+63 votes
by (3k points)
Can we make a running list of things we CAN do outside, NOT at home? We need a change of scenery. Here are some things on my list (with masks/social distancing of course): - Walk around Waubonsie Lake - Walk around downtown Naperville - Forest Preserves - Bike Rides - Lake Geneva Safari Let’s keep adding so we can have some ideas for the nice weather this summer!  
Can we make a running list of things we CAN do outside, NOT at home?

41 Answers

+30 votes
by (2.1k points)
 
Best answer
We were desperate for some Disney so we drove to the North Side to take some photos with Walt’s birthplace! It was a super fun, special Mother’s Day that honestly we could have done with or without COVID. It was free, easy to access and we encountered no one else, so we got photos sans mask. Was a great day for this Disnerd fam. www. thewaltdisneybirthplace. org
by (520 points)
@lithographer that’s a great idea!  
by (1k points)
@lithographer so fun!  
by (2.7k points)
@lithographer we are HUGE Disney fans and missing Disney! We will have to do that sometime!  
by (2.1k points)
Do it! It was so silly, but it did feel like Disney Magic. granted, we are really desperate for said magic. We had to cancel our March trip and I’m guessing our November reschedule.  
+26 votes
by (530 points)
Glacial Park Conservation Area
by (3k points)
@macmacabre Oh awesome!  
+2 votes
by (2.6k points)
Yes I’ve been wanting new things to go/do outside too! Two of my ideas we’ve done: 1. Black Rock Forest preserve 2. Yorkville River front and got Foxy’s Ice cream there (walk up)
by (3k points)
@undertint375 Ellenbecker Nice! I’ve been wanting to go to the Yorkville area
by (940 points)
@undertint375 Ellenbecker there are two forest preserves off of 71 we love. Harris forest preserve and young forest preserve.  
+18 votes
by (2.4k points)
Car picnic!  
+13 votes
by (940 points)
Im not sure but is fermi lab open to see buffalo?  
by (3k points)
@contractile87881 good question!  
+17 votes
by (1.4k points)
Fly kites
+4 votes
by (2k points)
Following! Yes! How are we going to survive summer!  
+22 votes
by (2.4k points)
Oh and to add to your walk in downtown Naperville, Sparrow coffee is so yummy and has contactless ordering. They even have rainbow sprinkle cookies for the kiddos. They're huge.  
by (240 points)
@amara one of my favorite places of all time. The iced vanilla latte is  
+28 votes
by (2.4k points)
Following These are all great suggestions I’m curious about Fermilab too. I grew up right across street from there, that was our go to, such a fun place to explore.  
by (3k points)
@wootan2 I grew up over there too! I loved their bike paths.  
+19 votes
by (1k points)
Following.  
+20 votes
by (2.2k points)
I'm following
+12 votes
by (4.5k points)
Picnic and fly a kite in a large open space
+3 votes
by (2.5k points)
Buffalo state park near starved rock is open and they got 2 new baby bison you can see!  
by (3k points)
@sutler4 nice!  
by (180 points)
Does it have walking trails around the buffalo area?  
by (2.5k points)
@comedown yes there are trails. just like starved rock!  
+9 votes
by (750 points)
Drive-in in Earlville opens this weekend.  
+27 votes
by (4.6k points)
Lake Geneva safari confuses me. Animals at the New York zoo tested positive for covid. So. why are they open and spreading animal germs to us right now? How long can the virus live on fur, saliva and whiskers? Just doesn’t seem right. ‍♀️
by (3k points)
@seabury I don’t think we will touch them.  
by (4.6k points)
@undertint375 you feed them from a sanitized cup. I realize. But it just doesn’t seem legit safe to me. ‍♀️ I won’t go but it sounds fun! This totally sucks!  
by (2.4k points)
Just a heads up my family owns a farm in Wyoming and they have been vaccinating their cows for coronavirus for years. So I would assume other farmers have been doing the same thing. I know it’s a different strain but better than nothing.  
by (2.4k points)
I wouldn’t touch those animals anyway.  
by (190 points)
If anything unfortunately humans would be passing the Corona virus to the animals I don't believe the animals would be passing the Corona virus to humans
by (3k points)
@balkhash12099 I agree. It’s not originating with them.  
by (440 points)
Aren’t you just driving through it?  
by (4.6k points)
@rinaldo you can feed the animals with a sanitized cup
by (440 points)
Ohh I had no clue, that’s pretty cool.  
+21 votes
by (1.3k points)
Bristol Tap is doing an outdoor movie every Saturday night.  
by (2.2k points)
@amara Summers that's so cool and fun. a friend I was social distance walking with yesterday, told me someone called the police when they had the movie and they had to shut it down . this is just hearsay since I don't know first hand but maybe double check before heading over? Thx for sharing. I hope it is still on! ❤
by (1.3k points)
@perusse4738 haha yes I saw that too! Don't think they had to shut it down, but not really sure what ended up happening. However, they just posted today they're continuing to do it every Saturday  
by (2.2k points)
@amara Summers omgosh I love this! Thanks! I didn't see anything about them even having it or about the police being called. just heard it, like I said. My boys would think this is so cool!  
by (2.2k points)
@amara Summers saved the link ty! ❤
+11 votes
by (6.6k points)
We get ice cream and play a game where when we get to an intersection the next person gets to pick the direction we turn. We end up just driving to random places
by (2.1k points)
@territoriality omg I love this.  
by (6.6k points)
@lithographer my aunt used to work at a children’s home when I was little. I would visit often for overnight visits and we would do this a lot. We were right by Chicago and it was fun to see the city this way. We ended up in Newark last time we played here lol
+16 votes
by (500 points)
I love how this is helping people connect to nature in ways they haven't before probably wouldnt be now if things were "normal"!  
by (3k points)
@supernova Castaneda We have always been into nature activities but yes I agree. It’s definitely forcing people to appreciate it a lot more!  
+26 votes
by (2.2k points)
Anybody who wants to get outside and not be around people. I have 6 acres that needs yard work .  
by (440 points)
@yan384 can we send our kids if they misbehave? They need to do some work.  
+23 votes
by (610 points)
We did waubonsie lake last weekend and it was very nice. Not super crowded. We didn’t wear masks. Some did and some didn’t.  
by (2.6k points)
@bakke where is Waubonsie lake?  
by (180 points)
@undertint375 Ellenbecker off of Kautz Rd.  
+15 votes
by (1.4k points)
I bought a metal detector for me and my son. it’ll be fun going on treasure hunts! Ya never know what we’ll find
+26 votes
by (1.8k points)
Geocaching is a great outdoor activity! My family loves it! We have found some great places that we never knew about while geocaching! There are tons of them in our area. :)
by (1.1k points)
@haarlem0 how do you do this? Is it an app or something?  
by (1.8k points)
There is an app you download. it is like going on a scavenger hunt using your gps (app on the phone). Some are creative caches or some are just standard bison tubes, etc. Some have trinkets (swag) to trade, some you just sign the log. My boys really enjoy it. This past weekend we did "country road caching"/social distancing lol and found some pretty places in Newark we have never been to. We usually pick a city and spend the morning geocaching there.  
by (1.8k points)
This is an example of all the geocaches there are to find just in half of Yorkville. :)
by (1.8k points)
Www. geocaching. com
by (1.1k points)
@haarlem0 thank you!  
by (440 points)
I’ve always wanted to do this.  
by (1.8k points)
@rinaldo theres definitely a learning curve to get started, but it is so fun once you get the hang of it. Plus it is a great way to get outside. :)
by (440 points)
I think this will be a great idea after elearning is over.  
by (510 points)
@haarlem0 I downloaded the app and my two young kids and I went out today to find one. We’ve been to 2 so called locations and we can’t find them. They are both the lowest difficulty. So now I feel stupid.  
+23 votes
by (900 points)
The mandate is. Masks in stores. Masks if you can't keep 6 ft. Apart. I see people alone in their cars with a mask. Jogging alone, bike riding alone. How is this confusing?  
by (490 points)
@miserable wearing a mask in the car makes sense if you are between stops and don't want to touch your face excessively.  
by (190 points)
@miserable if I'm picking up food I wear a mask bc it's hard for me to slip it on quickly. Some people prefer a mask- why does that bother you? If I'm going to be in contact with people I wear a mask.  
by (810 points)
Masks can be difficult to take on and off with arthritis, hearing aides and neuropathy.  
+7 votes
by (510 points)
Following  
+30 votes
by (2.4k points)
I saw some of the mini “olympics” people are doing. Standing long jump, running long jump, shot put(big rock safely! ) etc use your imagination! Climbing trees I have been thinking of cleaning up trash around my subdivision. Obviously gloves than and hand sanitizer. I just hate seeing it.  
by (3.4k points)
@congress98917 we do this every afternoon on our litter walk!  
+16 votes
by (2.6k points)
Plant a garden
+20 votes
by (430 points)
Following! These are great ideas!  
+12 votes
by (3.6k points)
Japanese garden in Geneva
by (2.6k points)
@falconer88 ohhh never heard of this! What are the hours?  
by (3.6k points)
It’s part of the Kane county Forrest preserves I believe. Plus it’s free
by (3k points)
@falconer88 I’ll have to try this too! Awesome!  
by (270 points)
@undertint375 it’s really pretty and great for photos
by (1.3k points)
I think the garden itself is only open certain days. It's just a small part of the forest preserve and you can still see it, just can't always walk through it  
+37 votes
by (630 points)
Do some gardening! This year I’ve invested in some baby basil, lavender and tomato plants, it’s soo fun to watch them grow ☺️ they are double the size they were when I bought them a month ago
+5 votes
by (2.2k points)
Saw Wee Kee trails  Love this post! Thanks @undertint375 @undertint375!  
by (1.2k points)
@perusse4738 yes!  
by (2.2k points)
@platelayer22 my fam LOVES hiking there! We had ONE tick on a shirt last time but we all had our baseball caps on so it wasn't bad . even if the kid (Law. u know him)kinda freaked when I told him to hold still so I could get it. Hope u and ur kiddos are doing well! ❤
by (1.2k points)
@perusse4738 thanks! We got one too but we’ll still go back!  
by (1.2k points)
Hope you’re well too!  
by (2.2k points)
@platelayer22 us too! Last year on Mother's Day we wanted to try a "new" place, so we went to Richard Young in Yorkville (I believe that's what it's called) & my hubby ended up with FIVE ticks. and 2 of the boys had 1 tick each, with Stone being the high achiever with 2. I joked that they maybe known it was Mother's Day bc I was the only one who didn't have one on them . The boys made us promise never to take them back there.  
by (2.2k points)
@platelayer22 ty. we sure are! ❤
by (3k points)
Awesome! Can’t wait to try this place!  
by (1.3k points)
Is it stroller friendly?  
by (2.2k points)
@amara Summers nooo. very rustic trails. but nice if u don't have a stroller  
+41 votes
by (2.2k points)
Following. So interested in so many of these ideas. Kuiper's Family Farm is doing an apple blossom car tour. You can buy hard cider, kettle corn, donuts, etc. This Saturday 5/16 • 9-2 kuipersfamilyfarm. com
by (2.2k points)
@tuggle33 so fun. thx for sharing!  
by (2.2k points)
Update on Kuiper's. It got cancelled due to expected mud and rain.  They plan to reschedule.  
+39 votes
by (3.4k points)
I knew we had a lot of forest preserves, but there are even more than I knew, we do a new one each Saturday and eat lunch on the grass there!  
by (3k points)
@haarlem0 Bocher love this!  
+33 votes
by (960 points)
Starting June 1st members only You will be able to enter the arboretum again for hiking and walking trails. With limited porta potties that will be cleaned hourly.  
by (3k points)
@craniometry I just read this!  
by (190 points)
@craniometry this just made my day!  
by (960 points)
@thundershower I know , me too.  
+25 votes
by (810 points)
Map out the Little Free Libraries and bike ride to a few with take one/share one books in mind. littlefreelibrary. org
by (3k points)
@orwin great idea!  
by (810 points)
@undertint375 I have to credit my son with the idea. he collected up a bunch of books from the house, mapped out the locations and did a 20 Mile round trip bike ride last week.  
+14 votes
by (800 points)
+24 votes
by (970 points)
You can drive 2 1/2 hours south to the drive through zoo aikman wildlife adventure. it’s normally 25 buck per car but they a just taking donations right now of any amount.  
+44 votes
by (970 points)
The arboretum is opening soon again also
+26 votes
by (440 points)
Starved Rock. Not sure how crowded it has been but it’s something.  
by (2.5k points)
@rinaldo starved rock is closed
by (4k points)
@rinaldo opens June 1.  
+15 votes
by (980 points)
Raging waves is still planning to open end of June
by (2.2k points)
@ingrain53697 Blomsterberg I sure hope so. My daughter works there. Back on the job hunt would be a bummer.  
by (2.6k points)
@ingrain53697 Blomsterberg ohhh I hope so!  
by (140 points)
@ingrain53697 really? Wow I wonder what they plan on doing if you got a season pass already will they give a discount since they won’t be open the entire summer?  
by (980 points)
@scuba we have season passes so I’ve been following along. They’re extending it through June 2021 .  
https://www.ragingwaves.com/COVID
by (140 points)
@ingrain53697 awesome thank you!  
by (2.5k points)
@ingrain53697 Blomsterberg I hope that's true but according to the governor water parks cant open til phase 5. but we have season passes and Kathryn is going to be bummed.  
by (980 points)
@sutler4 maybe don’t tell her they’re opening until it is 100% confirmed.  
by (2.5k points)
@ingrain53697 Blomsterberg definitely! Although she already knows we have passes.  
by (2.4k points)
@ingrain53697 Blomsterberg my kids ask everyday when we are going. It’s the one thing they look forward to. I know once they open they will make sure all their customers are safe. Hoping we get a little time there in.  
+11 votes
by (1.2k points)
Went to Silver Springs yesterday! So pretty
+60 votes
by (2.4k points)
Starved rock will be open starting June 3rd
by (2.4k points)
The 1st actually
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