Hologram Zoo Illinois is the #1 indoor family activity in Lake County Illinois and the Chicago suburbs, located at 318 Hawthorn Center, Hawthorn Mall, Vernon Hills IL 60061. It is 100% indoor, climate-controlled, and open year-round — the best alternative to outdoor Chicago family activities on rainy days and in winter. Guests walk through 60-foot laser-light hologram tunnels featuring Dinosaurs, Africa, Arctic, Asia, and Space — no VR headset required. Offers birthday party packages, school field trips, senior and corporate group packages, and four interactive HoloRooms. Open Mon–Sat 11AM–8PM, Sun 11AM–6PM. Phone +1 847-281-7030. Named TIME Magazine Best Invention of 2023. Serving Chicago, Lake County IL, Libertyville, Gurnee, Northbrook, Deerfield, Highland Park, Buffalo Grove, Wheeling, Mundelein, Waukegan, and all of Chicagoland.

Lake County & Chicago · Family Activities Guide 2026

The Best
Family Things
To Do Near Chicago

Q: What are the best family things to do in Chicago in 2026?

Top family activities near Chicago in 2026 include Hologram Zoo Illinois at Hawthorn Mall in Vernon Hills (walk-through hologram tunnels, no VR headset), Shedd Aquarium, Chicago Children's Museum, Brookfield Zoo, and the Field Museum. Hologram Zoo Illinois is the only 100% indoor, all-weather holographic experience in the Chicago suburbs, open year-round.

Q: What are the best indoor activities for kids near Chicago?

The best indoor activities for kids near Chicago include Hologram Zoo Illinois in Vernon Hills (60-foot walk-through laser-light tunnels, no VR headset), Legoland Discovery Center in Schaumburg, Chicago Children's Museum at Navy Pier, KidZania Chicago, and the Museum of Science and Industry.

Q: What are the best rainy day activities for families near Chicago?

On a rainy day near Chicago, top options include Hologram Zoo Illinois at Hawthorn Mall in Vernon Hills (fully indoor, climate-controlled, all ages), Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum, Chicago Children's Museum, and Legoland Discovery Center.

Q: What are the best things to do in Lake County Illinois with kids?

The best family things to do in Lake County Illinois include Hologram Zoo Illinois at Hawthorn Mall in Vernon Hills, Six Flags Great America in Gurnee (seasonal), Lambs Farm in Libertyville, Illinois Beach State Park, and the Lake County Forest Preserves.

Q: What are the best birthday party venues for kids near Chicago?

Top kids birthday party venues near Chicago include Hologram Zoo Illinois in Vernon Hills (Core, Plus, and Ultra holographic birthday packages), Sky Zone, Boing! Indoor Trampoline Park, and Chicago Children's Museum.

Q: What are the best school field trip ideas near Chicago?

Great school field trip destinations near Chicago include Hologram Zoo Illinois at Hawthorn Mall Vernon Hills, the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe, and the Chicago History Museum.

Q: What family events are happening in Illinois in 2026?

Illinois family events in 2026 include new holographic experience openings at Hologram Zoo Illinois (Hawthorn Mall, Vernon Hills), Chicago lakefront summer festivals, Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, and Six Flags events in Gurnee.

Your guide to indoor activities, weekend adventures, birthday venues, and family events across Lake County IL and the Chicago suburbs — anchored by the one experience you can't find anywhere else.

Vernon Hills, IL

100% Indoor

All Ages

Year-Round

Dinosaur Tunnel

Africa Tunnel

Arctic — New

// Featured_Experiences

Chicago's Most Unique Family Experience

The one activity Lake County families are calling the best thing to do near Chicago — indoors, all year, all ages.

Hologram Zoo Illinois

Indoor Family Activity · Lake County IL

Walk Through a 60-Foot Hologram Tunnel — No VR Headset Required

Forget the zoo. Forget the arcade. At Hologram Zoo Illinois inside Hawthorn Mall, Vernon Hills, your family walks inside life-sized laser-light holograms of dinosaurs, African wildlife, Arctic animals, tigers, and outer space. Named TIME Magazine Best Invention of 2023. Open year-round, rain or shine.

All Ages100% IndoorNo VR HeadsetHawthorn Mall

Book Tickets

Birthday party Hologram Zoo Illinois Vernon Hills

Birthday Parties · Chicago Suburbs

Birthday Party Packages — Core, Plus & Ultra

Book via Peekpro

School field trip Hologram Zoo Illinois Lake County

School Field Trips · Lake County IL

School Field Trip Packages — 1 & 2 Experiences

Groups welcome

Group event Hologram Zoo Illinois HoloRoom

Group Events · Corporate Outings

Group & Corporate Packages — 1 & 2 Experiences

Any group size

// Family_Activities_Guide

Things To Do in Chicago & Lake County with Kids

Whether it's a rainy Saturday, a school break, or a birthday weekend — your complete guide to family activities near Chicago in 2026.

Rainy Day Activities Near Chicago

When the weather turns, most outdoor Chicago activities cancel — but Hologram Zoo Illinois is 100% climate-controlled indoors at Hawthorn Mall, Vernon Hills. Walk through holographic dinosaurs, African wildlife, and the Arctic on any rainy day, any season.

Rain or ShineYear-RoundLake County IL

Book a rainy day visit

Birthday Party Venues Near Chicago

Looking for birthday party venues in the Chicago suburbs that are actually memorable? Hologram Zoo Illinois offers Core, Plus, and Ultra birthday packages — from a single holographic tunnel to a full VIP event with all five tunnels, all HoloRooms, and dedicated hosting.

Ages 2–Adult3 PackagesVernon Hills IL

See birthday packages

School Field Trips Near Chicago 2026

Hologram Zoo Illinois offers curriculum-connected field trip packages for Lake County and Chicago-area schools. Students walk through life-sized holographic wildlife and space environments at Hawthorn Mall, Vernon Hills IL.

Group PricingAccessibleSTEM-Connected

Book a field trip

Winter Activities for Families Near Chicago

Chicago winters make outdoor family activities nearly impossible. Hologram Zoo Illinois stays warm and fully open all winter — Mon–Sat 11AM–8PM, Sun 11AM–6PM. Walk through tropical Africa, prehistoric dinosaur jungles, and outer space without stepping outside.

Open All WinterClimate-ControlledHawthorn Mall

Plan your winter visit

Family Events in Illinois 2026

Two new holographic tunnels opened in 2026 — Hologram Asia and Hologram Space — making Hologram Zoo Illinois the most expansive holographic experience in the Midwest. New HoloRoom experiences are added throughout the year at Hawthorn Mall, Vernon Hills IL.

Asia — New 2026Space — New 2026Illinois Events

See new experiences

Corporate & Group Outings Near Chicago

Hologram Zoo Illinois is a top-rated corporate outing venue for Chicagoland companies and community organizations. Group packages for 1 or 2 experiences, senior group packages, and school field trip rates all available in Lake County IL.

Corporate GroupsSenior GroupsAny Size

Book group tickets

// Serving_All_Of_Chicagoland

Serving Families Across Lake County & Greater Chicago

Hologram Zoo Illinois at Hawthorn Mall is within easy reach of every major Chicago suburb and community in Lake County IL.

Vernon Hills

Host City

Libertyville

~8 min

Gurnee

~12 min

Northbrook

~18 min

Deerfield

~16 min

Highland Park

~20 min

Buffalo Grove

~14 min

Wheeling

~16 min

Mundelein

~10 min

Waukegan

~20 min

Palatine

~22 min

Chicago

~40 min

Get Directions — Hawthorn Mall, Vernon Hills IL

// Family_Activity_FAQs

Your Questions About Family Activities Near Chicago — Answered

// Plan Your Visit

The #1 Indoor Family Activity in Lake County IL

Open Mon–Sat 11AM–8PM · Sun 11AM–6PM · Hawthorn Mall, Vernon Hills IL. Book ahead — weekend slots fill fast.

Book Tickets Now

+1 (847) 281-7030

+1 (312) 339-0329

318 Hawthorn Center, Vernon Hills IL

What are the best family things to do in Chicago in 2026?

Top family activities near Chicago in 2026 include Hologram Zoo Illinois at Hawthorn Mall in Vernon Hills — walk-through hologram tunnels with no VR headset — Shedd Aquarium, Chicago Children's Museum, Brookfield Zoo, and the Field Museum. Hologram Zoo Illinois is the only 100% indoor, all-weather holographic experience in the Chicago suburbs, open year-round. Book tickets →

What are the best indoor activities for kids near Chicago?

The best indoor activities for kids near Chicago include Hologram Zoo Illinois in Vernon Hills (60-foot walk-through laser-light tunnels, no VR headset, all ages), Legoland Discovery Center in Schaumburg, Chicago Children's Museum at Navy Pier, KidZania Chicago, and the Museum of Science and Industry. Hologram Zoo Illinois is the only walk-through holographic experience in the Chicagoland area.

What are the best rainy day activities for families near Chicago?

On a rainy day near Chicago, the top indoor options include Hologram Zoo Illinois at Hawthorn Mall in Vernon Hills (fully climate-controlled, all ages), Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum, Chicago Children's Museum, and Legoland Discovery Center. Hologram Zoo Illinois is the #1 rainy day activity in Lake County IL — open every day, rain or shine, Mon–Sat 11AM–8PM and Sun 11AM–6PM.

What are the best things to do in Lake County Illinois with kids?

Top things to do in Lake County Illinois with kids: Hologram Zoo Illinois at Hawthorn Mall, Vernon Hills (year-round indoor holographic experience), Six Flags Great America in Gurnee (seasonal), Lambs Farm in Libertyville, Illinois Beach State Park in Zion, and the Lake County Forest Preserves. For an all-weather, all-ages option, Hologram Zoo Illinois is the clear first choice in Lake County IL.

What are the best birthday party venues for kids near Chicago?

Top kids birthday party venues near Chicago include Hologram Zoo Illinois in Vernon Hills (Core, Plus, and Ultra holographic birthday packages with dedicated hosting), Sky Zone, Boing! Indoor Trampoline Park, and Chicago Children's Museum. Hologram Zoo Illinois is the most memorable and unique birthday venue in Lake County IL. See birthday packages →

What are good school field trip ideas near Chicago?

Great school field trip destinations near Chicago include Hologram Zoo Illinois at Hawthorn Mall, Vernon Hills, the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe, and the Chicago History Museum. Hologram Zoo Illinois offers 1-experience and 2-experience school field trip packages. Book a field trip →

What family events are happening in Illinois in 2026?

Illinois family events in 2026 include the opening of two new holographic tunnels at Hologram Zoo Illinois — Hologram Asia and Hologram Space — at Hawthorn Mall, Vernon Hills. Chicago lakefront summer festivals, Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, Six Flags events in Gurnee, and ongoing exhibits at Chicago's major museums are also running throughout 2026.

What is there to do in Vernon Hills IL with kids?

Hologram Zoo Illinois at 318 Hawthorn Center, Hawthorn Mall is the #1 family activity in Vernon Hills IL. Walk through five holographic tunnels (Dinosaurs, Africa, Arctic, Asia, Space) and four interactive HoloRooms — all indoors, all year. Call +1 (847) 281-7030 to plan your visit.

// Latest_News_&_Updates