TheLakeInsiderThe insider's guide to America's luxury lakes
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Chain O'Lakes (Illinois) · The kid list

Where to take the kids.

The places that don't make you apologize for the kids. Restaurants with crayons that aren't an afterthought, parks with shade and bathrooms, the ice-cream stop with the line on a hot Tuesday.

Restaurants

2 stops
  • Antioch
    Captain's Quarters
    Editor's pick

    A marina restaurant and bar on a channel off Fox Lake with over 100 boat slips, a playground and basketball/horseshoe area, and weekend live music.

    $$(847) 395-3569
  • Antioch
    Papa's Treat Shoppe

    An ice cream and candy shop on Route 173 in Antioch.

    $

Parks & trails

1 stop
  • Spring Grove
    Chain O'Lakes State Park Trail System
    Editor's pick

    Four paved bike trails totaling about six miles, a 2.25-mile Nature's Way hiking trail, an accessible quarter-mile trail at Pike Marsh North, and roughly eight miles of equestrian trail.

    Summer (Apr–Oct) 6am–9pm, winter 8am–sunset(815) 587-5512

Iconic stops

1 stop
  • Spring Grove
    Chain O'Lakes State Park
    Editor's pick

    A state park anchoring the west end of the lake chain, established in 1945, with camping and boating access along the historic Fox River route Joliet and Marquette traveled in 1673.