South Shore Showdown: A Family-Friendly Itinerary with a Competitive Twist

If your crew turns everything into a competition, take it up a notch and turn your family outing into a full-day, bragging-rights-on-the-line challenge. From racing up sand dunes to guessing animals at a drive-thru safari, you’ll find plenty of chances to outscore and out-fun each other. Just keep track as you go, and may the best player win!
 

Morning Kickoff

3 Dune Challenge: Start the day with the ultimate leg workout and see who can complete the 3 Dune Challenge the fastest. This 1.5-mile hike climbs three massive dunes and not only rewards you with amazing views, but also points for the fastest time and the best summit selfie.

Wildlife Spotting: Keep things going with a birdwatching or nature-spotting challenge. Whether you’re hiking the trails at Indiana Dunes or wandering through the blooms at Friendship Botanic Gardens, there’s plenty to look for. Give yourself a point for every bird, animal, or plant you spot. Pro Tip: Bring some binoculars!

Midday Showdowns

Racing Slides: Race down the slides at Deep River Waterpark—first to the bottom wins. Bonus point for the best victory pose.

Candy Wars: See who can find the oldest candy brand at Albanese Candy Factory, Candy Cove or Tethan’s Candy and Confections. 

Beach Glass Hunting: Go in search of the most unique piece of beach glass at Jeorse Park Beach or Whihala Beach. Find a color no one else finds for an extra point.

 

Go Big or Go Home

Disc Golf: This isn’t your average walk in the park. Disc golf is part skill, part strategy, and more challenging than it looks. Visit Lemon Lake County Park and toss discs into baskets, but remember, curving those throws just right takes practice. You might want to bring extra discs in case yours ends up lost in the trees!

Pumpkin Picking: Head to Johnson’s Farm or Harvest Tyme during fall and compete to find the biggest pumpkin around. Make it more fun and look for weird shapes and unique colorings!

Animal Scavenger Hunt: Drive through pastures full of bison, camels, and elk, or stop at the walk-through area and test your animal knowledge at Sandy Oak Ranch. Suggestion: One point for every critter identified correctly! 

End with a Bang

Battle Beam: Channel your inner warrior and battle it out at Ninja Kidz on the Battle Beam. Last one standing gets to wear the (imaginary) crown. 

Laser Tag: Suit up and let the laser tag battle begin. It’s fast, a little chaotic, and so much fun. Head over to Up Your Alley and settle a few family rivalries.

Bowling: It’s not over until the pins drop. Finish strong with a classic round of bowling at Olympia Lanes. Crank up the laughs with a twist—try your opposite hand, go granny-style, or invent your own silly spin.

Games: Wrap things up with arcade classics, air hockey, and zombie dodgeball at the Public Bar & Rec. The winner gets to pick where to go for dessert. 

Crown Your Winner!

Tally up the points and crown your champion. Whether you took home the win or gave it your best shot, there’s no better way to end the day than with something sweet. Grab a scoop of Fair Oaks Farms’s ice cream or stop by Sundae Funday in Crown Point or Winfield for more than 30 flavors of hand-dipped deliciousness!