Top 10 Free Things To Do and Attractions in Hodgkins

"Grab the whole family and come to the Shedd, the world’s largest indoor aquarium that has tons of activities for kids and adults alike. With over 32,000 animals, there is plenty to see. And if your children are between the  ages of 5-12, you can even arrange an overnight adventure filled with animal encounters, activities and a scavenger hunt."

"Next, head down to Chicago’s Museum Campus and pay a visit to its crown jewel – the Shedd Aquarium. Home to 32,000 fascinating and unique creatures from a range of diverse habitats, Shedd is one of the best (if not the best) aquariums in the country."

"1200 S Lake Shore DrHours: Mon-Sun, 9am-6pmNote: Free on select Mondays and Tuesdays. Only applicable to Waters of the World, Caribbean Reef, and Amazon Rising."

"Set where the Chicago Portage enters Lake Michigan, the Navy Pier is a multifaceted visitor attraction extending over the water for six city blocks. As one of the top days out in the Midwest, an attraction of this magnitude is hard to sum up in one paragraph. But in 50 acres you’ll come across the vast multisensory Funhouse Maze and the 65-metre Centennial Wheel, footed by fairground rides and amusements."

"Probably the most iconic part of Navy Pier is the Centennial Wheel, a large ferris wheel. It’s open year round, weather permitting. Towards the end of the pier, you can also get a really good view of the city. It also holds several free events from time to time, so make sure to check the calendar before you go."

"Take a ride on the Centennial Wheel, or check out the Navy Pier event calendar for the latest and greatest of what’s going on. Although I haven’t experienced this myself, I just saw that Navy Pier shows outdoor films during the summer months, which would be a really fun thing to do while visiting Chicago."

"Address: 835 N Rush StSaturday Mass Times: 1:00pm, 3:00pm, and 5:15pmA/C: YesCost: $2,500.00, there may be an additional fee for musiciansParishioner?. NoTime for photos after: 20 minutesCan you bring your own priest?. YesOther info to note:The chapel seats 299 people."

"The Norwood Park Historical Society, located on Chicago's northwest side, is housed in the Noble-Seymour-Crippen House. The House and Norwood Park Historical Society have several exhibits, including Margaret Crippen's room, a historical tale of Norwood Park, and a collection of artifacts that have been dug up on the museum's front lawn."

"The Riverwalk is exactly what it sounds like: a pedestrian trail that stretches alongside the Chicago River. It’s 1.25 miles, so it doesn’t require a punishing amount of exercise, but it’s long enough to offer a wide range of events and activities for visitors of all types. Are you feeling peckish?"

"West Loop’s Union Park, located on 13.46 acres in the Near West community area, is the site for two of the city’s biggest music festivals: Pitchfork and North Coast Music Festival. The park has several large fields, often used for various outdoor sports. The history of Union Park is also quite remarkable—it’s the site of several political protests and demonstrations since the early 1900s, most notably the Great American Boycott and the 2006 Immigration Reform protests."

"Union Park is a 13.46-acres park created in 1853 and became well known between the 1920s and 50s for cultural and social events. Today, the park features a field house with a theater room with stage, and a building with a gym, fitness center, and locker rooms. Outside facilities include tennis courts, swimming pool, playgrounds, an athletic field, and more."

"Great money wise and you get a huge variety of things to eat--not just Chinese food. Their Won Ton Soup is the bomb!"

"American , Steaks"

"A Metra train ride out to the suburb of Brookfield, this zoo is in 216 acres of green parkland and boasts more than 450 species. The Brookfield Zoo made waves when it opened in 1934 as it pioneered the use of moats and ditches instead of cages, and was also the first in America to have giant pandas. One of the most recent additions is the Great Bear Wilderness, letting you get within inches of North Americas mightiest carnivores."

"Brookfield, IL—25 minutes from The Loop Opened in 1934, this 216-acre park is home to more than 2,300 animals of 450 species. In 2021, the zoo welcomed a pair of new lions, brothers Brutus and Titus, who are easily visible near the north side of the zoo. The Dinos Everywhere exhibit features more than 40 animatronic dinosaurs, showing kids what these giants may have been like millions of years ago."

"The second in the list of the popular zoos around Chicago is the Brookfield Zoo. It is also alternatively known as the Chicago Zoological Park. The zoo is located in the Chicago suburb of Brookfield from where it derives its name."

"The Helen Brach Primate House is yet another extension of the Lincoln Park Zoo and is home to primates of varying shapes, sizes and colour. The area is made in a way to imitate the natural habitat for the primates to make them feel safe and familiar at the place that they are residing in. It was opened back in 1927 which finally underwent an extensive renovation in the year 1992."

"Lincoln Park Zoo is a renowned 35-acre zoo in Lincoln Park and a hotspot for tourists. It’s the zoo’s pavilion, designed to provide shelter for open-air on-site classes, that offers such a fantastically picturesque snap. With the design drawing inspiration from the appearance of a tortoise’s shell, the stunning curved wooden pavilion elegantly frames the Chicago skyline."