Tired of being cooped up inside all winter? Fear not, here in the western suburbs, there are plenty of indoor activities to keep you entertained and active during the colder months.
From bowling alleys and trampoline parks to escape rooms and laser tag, there's something for everyone. So, grab your coat and gloves and let's explore all the fun things to do indoors near Oak Park!
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Want to get up and move around? Or maybe even feeling a little competitive? Take a look at these options.
You don’t have to know who Lebowski is to enjoy a day at the lanes. Bowling is a great indoor activity during the winter because it allows you to stay active and have fun while being protected from the cold weather outside. Plus, it's something that can be enjoyed by the whole family.
Luckily, we have a number of bowling alleys to choose from. There are some newer alleys that offer a more modern experience with state-of-the-art lanes and scoring systems, as well as old school alleys with a vintage feel that offer a more nostalgic experience. No matter what type of bowling experience you're looking for, there’s something for you.
Welcome to upscale bowling in River Grove. Bowlero is a unique bowling, dining, and nightlife experience that combines retro-inspired fun with modern amenities. Their lanes are illuminated by blacklight and surrounded by interactive arcade games and signature cocktails.
Their menu features an array of delicious oversized shareables, designed to be enjoyed with friends. At Bowlero, they’ve reinvented the traditional bowling experience and invite you to come and see for yourself the epic fun that awaits.
This family-run bowling alley has been a staple in Forest Park since 1941. They pride themselves on maintaining an authentic and charming atmosphere, while also featuring state-of-the-art facilities. Despite some modern updates, much of their alley has remained unchanged over the years.
Eden Lanes is the go-to destination for fun in Westchester. They offer classic bowling lanes and year-round bowling leagues for enthusiasts. Their facilities also include half walls that divide the dining area from the bar, providing a private space for parties and celebrations. Whether you're marking a birthday, reunion, retirement, company function, holiday party, baby shower, or fundraiser, Eden Lanes is the perfect venue for your special occasion.
Hillside Bowl has been recently renovated to transform their entire center. They now feature state-of-the-art entertainment and scoring systems with HD flat screens and 36 brand new Brunswick lanes with automatic bumpers for the kids. It also features an all-new Club 300 Lounge with daily drink specials, multiple flat screen HD TVs, stylish seating areas, a DJ booth, a VIP area, and a dance floor.
In addition to their lanes, they also have a billiard room, a banquet/party room, and a full-service pro shop. Visit them today and experience all that Hillside Bowl has to offer!
Welcome to Round1 North Riverside, where they offer a wide range of entertainment options all under one roof. Their facility features bowling lanes, arcade games, billiards, karaoke, ping pong, darts, and other activities to keep you entertained. They also have exclusive arcade machines imported from Japan and a range of food and beverage options.
At Striker Lanes, they specialize in hosting parties for all occasions. This family-owned and operated center features 12 lanes and a professional, attentive staff dedicated to providing the best bowling experience around.
They offer a variety of party packages suitable for corporate outings, children's birthdays, graduations, church gatherings, and family reunions. In addition to bowling, they also provide delicious food and beverages to make your event even more special. They look forward to helping you plan a memorable and fun celebration.
Franklin Park Ice Arena is the perfect place for a fun day out with the whole family. They offer open skate sessions, as well as skate rentals and lessons for those who need them. They also have dedicated time for hockey and speed skating, so you can test your skills on the ice. Whether you're an experienced skater or new to the sport, there's something for everyone at Franklin Park Ice Arena.
Renovated in 2014, the Ridgeland Common Recreation Complex is a Gold LEED Certified facility serving Oak Park and the surrounding communities, offering access to a variety of sports programs and activities include:
Athletics
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Adult Sports
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Aquatics
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Figure Skating
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Fitness
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Gymnastics
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Hockey
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Martial Arts
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Youth Sports
Activities
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Alternative Wellness
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Arts & Crafts
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Gaming
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Nature & Adventure
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Oak Park Conservatory
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Performing Arts
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Pleasant Home
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Special Needs Programs
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Special Interest
It also features a regulation-sized ice area that is now open year round and offers public skate hours and other events on the ice, in case you haven’t gotten sick of the cold yet!
There are also rooms in the commons available for a variety of different indoor rental opportunities.
If you’re looking to turn up the volume on fun and excitement, Urban Air in North Riverside is the place to be.
One of the best year-round indoor amusement parks, Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park has it all.
With new adventures behind every corner you’ll find:
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Adventure Hub - featuring a giant jungle-gym like structure to play and explore
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Battle Beams
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Climbing Wall
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Dodgeball
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Drop Zone
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Go Karts
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Pro Go Performance Trampolines
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Ropes Course
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Runway (Tumble Track)
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Sky Rider
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Slam Dunk Zone
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The APEX Trampolines
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Tubes Playground
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Virtual Reality
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Warrior Course
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Wipeout
You can also book your next party or event, so you can just sit back, relax, and let the kids have fun!
Want to show your kids a new side to gaming that doesn’t involve sitting in front of the T.V? Check out these options.
When you’re looking for an arcade, you want the real thing. A true experience of lines of games and 8-bit sounds ringing through the air. And that’s exactly what you’ll find at Galloping Ghost Arcade.
Here, you’ll find a video gaming experience like no other. In fact, they are currently the largest video game park in the US, and have over 850 games to play, with more being added all of the time!
Unlike other arcades that rely on digging all of the old quarters out of the couch, they charge a $25 door fee with unlimited play. So you can have fun for as long as you’d like. It’s the perfect way to spend the day as a family when it’s too cold to get outside.
Escape Factor prides themselves on being one of the few places that is sure to engage the whole family at once! From parents and grandparents to teens and kids, everyone is sure to have a great time.
At Escape Factor, you’ll find amazing, unique and hand-crafted puzzles and activities. Their rooms are about completing your mission in a fun way! You are never locked in a room, so you won’t feel claustrophobic!
Plus, they’re a locally and minority owned small business that’s integrated with their local communities, work with multiple Chamber of Commerce groups, and give back to neighborhood organizations. Essentially, their locally-owned rockstars.
Just Escape in La Grange features interactive games where small groups of players uze puzzles and elements of the room to escape within a 60 minutes time limit. It's perfect for groups of families and friends. And with four different scenarios to choose from, there's plenty of reasons to come back for more.
Simply:
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Choose a game - Choose one of four rooms, each with different difficulty levels.
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Put 60 minutes on the clock - Keep an eye on the time.
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Solve puzzles and escape! - Use clues and work with the other players to solve the puzzles.
You can even book online to skip the wait!
It’s never too late to have fun while you learn something new, especially when it's about the area you live in.
The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest is a non-profit organization that was established in 1968 with the goal of serving the community and preserving the rich history of Oak Park and River Forest. In 2017, they moved to their new home at 129 Lake Street.
Their museum features a children's activity space and changing exhibits that showcase different aspects of local history, and our collection includes thousands of photographs, vintage costumes, and artifacts that have been donated by families, organizations, and local businesses.
They are dedicated to providing valuable support to area residents, students, writers, journalists, filmmakers, government bodies, and other organizations who are interested in learning about the history of our communities.
The Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Museum is located in Oak Park, Illinois, just west of downtown Chicago. This museum offers a unique opportunity to learn about the early life and work of Ernest Hemingway, one of the most celebrated authors of the 20th century. Hemingway was born in a second floor bedroom of this Victorian-style home on July 21, 1899, and he spent the first six years of his life at this address, which is now 339 N. Oak Park Ave.
The home, which was built in 1890 by Hemingway's maternal grandparents, was the first in Oak Park to have electricity. The museum has undergone a thorough restoration to authentically recreate the home's 1890s Victorian heritage, so that visitors can experience the furnishings and stories of Hemingway's childhood as he would have.
The Frank Lloyd Wright Birthplace Museum is a non-profit organization that aims to engage, educate, and inspire the public through the interpretation of Frank Lloyd Wright's design legacy and the preservation of his original sites for future generations.
They offer a variety of programs to engage a diverse audience and also offer high-quality education and enrichment programs for all ages, including innovative design programs for K-12 students and adult enrichment programs. In addition, they aim to inspire their audience through powerful aesthetic experiences of authentic Wright sites, preserved to Wright's original design vision.
The Riverside Museum, operated by the Historical Commission, is dedicated to promoting an awareness and understanding of the cultural and historical significance of the Village of Riverside, Illinois. This National Historic Landmark is open to the public on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and offers exhibitions, online presentations, and the study and conservation of its unique collection of artifacts, photographs, and archival materials.
The museum's collection focuses particularly on the planning and landscape architecture of Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, who designed both public buildings and private residences in the Village. The museum also covers local history dating back to the Native American period up to the present day. In addition to tours of the Village's landscape and architectural landmarks, the museum also hosts lectures, publishes materials, and offers educational outreach programs in order to enrich the cultural life of both residents and the wider public.
Movies are a great option for the whole family, especially during the colder winter months when it can be difficult to find indoor activities to enjoy. There are a variety of movie theaters to choose from in the western suburbs, each offering a unique and enjoyable movie-going experience.
No matter which theater you choose, the excitement of seeing a movie on the big screen is unmatched, with larger-than-life visuals and surround sound that transport you into the world of the film.
A local favorite, Cinemark in Melrose Park is Chain is the perfect place to relax on a cold day. It features multiple screens, stadium seats, and self-service ticketing kiosks - so you can browse the latest shows. Residents love it for the great prices on movie tickets and extremely comfortable seating, with chairs that heat up! So you’ll be relaxed and ready to go by the time the movie starts.
Recently renovated, this classic theater in LaGrange now boasts a range of modern amenities. All auditorium seating has been replaced with heated luxury power recliners that can be reserved online when you purchase tickets. In addition to adding a new auditorium, they have reconfigured two existing auditoriums into three smaller rooms and have also upgraded their projection and sound technology.
Despite these modern upgrades, they remain committed to celebrating the historic nature of the theater and have retained classic touches such as murals, while adding new embellishments like decorative medallions found in the attic. Local designer Maggie Allen has continued her work on the interior of the theater to maintain its historic legacy.
Located in downtown Oak Park, the historic and beautifully restored Lake Theatre features seven screens equipped with surround sound and 4K digital projection. As a special treat, they offer Classic Cinemas' signature free refills on all popcorn, fountain drinks, and ICEEs™.
Classic Cinemas in North Riverside is a modern, six-screen theater located in the North Riverside Mall. They offer the latest amenities, including luxury heated recliner seating, 7.1 surround sound, 4K digital projection, and an XQ auditorium with laser projection. As a special treat, they offer free refills on all popcorn, fountain drinks, and ICEEs™.
