Location: Des Moines, Iowa Years Active: 1966 – Active Blank Park Zoo isn’t just another zoo. It’s a place where lions roar and tigers stalk their prey. You’ll get close to animals you’d usually see on a far-flung safari or in nature documentaries. Want to mingle with butterflies? They’ve got a whole garden full of…
Location: Aurora, Illinois Years Active: 1915 – Active Phillips Park Zoo isn’t your standard mega-zoo experience. It’s a little older, a little smaller, with a focus on native Illinois wildlife. That’s the charm, though! There’s a real sense of history here, and you get way closer to the animals than at those huge zoos with…
Location: Chicago, Illinois Years Active: 1868 – Active Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo isn’t your standard animal attraction. This place is old – 1868 old – and that means they know their stuff. They’re big on conservation, so it’s not just about gawking at lions. You’ll learn something, and your kids will too. It’s tucked right…
Just outside Chicago, Brookfield, Illinois is home to Brookfield Zoo, a place that’s been mixing world-class animal care with family day trips since 1934. It’s one of the few major U.S. zoos with sprawling habitats instead of old-fashioned cages, which makes finding your way around its 200+ acres a bit of an adventure. Seasonal favorites…
Location: Grafton, Illinois Years Active: 1990 – Active Raging Rivers Waterpark…it’s been a Grafton staple since 1990. Love it or hate it, this place draws a crowd – especially on those sweltering summer days. They’ve got the classics: the “Endless River” for chilling, those crazy “Cascade Body Flumes” if you like a thrill, and a…
Built around a looping indoor path, this compact attraction balances big LEGO energy with the intimacy of a single building. A LEGOLAND Discovery Center map helps guests find themed zones, from Miniland displays to ride stations and creative build areas, without missing the café or 4D cinema tucked behind the play zones. It’s all about…
Location: McCall, Idaho Years Active: 1961 – Active Brundage Mountain Resort – it’s the kind of place where locals still outnumber tourists, tucked away in the Idaho mountains near McCall. Don’t come here expecting five-star dining or slopeside condos. This place is about one thing: the snow. They call it the “Best Snow in Idaho,”…
Morning Star Zone curves across The Basin Gravity Park like a steep amphitheater of dirt and pine, its flow trails looping back toward the main lift in fast rhythm. The Morning Star Zone – The Basin Gravity Park map helps riders trace these lines before they drop in, noting elevation changes, return routes, and crossover…
Location: Lava Hot Springs, Idaho Years Active: 2000 – Active Love it or hate it, everyone knows about the Lava Hot Springs Olympic Swimming Complex. Since it opened, this place has been a fixture. Sure, the hot springs are the main draw, but if you want to swim or get some sun, this is where…
Location: Boise, Idaho Years Active: 1916 – Active Zoo Boise isn’t some stuffy nature exhibit. It’s a lively place, right in the middle of Boise, with a ton of fascinating animals. Think lions, tigers – even snow leopards! They’ve been around forever, over a hundred years, and they’re always working to protect wildlife. Want an…
