Date Night Plans

Our favorite date night restaurants, new spots, indoor water parks, and upcoming events

Author

Joe Arendt
January 30, 2025

Morning, it’s Burbs Explored, your trusted guide for exploring and living well in the Chicago suburbs. Hope everyone has a chance to get outside today to enjoy the warmer temps. This week, we’re highlighting our favorite date night spots (make those Valentine’s Day reservations now), a few indoor water parks for those with kids needing a quick winter escape, some exciting development news, and our weekly roundup of upcoming events.

Weekly Spotlight: Indoor Water Parks

Each week we pick a theme and highlight three places (one from each suburbs region; North Shore, Northwest Suburbs, Western Suburbs) that we think are great.

Great Wolf Lodge (Gurnee)

Looking to get your kids (or grandchildren) out of the house this winter? Pack up your swim suits and take them to an indoor water park. Below are three parks in or near the Chicago suburbs. If willing to drive a bit further, you can also check out Timber Ridge Lodge (Lake Geneva) or Grand Bear Resort (Starved Rock).

  • Great Wolf Lodge (Gurnee): An easy drive from most Northern suburbs, the Great Wolf Lodge has an 80,000-square-feet indoor water park that includes tons of slides, a huge water tree fort, a lazy river, a wave pool, a splash pad, and more. They offer day passes and children 2 and under are free.

  • Pelican Harbor Aquatic Park (Bolingbrook): A great option for families in the west and south suburbs. Pelican Harbor has a zero-depth entry pool, two water slides, a tot slide, tumble buckets, and a 10-person hot tub. Check the website for open swim hours. Rates range from $6-$11 per day.

  • The Water Works (Schaumburg): The park district run water park has three water slides, a zero depth entry pool, and a sprayground with small slides, sprayers, and floor fountains. Check the website for open swim hours. Rates range from $10-$14 per day. Children 2 and under are free.

News & Updates

  • Fire + Wine, the popular Glen Ellyn restaurant will be opening a second location in Park Ridge this February (link)

  • Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago broke ground this week on a new 75,000 square foot outpatient center in Schaumburg (link)

  • A new seven acres development is coming to St. Charles that will include several restaurants, retailers, and the Montauk Pickleball Club, a new concept from the group behind The Hampton Social (link)

  • Blind Corner Brewery (which we have heard great things about) will be the new resident guest brewer at Go Brewing (link)

  • A new neighborhood bar called Bad Alice is coming to Geneva (link)

  • La Cocinita in Evanston is back open in their new space (link)

  • GUIDE UPDATE: We added Heady Cup Coffee Roasters to our best coffee shops guide. A local roaster out of McHenry specializing in delicious signature blends and single-origin coffees (link)

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, so it’s time to make those date night reservations! This week, we are sharing a few of our favorite places for a nice dinner with your significant other or close friends. We know many have a local favorite for these types of occasions, but if you are looking to try somewhere new, check out one of the spots on our list.

Heads up, our guides are a work in progress and definitely missing a ton of great places. Let us know what places we should check out and add to the list. Submit your favorite local spots here. 

Upcoming Events

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