Memorial Day weekend should be the unofficial start of summer. Backyard cookouts, the first long weekend the kids have been counting down to since spring break, three full days to fill.
Then you check the forecast.
If you’ve lived in the Chicago area for more than one summer, you already know how this goes. Late May around here is unpredictable on a good year. Cooler-than-normal highs, surprise storm systems, the kind of weekend where Saturday is gorgeous, Sunday is 58 and pouring, and Monday you’re staring at three kids who’ve already used up every screen-time excuse they have.
That’s where this guide comes in. Whether the weather holds or it tanks, here’s the Memorial Day weekend Vernon Hills game plan — and the one indoor attraction that turns a rained-out long weekend into the part the kids talk about all summer.
Why Vernon Hills is the smart Memorial Day base
Vernon Hills sits in the sweet spot of Lake County — close enough to Chicago to be a day-trip option for North Shore and city families, but far enough north to feel like you actually went somewhere. Hawthorn Mall anchors the area with restaurants, shopping, and entertainment all under one roof, which matters more on Memorial Day weekend than any other holiday on the calendar.
Three days. Variable weather. A mix of adult plans and kid plans. You need options that don’t fall apart the second the sky opens up.
The Hologram Zoo Illinois fix
Hologram Zoo Illinois at Hawthorn Mall is the highest-rated indoor tourist attraction in Lake County — and it’s purpose-built for exactly this kind of weekend. No headsets, no goggles, no waiting for VR equipment to be cleaned between groups. You walk in and you’re surrounded by life-sized 3D holograms of animals you’d otherwise need to fly across the world to see.
Elephants. Sharks. Dinosaurs. T-rex close enough that the kids actually flinch.
It’s the kind of attraction that works whether you have a toddler, a tween who pretends to be too cool for everything, grandparents in town for the long weekend, or all three at once. The whole experience runs about 45 minutes, which is the right length for a holiday weekend — long enough to feel like a real outing, short enough to slot around brunch, shopping, or a backyard cookout you’re driving to later.
The Memorial Day weekend itinerary
Here’s how Vernon Hills families and visiting relatives are stacking the long weekend:
Saturday — the “weather is actually fine” plan. Start with brunch in Vernon Hills, head to Hologram Zoo Illinois mid-morning before crowds build, then walk Hawthorn Mall for shopping and lunch. Late afternoon free for outdoor plans if the sun cooperates.
Sunday — the “it’s pouring and the kids are climbing the walls” plan. Hawthorn Mall is your anchor. Hologram Zoo first (best when energy is high), lunch at one of the mall restaurants, an afternoon movie. Three hours, fully indoors, zero weather risk.
Memorial Day Monday — the “in-laws are visiting” plan. Hologram Zoo works for every age. Grandparents love it because there’s no equipment to fumble with, kids love it because the animals are massive and reactive, and the parents love it because everyone is engaged for the same 45 minutes.
Why this beats the Chicago day-trip option
Most Vernon Hills families default to driving into Chicago for long weekend plans. Memorial Day makes that math worse. Traffic on I-94 is brutal, parking downtown over a holiday weekend is its own punishment, and museums get packed by 11 AM.
Hawthorn Mall is ten minutes from most of Vernon Hills, parking is free, and you’re not fighting a holiday-weekend crowd that drove up from three states away.
Plan your visit
Hologram Zoo Illinois is open Memorial Day weekend at Hawthorn Mall in Vernon Hills, IL. Tickets and reservation times available online — booking ahead is the move for holiday weekends, because walk-up slots fill quickly once the weather forecast becomes clear.
📍 Hawthorn Mall, Vernon Hills, IL 🦖 Tickets: hologramzooil.com