As vaccines are dispersed across the state and COVID-19 infection rates decrease, Lake County is slowly reopening its restaurants, attractions, museums, sanctuaries and various other tourism venues.
In the land of lakes, we long for our days screaming on a coaster at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, bob your head to the music with a wine and cheese spread at Ravinia Festival in Highland Park and Genesee Theatre in Waukegan, lose yourself with the talented thespians performing on the Lake County center stage theatres and various other travel attractions that peak our interest.
By practicing ideal coronavirus protocols like social distancing, wearing a mask, getting the vaccine and waiting this thing out patiently, we'll be back to all of the Lake County adventures we work for all year round. This piece also provides information about what venues have received permission to reopen.
As of March 18, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker new metrics and guidelines aimed at transitioning the state to a full reopening, unveiling what he called a "Bridge Phase" that would allow for higher capacity limits prior to entering Phase 5. The new phase allows for higher capacity limits at places like museums, zoos and spectator events and increased business operations. But masks will continue to be mandated. The updated guidelines bridge the gap between Phase 4, which the state is currently in, and Phase 5, which would mark a complete reopening and requires a widely available vaccine or highly effective treatment.
We're in this thing together! Let's ride this thing out safely, In the meantime, here are 50+ socially distanced things to do in our fair county. #LetsGoLakeCounty!
- View all the fascinating natural activities by taking a tour of Illinois’ only remaining open-water quaking bog: National Natural Landmark Volo Bog State Natural Area in Ingleside. INFO»
- Anchors Aweigh! Launch your water vessel in one of over 75 inland lakes here in the county. "Ride, captain ride, upon your mystery ship. Be amazed at the friends, you have here on your trip." INFO»
- Travel to Deerfield to see Lake County's eldest structure, the Caspar Ott Log Cabin. INFO»
- Art is everything, especially in Lake County. Whether it’s a mural sketched on our favorite store or installations popping up all around town, the knack for art is fluent in the land of lakes. Take in the art scene in land of lakes INFO»
- View the stupendous steeds shake a leg at the Old Mill Creek farm as social-distancing protocols are in place when you visit the renowned The Tempel Lipizzans. INFO»
- Take home some grub and suds from the Lake County Libation Trail partners that cook a mean dish and stir a good brew. INFO»
- Thunder on the Chain features the unique world of drag boat racing from June-September hosted by Blarney Island on Grass Lake. INFO»
- Hit the arcade, bowl a few turkeys, hit the mini links and have an ole fashioned good time at Kristof's Entertainment Center in Round Lake Beach. INFO»
- Aaaaawhooooo. Be one with the wolf as you slip down water slides, swim against the currents of the wave pool, pick up your sticks in arcade games and just flat out relax in the Northwoods-themed Great Wolf Lodge. INFO»
- If you're looking for a place for Lassie, Sounder, Old Yeller or any REAL-life canine to play with, have the dog parks in Lake County tickle the fancy of your bestie. INFO»
- The land of lakes is one of the most scenic places to be in the state. Mr. Golden Sun makes his presence known year-round, waking up over Lake Michigan and taking a nap on the county's west side. Grab your lawn chairs for the show of a lifetime. INFO»
- Peruse the antiques and treasures at one of Lake County's best-kept secrets at Volo Antique Mall. INFO»
- Take a walk or enjoy the sights around the Richardson Farm 36 acre lake as the Spring Grove farm launches its Tulip Festival in the spring.It's the place to pick up a pumpkin and get lost in a corn maze as well as a spot to pick up your family holiday arbor. INFO»
- Learn how to and create a wonderful piece of glass art as you become a local artisan for a day at Peter Patterson Glassworks in Mundelein. INFO»
- Take a selfie at the end of Amstutz Expressway in Waukegan before Batman disappears into the Bat Cave. Or you could try to escape Punxsutawney, PA, like weatherman Phil Connors attempted to do in "Groundhog Day." The end of this expressway is where the 2005 film 'Batman Begins' was shot. INFO»
- Take Flight or escape reality at Extreme Flight Simulator in Gurnee INFO»
- Recline and relax in pure lavish bliss at one of Lake County's comfy accommodations. Our Hotel Spotlight of the Month is a great starting point. INFO»
- FORE! Get out there and hit the links at one of over 46 golf courses with pristine wall-to-wall fairways and greens. INFO»
- Nature is always the hot spot when your social distancing. Visit the 552-acre Ryerson Conservation Area and meet some critters, snap one for the gram or just bask in the glory of one of the National Register of Historic Places. INFO»
- "Sometimes in the waves of change, we find our true direction." Say namaste as you pose in warrior one through three on a Lake County beach. INFO»
- 'Let's go fly a kite and send it soaring, up through the atmosphere, up where the air is clear.' Have the time of your life watching your canvass float through the air along Lake Michigan. INFO»
- Take a page out of Beyoncé's book and "Upgrade U" or your brunch experience in Lake County in person or via curbside pickup and takeout. INFO»
- Watch Lake County history come alive at the Grayslake Heritage Center in downtown Grayslake. INFO»
- Plan your next vacay after perusing the unbelieveable shots via super satellite snaps captured by Google Earth. INFO»
- Take a scenic stroll through Lake County Forest Preserves and snap a few pictures to capture the beauty at locations like Independence Grove in Libertyville. INFO»
- Retrace the steps and snaps of the shutterbugs that competed in the #LetsSnapLakeCounty Photo Contest INFO»
- Get comfy and cozy on your couch and queue up your Lake County Stay-at-home Playlist featuring born and bread land of lakers. INFO»
- From the Bluesmobile to the batmobile to the snowmobiles, Volo Auto Museum has it all and beyond, and they're reopening on May 14. INFO»
- If the land of lakes freezes over before spring comes, twirl, twizzle and triple lutz on the Lake County ice in various locations. INFO»
- From delectable culinary cuisine to Afrocentric threads, to cultural landmarks and so much more, black entrepreneurship is an integral piece of the land of lakes. Shop Black-owned business in Lake County. INFO»
- Recline and relax at the Lincolnshire resort centralized in the village with a scenic natural background. The Lincolnshire Marriott Resort is located on 157-wood acres, stretches 40,000 square feet of meeting space, attains an 18-hole PGA Championship Golf Course and two on-campus eateries in the upscale Three Embers Restaurant and Lake County Libation Trail partner Wright's Brew & Bistro.
- Have a meet and greet with some warm and cold-blooded creatures at the Wildlife Discovery Center in Lake Forest's outdoor trail. INFO»
- Compete with some friends in a match of disc golf. There are many courses lofcated throughout Lake County like Bevier Park (Waukegan), Keller/Sheppard Park (Deerfield), Adler Park (Libertyville), Tim Osmond Sports Complex (Antioch) and many more.
- We may not understand the science behind building a structure, but we can point out cool Lake County architectural gems. While you stay indoors and/or go outside, check out the inspiring buildings standing in and around the land of lakes. INFO»
- Bike, walk, blade, skate or run the Des Plaines River Trail Challenge that stretches a continuous 31.4 miles of uninterrupted Lake County trail. INFO»
- Channel your innner Kevin McCallister from "Home Alone" when the fumes rise from your carryout pizza box. As that beautiful pie stares back at you all you can do is reply "A lovely cheese pizza just for me. EVeryone's feeling like pizza tonight in Lake County. See where you can get it. INFO»
- The quintessential coaster and water slide experience in Six Flags Great America and Hurricane Harbor Chicago is slated to reopen its doors April 24. Extensive social-distancing protocols are implemented at the Gurnee amusement park. INFO»
- From rum to gin, absinthe and bourbon to vodka and liquer and everything between, the Lake County Libation Trail distilleries create saporous spirits that you need in your system. INFO»
- "Everybody's goin' surfin'. Surfin' Wau-ke-gan." Imitate your best Beach Boy at the Waukegan Municipal Beach as you kick back, relax and unwind. INFO»
- Shoot a bow and arrow, ride a horse, go hunting and so many other nature activities at the Chain O'Lakes State Park. This land of lincoln spot in Antioch obtains the largest concentration of natural lakes. INFO»
- Explore more than 30,000 acres of Lake County Forest Preserves and find out where to hike and bike while practicing social distancing in Lake County and remember, keep it six feet apart. INFO»
- Stop and smell the roses as the fragrance from Chicago Botanic Garden wafts through the air near southern Lake County. Packed with 27 gardens and situated on nine islands surrounded by tranquil lakes, the Glencoe sanctuary is the ideal location for blissful zen. INFO»
- "Do it for the gram," visit one of Lake County's trendiest Instagram locations. INFO»
- The land of lakes has one of the best mom-and-pop shopping scenes. These quintessential boutiques and supply shops give Lake County its personality and character. INFO»
- PHO real, there's nothing like Lake County Asian cuisine. We're clearly SOY into it. UDON even know how many options are in the land of lakes. Keep calm, take home some Asian cuisine tonight and curry on. INFO»
- View the monthly explosion of art in downtown Waukegan as ArtWauk returns to Genesee Street. INFO»
- Test your teamwork at 60 to Escape at Gurnee Mills, where you'll have 60 minutes to discover codes, solve puzzles, open locks and find secret entrances all to complete your mission and escape the room. INFO»
- Embark on a treasure hunt and explore all of the filming locations of Dylan Kroll's song and video ‘Lake County: The Bounty of Illinois.’ Kroll was the winner of Visit Lake County's I Love Lake County Song Search in 2015. INFO»
- Take a day trip to Libertyville and experience the wonders of Lambs Farm open from April-October. INFO»
- Arrive curious and leave inspired at the Dunn Museum in Libertyville after meeting a dryptosaurus, a Lake County born and bred dino. INFO»
- Exclaim cowabunga as you land an ollie in one of Lake County's skate park halfpipes: Warren Township Center Skate Park, Viking Park, Betty Russell Community Park and Churchill Hunt Park (Gurnee), Jewett Park Skate Park (Deerfield), Williams Park (Antioch), Daniel Barry Memorial Skate Park (Grayslake), Waukegan Skate Park and Sullivan Community Center. INFO»
- Take in all four seasons as Lake County's outdoor scene is second to none. INFO»
- Boogie on the cobblestone as Long Grove permits you to discover live music at every corner in the historic village's downtown. INFO»
- Spend a day shopping in over 70 exclusive shops at the open-air Deer Park Town Center. INFO»
- Frolic, swing, jump and climb at Bowen Park in Waukegan. INFO»
- Take a dip in beautiful Lake Michigan and bask in all of nature's ambiance at Illinois Beach State Park in Zion when the weather warms up. INFO»
- Eat and drink local by dining in, devouring bites alfresco-style or ordering carryout and/or curbside pickup from our various restaurants and Lake County Libation Trail partners. Let's feed the bellies and our economy. INFO»
- If the snow falls again - because winter never provides the proper goodbye, there are a ton of hills in Lake County for sledding and tubing fun. INFO»
To find out how to experience Lake County from home and other socially-distanced activities,continue here. To learn more about the events going on in Lake County, click here.
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