- Our list of the best things to do in Des Plaines, Illinois, features the top 844 nearby activities — including 339 great attractions with user approval ratings of 90% or more!
- Des Plaines, IL has a variety of great sights and experiences nearby. Top categories include: Outdoor Places, Amusement, Entertainment & Shows, and Sports & Fitness.
- The results below include the top 21 things to do within the city of Des Plaines, IL , followed by 823 popular activities in nearby cities, including Chicago, Oak Park, Evanston, Skokie, Glenview, West Chicago, Lombard, Wheaton, Schaumburg, Highland Park, Waukegan, Niles, Buffalo Grove, Gurnee, Downers Grove, Arlington Heights, Glen Ellyn, Geneva, Naperville, Elk Grove Village, Wilmette, Elmhurst, Palatine, St. Charles, Mundelein, Northbrook, Libertyville, Hoffman Estates, Grayslake, Elgin, Park Ridge, Mount Prospect, Woodridge, Bloomingdale, Wheeling, Barrington, Bartlett, Carol Stream, Addison, Cicero, Berwyn, Oak Lawn, Oak Brook, Vernon Hills, Algonquin, Lincolnshire, Lisle, Carpentersville, Forest Park, Rosemont, Streamwood, Bolingbrook, Kankakee, Batavia, Great Lakes and Crystal Lake
Showing 151-160 of
1223
7.2 Miles
Skokie's Exploritorium is a large indoor play space that features an array of educational, creative, and hands-on play areas. It includes a climbing area with tubes and tunnels, musical instruments, a water play area, and costumes.
7.2 Miles
100%
11 votes
152
Busse Woods
E Higgins Rd & Arlington Heights Road, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
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Locally known as Busse Woods, this managed park area is officially designated as the Ned Brown Preserve. It features wetlands, open fields, and heavy forest and is popular with fishermen, hikers, birdwatchers, and noted for a small pasture of elk.
7.2 Miles
33%
6 votes
175 Old Orch Shoppng Ctr, Skokie, IL 60077
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A six-screen movie theater, Regal Gardens Stadium 1-6 displays first-run feature films using digital projection and RealD 3D. The theater offers mobile and self-service ticketing, stadium seating and a concession area with food and drinks.
7.2 Miles
Situated on 13 acres, Emily Oaks Nature Center consists of a native savanna habitat for visitors to explore. The center provides educational information about the native wildflowers and trails in the area.
7.2 Miles
Founded in 1974, Northlight Theatre offers the community an award winning theater to see plays and other productions in. The theater can seat 318 people, and offers acting workshops for students of all ages.
7.2 Miles
Located on 97 acres, Heritage Park features baseball, softball and soccer fields, tennis courts and an ice skating rink in the winter. The park has a playground, picnic facilities and a path suitable for walking and biking.
7.3 Miles
Oakton Park is a full-featured neighborhood park featuring swimming pools, sports fields, as well as basketball and tennis courts. The park also has playgrounds, picnic areas, barbecue grills and public restrooms on site.
7.4 Miles
Located in the suburb of Arlington Heights, Illinois, Arlington Park is a horse racing track just outside of Chicago. In 1981, the site hosted the first thoroughbred race that featured a million dollar purse.
7.4 Miles
Keay Nature Center is a 4.6 acre nature center featuring several accessible nature trails and small waterfalls. Much of the center's plant-life is identified via informational plaques, and visitors will also find several memorial signs.
7.4 Miles
86%
202 votes
2200 W Euclid Avenue, Arlington Heights, IL 60006
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Visitors can enjoy a variety of horse racing events and wagering on the races at Arlington International Racecourse. The horse racetrack also features a sports bar, a restaurant and a variety of contests and promotions.