Whether it’s paddling down the Fox River, splashing in the pool or seeking the thrills of water slides, there’s plenty of ways to spend time in the water this summer.
Take a short ride and visit a new-to-you water park or plan a day trip to spend the day at local theme parks. Rent a canoe and enjoy the calm waters on the Fox River or float down the lazy river. There’s even a paddlewheel riverboat cruise that can be a great outing for the family or a romantic date to enjoy the sunset.
Be sure to check websites in advance for the latest updates and remember weather can be a factor.
Three Oaks Recreation Center
5517 Northwest Highway, Crystal Lake
Advertisement
Parking fee $5 per vehicle, additional fees for rentals
crystallake.org/three-oaks-recreation
People cool off on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, in the swimming area of Three Oaks Recreation Area. (Gregory Shaver/Gregory Shaver Shaw Media )
Swim, float and even scuba dive at Three Oaks Recreation Center in Crystal Lake. Once a quarry, the area boasts some of the favorite water recreation in the area. Visitors can fish, swim, and enjoy water craft including canoes, rowboats, kayaks, sailboats and paddleboards. Small children will enjoy the spray park. See the website for weather conditions, rental information and
Santa’s Village Amusement & Water Park
601 Dundee Ave., East Dundee
Advertisement
Tickets can be purchased online
santasvillagedundee.com
The well-loved amusement park invites guests to splash around at Santa Springs Water Park, featuring water slides, a zero-depth wading pool and a two-story water play structure. There are cabanas available for daily rentals.
Mill Race Cyclery
11 E. State St., Geneva
Rental fees vary by time, equipment
Advertisement
millrace.com
Looking to float down the river but don’t have a paddle, or boat? There’s more than cycles at Mill Race Cyclery, located along the Fox River Bike Trail. The shop offers water sports rentals including kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddle boards. Secure your rental online and spend more time on the water. It also offers bike rentals, bike repairs and of course, sales of new equipment too.
Pottawatomie Park
8 North Ave., St. Charles
Fees vary by age, date and time. Tickets can be purchased online
Stcriverboats.com
Advertisement
The St. Charles Paddlewheel Riverboat floats near Pottawatomie Park in St. Charles. (Sandy Bressner photo) (Sandy Bressner)
Enjoy a sunset cruise aboard a real paddlewheel riverboat. The St. Charles Park District operates two paddlewheel riverboats each summer providing guests with a smooth sailing experience on the Fox River. The two-story riverboats offer guests the option to sit under a canopy or on the uncovered upper deck. Daytime cruises offered daily through August.
The Water Works
505 N. Springinsguth Road, Schaumburg
$12 non-resident and free for children 2 and younger
www.parkfun.com/pools/the-water-works
No need to worry about the weather at this indoor water park featuring three water slides, a zero-depth pool and lap pool, as well as a sprayground.
Advertisement
Raging Waves Water Park
4000 N. Bridge St., Yorkville
Tickets start at $49.99 plus parking $20, purchase online for savings
ragingwaves.com
Illinois’ largest water park is located in Yorkville. Raging Waves boasts 32 waterslides, a lazy river that stretches for a quarter of a mile, a wave pool, leisure pool as well as sand area and private cabanas across 58 acres. When you get hungry, there are 11 dining options located inside the water park, making it the perfect place to spend the day soaking and splashing.
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor
1 Great America Parkway, Gurnee
Advertisement
Ticket prices start at $50 plus parking, purchase online for savings
sixflags.com/hurricaneharborchicago
With rides like the Bahama Mama and Bubba Tubba where you raft down a six-story twisty course, Buccaneer Bay and the chill Castaway Creek there’s something for everyone at the theme park’s water park. The Tsunami Surge touts itself as the world’s tallest water coaster.
BEECHER CITY, Ill. (WAND) – Farms were damaged in Effingham County Wednesday evening when a powerful storm swept through at around 8 p.m.
The McKay Farm in Beecher City was heavily damaged when the rapidly moving storm hit.
“Two buildings were totally destroyed,” Dan McKay told WAND News on Thursday. “We’ve got five grain bins and they’re all damaged.”
Advertisement
The buildings collapsed onto farm equipment and a semi that were parked in the structures. A utility pole was snapped and ripped out of the ground.
In nearby Shumway, another farm was hit. A barn collapsed, with a grain bin being ripped apart and debris traveling several hundred feet through a nearby corn field. A house on the property was also damaged.
Powerful tornadoes leave behind devastation in Illinois – CBS News
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Watch CBS News
Violent tornadoes ripped through central Illinois on Wednesday, leaving behind swaths of destruction. One man described how he shielded himself and his family from the storms. Rob Marciano reports.
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Multiple rounds of severe storms impacted central Illinois on Wednesday bringing damaging wind gusts and very heavy rain. Our area was sparred from the worst of the tornadoes, but areas south of I-72 were not so fortunate with damage to homes and injuries reported.
An outflow boundary from our morning storms struggled to get any further north than highway 136, which was about 30 miles south of what was anticipated early this morning. This kept the risk of strong tornadoes just south of our local region, though we still had plenty of rain and instances of large hail and gusty winds roll through central Illinois.
The worst of the wind came with the storms in the morning. As the severe storms moved through the area they produced measured gust of 60-70 mph with localized gusts estimated to be around 80 mph. The winds resulted in tree, powerline, and structural damage from Knox through McLean County.
Storm Reports
Galesburg – Tree and power line damage Williamsfield – Roof partially torn off building Princeville – Tree damage Dunlap – 60 mph wind gust Bellevue – 60 mph wind gust Germantown Hills – Trees down Roanoke – 60 mph wind gust El Paso – Power poles snapped El Paso – Multiple semis and campers rolled on I-39 Gidley – 70 mph wind gust Chenoa – Semi rolled on I-55
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/shawmedia/Y6V4AGRTSN4Y5JPHWQNFOJKBKQ.jpg?ssl=1 "Water, sun and fun at northern Illinois parks")
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/shawmedia/7GHQ2ZS4I5G7ZC2464RAEA7C3Y.jpg?w=400&resize=400,240&ssl=1 "Northern Illinois Foot and Ankle Specialists celebrates ribbon-cutting in Yorkville")
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/shawmedia/7GHQ2ZS4I5G7ZC2464RAEA7C3Y.jpg?w=80&resize=80,80&ssl=1 "Northern Illinois Foot and Ankle Specialists celebrates ribbon-cutting in Yorkville")
