My blogs so far have been about pretty well-known destinations, but I want to start highlighting our smaller adventures too! Big trips are great but, sometimes, you want to just take a day or even an afternoon away.
One such afternoon was spent last spring in Kenosha, Wisconsin. We were antsy to get out of the house, didn’t want to spend a ton of money, and didn’t want to drive TOO far. For us, the location was perfect – just over an hour from us in the Chicago suburbs! Now, what to do there?? Check out what we came up with:
Dinosaur Discovery Museum
Our first stop was the Dinosaur Discovery Museum. The museum has a bunch of dinosaur artifacts on the main floor, then a play area on lower level. The kids really enjoyed looking at all the fossils and discussing them, before burning off some energy with the toys downstairs.
While it is a pretty small museum, it was perfect for our kids’ ages (2 and 4, at the time). Plus, it was free! There is a small suggested donation, but even so, an inexpensive way to spend some time and learn about Dinos.
Lakefront Trolley
Did you know that Kenosha has an electric streetcar system? The streetcar arrives about every 15 minutes and it’s very reasonable to ride: 4 and under are free, 5-12 is 50 cents for one way, and 13+ riders pay $1.
Also, it’s super cute!! The route stops at a number of areas of interest, but we actually just rode it for the experience. All four of us really enjoyed the ride; it was a relaxing way to see the city and get a peek at the lakefront.
Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets
Unfortunatelyyyy, after the museum, streetcar, a little wandering, and lunch, it started pouring rain and our kids started melting down at the same time. We decided to call it a day. Trying new things calls for flexibility, and sometimes the littles are just DONE.
After we loaded into the car and started driving back, the kids fell asleep, so my husband ran into a couple of stores at the outlet mall while I relaxed in the car with kids. Win-win-win, haha.
Next Time:
Lake Michigan Beaches
If the weather had cooperated, I would’ve liked to take the kids on a walk along one of the beaches to check out Lake Michigan. If we come back to Kenosha, this will be one of the first things we do! Of course we’re familiar with the lake from living in / visiting Chicago, but I’d love to check out another view.
Mars Cheese Castle
Bit of a bucket list item for me – I’ve driven past the Mars Cheese Castle SO many times and never stopped, so I must go next time we drive by. I honestly don’t even really want to look it up – I’m just hoping it’s delightfully kitschy inside. If nothing else, it’s full of cheese which is always a win.
Overall
Let’s be honest – not our most successful adventure, LOL. But I’m glad we explored a new place and found some unexpected fun! Hoping to do more of this this summer!
