Family Destinations

Albanese Confectionery, Hobart

A must-stop while visiting the South Shore! Albanese is best known for their award-winning World's Best Gummies and chocolates. Their factory's retail store is also full of thousands of candies to choose from including a large nostalgic candy section featuring favorites like Snaps, Black Jack gum and wax lips.

Deep River Waterpark, Hobart

Deep River Waterpark, is one of the hottest summer attractions in the South Shore. Soar down tube and body slides at speeds of 30 miles per hour. Families love the wacky courthouse, interactive river, and the world's first double dueling barrel bowl slides. 

County Line Orchard, Hobart

For fall family fun only an hour from Chicago, County Line Orchard is the ideal stop. The orchard is the closest U-pick apple orchard to downtown Chicago. Pick apples and pumpkins, enjoy a tractor-drawn wagon ride, or get lost in the corn maze. Open from September 1st through October 31st.

Lake County Parks

Buckley Homestead is a living history farm in Lowell, featuring 3 different historic areas. Deep River and Wood's Historic Grist Mill features an 1800's saw mill and is also home to the Deep River Grinders who play old time baseball under 1858 rules and attire. The county parks offer fishing, playgrounds, and a 27-hold disk golf course. Winter activities include cross-country skiing, ice fishing, and sledding.

Challenger Learning Center, Hammond

Experience the magic of space at the Challenger Learning Center. The center has mission control and space station simulators, a planetarium dome, a fiber optic starfield and more. Great opportunity for large groups.

Fair Oaks Farms, Fair Oaks

Fair Oaks Farms and Adventure Center is an interactive and informative working dairy farm. Bring the family and experience modern dairy farming and production. Visit the birthing center where calves are born every hour. Fair Oaks offers tours and a retail cheese and ice cream store. Sample blue ribbon cheeses and velvety ice cream.

SouthShore RailCats, Gary

The SouthShore RailCats has been providing affordable family fun since 2002. The RailCats have everything one could possibly want at a baseball game for a fraction of the cost of attending a Major League game. At the U.S. Steelyard, attendees can park close to the stadium for no cost. Every seat in the stadium offers an excellent view of the game, and cost no more than $10.

While one may go for the baseball, it is undeniable that what makes RailCats baseball so special is all the extras. With weekly fireworks, in-between inning entertainment and events specifically for the kids, RailCats baseball is sure to bring traditional summer fun to the family for an affordable price.