 
Kicks Family Entertainment Center is a great place fo family outings.
Inside this one building, there's laser tag, bumper cars, bowling,
go-cart racing and a movie theater, plus all the video games and air
hockey and skee ball lanes you could want - Photo courtesy of Kick’s
Family Entertainment Center
Open 3 p.m.-9 p.m. Mon.-Thu.; 3 p.m.-11 p.m. Fri.; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sat., and 11 a.m.- 9 p.m. Sun. For more information, go to www.kicksfec.com. White Oaks Carousel The centerpiece of White Oaks Mall is a 70year-old Italian-built carousel that offers kids of all ages the rare opportunity to ride a double-decker merry-go-round. The second story isn’t its only unusual feature; the carousel also has a couple of gondola seats and two “spinner” cars that older kids can crank into whirling dervishes. The upper deck features two porch-style swings. Here’s a hint: If you want a horse that goes up and down, choose a lower-deck mount with a flower basket hanging over its head or any one of the upper-deck steeds. Cost is $2 per person. Children shorter than 42 inches can have a parent ride with them free of charge.
There are discounts for packs of six or 10 tickets. For more information, call 217-787- 5302. The mall is bordered by Wabash, Veterans Parkway and Iles Avenue. Nelson Center Pool and Ice-skating Rink In the heart of lushly landscaped Lincoln Park, you’ll find the Nelson Center, a drab institutional building saturated with that vaguely sweaty smell of kids having fun. Inside is an ice rink that features public sessions mid-May through August, 12:30-2 p.m. Mon., Wed. and Fri.; 6:45-7:45 p.m. Fri.; 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and 3-5 p.m. Sat., and 2-4 p.m. Sun. Concessions are available.
Skate rental is $2.50. Admission is $3.50 for children age 12 and under and seniors age 62 and over. Adult admission is $4.25.
Outside is a swimming pool with a really big slide, plus a wading pool for the wee tykes. The pool is open to the public 1-5 p.m. Mon., Wed., and Fri.; 1-8 p.m. Tue. and Thu.; and noon-8 p.m. weekends. There’s also an adult lap swim, 5:30-7 p.m. Mon., Wed., and Fri. Admission is $3.50 for adults, $3 for kids, and $3 for the lap swim. For more information about skating or swimming, call the Nelson Center, 217-753- 2800. |
