcoot Jersey Creamery Checkout the cows and calves while learning about dairy production. There is also free cheese and ice cream samples! 526 Dudleyville Road Greenville, IL 62246.
Suson Animal Park A large working Animal Farm with horses, cows, geese, and more. Nearby is a nice playground with creative pieces. It is small and can get crowded on weekends. Bring quarters to feed animals. There are lakes for fishing, year-round restroom, and reservable shelters. It was a nice place for our kids to see and pet animals while learning about a farm.
World Bird Sanctuary Has over 200 animals in their mission is to preserve, protect and inspire to safeguard bird species as part of the global community for future generations. (About 1 Hour)
Banos, Ecuador
Learn Spanish, visit local markets, beautiful sites, and monkeys!
Banos, Ecuador
Branson
A fantastic experience for all ages including toddlers and grown ups. Click here for information on where to stay, how to play, and what to do on the way! (About a 4 hour drive)
Grafton, IL Take the great river road for some fudge or ice cream with a great view.
Kansas City, MO Enjoy a relaxing street car ride to the many museums and fantastic sites!
La Fortuna, Costa Rica
Learn Spanish, visit local markets, beautiful sites, and monkeys!
La Fortuna, Costa Rica
STE. Genevieve, MO is one of the newest additions to the National Parks System with French Colonial Architecture and Structures dating to the 1700's. (About 1.5 hours)
- Pasadena, California Kidspace Children's Museum has a great mix of indoor and outdoor play, fun seasonal exhibits, and educational activities.
- Baltimore, MD: National Aquarium. It’s a FANTASTIC aquarium! With wings transformed into mini-eco systems from all around the world. Port Discovery. It’s rated one of the top children’s museums in the country and it deserves that ranking.
- Laurel, MD: Dinosaur Park is an active paleontological dig-site open to the public two Saturdays. You can go fossil hunting with experts for free!
- NY Strong Museum of Play in state https://www.museumofplay.org. And nearby is the Rochester Science Museum. You could also do Meow Wolf which is cool!
- Columbus, Ohio COSI in
- Tulsa, Oklahoma Gathering Place in and aquarium.
- Philadelphia, PA Please Touch Museum & Franklin Institute. Aquarium& Liberty Science Center & Zoo were great!
- Houston, Texas Children's Museum has a little town where kids “work” at different places, and open bank accounts, and spend their “paycheck”. And there’s a huge climbing area.
- Everett, Washington Imagine Children’s Museum
- Seoul, Korea National Children’s Science Center is Free and exhibits are super creative.
- London, UK Science Museum is free and although the kid-focused Wonderlab was overated but the rest was amazing.
- Tokyo, Japan the Heiwa no Mori Koen park is a giant obstacle course. It’s not free, but it’s cheap. Maybe 100 yen for kids. The Nishi-Rokugō Park is a huge playground made from old tires. Don’t wear nice clothes as the black from the tires gets all over.
- Chiang Mai, Thailand has a zoo where You get to feed hippos! At the Elephant Poo Poo Paper Park, kids can help make paper from elephant waste.
