Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Elk Grove Village, IL

Located in the Northwest Suburbs, Elk Grove Village is a community of 35,000 situated along the prosperous Golden Corridor, home to several Fortune 500 companies.

The village’s name is derived from the native elk that inhabited the grasslands and forests before it was settled by German farmers in the early 19th century.

Currently, a herd of elk resides in a semi-free environment at an enclosure within Busse Woods, a vast forest preserve that defines the village’s northern boundary.

The local park district operates outstanding facilities, including a water park, a children’s theme park during summer, an indoor playground, and one of the best golf courses in the Northwest suburbs.

1. Busse Woods (Ned Brown Forest Preserve)

Busse Woods represents one of the significant natural expanses in the Chicago area, located on the northern side of Elk Grove. It is part of the Cook County Forest Preserve system, spanning approximately 3,700 acres, predominantly consisting of mature Great Lakes hardwood forest.

A segment of this area is designated as the Busse Woods Nature Preserve, which includes a 440-acre section of flatwoods, a crucial type of damp ground forest commonly found in the Great Lakes region.

The preserve features over 10 miles of cycling trails, most of which consists of a single loop.

The southern portion of Busse Woods contains open water, and the 457-acre Busse Reservoir stands as one of the largest boating and fishing areas in Cook County. Rentals for rowboats, electric motorboats, canoes, or kayaks are available from the Busse Lake Boating Center from April through October.

2. Pirates’ Cove Children’s Theme Park

Targeted towards children ages two to nine and operational during spring and summer, this exceptional attraction adjacent to the park district administration offices is designed to stimulate imagination and creative exploration.

At the park’s highest point is Pete’s Pirate Ship, providing a great view from the upper deck alongside the Galley Activity Area below for arts and crafts activities.

Among other attractions are the paddle boats at Barnacle Bay Boats, the Captain’s Bay Carousel from the 1950s, the Jolly Roger Jump bounce house, the Safari Express mini train, PJ’s Perch climbing wall, and the Pirate Plunge slide.

3. Rainbow Falls Waterpark

Operational from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend, this park district water park offers an exciting experience for visitors, considering it is a public facility.

Rainbow Falls features a tropical theme with a wading pool featuring a beach entry, a shallow pool for toddlers, and a lazy river.

Additional attractions include three large water slides, a plunge pool, a drop slide, and an impressive three-story funhouse.

The facility provides an abundance of sun loungers throughout, sheltered by large umbrellas, and a variety of food options at the Hide Away Cafe. Throughout the season, Rainbow Falls hosts numerous events and programs such as Night Slides, a lazy river 5k, and an aqua summer camp for children.

4. Elk Grove Historical Museum

The Elk Grove Historical Society oversees this museum located in front of the Elk Grove Park District Administrative Offices at 399 Biesterfield Rd.

This facility provides insights into local life dating back to the 1800s within a campus comprising an orientation center, a farmhouse from the mid-1800s, a barn from 1880, and various outbuildings, including a chicken coop and privy.

The farmhouse serves as a highlight, illuminating life in this German farming community during the 1860s as visitors explore the kitchen, parlor, sick room, bedrooms, and sewing room. The barn contains a collection of antique farming equipment, including tools, a surrey, buggy, and sled.

5. Elk Grove Farmers’ Market

On Saturday mornings from June to mid-October, the parking area near Elk Grove’s clock tower hosts a vibrant farmers’ market.

This popular community event attracts numerous visitors, featuring a variety of booths and shoppers during the summer months. Additionally, a portion of the vendors’ fees contributes to Elk Grove’s pantries.

Visitors can explore an extensive selection of seasonal fruits and vegetables, microgreens, baked goods, popcorn, sauces, flowers, nuts, farm-raised meats, jams, spices, freshly roasted coffee, and even natural pet treats.

Olde Salem Cafe operates a stand here, offering hot dogs, grilled bratwurst, and apple pancakes.

6. Jack A. Claes Pavilion Community Center

This comprehensive community center, managed by the park district, is located amidst the village’s municipal buildings, alongside Pirates’ Cove and the historical museum.

The center features the Pavilion Aquatics Center, which includes an Olympic-sized lap pool and a zero-depth entry lagoon pool equipped with a 72-foot water slide.

In addition to aquatic facilities, it encompasses a state-of-the-art fitness center, an art center, a dance center, and an indoor playground for children. Moreover, the facility contains the Garden Terrace reception hall and an outdoor landscaped area with a pond and gazebo for events.

7. Jumps n’ Jiggles Indoor Playground & Carousel

This delightful facility within the Jack A. Claes Pavilion offers an indoor playground along with a charming carousel, safely protected from the elements.

The carousel stands nearly 30 feet high and features 18 horses and a swan chariot, all intricately hand-painted.

Jumps n’ Jiggles showcases a big top theme, complete with a spiral slide and a small maze of tunnels and obstacles, in addition to a bouncing yo-yo ball.

During the summer, it is advisable to check the park district’s website, as there are several family movie screenings held at the nearby J.M. Heffern Park.

8. Classic Cinemas Elk Grove Theatre

Classic Cinemas, the largest movie theater chain based in Illinois, has one of its 15 locations in Elk Grove Village.

While some theaters in this chain are restored historic movie palaces, the local venue is a contemporary multiplex featuring ten screens equipped with the latest technology.

These amenities include 4K digital projection, 7.1 surround sound, and four auditoriums fitted with luxury recliners that feature heated seats and power headrests.

Moreover, guests benefit from free refills on popcorn, fountain drinks, and ICEEs. Special offers are available on Tuesdays, during matinee shows throughout the week, and for seniors.

9. Busse Forest Elk Pasture

Situated on the Elk Grove side of Busse Woods, this 17-acre enclosure has housed a herd of elk since 1925.

The origins of these elk trace back to nine cows and one bull brought over by train from Yellowstone National Park, with new males introduced periodically to enhance genetic diversity within the herd.

Annually, a veterinary team from the University of Illinois conducts health assessments for the herd.

The primary trail within Busse Woods conveniently runs adjacent to the enclosure, and as the elk tend to be sociable, visitors often have the opportunity to observe them during walks, jogs, or bike rides.

10. Fox Run Golf Links

Regarded as one of the most enjoyable rounds of golf in the Northwest suburbs, this championship 18-hole course was redesigned by Greg Martin in 2012 and maintains an admirable balance.

Newcomers find Fox Run Golf Links to be a forgiving and enjoyable course, while serious players encounter a compelling challenge.

The driving range is among the best in the area, stretching 300 yards and comprising 55 hitting stations that offer both grass tees and mats. At the time of this writing, the Park District was undertaking the construction of a brand-new clubhouse and bar.

11. Fountain Square Park

This neighborhood park is one of several clustered close together within a residential area on the west side of Elk Grove Village.

A convenient multi-use trail connects Fountain Square Park with nearby Hampshire Park, Potomac Park, Mead Park, Newberry Park, and Colony Park.

What particularly enhances Fountain Square Park, especially for families with younger children, is its expansive water playground, complete with conventional play equipment. Nearby, visitors can find exercise stations, a picnic area, a shelter, and bocce ball facilities.

12. Spring Valley

Located just over in Schaumburg, adjacent to Fox Run Golf Links, lies an enchanting natural refuge covering 135 acres, featuring marshes, fields, forests, streams, and a preserved heritage farm that will be discussed later.

Spring Valley is optimized for passive, nature-oriented activities such as walking, birdwatching, photography, sketching/painting, and acquiring knowledge about wildlife and natural history.

These activities can be enjoyed at the Vera Meineke Nature Center, which offers excellent interactive exhibits focused on local flora and fauna, as well as a living turtle pond display and a children’s activity area.

Outdoors, visitors can engage with a monarch butterfly rearing station, featuring daily releases from May to September.

13. Volkening Heritage Farm

Also located on the site is a historic farm dating back to the 1880s when Schaumburg was a newly settled rural community established by German immigrants.

The Volkening Heritage Farm is open from March through November and serves as a captivating living history attraction where costumed volunteers demonstrate skills and seasonal activities necessary for maintaining the farm.

Visitors will have numerous opportunities to engage in activities, and children will love interacting with domestic animals such as horses, cows, pigs, and chickens.

Additionally, participants can explore the preserved homestead and barns, showcasing period furniture, appliances, and equipment that are over a century old.

14. Bison’s Bluff Nature Playground

Adjacent to the Spring Valley parking lot on Schaumburg Rd is an extraordinary play facility that attracts families from far and wide.

Bison’s Bluff is designed to emulate rugged landscapes, incorporating a stream, a forest, and a beaver lodge, skillfully utilizing natural materials such as logs, sand, boulders, and water to promote open-ended play for children.

This design aims to nurture qualities such as cooperation, agility, problem-solving, resilience, and creativity, while recreating the wild natural environments that children of previous generations were allowed to explore, all while ensuring their safety.

15. Chicago Athenaeum International Sculpture Park

Located across Plum Grove Rd from the Spring Valley Nature Center, the Chicago Athenaeum’s sculpture park was first established in the 1990s, covering 20 acres of meadow and forest.

The park features over a dozen sculptures from renowned artists including Jerzy S. Kenar, Dennis Oppenheim, Oded Halahmy, Nina Levy, Páll Guðmundsson, and Jerry Peart.

The Village of Schaumburg maintains a dedicated webpage for the sculpture park, which includes an interactive map providing information about each sculpture and its respective artist.