Weekend Trip with Kids

Before you visit, check out the Unforgettable Forgottonia Events Calendar to see what kid-friendly events are happening.

Check into the Hampton Inn which features a pool for your kiddos and is conveniently across the street from a grocery store.

Roll the dice and play on Macomb’s Historic Courthouse Square! Macombopoly is the world’s largest Monopoly board, paying homage to both the classic board game and its inspiration – The Landlord's Game, invented by Macomb resident Elizabeth “Lizzie” Magie-Phillips.

Smiley’s Family Farm, Orchard & Pumpkin Patch, located just outside of McDonough County‘s lovely village of Industry, IL, is the perfect place for a family afternoon. They are registered breeders of Myotonic Goats, more commonly know as “Fainting Goats,” grow 15 varieties of pumpkins, gourds, and squashes. They also have pie pumpkins for baking, tractor pulled hay-rack rides, fresh eggs from their very own hens, and a farmer’s market with different varieties of fresh vegetables. And now they offer several varieties of fresh apples hand picked directly from their new orchard! Did we mention they also have Llamas? That’s right, Llamas! So don’t miss the unforgettable family fun at Forgottonia’s Smiley’s Family Farm!

Enveloping a Streetscape design the Dudley Skate Park mimics the natural street terrain, with elements such as stairs, railings, benches, and a fun box (a table component in the middle surrounded by ramps.) The idea behind this design is to give the Skate park an urban feel, offering a plaza style design that incorporates texture, color and the local architecture.

This skate park is the only one of its kind within a two-hour radius of Macomb. At a cost of approximately a quarter million dollars, Dudley Skate Park draws skateboarders from throughout Western Illinois.

Check out Create Art Studio for Kids to see which classes are happening!

The Glenwood Pool, located in Macomb’s beautiful Glenwood Park, is open to the public and is a fun, safe, and affordable place where families have traditionally cooled off on hot spring and summer days for more than seven decade. Whether you’re a seasoned swimmer or just enjoy relaxing poolside, Glenwood Pool has something for everyone!

The City of Macomb staffs the pool with lifeguards, administration, and employees for the Snack Shack. The pool also offers Swimming Lessons, Zumba Classes, Baby-Buddy Courses and Cabanas for rent. Admission is only $2, so tell your friends and beat the summer heat with a Splashtastic visit to Glenwood Pool!

HOURS

Monday – Friday 12:30AM – 6:00PM Saturday, Sunday 11:30PM – 6:00PM

Macomb has a plethora of food options but when travelling with kids, a great pizza place is a requirement. Larry A's delivers (literally and figuratively).

Macomb‘s Ball Fore Family Entertainment Center has something for everyone including eight batting cages, an 18 hole mini-golf course, batting cages, sand volleyball courts, basketball courts and concessions.

And introducing in the 2024 season, Park Golf. Originating in Japan in the early 1980s, the sport consists of 18 holes with pars 3, 4 and 5. Holes are shorter in length and narrow. Park Golf plays faster than traditional golf with 18 hole rounds lasting only 50-70 minutes.

Ball Fore‘s “Park Golf” course is the newest of only three other courses of its kind in the nation!

Thirty-Five acres of expansive green terrain set the stage for a diverse recreational experience through the Macomb Park District’s Patton Park. Located in the southeast corner is the Jackie & Dave Thompson Dog Park. Upon further exploration of the park visitors will find the Patton Pond, the Patton Playground, Zipline, Pathways for Play® and a shelter house. The east region embraces the energy of athletics and competition at the ball diamonds. Macomb Area Traveling Leagues: McDonough CATS, Western Illinois DAWGS, & West Central Elite bring Spring to an uproar at both diamonds.

Argyle Lake State Park has a full complement of recreational opportunities. Just 7 miles from Macomb, Colchester‘s Argyle Lake also offers picnicking, camping, hiking, boating facilities, and a restaurant, all in a scenic, natural setting.

With its 93-acre lake for boating and fishing, 5 miles of rugged foot trails through luxuriant virgin forests and full-service campgrounds with 20 campsites, this heavily wooded, 1,700-acre site is the ideal place to spend a day, a weekend or longer.​​​​​​

Spring Lake Park is a public park located in Macomb. The park is home to a 230-acre spring lake, areas for camping, and three bike trails. Spring Lake is the fresh water reservoir for the city of Macomb, and is noted for superb bass fishing which annually draws several regional fishing tournaments.

Furthermore, the lake is a perfect place to hike, mountain bike, camp, lease a cabin or rent a Kayak, Canoe, Paddle Board or Pontoon Boat. You’ll also find a cross country running course. Spring Lake Park and Campgrounds’ bucolic setting is, quite simply a wonderful place for the family to get in touch with nature.

Macomb’s Lakeview Nature Center also boasts the nation’s largest seven circuit Prairie Labyrinth. The labyrinth, which is created within and from the surrounding natural prairie vegetation, is open to the public from dawn to dusk 365 days a year and provides community outreach through guided and unguided labyrinth walks, support groups, workshops and an annual spring wellness event.

Little Creek Alpacas is a small family farm located in Forgottonia‘s Plymouth, IL, less than 30 minutes southwest of Macomb, IL. They raise Suri and Huacaya alpacas, breeding mostly for appaloosa, pattern, light fawn, white, grey, and black fleece. Little Creek currently sell breeding stock, and fiber & pet Suri and Huacaya alpacas, as well as a wide variety of products made from these beautiful animals’ soft, downy coats.

Little Creek Alpacas farm was born out of a great love for animals, as well as the desire to become more self sufficient. They grow alpacas because they are docile, earth friendly, and produce a wonderful, luxurious fiber. Did you know that alpaca fiber is not only soft, durable, warm, moisture wicking, flame retardant, water and stain resistant, but it is also superior to cashmere?