You may be surprised to find this small, southwest suburb of Chicago is a great place to spend a summer day.
If you're looking for some fun ideas to spend a summer day with your kids that won't break the bank, you may want to check out the bustling Chicago suburb of Oswego.
Oswego is situated on the Fox River, about an hour's drive from Chicago. It was known in the 1950s as having a popular dragstrip along Route 34 where muscle car lovers would meet. The drag strip has long been closed, and now Oswego is home to beautiful parks, a charming downtown, renovated libraries, and plenty of family-friendly activities.
There are plenty of free activities to keep you busy in Oswego. Here's a guide to spending the day there.
First stop: Oswego Public Library
Oswego Campus: 32 West Jefferson Street
The library began in 1899 as a basket of books brought to Women's Club meetings. And now there are two locations, one in downtown Oswego and the other nearby in Montgomery.
The downtown location was renovated and expanded in 2015. It's a gorgeous library with a large children's activity area where kids can browse for books and engage in other activities. A play area is located by large windows with a picturesque view of the wooded area. (Note, some of the children's activities may have been removed at this time due to Covid protocols.)
Let your kids explore the children's area and do a bit of reading. And then it's on to the next adventure.
Note: if you're ever there without small children, the adult side has some amazing reading areas with beautiful views of the woods.
Second stop: Village Grind Coffee and Tea
19 South Main Street
Leave your car parked at the library and walk a block to the Village Grind Coffee and Tea. There you can choose from handcrafted coffee or tea drinks for yourself while letting your kids choose a baked treat or a gelato.
You can eat inside, at their outdoor dining tables, or get it to go and snack on it as you walk down to Hudson Crossing Park.
Third stop: Hudson Crossing Park
65 North Harrison Street
With your coffee or tea in hand, walk on over to the Hudson Crossing Park where the kids can play on the playground while you sit and sip your drink in the shade with a view of the river.
Don't forget to take a look at Veterans Memorial Walk (32 West Jefferson Street) as you head down to the river.
Hudson Park has a playground for the kids, including a sandbox with a backhoe digger, a cool mister for hot days, and a path you can walk along the river. Kids can skip rocks into the river and even wade in it in some spots if you don't mind them getting wet.
Fourth stop: Lunch
If you pack lunch, stay at Hudson Park and eat at one of the many shaded picnic benches. Or, if you'd rather dine out, you can head back up to downtown Oswego and choose a restaurant. You could head back to the Village Grind for lunch. They serve sandwiches, soups, and bagel dogs.
For family-fare, you can head over to the Oswego Family Restaurant (69 Main Street). Or just a little further down the road is the Tap House Grill (123 West Washington Street), where you can get American bar food.
Fifth Stop: Little White School Museum
72 Polk Street
The museum is free to visit, although they do accept donations. Don't plan on spending a long time here, but it's a quaint little museum that used to be a real schoolhouse. Due to Covid, you will need to go to their website and make reservations for admittance.
Learn the history of how Oswego was settled and browse their special exhibits. Currently on display is the Picturing Women Inventors exhibit.
Sixth stop: Prairie Point Splash Park
4120 Plainfield Road
After your history lesson, the kids will be itching to do something physical. Bring their swimsuits and let them cool off at the Prairie Point Splash Park, about a five-minute drive from the Little White School Museum.
The splash park has 17 spray-and-play features in an enclosed area. It's free and open to the general public. Tip: bring a towel for yourself to sit on as the kids splash around, as it can get crowded and there aren't a lot of seating areas. And don't forget the sunscreen, there's not much shade.
Seventh stop: Fox Valley Winery
5600 US Route 34
This stop is just for you. It's not for the kids, but you can bring them in while you shop for a bottle or two of boutique wine at the Fox Valley Winery, a 10-minute drive from the splash pad.
A hidden gem in the southwest suburbs, this winery is known around the region for its award-winning local wines. Pick up one of their handcrafted bottles of wine to enjoy a glass to unwind with when you get home at the end of your busy day.
Final stop: Oberweis Ice Cream and Dairy Store
2274 Route 30
Last stop, on your way out of town, head for locally-owned Oberweis for one of their famous shakes to sip on the car ride home. Choose from assorted flavors like chocolate, vanilla, caramel, and strawberry shortcake shake.
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