Lake County, IL for Kids

Cuneo Mansion and Gardens by: Donalie B. from the Hawthorn Elementary North School in Vernon Hills

2011-12-15T14:09:00.000-08:00

You should definitely go to the Cuneo Mansion and Gardens and the Cuneo Winter Wonderland in Lake County, Illinois and here are my magnificent reasons why.

First of all, in the winter time you can go to the wonderful Winter Wonderland! The flickering lights will blow your mind, it will look like these lights are coming to life. Next, all your kids favorite TV stars will be there for them to see and their happiness is everything! Finally, you can play a fun game of finding all the snowmen with your family, and it will bring your family together.

Second, you can go to the incredible Cuneo Mansion. They have breathtaking tours on this exceptional mansion. They are fast and well worth it. Another reason to go is that the mansion is so gorgeous that people have weddings there. It is a beautiful venue. Last, the art is so brilliant, you won't be able to take your eyes off it.

Third, there is the most spectacular gardens you have ever seen! The 75 acres of gardens have phenomenal statues that look so real, as if they were alive. The fully bloomed flowers smell and look marvelous with the green grass and trees. Also, as the birds fly over head and the sun shines you will feel like royalty.

You should go the Cuneo attractions because of the incredible Cuneo Mansion, the Wonderful Winter Wonderland, and the most beautiful gardens. Have Fun!!

Winter Wonderland by: Nicole, Josh & Paulina from the Hawthorn Elementary North School

2011-12-08T13:20:00.000-08:00

Bling! Bling! Shine! Welcome to Winter Wonderland!! Winter Wonderland is a beautiful light show made of Christmas lights. It is held on the grounds of the Cuneo Mansion in Vernon Hills. It is open the day after Thanksgiving through the end of December from 6:00pm to 10:00pm. The price is $5.00 a car weekdays Monday-Thursday and $10.00 for Friday through Sunday.

The light show has are over 150 animated and lighted holiday displays! Once you enter Winter Wonderland, you will see big decorative candy canes. You will also see gingerbread men and snowmen along the way. There is usually a contest to count how many snowmen you can find. I think there are about ten of them. You will also enjoy winter music on the radio, like "Jingle Bells", "Twelve Days of Christmas", "Frosty the Snowman", and many more. First when you arrive you pay the money and then you have to drive slowly to make sure you don't miss anything. One thing we don't like about the show is that is uses too much electricity, which is not good for the Earth.

So anyway, I think you should visit Winter Wonderland, I am sure you will love it and you can spend time with the family.

The Westfield Mall by: Anna H. from Hawthorn Elementary North in Vernon Hills

2011-12-01T13:46:00.001-08:00

Are you having trouble looking for a place to on vacation? Lake County, Illinois is the place. Lake County has a great mall called Westfield Hawthorn and it is the place for you and here are my reasons why! It is located in Vernon Hills, IL.

To begin with, the mall has a lot of stores for shopping, electronics and just about anything you might need. One reason to go shopping at Westfield might be if you have electronics that need to be fixed, they have a Radio Shack store that will fix them or if you want to buy electronics you can pretty much get what you need there too. The second reason why you should go shopping at Westfield is because there is a lot of stores where you can buy clothes, shoes and many other things. The third reason you should go is to shop at the Barnes & Noble store to buy books you enjoy or buy books for a present for someone.

In addition, Westfield Hawthorn has many restaurants available, which is very convenient. If you are tired from all the walking and shopping you can eat. The food there is quick and brilliant! Sometimes if the line is short, you can have your food in about 5-10 minutes, or if you are in a hurry they have fast food restaurants such as McDonalds, Taco Bell and many more. Finally, if you are tired you can rest and have a snack or a whole meal.

Lastly, Westfield Mall has splendid rides to try. One of the rides is a train. When you are on the train ride, you can explore all sorts of things around the mall because the train takes you around the entire mall. They also have moving rides, which are fun too. The mall also has a place for kids to play, so if you have little kids, they will enjoy their time at the mall too.

To end with, I strongly recommend that you visit Westfield Hawthorn Mall when you vacation in Lake County. The stores are splendid and fantastic. There is a store that fixes electronics and the food is amazing. This is a place you wouldn't want to miss. Enjoy!

Winter Wonderland by: Leah W. & Matthew F. from the Hawthorn Elementary North School in Vernon Hills

2011-11-23T12:37:00.000-08:00

I think you should go the the Winter Wonderland because of all the fun stuff there. I suggest you go there because it is easy to get in and enjoy, you can do a lot of activities while you are in the car and you can spend lots of time with the family.

First of all, I recommend you go to Winter Wonderland because it is really easy to get in! You only have to pay $5 on the weekdays and $10 on the weekends. This counts for the whole group of people. Even though you can't go to Winter Wonderland during New Year's Day and Christmas Eve and day, it is open November 25th through December 31st.

Second, I suggest you go to Winter Wonderland because there is a lot of fun activities to do while you are driving through the light show. While you are watching the lights you can do the scavenger hunt for 19 snowmen! In the beginning it tells you that the hunt is starting and you can have fun looking for the hidden snowmen. There are also signs that have pictures from the song The 12 Days of Christmas, so you can sing it on the way. The light show is all about lights in different characters, so you can look for your favorite character.

Finally, I recommend you go to Winter Wonderland because you can spend time with your family. When you are driving you can talk and spend time with them by talking about your day, and doing the snowman scavenger hunt! You also can have fun and sing songs and see your favorite characters. You can have a snack and just watch the beautiful lights.

This is why you should go to Winter Wonderland, because you can just get in line and wait for a minute, you can do lots of fun activities while you are driving through the light show and you can spend quality time with your whole family!

Marriott Theatre by: Rachel K. from the Hawthorn Elementary School in Vernon Hills

2011-11-17T13:32:00.001-08:00

If you are looking for somewhere to go, a good place would be the Marriott Theatre. The Marriott Theatre has kid's shows and adult shows, lots of musicals and plays and really good seats.

First, the Marriott Theatre has kid and adult shows. At the end of every kid show the kids get to ask the actors some questions. They also get to meet the people in the play. They have lots of adult shows too. They have musicals, dance shows, both old and new. They don't cost as much as the plays downtown and they are open almost everyday.

Next, the Marriott Theatre has lots of musical and plays. There is a lot of new shows every month, a lot of different show, and they have both afternoon and evening performances. Many are based on real movies. One of my favorites is the Wizard of Oz!

Lastly, the theatre has really nice seats. Wherever you sit, you can see the show perfectly. The stage is in the middle and the seats are all around. Your kids will love the seats! Also, the seats are really comfy.

The Marriott Theatre has everything! It has kid's shows and adult shows, musicals and plays and really comfy seats placed where everyone has a good seat. The Marriott Theatre is the BEST place to go!

Rink Side by: Patryk L from the Hawthorn Elementary North School

2011-11-10T07:07:00.001-08:00

You should go to Rink Side because there are arcade games, a great ice skating rink and birthday party rooms.

There are a lot of games at Rink Side. Some of the games are laser tag, taken tag and fast and the furious. There are also prizes like candy and some of the games you win tickets which you can turn in for prizes.

Do you like ice skating? There is a huge and awesome ice skating rink where you can play hockey, free skate and also rent skates. You will have a blast.

They also have an indoor black-light mini-golf course. This really fun, its like you are glowing in the dark.

When you go to a birthday party there, you get pizza, tokens to play some games and ice skating for free. This is a great place for a party.

So come to Rink Side now! The reasons are clear because there are awesome arcade games, laser tag, mini-golf, cool ice skating and birthday party rooms. Go there now! It is located in Gurnee Mills mall.

Century Park by: Allison C. from the Hawthorn Elementary School in Vernon Hills

2011-11-03T12:03:00.001-07:00

Are you looking for a tremendous recreational park? You should definitely go to Century Park in Vernon Hills, and here are my reasons why.

First, they have an amazing sledding hill. I'll start out with the popular ice skating rink, it is so fun to go with your family! I'll also tell you about the HUGE sledding hill that you can zoom down, it is so awesome. They also have a warming shelter, so if you get cold you can warm up and have a warm cup of hot cocoa. After Halloween they have a Pumpkin Launch down the hill. You can bring a pumpkin and launch it or roll it down the hill and you can win prizes.

Next, in the summer they have a path to walk or run. My first reason to enjoy the path is the incredible community garden where you can admire the beautiful flowers. The next reason is you can exercise on the path with your friends and enjoy the amazing nature along the way. Lastly you can catch bugs, so if you are a good bug catcher you can see many kinds of beautiful bugs.

Lastly, there are brilliant views and places to see. There is a incredible lake call Big Bear Lake. There is also many different kinds of wild life that you can see, like flowers, plants and animals. The final reason to enjoy the park is that you can fish there and catch different kinds of fish.

You should go to Century Park because of the amazing path, awesome views, a big lake and the tempting sled hill.

Lambs Farm by: Hannah F.N. from the Hawthorn Elementary North School

2011-10-27T12:31:00.000-07:00

Where else can you find barn animals living on a farm in the middle of your city? If you enjoy old-fashioned country fun, then Lambs Farm is the place for you and your family. This is a fantastic place to go because it if fun for the kids, it has great food and low prices. I believe Lambs Farm is a superb place for family time.

The first reason I like it so much is that is fun. It has tons of attractions like the miniature train ride and the farmyard where you get to see animals like the cow and horse and much more. Other activities they have are a Carousel, miniature golf and a cow bounce house. During October they have Haunted Harvest every Saturday night. This is so much fun they decorate the whole place to represent Halloween. They have a Creature Walk, Graveyard Mini Golf, the Train of Terror and Enchanted Carousel.

The next reason is kids are not the only ones that will have a great time, adults will enjoy it too. Besides the barnyard, they also have a restaurant with a great breakfast buffet on the weekends. Other things, besides the kids, adults will like is the pet shop, thrift shop and country store. You can find historic souvenirs at the thrift shop.

I recommend you go to Lambs Farm because it is fun for kids and adults, has great food and low prices.

Six Flags Great America by: Brent L. from the Hawthorn Elementary North School

2011-10-20T12:33:00.000-07:00

If you want to go somewhere in the spring, summer or fall, then go to Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois, located in Lake County.

One thing you can do at Six Flags is go on rides. There are lots of rides. Some go on steep turns, others go up-side-down. In the fall they have Fright Fest and the whole park is decorated for Halloween, even some of the rides. Some of the famous rides they have there are Superman, Batman, American Eagle and the Giant Drop.

Another reason to go to Six Flags in the summer it their waterpark named Hurricane Harbor. The waterpark has 11 water slides that all go into a big lazy river. The lazy river goes very fast so you have hold on to your tube. They also have 2 wave pools. The waves go so high that you have to jump to stay above them. In 2011 they also added a huge addition to the waterpark with new slides and much more.

During Fright Fest they have several haunted houses and some are pretty scary. They also have people walking around in certain areas trying to scare you and scary music playing. They do have areas for the young kids too.

While you are there don't forget to go to the food stands. Great America has 29 food places and 9 places to have ice cream. They also have games you can play and you can win prizes.

There are so many reasons to go to Six Flags Great America. With the rides, a waterpark in the summer, food, fun, concerts and Fright Fest in October you may want to keep coming back over and over.

Didier Farms by: Shannon S. from the Hawthorn Elementary North in Vernon Hills

2011-10-13T08:28:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for a place to visit while hanging out in Lake County? You should go to Didier Farms. It is located in the Prairie View/Buffalo Grove area.

To begin with, Didier Farms is a good place to visit in the fall because they have Pumpkin Fest. There are pony rides and games and they even have tractor rides through the pumpkin patch. There is also many other fun things to do during the Pumpkin Fest, like picking pumpkins, going through the corn maze, visiting the petting zoo and going through the spooky cabin.

Another reason to go is their awesome farm stand. The corn is picked fresh off the stalk daily and is so fresh and juicy and tender. It is their specialty. They also sell jelly, candy and Door County Pies. The apples are all homegrown and they even make their own apple cider, which is a perfect treat for a cool fall day spent outside at the farm.

Lastly, Didier Farms has an outstanding greenhouse. They have unique and unusual flowers. Their specialties are beautiful Black Petunias, Phantoms and Pinstripes. They have custom containers that are handmade for your flowers too.

If you are looking for a great place to visit, come out to Didier Farms. It has a wonderful pumpkin fest. Their greenhouse is beautiful and the farm stand is the freshest. You can stay and have fun all day and never be bored.

Lambs Farm by: Jonah F. from Hawthorn Elementary North in Vernon Hills

2011-10-06T08:39:00.000-07:00

You should come to Lambs Farm, because they have fun sports, fun rides and other fun things to do.

First of all you should visit Lambs Farm because they have fun sports. They have an 18 hole mini golf course and a cow bounce house.

Second of all, you should visit for the fun rides. They have a carousel and a train. In the fall on Saturdays they have the Haunted Harvest. They decorate the Farmyard with scary things like the Creature Walk, Graveyard Golf, an Enchanted Carousel, and the Monster Midway.

Third of all, you should come to Lambs Farm because they have other fun things and are very cheap. They have a petting zoo, pet shop, a country store and a restaurant.

In conclusion, you should visit Lambs Farm because they have many fun things to do and the activities are very cheap.

Six Flags by: Ammar from the Hawthorn Elementary North School

2011-09-29T10:10:00.000-07:00

Have you been to the most fun places on earth, Six Flags Great America? You can to on some of the most scariest roller coasters, like the Raging Bull. This is the most thrilling ride on the planet. They have so many rides you are sure to like some of them. The best time to go there is on weekends in October for Fright Fest. They have the whole park decorated for Halloween even the roller coasters. I also like to go and play the games and eat the great food.

There is a train, Kidzopolis and Camp Cartoon for little kids. In the summertime they have Hurricane Harbor which is a giant waterpark to spin down slides and get soaked. They have it all. A long with that, they also have rides that spin and fly. In fact there are some of the fastest, tallest, wildest rides in the Country, including some of the record breakers.

When you want to take a break from the rides, you can eat from many different restaurants, see a show or shop in one of the many stores, like Trudy's or Carousel. They sell shirts, candy and the best caramel apples.

In October they have Fright Fest. It is very scary in some parts, but is a lot of fun. The shows and rides are set for Halloween. They have haunted houses and paths for older people and a trick or treat path for younger ones. Don't miss this, you will not be disappointed.

Didier Farms by: Ashley B. from Hawthorn Elementary North School

2011-09-22T08:58:00.000-07:00

You should go to Didier Farms close to Halloween because it has shows and pumpkins, gift shops and a lot of rides.

The shows and pumpkin patches are great. There are a lot of different shows, like puppet shows, magicians and animal shows. There are pumpkins all over the ground and they have wagons to carry the pumpkins.

Didier Farms also has gift shops. There is a Halloween Shop with spooky things. In the gift ship there is a food court with great snacks, if you are hungry.

Last, there are fun things to do like corn mazes, tractor rides and fast slides. My FAVORITE place is the petting zoo, where kids can pet different kinds of animals like goats, pigs, llamas and a lot of other animals.

Didier Farms is an awesome place because of its shows, pumpkin patches, gift shops and great rides!

Bass Pro Shops by Ellen from the Hawthorn Elementary North School

2011-09-16T13:10:00.000-07:00

You should really go to Bass Pro Shops because they have lots of stuff like camping equipment, kids stuff, and also archery equipment. That is why you need to go to Bass Pro Shops.

If you go there, you should get camping stuff. Some camping things you can get are tents, sleeping bags, and folding chairs. The tents protect you from any bug. The tents are huge so you will have lots of room. The sleeping bags come in every size. The folding chairs have a foot rest attached to the actual chair.

Also there are things for kids. There are paintball guns with masks, cloths, and boots. The guns come with the paintballs so you don't have to go to a different place to buy them. The clothes come in any size.

They have archery equipment like arrows and targets. The targets will help the kids aim. There are a lot of archery arrows. The archery equipment will help you hunt all sorts of animals like deer, bears, and rabbits.

Maybe you should go to Bass Pro Shops. This is why. They have camping equipment, stuff for kids, and archery things. My favorite part is the camping equipment.

Six Flags by: Nicole J. from the Hawthorn Elementary North School

2011-09-08T08:17:00.000-07:00

I think that you should go to Six Flags because they are open long hours and during the summer they are open 7 days a week. There are rides for small kids and rides that are not as scary for the little ones. They also have bigger rides for the bigger kids and the adults.

My first reason why you should go to Six Flags is that there are upside down roller coasters and crazy fun rides. There are small rides for the little kids and bigger rides for the teenagers, adults and some of the little kids like the scary big rides too. Some of the rides go upside down and some even go under water.

My second reason why you should go to Six Flags is when you spend the whole day there you get hungry. There are plenty of places to eat including a food court where you don't have to spend a lot of money. They also have drinks, ice cream, funnel cakes and candy. Some of the food they have are hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken fingers and much more. They also have fruit like bananas, apples, oranges, grapes and more.

Finally the last reason you should go is if you like to go swimming. In the summer Hurricane Harbor is open and it has swimming pools, parks and slides that you go down and fall right into the deep water. The slides are really fun to go down.

Come to Six Flags and have an awesome family time together. Your family will enjoy swimming, eating and going on the roller coasters together. So visit now to have the best family vacation ever at Six Flags!!

Family Aquatic Center by: Teresa, Yasmin & Zachary from the Hawthorn Elementary North School

2011-09-01T11:27:00.000-07:00

Do you have anywhere to go and have fun? If not, you should go to the "Family Aquatic Center" in Vernon Hills, IL. The Family Aquatic Center has a lot of food that you can gobble up. You can also watch people having a great time such as families gliding down the water slides.

Yummy! That is the description of the food at the Family Aquatic Center. You need to try the amazing foods! They have hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza, french fries and cheese fries. They even sell ice cream. Now, they even put a new Culver's stand.

Everybody in your family can be busy doing things they enjoy at the Aquatic Center. Adults can relax while tanning, children can go into the water for swimming and little toddlers can go in the tiny sandbox to build a castle. Everybody can bob up and down as the float along the cool, refreshing lazy river. You can hear people screaming as they race down the water slides.

The water slides are huge! You can go down by yourself or you can go down with a big balloon tube with your friend. The water slides go really fast as they turn and twist. There are three water slides to choose from. The green slide is covered so it is kind of dark as you go down and if you lay down then you go really fast.

The Family Aquatic Center is an amazing place to spend time with your family and everyone will have fun. It is an awesome place to be.

The Bristol Renaissance Faire by: Spencer R. at the Hawthorn Elementary North School in Vernon Hills

2011-08-25T14:00:00.000-07:00

Where else can you find hilarious comedy, thrilling adventure and delicious medieval food? The Bristol Renaissance Faire is where. You should go to the amazing faire because it is the only place that you can see the stunning Barely Balanced Show, the hilarious Swordsmen Show and a thrilling joust with real men in real armor! If you have never eaten food from the 1500's, now you can. If you love to collect souvenirs, especially ones from the Medieval Times, the Renaissance Faire is the right place for you. This is one of the best places in the whole world.

If you are tired of driving far to go to an adventure, then take a short ride to the Bristol Renaissance Faire. They are open from Spring to Fall. If you like to collect medieval souvenirs this is the right place for you to visit. They have extremely generous prices to get in. Adults are around $17, kids are around $8 and children under 5 are free. If you want to keep going again and again, you can purchase a season pass at the great deal of $100, which is good for all year long. There are many benefits and special uses that only season pass members are offered.

The Faire is located on the border of Illinois and Wisconsin, which is very close to Lake County. You can see fabulous shows and get great deals at the Renaissance Faire, so buy your tickets today.

Vernon Hills Family Aquatic Center by: Andrew L. at Hawthorn Elementary North School

2011-08-18T13:26:00.000-07:00

I am speaking to you today because if you are spending this summer in Lake County and enjoy swimming and if you are sweating badly a marvelous place to go is the Vernon Hills Aquatic Center.

The Vernon Hills Family Aquatic Center has slides that everyone will enjoy and your family will have a marvelous and fun time. First, if you want to relax after all that stress and work you should ride the lazy river all day! Second there is a speedy slide that zooms you into the fresh water and it is superbly fun on a hot summer day. Last, there are slides for everyone and you could ride with one other family member or friend and spend quality time together on your trip here.

Second, the Family Aquatic Center has a sand area to play in. The sand place is brilliant. First, it is shady and you could relax on the hot warm sand or on a lounge chair. You could also play with your friends and make outstanding sand castles and when people see them their eyes will all bulge and say it is marvelous. Lastly, if you get all dirty you shouldn't worry because there is a place that makes you clean as a shining whistle.

Lastly, at the aquatic center you will find a breathtaking place and it is the food corner. First there is yummy food and it is popular because a lot of people go and eat there. It has large open tables where you can eat and relax after a long time spent swimming. The food there isn't that expensive, it has really low prices for food and drinks.

So I strongly recommend coming to visit Vernon Hill Family Aquatic Center this summer because of the brilliant slides, fun sand place and affordable food corner.

Six Flags by: Sneha, Javier, Stephanie & Kaushik at the Hawthorn Elementary North School

2011-08-11T08:22:00.000-07:00

Do you want to know the best place to go on vacation with your family? Six Flags Great America is a great place to enjoy time with your family. Six Flags is action packed with amazing roller coasters. There are water coasters and land coasters. There is something for everyone. There are so many twists and turns on the roller coasters, it's just awesome! That's okay if you don't like the big ones, you always go on the small roller coasters, but don't worry they are still so much fun.

After a long day of high low, twists and turns with those roller coasters, I am expecting you will be very hungry and tired. No problem. Six Flags has a Food Court with anything you want from pizza, chicken and ice cream. You can have breakfast, lunch and dinner there.

You see all the things that make Six Flags a great and fantastic place to go with you and your family. Six Flags is always and enjoyable place to go, no matter how many times you visit!! Have fun!!

Lambs Farm by: Hannah R. at the Hawthorn Elementary School

2011-08-04T14:43:00.000-07:00

You should really try to come to Lambs Farm in Libertyville. There is so much to see and do. So many fun things to do there. You can host a special event. The place is open almost every day with great hours.

There are a lot of fun things to do there. One thing that is fun is the petting zoo. I went there when I was little and I had a blast. You can pet rabbits and goats. There are chickens too, but you can't pet them. There is a discovery center where you can learn fun facts of its history. If you are tired of looking at animals and want to ride something, go on the old world carousel. It has fantastic music. If you love mini golf, Lambs Farm is the place to go because they have an 18 hole course. Another fun thing to do is to jump in the cow bounce house. It is a great way to get all of your energy out. You can also visit the little store and the pet shop.

If you want to host your own special event or party, do it at Lambs Farm. You can have birthday parties, weddings and much more. A special event that Lambs Farm hosts is Train Days. That is the day where Lambs Farm rents some model trains. Train Days this year are September 24th & 25th. If you have kids that like Thomas, they will love the Choo Choo trains.

Lambs Farm is open for a great amount of time for great prices. It is open 7 days a week from 10am to 5pm daily. You can get season passes that are valid from April to October. This is a reasonable family place.

That is why you should go to Lambs Farm. I hope you visit. There are so many fun things to do and see. It is open for a long time and they have special events. So come to Lambs Farm, it is a great way to spend a summer day.

Independence Grove by: Ben G from Hawthorn Elementary North School

2011-07-28T14:25:00.001-07:00

If you are moving to Lake County, you are in for a big treat. Independence Grove in Libertyville, IL. will be close to you. You should go to Independence Grove because they have a kid's summer camp, a huge playground, a beach and a lake.

The first reason why you should go to Independence Grove is they have a kid's summer camp. That is beneficial for kids and parents in three ways. Kids can have a lot of fun. Kids can also make a lot of friends and finally parents can relax while their children are having fun.

You should also go to Independence Grove because they have a huge playground section. It is very large and it is a lot of fun. Also, there are some equipment pieces that you can not find anywhere else. Finally kids can meet each other there while playing and make friends.

Finally, you should visit Independence Grove because they have a huge beach and a lake. In the lake, you can go fishing. If you are at the shoreline you can swim in the water and if you are not planning on going into the water, you can build a magnificent sandcastle.

These are some of the reasons you should visit Independence Grove. They have a summer camp for kids, a gigantic playground, a beach and a lake. Hope to see you there!

Vernon Hills Aquatic Center by: Ryan & Sasha from Hawthorn Elementary North School

2011-07-21T08:27:00.001-07:00

People out there! Are you tired of being hot all day? Is a hot sunny day coming and nothing to do? Come to the Vernon Hills Aquatic Center. There is a pool, water slides and there is even a lazy river to relax in. You can even just relax and get a tan while you're there.

Do you want to have the best time of your life? If you do, come to the Vernon Hills Aquatic Center and swoosh down the water slides. At the top of the water slide there is a great view. That means you can see the water park and the whole parking lot. This way the kids can look for their car.

If you get tired and hungry you can take your money out and spend about $10 for your kids and buy them ice cream. If your kids are allergic to peanuts or dairy you can buy them a push-up because it's a non-dairy ice cream.

When they are done with their ice cream, you can give them some water diving toys and tell them to go play with them. The the alarm goes off and then it is Parent's Time to swim. Now, doesn't that sound like the best time of your life?

Vernon Hills Summer Celebration by Erica of Hawthorn North Elementary School

2011-07-14T13:30:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for a fun and fantastic event that takes place in the summer in Vernon Hills? Well, if you are in the area, head on over to Summer Celebration!

To begin with, Summer Celebration has great and fun rides for everyone. They have fast rides, obstacle courses and even slow rides if you do not like spiny fast rides! You can spend the whole day there with your family.

Second of all, Summer Celebration has great music and enjoyable too. So while you are eating the delicious food you can listen to fabulous music. They have great bands that play each summer. From Classical to even Rock and Roll. They have slow, relaxing music too, and even just music that you listen to in your every day life.

Last but not least, Summer Celebration has BOOM BOOM fireworks like the 4th of July! Families can bring a blanket and look at the beautiful fireworks. Summer Celebration is outdoors so at night the colorful fireworks are coming your way! So sit back, and enjoy the firework show.

This event is fantastic! I have told you many reasons why you should go to Summer Celebration. First, they have great music. Second, they have fun rides and last, Summer Celebration has BOOM BOOM fireworks. So have a good day and have fun.

Chicago Botanic Gardens by Sujay and Thomas of Hawthorn North Elementary

2011-07-07T09:38:00.000-07:00

The Botanic Gardens are a beautiful place to visit. There are many things to do like study horticulture, look at colorful gardens, and eat mouth watering plants.
The colorful gardens are so beautiful. It shows entertaining nature and beautiful scenery. You get refreshed because of the gentle breeze and watery plants. They are as refreshing as a soothing wave.
The Chicago Botanic Gardens is a place full of education. There is as much education there is in the best college in the world!!! There is the programs called Science First and College First. Science First helps little kids learn more things about science and horticulture. The program called College First helps teens and older students get a better score on their Science SAT's (Standard Achievement Test). That is not all, there is a program that helps teachers get their degree such as the Masters Degree. Also, the parents and guardians can take yoga to relax.
The scrumptious fruit plants are the best quality you could find in the area. There are foods such as mouthwatering peppers, strawberries, and grapes. They also have lemonade stands and hot dogs if you go there during lunch.
The Botanic Gardens of Chicago is an amazing sight. They have colorful gardens, a ton of educational opportunities and scrumptious fruit and vegetable plants. If you visit, hope you enjoy it!

Zion Beach by: Gerry A. from the Hawthorn Elementary North School

2011-06-30T09:28:00.001-07:00

You should go visit the Zion Beach because it's a great place to take your dog and family in the summer. It has a beach of course, picnic area and bike paths.

First of all, there's a beach area where you can swim, sail and you can fish. When you swim you feel free and you want to swim farther. The fishing part is stupendous because there's lots of fish you can catch and eat. When you're sailing you can feel a spectacular breeze. The boat can go slow, medium and fast.

Second of all, the picnic is fun, the food is awesome because there's food you can buy like watermelons, hamburgers and hotdogs. You can even camp there, but not on the beach. The picnic tables rock because you can grill next to it and it doesn't matter.

Third of all, you can take you bike because there are bike paths. I sometimes ask my dad if we can take our bikes there. There are some trails to different places. There is hiking so you can find a camping place.

On a hot summer day you should try going to the beach. It's a great place for swimming and building a sandcastle. You can spend the whole day there if you bring a picnic. They even have bike paths to ride your bike on. It's a great way to spend time in Lake County.

Hurricane Harbor by: Rachel and Brooke from Hawthorn Elementary School

2011-06-23T14:07:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been to the Hurricane Harbor in Six Flags Great America? They have race slides, a giant wave pool, a cool lazy river, playground for the younger kids and a fine dining area for hungry riders. When you start to ride you just can't get enough!

When you go on the race slides you first climb up a Bunch of steps. After that, you get a sliding mat. Then, you stand up griping a couple of bars to go down the slides. Next - WHOOSH you jump on your belly and cruise down. Whoever gets to the end first is the winner. (If you have trouble the lifeguard will help).

The prodigious wave pool is in the center of Hurricane Harbor. Feel the waves crash into you. You scream the loudest scream you ever yelled. Sometimes, (like in the movies), you see the waves curl and make a tube shape. While you sail down you smell the chlorine and only hear the huge waves. Most of the time you hear noisy hollers.

The lazy river has a long line but is SO worth it! There is even a tornado slide that empties into the lazy river. While you swirl and whirl you also bob up and down! It is so playful that little kids are whining to do it too!

Also, there is a playground and it is called "Skull Island". It has an assortment of walkways to climb and explore, slides to whoosh down from top to bottom, a bucket that drenches people in soaking, cold water and noisy kids to go with it! There also is plastic animals and a plastic island. When you enter that wonderful world you will want to join the kids.

Lastly, there is the jumbo buffet. There is grilled hotdogs, hamburgers and even smoked fish! To go with it there are fizzy drinks to slurp down (like Sprite and Diet Coke). While you gulp down that mouth-watering food you can't wait to go on the rides!!

Well that's all you need to know. Hurricane Harbor is an amazing sight!! There is more to do than rides. You can see all the happy faces at Hurricane Harbor. From the amazing rides to the astonishing food you will be happy and satisfied to the end!

KeyLime Cove by: Jasmine K. & Kayla S. at the Hawthorn Elementary North School

2011-06-16T13:26:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard of a water park and a resort at the same time? I think this is the best place to be in Lake County.

First of all, KeyLime Cove is the largest indoor water park in Illinois. There are swirly slides and lazy rivers! All ages can come! It also has it's own restaurant, hotel and last of all Shops!

In conclusion, the water and fun is waiting for you to come and play at KeyLime Cove in Gurnee, IL.

Gem Jam By Katherine H. and Autumn M. Hawthorn Elementary School Students

2011-06-10T12:53:00.000-07:00

Beep, beep! Move out of the way, I've got to get to Gem Jam! Gem Jam is a cool place where girls could buy things like jewelry and accessories. There are even cute little animals that can hook onto your backpack.
For example, they sell tie dye backpacks and t-shirts too. They also sell magnets, purses, and tons of jewelry! All of the walls have necklaces and bracelets draped on them. They have earrings, too. It's girl heaven.
Gem Jam is now a part of our very own Lake County! It is located in Vernon Hills, IL on Townline Rd in Vernon Plaza. So if you need jewelry, accessories or even little animals come on down to Gem Jam. Hope to see you there!

Independence Grove by Ryan K and Stone T, Hawthorn Elementary School Students

2011-06-02T14:35:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been to Independence Grove? It's right here in Libertyville! It's a great place! Do you want to know why? There are many things you can do there! You can go boating, swimming, biking, jogging, and there is a large playground.

First of all, you should go to the playground because you can go rock climbing, go through mazes, climb squiggly monkey bars, play in sand pits, and you can slide down slides! There is a lake where you can go boating and swimming! There is also canoes and paddle boats. There is also a jogging/bike path! The path is long, so it's a good way to keep your heart pumping. There are refreshment stands to keep you from starving.

That's why you should go to Independence Grove. You can do many things in Lake County's Independence Grove!

Six Flags Great America by: Daniel and Miguel from the Hawthorn Elementary North School

2011-05-26T09:22:00.000-07:00

You have to visit Six Flags Great America. First of all, it is fun. You can play a lot of fantastic games. You can also visit the haunted house in October and you can get candy. Also in the summer they open a water park. There are a lot of slides at the water park. We can't wait for you to visit Six Flags Great America located in Gurnee in beautiful Lake County.

Diamond Lake by: Lily Meng, Cecilia Gao and Skylar Lucich from Hawthorn Elementary North School

2011-05-19T14:08:00.000-07:00

Do you hear the waves gently lapping at the shore? Soft white sand is parting beneath your toes. Do you like the beach? Then Diamond Lake is the place for you!

First of all, you don't just swim at Diamond Lake. You can rent a boat for a day or go speeding on your rented jet skis! Tired of water now? Luck's good! There are playgrounds around, along with refreshments like ice cream and hot dogs. Diamond Lake is a wonderful place to have fun and relaxation!

Diamond Lake is in Mundelein, Illinois, right in Lake County! Go for a visit today!

What I like about Gurnee by: Willow B. at Woodland Elementary School

2011-05-05T14:13:00.000-07:00

I live in Gurnee, Illinois. If you want to go somewhere fantastic, you can go to Six Flags Great America, Gurnee Mills or KeyLime Cove. If you’re looking for great food you can to Kaisers, Culvers, Sukasa, Chipotle, and Golden Corral.

If you go to Six Flags you can to in entrances. One of the entrances is on Washington St. I suggest going on the Washington St. entrance because the other 2 entrances are normally very crowded. If you go on a hot summer day, I also suggest getting there early so you can one of the first people to get WET!!!!! If you go from October 21 or something Fright Fest starts. But yeah there are lots of fun things to do at Six Flags.

Another 2 places you can go are Gurnee Mills and KeyLime Cove. Gurnee Mills probably has about 250 stores. Gurnee Mills also has a lot of places to get food. KeyLime Cove has lots of rooms for people who want to stay for a few days. KeyLime Cove even has a water park inside.

For great food you can go to Kaisers, which is just about a half a mile from Jewel Osco. You can go to Culvers to get what you want. If you get a kids meal, you can get free ice cream with one topping. You also can go to Sukasa even though that’s about 25 min away from Gurnee, but it is worth it because they cook Japanese food right in front of you. And finally you can go to Golden Corral. At Golden Corral you can go and get what ever you want.

So these are some places you can go while you are in Gurnee, Illinois.

The Antioch Pool by: Samantha G. from the W.C. Petty Elementary School in Antioch

2011-04-28T14:59:00.000-07:00

The Antioch Pool is a fun place to swim in Antioch, Illinois. It's a great place to go because it's small but very fun. You can go down the slide and go off the diving board. They even sell snacks for a low price. It is a great place to go to have fun.

When you first walk in it looks kind of small. However, it's really fun. It's rectangular and looks soft on the bottom. It seems old-fashion too. There is a small slide and a diving board. They used to have a high dive but they took it out. The staff keeps it pretty clean.

You have a lot of fun there but the main reason you go there is to swim, of course. We play swim-tag, which is like tag in the water. Another fun thing we do is swim races. I like to dive and flip off the diving board. My brother does the can opener and pencil dive.

There is also a snackbar. You can buy food for a low price. All you need are a few quarters. They have candy bars like Kit Kats, Milky Ways, Air Heads and more. I like the chocolate. They also have popsicles. I bite them first before I eat them cause I like them slurpy.

I think when it gets warm you should go and swim there. You can enjoy diving and eating too. But the best part of the pool is it is not crowded and you can always find a seat. The Antioch Pool is fun and I know you will like it.

Six Flags Great America by: Mina at the W.C. Petty Elementary School in Antioch

2011-04-21T14:44:00.000-07:00

I like Six Flags! My favorite ride is the triple-play. Once you are in the rides are free and I think that is cool. I went with my dad while my mom stayed at home with my little brother. Dad and I watched a movie there. After that we went on a few rides. The Condor was a little fun, but the Lobster was a little more fun, but the American Eagle was really fun. Then we went on the Triple Play. It starts off spinning in circles, then the seats start to spin. We started to go up and down, then before we knew it we were spinning, the seats were spinning and we were going up and down at the same time. It was a lot of fun and I hope I can go back this year as it is opening soon.

The Antioch skate park is Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! by Katrina P. from W.C. Petty Elementary School in Antioch

2011-04-14T14:00:00.000-07:00

The Antioch skate park is awesome because you can do awesome tricks and cool stuff. You can watch trains go by. You can stand on your pegs and ride around on your bike and on your skateboard. It looks like a bunch of ramps connected to each other and people riding around.

You should go because you don't have to pay and you can do whatever you want.

JJ Blinkers by: Cale D. from the W.C. Petty Elementary School in Antioch

2011-04-07T14:41:00.000-07:00

Hey, welcome to Antioch! You should come here and go to J.J. Blinkers. They have everything to scare someone on Halloween night. They have other stuff too. If you need funny gifts or funny cards this is your place.

Just come on down and see what this store has. It has customers, toys and stuff for Halloween. They have scary faces to hang or ghosts. You can even get stuff for your costumes. I've been to J.J. Blinkers, it's so cool in there.

You should stop in to check out the costumes from J.J. Blinkers!!

Fun in Antioch by: Noor A from W.C. Petty Elementary School in Antioch

2011-03-31T13:46:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Antioch! Come girls and try out a place called Nails in Antioch. It is close to the Jewel Food Store. You may want to stop in the Nails and get a pedicure and or a manicure. They will paint your nails and you can pick from different styles and colors. You can also have a nail sticker put on. So next time you are in Antioch visit Nails and pamper yourself. Antioch is great.

Antioch the Great Town by: Drew S. at the W.C. Petty Elementary School in Antioch

2011-03-24T14:18:00.000-07:00

Everything is awesome in Antioch, but only one thing I like better than everything else is the skate park. Located not far from the pool and the basketball courts, not too big but large enough where you can still have a blast.

360! 180! Double back flip! Again you could have a blast with the half pipe, ramp peninsula and the steep ramp! So bring your scooter, bike and skateboard and you will have a great time.

You don't have a bike? In town there is a bike shop called Schwinn.

And now you have a perfect bike and a skate park to visit. Oh, and I almost forgot, 7 Eleven is a great place to get a tasty slurpee to enjoy after or before your trip to the skate park.

Tim Osmond Park in Antioch by: Luke at the W.C. Petty Elementary School in Antioch

2011-03-17T08:05:00.000-07:00

Tim Osmond Park is located in Antioch. The park was made for the enjoyment of the families in Antioch. It has a football field, a baseball field, Frisbee golf and in the winter time there is a sledding hill. It is the home of the Antioch Vikings football team. Games are played every Saturday and Sunday for three months. There also is a baseball field. Baseball games are played in both the spring and the fall. Frisbee golf is played all the way around the whole park. The park is huge. The sledding hill is fun when we have snow. One part of the sledding hill has a really steep drop off. I am glad they built this park in Antioch, it is a lot of fun. Go Antioch!

AYSO Soccer by: Blake B. at W.C. Petty Elementary School in Antioch

2011-03-10T14:44:00.000-08:00

I like to play on the AYSO soccer league. I love to play soccer and we play for fun, so if you loose it isn't bad at all. Since it is for fun, they can put different people in to try new stuff. So if you like soccer come and try it. I like it and I've played for seven years, it is fun. Do you like soccer? You won't have to pay a lot, it is only $50. It is at the wooden park (Centennial Park), and the park has bleachers and it has a very big and fun park that I think you would also like. The park also has two baseball fields and lots of grass in the AYSO League. I think you would like it very much.

Antioch Movie Theater by: Lexy J. at the W.C. Petty Elementary School in Antioch

2011-03-03T14:30:00.000-08:00

Do you live in Antioch? I know I do. One of my favorite places to go is WAIT!! Guess. I will give you some clues. It is on Lake Street, it is a good place to go with your family and friends and it is loaded with popcorn and yummy candies. If you guessed the Antioch Movie Theater, you are correct. I like the movie theater because it plays some of my favorite movies and they sell great tasting popcorn. If you are ever visiting Antioch, stop and see a movie at the theater, I know you will like it as much as I do. I think it RULES!!

Ceramics for You by: Eleni at the W.C. Petty Elementary School in Antioch

2011-02-24T11:45:00.000-08:00

I want to tell you about my favorite place in Antioch. It is called Ceramics for You. It is located at 1498 Main Street in Antioch, Illinois. Let me tell you why I like it. First, you can choose any ceramic to paint. Second, you can look at what other people painted on the drying rack. Third, they make great presents. Last time I was there I painted a dolphin. I hope if you are in Antioch you will go there, I think you will love it like I do.

The Antioch Library by: Jhonna R. at the W.C. Petty Elementary School in Antioch

2011-02-17T13:44:00.000-08:00

The Antioch Library is one of my favorite places in Antioch. I like the Antioch Library because I love to read. There are also movies that you can borrow. My dad drops me and my 18 year old sister off at the library and we check out books. I usually check out movies about dogs and animals. We don't go there a lot and I don't know why. I ask my dad to come with us but he is tired sometimes so that is why my sister comes with me. Even though we don't go there often I still really like it there.

The Antioch Theatre by: Connor at the W.C. Petty Elementary School in Antioch

2011-02-10T12:28:00.001-08:00

I like to go to the Antioch Theatre with my family. My favorite seats are on the balcony, because nobody is in the way. Another reason I like the balcony is I can see the screen perfectly. Sometimes before the movie they will have trivia and whoever answers the question correctly will get free candy.

The Antioch Theatre looks pretty neat outside at night because it's sign is really flashy. The main lobby has posters of old, coming soon and playing now movies. The carpet is red with yellow polka dots. The movie theatre itself has tons of seats, I think there is 120-130 of them.

If you have a chance when you come to Antioch, visit the Antioch Theatre, I am sure you will like it as much I do.

The Antioch Library by: Aspen B. from W.C. Petty Elementary School in Antioch

2011-02-03T14:44:00.000-08:00

Have you ever been to Antioch? I live in Antioch. There are a lot of fun places to go, but I think you should come to the Antioch Public Library. It is the best library in town. If you want a book you know where to go. They have all the books you could ever want. They have fiction and non-fiction, fantasy and more. They even have computers to look up books and the computers tell you where the book you are looking for is. If you want a book they have it. So if you ever come to Antioch on vacation make sure you go to the Antioch Public Library

Antioch Theatre by: Megan V. at the W.C. Petty Elementary School in Antioch

2011-01-27T09:54:00.000-08:00

I went to the Antioch Theatre to see a movie. It was so fun. I went to see Toy Story 3 in 3D. It was so cool. I went with my mom and dad. We had popcorn, candy and a soda. They have a lot of candy to choose from.

I also have seen How to Train Your Dragon at the theatre. I saw it with my friend Rainy and her mom. You can sit at the very top or the bottom of the theatre, but we sat at the top. The theatre is really big. When you walk in there is a place where you can buy popcorn, soda, candy and tickets. They also have a separate area to salt your popcorn.

I really like going to see movies and some day I would like to go back to the Antioch Theatre to see another one.

Antioch Public Library by: Niah M. at the W.C. Petty Elementary School in Antioch

2011-01-20T14:10:00.000-08:00

The Antioch Library is a fun place to go in Antioch, Illinois. It's a fun place to go because you can do fun things.

You can play on the computer, but you need a library card. You can play on the sailboat and play pirates. There is a little space for your books and movies. You can pick a book and read it while sitting on the chairs and couches.

When you walk in the library there is a long desk with people and stuff. In the kid's area there is a lot of little shelves and big shelves with many books. There is also a lot of big tables for the adults and little tables for the little kids.

The Antioch library is a fun place to go because there are fun things to do there like playing on the sailboat, reading books, playing on the computer and checking out websites. I like the Antioch Library and you will too.

Brunswick Zone by: Jeremy K from the W.C. Petty Elementary School in Antioch

2011-01-13T14:40:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite places to go in Lake County is the Brunswick Zone in Waukegan. It is a great bowling alley. I don't know why it is in Waukegan, but many people go there. On regular days there are only a couple of people there and only a couple of lanes open. But on weekends it is very crowded.

I would recommend it to anyone who likes to hang out with their friends or likes to go bowling.

Brunswick Zone is one of the best bowling alleys in Lake County.

The Antioch Music Store by: Marina O. from the W.C. Petty Elementary School in Antioch

2011-01-06T14:39:00.000-08:00

The Antioch Music Store is a good music store for getting instruments and other music items. If you are in Antioch you could stop by the music store and see some of the instruments that they have. I think is a good music store. My first time to the music store is when I needed a recorder for school. The store is amazing if you ask me. I saw some guitars, a drum set and some saxophones in the window from the outside of the store.

The coolest thing at the store is that you can get any type of music books, accessories or any instrument you need. If you ever in Antioch and you like music, visit the Antioch Music Store, it's awesome and I think you would like it too.

Anastasia's by: Grace R. from W.C. Petty Elementary School in Antioch

2010-12-23T13:01:00.001-08:00

Have you been to Antioch to eat? Well, if you have you probably have seen Anastasia's, or maybe you have even been there. If you have been there you know they have great food. My favorite food that they make are nachos. What is your favorite food? I bet they have it at Anastasia's. Anastasia's is a great place to eat. It is my favorite restaurant.

Ceramics For You by: Gabriella from W.C. Petty Elementary School in Antioch

2010-12-16T13:51:00.000-08:00

My favorite place to go in Antioch is Ceramics For You.

When you first get there you go in and see all of these ceramics. Then a worker will greet you. Next, they get you settled and help you through the steps. You can choose three colors of paint to use. You can paint piggy banks, plates, pots, pans, cups, little statues, cooking supplies and a lot more. The workers tell you that you have to paint 3 or more coats on your project. You then get to use a blow dryer and dry your ceramic, but you have to blow dry it after each coat of paint. I always go with my mom for a mother-daughter day. My mom does cooking supplies so she does not have to keep on paying for such expensive things. I always paint the piggy banks.

You can also have your birthday there. You can choose the subject on what the party will be then you can choose the ceramics you get to paint during the party.

One more thing they offer is ceramic classes. In class you get the make the stuff out of clay and paint or you can use glass to make snakes.

Ceramics For You is my favorite place to go in Antioch and I can't wait until I can go again.

Genesee Theatre by: Amelia N. from W.C. Petty Elementary School in Antioch

2010-12-09T14:18:00.001-08:00

I love to go to the Genesee Theatre! I go there not just for play, I will even go there for my dance competitions. So I have even been on the stage and in the dressing rooms.

I also love going to see the Nutcracker, they always do it near Christmas. My mom said that maybe this year I could try out and maybe I could get a part in the ballroom scene. But I am a little to busy to be doing something like that.

This is my favorite place to go in Lake County and it could be yours also!!

Apple Orchard by: Taylor H. at the W.C. Petty Elementary School in Antioch

2010-12-02T11:14:00.000-08:00

The Apple Orchard in Antioch, Illinois is the most funnest place to visit. There are many shops there. In the shops there's a lot of stuff made out of apples, like cider, apple sauce, jelly and more. When I went into the shop, I got a yummy cookie. The cookie was shaped as a pumpkin with orange sprinkles on top. It was so delicious I didn't want to share with my little sister.

After I ate my cookie I went with my mom to pay for the apple picking in the orchard. After we paid we went into the apple park right next to us. In the park there is a big truck that takes you to the orchard. I saw people still searching for apples and people getting in the pumpkin patch to get a pumpkin. When we were in the truck, I saw a lot of animals in the trees. Sadly they were fake. We stopped and got off the truck and starting looking for apples. It took us a long time to find the apples.

After about five minutes my mom found an apple. Then after a few more minutes she found more than four trees filled with apples. I had a great time at the Apple Orchard.

Antioch Walmart by: Tony O. at W.C. Petty Elementary School in Antioch

2010-12-01T13:04:00.000-08:00

Have you ever been to Antioch? Well, I live there. I will be telling you about Walmart and the stuff inside Walmart. And also what I love about Walmart.

Inside Walmart there are video games, sports, outdoors, cards and lots and lots of toys. They have fishing stuff towards the back of the store. They also have lots of flowers in this one section towards the back and they sell them too. Walmart is located by Route 173 and Menards.

I hope you come to visit Antioch and Walmart someday. That's what is awesome about our great, great town. I love Walmart it is really awesome. That's what is awesome about the one and only town known as the great but little town.

Antioch's Best Pets by: Allison H. at W.C. Petty Elementary School in Antioch

2010-11-24T14:05:00.001-08:00

Have you been to Antioch? I live there and it's a really exciting town. Here I'll tell you about one of the places in Antioch. Best Pets is a pet shop in our town. They have the cutest little hamsters but watch out they Bite! They also have puppies, kittens, birds, fish and ferrets. They also have supplies and books if you plan on getting your first pet.

Grande Jakes by: Kian Z. at W.C. Petty Elementary School in Antioch

2010-11-23T13:53:00.000-08:00

Have you ever been to Antioch? If not, you should visit and come hungry. One place to go is Grande Jakes. Grande Jakes is a Mexican restaurant. I like their nachos. They also have a lot of other food to choose from.

You should come to Antioch and see all the restaurants and shops.

Antioch Movie Theater by: Alicia G., W.C. Petty Elementary School in Antioch

2010-11-18T10:24:00.000-08:00

I like the Antioch Movie Theater because before you see the movie they ask you about other movies and if you get the answer right you get a prize. They show all of the movies but at different days and times. They show movies like The Legend of the Guardians.

When you want to sit you get to choose the top half or the bottom. The top will be a better place to sit because in the front row on the top nobody's head is in your way. It is the same way when your on the bottom. That is why I like the Antioch Movie Theater.

Antioch by: Nathan P. at W.C. Petty Elementary School in Antioch

2010-11-17T15:02:00.000-08:00

Did you know that the origin of the word Antioch is Turkish, and comes from the ancient cities of the Bible? I'm going to tell you a little story about the little town I live in, right here. Here are a few things I REALLY love about Antioch!

Antioch is like the Krusty Krab of Illinois. Everyone loves this suburban one-of-a-kind town. My Favorite sandwich shop in Antioch, I must say, is Big Bites. Located near Jewel, this restaurant serves my favorite foot long hot dogs, juicy cheeseburgers, great sandwiches, and spectacular milkshakes. It's a real treat to go to Big Bites because they serve delicious food and I don't get to to there that often. Now isn't your stomach rumbling at just the thought of it?

Antioch by: Gabie T, W.C. Petty Elementary School in Antioch

2010-11-11T10:59:00.000-08:00

Have you ever been to Antioch? I live there and I like looking at the Hiram Buttrick Saw Mill. I like looking at it because it is a beautiful place and is one of the most scenic sights in Lake County. You can hear the water rush and sit in the shade under some trees. If you go to Antioch you need to see the Saw Mill.

Antioch Pizza Shop; by Nicolas G., W.C. Petty Elementary School in Antioch

2010-11-09T10:46:00.000-08:00

If you like pizza then I have a place for you. My favorite pizza place in Antioch is Antioch Pizza Shop. It has cheese, sausage, pepperoni and many more kinds of pizzas. It also has Coke, Diet Coke, Mountain Dew, Diet Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper and much more. It's my favorite pizza place in Antioch. You should go there some time.

Still Larry's in Antioch by Valerie, W.C. Petty Elementary School in Antioch

2010-11-04T14:15:00.000-07:00

Did you know Antioch is my home town? Let me tell you about the amazing town of Antioch! Here is a cool place in Antioch that is my favorite.

One of my favorite places in Antioch is Still Larry's. On a corner of a building next to Antioch Post Office and Piggly Wiggly. When go in, you look at the menu and think, "There's so many choices, what should I get?" There are doughnuts, ice cream, coffee, and hot chocolate. I want to go there every morning to get doughnuts and a cup of hot chocolate. In the summer I would sometimes get ice cream as a treat. Reading that makes you starving doesn't it?

Kelly's Cupcakes by: Gia M., W.C. Petty Elementary in Antioch

2010-11-02T09:08:00.000-07:00

Hi I'm Gia and I live in Antioch. Antioch is a very fun town. But one of the best places is Kelly's Cupcakes. Kelly's Cupcakes are one of the best places because they have almost every kind of cupcake you can think of. Also, the cupcakes have very fun names. My parents bought cupcakes at Kelly's Cupcakes for their wedding rehearsal and they were tasty! Everyone loved them! The name was Chocolate Velvet.

Also, there is another place in Antioch called the Band Shell. The Band Shell is fun! (Only when there is music but also a good sledding place.) The Band Shell is where people play music and alot of picnics are there too! Well I hope you go see the fun places in Antioch!

People's Chocie Miniture Golf by Lathon at Greenwood Elementary School in Waukegan

2010-10-28T09:29:00.000-07:00

I'm writing about the People's Choice Miniture Golf Course in Waukegan. The outside is really big and has alot of colors on it. The building is so big that King Kong can't reach it. The words Miniture Golf Course are in bubble letters.

The inside of People's Choice reminds me of a carnival because everything looks similar to a fair. It has a clown and an elephant inside. It even smells like pizza and popcorn, which made me hungry. It was very busy. There were people getting food and playing video games. I decided to play miniture golf. If your cloths are white it turns blue in the miniture golf area. If your cloths are blue they will turn white. I had a great time miniture golfing at People's choice. You should go there sometime.

Scoopin Genesee Street by: Keyaira at the Greenwood Elementary School in Waukegan

2010-10-21T13:18:00.000-07:00

A couple of years ago I went to the Scoopin' Genesee in July. I went with my sister and my mom. My sister and I went to the look at the cars. The owners of the cars would not let you touch them, but it was fun looking at them anyway. There were a lot of cars to look at, and they were all different colors, sizes and shapes.

There were a lot of people and dogs walking around there. Scoopin' Genesee is not only cars, they also have games. Some of the games were Dunk the Chicken, Shoot the Hoop and Catch the Hat. They also had Little Caesars Pizza and my sister and I ate some. The pizza was very good, it had hamburger and extra cheese on it. They also places you can sit and eat.

One of the other things that they had there was a roller coaster called the Dragon. We also got to visit the petting zoo which had goats, horses and ducks. You had to buy the food to feed them, but it was fun.

Scooping Genesee was right on Genesee Street in Waukegan. It was really fun and I hope we can go again.

The Genesee Theatre by: Ja'Nya at Greenwood Elementary School in Waukegan

2010-10-14T10:14:00.000-07:00

I went to the Genesee Theatre with my family. We went to see Alvin and the Chipmunks the Sequel. My mom, sister, our friends Carla and Deshaunty and I went there for my sister's birthday. We have been there 3 times. First time was for my brother's birthday and we saw Alvin and the Chipmunks. The second time, my mom, sister and I say Hannah Montana the Movie and the last time we saw Alvin and the Chipmunks the Sequel.

When I walked in the Genesee Theatre I thought that it was huge. The address is 203 North Genesee Street. On the outside it says Genesee Theatre. The colors of it are green and kind of pink or red. When you walk in it there is someone to take your tickets. Then you can go to the counter and buy some popcorn and soda.

The first time we went we all got popcorn and a drink. We sat in the front row and the Chipmunks and Dave looked way bigger than they were suppose to be! My sisters seat kept moving and she tried to fix it and spilled her soda. After the movie we went home.

You should visit the Genesee Theatre they have regular movies and sometimes they have concerts. I had a great time there and you will too.

What I Like About Gurnee by: Janas M. from Woodland Intermediate School

2010-10-07T13:32:00.000-07:00

I live in Lake Villa, which is next to Gurnee, IL. Gurnee was listed as one of the U.S.’s top 10 locations. There are many nice places to visit.

There are theme parks, water parks, and resorts like Hunt Club Park, KeyLime Cove Indoor Waterpark Resort and Six Flags Great America/Hurricane Harbor. Across the street from Great America is my favorite restaurant, Jimmy John’s. Their subs are unbelievable! West of Six Flags there is Gurnee Mills a great shopping mall.

In Gurnee Mills there is an awesome sushi restaurant called Hyashi. Outside the mall down Grand Ave. there is a Potbelly’s. Also down Grand Ave. there is a T.G.I.Friday’s, Chilis, Olive Garden, Outback Steakhouse and many more restaurants.

My favorite theme park is Six Flags Great America. In Great America my favorite ride is the Raging Bull. They also have Frightfest every October. It is so awesome to see the park all decorated for Halloween.

There are lots more restaurants and things to do in Gurnee and Lake County but I have just named my favorites.

What I like about Gurnee by a 5th grader at Woodland Elementary School

2010-09-30T13:05:00.000-07:00

I live in Gurnee, IL. It was listed as one of the U.S.’s top ten destinations. There are many fantastic places to visit.

One of the big places is Gurnee Mills. It has everything you want from movies to sports. Across town is Six Flags Great America. It is a huge park with roller coasters, food, and other rides as well. Six Flags has an extension to it, Hurricane Harbor. It has wave pools the size of football fields. It has big tower of water guns, water, and slides. It also has those big slides that are like 400 ft. long!!! Of course it has a lazy river. There is also another water park it is very expansive to stay at. It’s KeyLime Cove. The last water park is small but its fun to go to. It’s Gurnee Hunt Club Water Park. It has beach volleyball. It also has big pools and food and some slides. There are many restaurants scattered all over. McDonald’s to Olive Garden. There are a lot of hotels but I don’t know how many. I know at least 3. They are all very nice. There are also lots of plazas around with good stores. One is off of Grand Ave. and Data. It has many stores. There is also one across the street too. That is big too. In conclusion Gurnee is a very nice place.

What I like about Gurnee by: Lilly from Woodland Intermediate School

2010-09-23T14:06:00.000-07:00

Gurnee was voted the top 10 locations to go on a vacation. So let me tell you a little about here in Gurnee. Gurnee has Six Flags Great America which has roller coasters, water-parks. There are also my favorite heavenly restaurants. My favorite is Applebee’s and T.G.I.Fridays. I go to Woodland Intermediate. Jewel Osco is right across the street a little bit down is a water park. Up the street is Best Buy, right next to it is Target, across the street is my life, it is like heaven, it is the mall, Gurnee Mills! Hallelujah. On one side of the mall is the Fairfield Inn and the Comfort Inn and behind it is a three year olds happy place, it is Toy’s R Us and behind Toy’s R Us is KeyLime Cove Indoor Waterpark Resort.

I hope you like what everything I have told you about my Gurnee. I hope you visit my hometown the village of Gurnee!

KeyLime Cove Indoor Waterpark Resort by: Julian from the Greenwood Elementary School in Waukegan

2010-09-16T15:09:00.000-07:00

I went to KeyLime Cove. At first I saw a big water slide outside. When you pull up by the door you can get your luggage taken out by a bellboy. When I walked inside I saw a great big waterpark with a pool, a food place, a bar and a lot of candy. When I went to the room there was a flat screen TV, a coffee maker, a phone and a tiny refrigerator.

I then was able to go the the waterpark. There were waterslides, a basketball water game, a hot tub, and a place for little kids. I had so much fun. My favorite waterslide was the dark one that goes outside. When we left the waterpark I went to the arcade. They have many games like Battleship, but my favorite was Skeeball.

There is also a place that sells hot dogs, burgers and ice cream. It is called DW Andersons. The had the best cheese fries and a great cheeseburger.

If you have a chance you should stay at the KeyLime Cove, it is a great time.

The Waukegan Airport by: Felipe G. Greenwood Elementary School in Waukegan

2010-09-09T14:42:00.000-07:00

I went to the Waukegan Airport with my family. It was very, very big outside with a very big building. The inside has a lot of elevators, escalators and people. We went at 5:00 in the morning and there was a lot of people. I went to drop my dad off when he was going to Mexico and I also went back to pick him up.

He went to Mexico to visit his Mom, Dad, Uncle and Aunt. He flew on a Five-Star Airplane. It was red with a white door. We waved goodbye to him as he flew away. He came back in a week.

Waukegan Airport also has a great Airshow in September. We went last year and it was really cool. This year it is on September 11th. You see all kinds of planes and they do cool tricks. Try to go and see the show you will have a good time.

Waukegan Airport is a neat place to see, try to make it out for the airshow.

The People's Choice Family Fun Center by: Destiny Greenwood Elementary School Waukegan

2010-09-02T11:04:00.000-07:00

For my family trip I went to People's Choice Family Fun Center. We went on Wednesday and it was movie night. We watched 'Up' the movie. It was so funny we loved it. The funniest part was the end when the house landed on Paradise Falls.

The outside of People's Choice is yellow with white letters. The inside is full of games and the great smell of pizza and popcorn. There were people getting food, playing games and it was full of excitement and fun.

At People's Choice movie night I also got to play games. One of the games I played was the candy Sponge Bob game. I also ate pizza, candy, nachos, ice cream, a hot dog and had some pop. Then finally I had to go. You should take your family to movie night on Wednesdays at 6:30pm in Waukegan, I am sure you will have a good time.

Bertrand's Bowling Alley by: David R. Greenwood Elementary School Waukegan

2010-08-26T11:38:00.000-07:00

I went to the Bertrand's Bowling Alley with my family. It looked like it was small on the outside, but when you go inside it is really big. When we were bowling we used the bumpers and I kept hitting the edge.

It is so big and it has almost fifty lanes to bowl on. A lot of people were there when I got there. We bowled for almost an hour and it was so much fun bowling. My score was 94. When we were at home I asked my parents if we could go there again. I loved going to Bertrand's Bowling Alley and can't wait to go back.

The People's Choice Family Fun Center by: Xavier Greenwood Elementary School in Waukegan

2010-08-19T13:14:00.000-07:00

I went to the People's Choice Family Fun Center in Waukegan. It is a long yellow building next to a laundry mat and a taco place. Inside there is a lot of games and Mini Golf. There is a picture of a triceratops on the wall. It looks fun and it is fun.

There is a glow in the dark Mini Golf. You can find arcade games there like Fast and Furious. There is also Ski Ball and Air Hockey and a movie rental. There are also games that you win tickets from. With the tickets you can get cool stuff like a paddle ball or a whoopie cushion. You might see the mascot for People's Choice walking around. They also sell food like hot dogs, pizza and drinks like Coke, Sprite and Dr. Pepper. You can eat in the front and watch your car. I hope you like People's Choice Family Fun Center as much as I do.

Westfiled Mall by: Jackelyn V. Waukegan Elementary School

2010-08-12T09:40:00.000-07:00

Where is a good place to take your kids? Westfield Mall in Vernon Hills to the Build A Bear Work Shop. To get to Build A Bear you walk in through the doors and walk to the escalator up and it should be past Game Stop and then you will continue to go straight. Finally you will see Build A Bear Work Shop!
Now you go in and pick a bear then you get to pick a heart for the animal. After that you get stuffing for it and give it a bath. When it is done getting a bath you can get clothes for it and write up a birth certificate. The last thing you do is go to the register and get the birth certificate after it prints out. You also pay there. So now you have a furry friend! So go to Westfield Mall and make sure to go to the Build A Bear shop!

The Field House by: Jason G. Waukegan Elementary School

2010-08-05T09:44:00.000-07:00

This is my blog about the Field House. The Field House is located on Grand Ave. The field House has volleyball, basketball, rock climbing and you can also jog all over the field house. The Field House is the perfect place to visit if you come to Lake County. When I went to the Field House I practiced playing basketball and I also looked around and it was very nice. It was so cool! I was playing basketball on one of the high rims and I felt like I was in the NBA All Star game. This is my blog about why you should come visit the Field House.

The Waukegan Beach by: Lavella M. Greenwood Elementary School in Waukegan

2010-07-29T12:06:00.000-07:00

My family and I went to the Waukegan Beach. The beach is at 201 Seahorse Drive. It has sand and water to play in. Also it has tables to eat on and some grass by the tables. My sister and I played in the sand and made a sandcastle. Then we swam in the water. It was cold! Then it started to get warm in the shallow water. After that my sisters, brothers, mom, dad and I ate our food. We had sandwiches and some pop and carried it in a picnic basket. You can bring any kind of food you want. After we ate my sisters and I laid on our beach towels. You have to bring your own food there. After a great day we gathered our stuff and we went home. There are many fun things to do at the Waukegan Beach.

Lake County Fair by: Abby V. Greenwood Elementary School in Waukegan

2010-07-22T08:04:00.000-07:00

I went to the Lake county Fair with my mom and some of my neighbors. I saw three girls in pretty dresses riding around in a golf cart. I think they might have been in the Lake County Fair Queens. There were so many different choices for dinner I had a hard time choosing from pizza, funnel cake, or a hot dog. I finally decided to get pizza and homemade lemonade. I went on the bumper cars and bumped into my mom a lot. I had a competition with my mom on the water shooting game. I also saw a lot of photographs in a building. Some photos had blue ribbons. There was an amazing show with lions and owls and many other animals. As we were walking around we could smell the farm animals in the barns like cows and sheep. The last thing we did was watch a dirt bike race. It was really cool! You see the people riding dirt bikes go off jumps and make sharp turns. It was the best time I ever had at the Lake County Fair.

Lake Bluff Beach by: Hussain A. Greenwood Elementary School Waukegan

2010-07-15T07:33:00.000-07:00

I went to Lake Bluff Beach with my cousin. I went swimming in the freezing water. Their playground was awesome and a lot of fun. It was close to the water right on the sand. There is a slide that shoots you into the water. The sand on the beach was very moist; great sand to make sand castles. My cousins and I ran out of time so we didn't make a sandcastle but, other people were making them! That was the coolest time at LAKE BLUFF BEACH.

Bristol Renaissance Faire by: Grace M. Greenwood Elementary School in Waukegan

2010-07-08T07:52:00.000-07:00

I went to a fair called the Bristol Renaissance Faire with my mom, brother, sister, and sister's friend. I went on only one ride at the fair. It was a chair ride that swings around ropes around a pole. It was scary at first. Next, my brother Evan and my sister Maddie wanted to do a fun competition so, they did fencing. I could not play because I was too young. My sister won. After that we got some food. There was normal food and medieval food like big turkey legs and much more. Then, we stopped by the stage to see some performers. Everyone there is dressed up that time in history. There was a man walking around selling really fancy hats. It was a ring with small fake flowers and berry's and three pieces of ribbon. I really liked them so I asked if I could buy one and my mother said yes so after that I had a medieval hat. My sister and her friend Megan wanted to get there palm read. When they came out they said that they would have a good life. I wish it was open year round instead of just the summer time because I can't stay away from the Bristol Renaissance Faire.

Bare Foot Bay by Ben B. an Oak Grove Elementary School Student

2010-07-01T10:07:00.000-07:00

My Family and I went to Bare Foot Bay in Mundelein, an outdoor water park, and we had a blast! We got a nice spot on the grass by the speakers. It was very relaxing. We went on a heated lazy river, a tube slide, and a drop slide. I went on the diving board, I swam in the main pool, and played with built in water toys. After doing all those fun things I went to the concession stand. I had a cookie sandwich and a lemonade. The cookie sandwich was a killer because of all the chocolate and ice cream! After my snack break i went "island walking" on the water. Don't let go of the ropes above you or you'll fall in. I didn't go in the baby pool, but they have one. I want to go back to Bare Foot Bay again some time.

Quonset Pizza by: Gabrielle S. Geenwood Elementary School in Waukegan

2010-06-24T12:09:00.000-07:00

I went to Quonset Pizza with my Dad. Quonset Pizza has a green sign that says "Quonset Pizza". Quosnet Pizza is at the corner of Grand Ave and McAree Road. Inside there is an oven that cooks the pizzas. It is really dark inside, unless you sit next to a window.
My Dad and I ate pepperoni and sausage pizza. It tasted so juicy! I loved how the cheese was melted. They are sometimes fast and sometimes slow. It depends on how many people are there. They have really nice waitresses there! Quonset Pizza is better than any pizza place in Waukegan. This is why Quonset Pizza is so good!

Bowen Park by: Jonathan V. Greenwood Elementary School in Waukegan

2010-06-17T11:34:00.000-07:00

Have you ever gone to Bowen Park? I have and it is a lot of fun. It has a big area with lots and lots of trees. There are a lot of new things at the park. It is on Sheridan Road and you can't miss it. If you want to get wet for free you can go to small water park right under the spider web. Some of the new things are two long slides, a big sand box, swings and a huge spider web. There is also a huge hill for sledding down in the winter time. There are signs about nature and animals all around the park. It is a great place to have a picnic. My favorite thing to do is climb the spider web. I also enjoyed sledding down the hill in the winter. Any time of year there are a lot of fun things to do at Bowen Park.

Waukegan Library by: Chelsey C. Greenwood Elementary School in Waukegan

2010-06-10T11:35:00.000-07:00

I went to the Waukegan library. You should visit there sometime it is really fun, especially at 6:30 when a girl comes in and reads books to you. Sometimes she even has puppets. After she is done reading she gives you a picture to color. She reads to you in a glass room and outside the room there are some games you can play on the computer or by hand. It is so much fun! The library has lots of books and music and there's a math board. You can also color whenever you want and paint without getting messy because they have smocks. There is also people to look up books on the computer for you. You can check out a lot of books and up to 6 dvd's from downstairs. This is why you should visit the Waukegan library.

Waukegan Lake Front by: Jocelyne MR. Greenwood Elementary School in Waukegan

2010-06-03T12:02:00.000-07:00

I went to the Lake Front with my family. We saw boats there. I ate chocolate ice cream and it was good. Then we went walking to the beach and then came back. The boats were nice, some were white and some had names. One of the boats I saw was perfect. I wanted to own that boat, it was marine colors, white and navy blue. I believe there were 11 boats. Then we ate ice cream and I had chocolate ice cream on a cone and the cone had chocolate. My mom had mango ice cream in a cup and my dad had Key Lime ice cream in a cone. My brother, sisters, and cousin had the colorful fruity ice cream. We sat at the tables with the umbrellas. It was a hot day and I think it was somewhere between 89 and 98 degrees. It was a nice way to spend the hot day.

Bowen Skatepark by: Jacquee T. Greenwood Elementary School Waukegan

2010-04-29T12:08:00.000-07:00

I went to Bowen Skatepark. Bowen Skatepark looks alike a dried up pool because it once was one. When I go I wear pads and gear then I rollerblade or skateboard. Everyday the skatepark is open I put clothes on and go. I think skateboarding is fun, but rollerblading is awesome. If you decide to go, make sure you know how to stop when you go past the bump or just take the stairs. The park may look small on the outside, but it is big inside. To find Bowen Skatepark take North Sheridan Road. I chose this skatepark because I love to go there and I am across the street from it, but you will like it no matter where you come from.

My Trip to Six Flags by: Esteban G. Greenwood Elementary School Waukegan

2010-04-22T14:33:00.000-07:00

When I went to Six Flags with my family we had to give the workers our season passes. After that we went inside Six Flags. The first thing I saw was the Giant Drop. Then I asked my mom if we could go on it and she said "yes." So I was happy, but that is not the only ride, there is also the Raging Bull. It goes so fast and trust me it is pretty scary sometimes. It can knock your hat off of your head. But my favorite ride is still the Giant Drop. The Octopus is a ride that will get your head dizzy. Six Flags has 13 roller coasters and tons of rides for little kids. You should come visit Six Flags Great America, it is really a lot of fun!

Jelly Belly Factory by: Hannah C. Greenwood Elementary School Waukegan

2010-04-15T08:04:00.000-07:00

I went to the Jelly Belly Factory with my family. It has a jelly bean man sign that says Jelly Belly Factory on the outside and a lot of jelly beans in the inside. What did I do then? I took at Jelly Belly Tour and saw pictures made out of jelly beans and how the jelly beans are made, packaged and more. They also have Jelly Belly stores where you can buy or eat jelly beans, it's so awesome. One more thing I should tell you about this place, it's located in Pleasant Prairie Wisconsin on 10100 Jelly Belly Lane, funny right? Just cross the border from Illinois to Wisconsin.

Now, let me tell you about the first time you'll go to this place. First you'll see all the people there so you'll see how busy it is everyday. Then the staff will ask you if you want to take the tour. Here's the thing you should most definitely say, yes, because the staff member will give you a nice cute little hat to wear. You get to go in a little train, and it's just plain fun! I loved it! Then you should get some jelly beans because they're so delicious. That's why you should go to the Jelly Belly Factory.

Tacos El Norte by: Jonathan E. Waukegan School

2010-04-08T14:13:00.000-07:00

You have to go to this restaurant it's the nicest restaurant I have ever gone, it's called Tacos El Norte. Outside it has a sign with the restaurant name. Inside it has kinda dark lighting but it looks cool, the lighting is yellow but they do something to it to make it like an orange yellowish. Just because the name has the word tacos in it doesn't mean that's the only thing on the menu, there's chilaguiles, there's hamburgers, fries, chicken and I don't know what else they got. So you should go to that restaurant it is in Gurnee.

Illinois Beach State Park by: Andrei P. Oak Grove School

2010-04-01T10:16:00.000-07:00

Last summer I went to Illinois Beach State Park. When I arrived nobody was there. I went there with my dad and two sisters. I jumped in the water and it was freezing cold! I went back in the sand and Lexi, my sister, poured water on me. It was perfect! Then my dad threw certain rocks into Lake Michigan. Lexi and I raced to see who could find the rock first. Lexi found seven and I found nine. After the rock game we started walking down the beach and found a little stream. It was warmer than Lake Michigan and it was shallow. At the end of the stream my dad found a little tadpole. He caught the tadpole and tried to push it with the water onto the sand so he wouldn't hurt it, but unfortunately he buried the tadpole with sand. Finally we went home and I am waiting to go again next summer.

Independence Grove by: Chae-Rin L. Oak Grove School

2010-03-25T12:59:00.001-07:00

Last August I went to Independence Grove with my mom and my sister. It was fantastic! There were tons of things to do, like fishing, going on bike rides, swimming, boating and much more. I chose paddle boating. It cost $25 for one hour. When we got on the boat we saw lots of people swimming. My mom and I did the paddling, while my sister was putting her feet in the water. When we got off the boat we went to our car and drove home. When I come back next summer I'm going to try something new.

Centre Club by: Brian N. Oak Grove School

2010-03-18T12:41:00.000-07:00

Swish, basketball, racquetball, volleyball, track and fitness... I had an amazing time just playing around at the Centre Club in Gurnee. The seventh grade at my school went there, and since my mom was a chaperone, my friend and I got to go too. My friend and I played Newcomb practically the whole time. We also played a little racquetball. Unfortunately we could not go swimming because we did not have our bathing suits. After we were there for about two hours we got some snacks like goldfish and a bottle of Gatorade. Right before we went home, we ran on the track. I can't wait until next time.

Ravinia by: Colin H. Oak Grove School

2010-03-11T13:48:00.000-08:00

Last summer I went to Ravinia to see my favorite band ABBA with my family. Ravinia is in Highland Park. When we got there my dad gave the lady our tickets. Before the concert at Ravinia we ate at a fantastic hot dog place or, like I like to call it hot dog heaven. After that my family and I had ice cream at an ice cream stand right next to the hot dog place inside Ravinia. We had our seats in the pavilion. We could of sat in the grass with our picnic blanket but it was crowded. When the concert started I sat next to dad in the seating arena. I sang all the songs but I had to leave early because I had an ear infection. I totally loved going to Ravinia. They don't only have ABBA. They could have your favorite singer or band just wait.

Oberweis By: Spencer V. Oak Grove School

2010-03-04T06:20:00.001-08:00

I love ice cream, and I love going to Oberweis! I don't remember what flavors of ice cream I ate the last time I was there with my mom, dad, and sisters because I go there a lot. I do remember that I had a hard time choosing because they have a ton of unique flavors. (They don't just sell ice cream, though. They also sell lemonade, skim milk, chocolate milk, and other drinks too. My family has Oberweis milk delivered to my home!)

On about half of the tables in Oberweis, there is a chessboard with chess pieces. I started to play a game with my dad the last time I was there, but when I was eating my ice cream, my sisters knocked over all of the pieces! That was the end of my game!

When we were leaving Oberweis, an employee offered us balloons! I highly recommend that you to to Oberweis!

Philly G's by: Bella C. Oak Grove School

2010-02-25T14:36:00.000-08:00

Philly G's is the best place to eat because it has a bar, a banquet room for weddings and meetings, and also a party room. The bar has a dance floor and a singer that lets you dance to a really good song. The place where you can get married is upstairs. The party room is where you can have a meeting or a birthday party in fact I'm going there for my birthday party to eat. I know my mom will be able to tell my family what to order because she works there! When I went to the bar room I paid the singer one dollar for the great singing. Also the bar had a television. The thing that was funny was that there was a baseball team playing called the Phillies. Whenever I have a celebration I'm spending it at Philly G's!

Lifetime Fitness by: Monika Z. Oak Grove School

2010-02-18T06:30:00.000-08:00

Last month I went to Lifetime Fitness with my dad, mom, and my sister. First we went rock climbing, it was challenging and it was hard. I made it to the top! Then we went to play basketball, it was my mom and sister against my dad and I, we won. There was also a place to play soccer but we didn't play because personally we don't like soccer that much. Finally my favorite part was when we went swimming. There were two water slides. One is open and one is closed. I went down both. My sister and I were playing on the slides and racing each other, my mom was swimming and my dad was reading a book. I hope we go back soon.

The Rainforest Cafe by: Emily R. Oak Grove Shool

2010-02-11T12:14:00.001-08:00

Last summer, my two best friends and I went to the Rainforest Cafe for my friends birthday. When we got there, there were fake animals everywhere, a fake alligator, giraffe, and even a snake! When we went inside, it was really cool! There's a HUGE fish tank. Two smaller tanks are connected with a tube to get to the other tank. We also saw fake vines everywhere to make it look like a rainforest. When we got to our seats, we automatically began looking at our menus. Then, the waitress came and took our drink orders. My friends and I ordered Sprite, and my friend's parents ordered Coke. We then saw that they had really cool light up cups that you can take home and they served our drinks in those! Soon we ordered our meal Just then, we heard thunder! The lights flashed! There was a "thunderstorm" going on! Some time later we got our food. It was awesome! When we finished our food we ordered a dessert called The Volcano. It was ice cream, brownies, and hot fudge shaped into a volcano! We finished that five minutes after we got it since their food is so good! After that, we left. I was so glad I got to go to the Rainforest Cafe.

Tsukasa by: Ananta S. Oak Grove School

2010-02-04T14:31:00.001-08:00

Last summer I went to Tsukasa with my friend and her family for a birthday party. We sat at a square table. Guess where the chef cooked? Right in front of us on the table! Each table had its own personal chef! The chef was amazing! First he did some tricks like making a big flaming fire that was on the stove which was at least five ft. high and out of nowhere a "train" appeared made out of onions and smoke was coming out of the first onion! He asked for a volunteer to do another trick and choose me. He put a raw egg on a spatula. He held my hand holding the spatula. We flipped the egg but it did not crack! After that the chef cooked a wonderful and delicious dinner. It was the world's best restaurant food ever! I had a great time eating at Tsukasa.

The Silo by: Shannon L. Oak Grove School

2010-01-28T11:13:00.000-08:00

Our family likes going out on Saturday night for great food and fast service, so we ended up in a big two story restaurant, Silo. We didn't have to go on Saturday but since we did there was an awesome magician. He is funny, makes balloons, and does amazing tricks! I know all of this because when I went there with my siblings, parents and grandma he did all of these unbelievable tricks. The magician made me a jumping balloon mouse and he did this trick with my grandmother's ring. We were all so amazed! Once the magician left I was kind of bored but that was not a problem for long because near the entry there is a whole shelf full of these little fun portable games that you bring back to your table. I didn't play very long because our food came right away. We ordered two pizzas, 1 pepperoni and 1 cheese since they are famous for their pizza. I personally like cheese better than pepperoni but I'm sure the pepperoni was great too! Over all I had a great time at Silo and I can't wait to go back.

Libertyville Sports Complex by: Grace L. Oak Grove School

2010-01-21T08:46:00.000-08:00

I went to the Libertyville Sports Complex over the summer. When I went there, I first played basketball and my team won! After that, I played a soccer game that ended in pretty much a tie. After soccer I hit in the batting cages. I hit five pitches and missed three. Then I went rock climbing, it was very high, but I made it all the way to the top! I saw Birthday parties there too! I would want to have my Birthday party there, would you? I also saw a running track and saw people running. I had an awesome time there and I hope to go again to the Libertyville Sports Complex.

Libertyville Theater by: Sacha K Oak Grove School

2010-01-14T14:12:00.000-08:00

I love the Libertyville Theater. The last time I went there I saw Harry Potter and the Half Blood Price. Before the movie began, the usher asked trivia questions. If you answered one right, you got a free movie ticket to the theater. I had a slushy and popcorn to enjoy the movie, then when I was at my seat the usher who worked there went up and down the aisles and asked if we or anyone needed refills on drinks and asked for popcorn refills for free. I was so surprised! Another thing I did at the movie theater was play arcade games. I played Pac Man, and it was really fun. I can't wait until I go back to the Libertyville Theater!