Donley's Wild West Town

Are you ready for something SOOOO different and willing to drive about an hour to get there? Tired of all the same old same old for your kids and wish there was something more 'traditional and wholesome' for them to try? Take a drive to Union, IL (off of 90 @20, almost to Rockford) for a LOT of old fashioned fun. When was the last time you panned for gold? When was the last time your kid rode ponies? Shot a cork gun? Rode in a kayak? Watched a Wild West saloon fight? Rode a gas powered mini-train? Sat in a Stage Coach? Cranked a Hand Pulley Cart? Even tried their hand at a lasso? Yes, this is only a little over an hour away from Chicago. Since the activities at Donley's Wild West are outdoors it is a seasonal venue for the activity area, but their fantastic, rustic restaurant is open year round. The restaurant offers terrific food at reasonable prices and is served in an authentic western style lodge with memorabilia like wagon wheels, bison heads, etc. all over the place. Your kids will be delighted with the wild west theme and will welcome a delicious meal after a long day in the activity park. It is the best family fun you will have and the drive is well worth it. The admission is $15 per person with children under 2 free. You can make an overnight of it and visit the Illinois Railway Museum just up the road a fer piece (about 10 minutes). In August the life size Thomas the Train visits there. I would recommend staying in Woodstock or Dundee (10 minute drive) where plenty of reasonably priced hotels are located. Very nostalgic, truly memorable.