The 15 best things to do with kids in Joliet

Nothing special here except its new. I signed up for a card and never was told about the $20 food voucher. I walked around and stopped at a table by a bar to watch the Jersey girls perform. No one ever came to give me table service. Everyone was having to go to the bar themselves and bring drinks back to the table. After about a half hour I got up and left. Its a pretty place but not for me.

5 family members took mom for her birthday. At check-in young lady never explained anything about the $20 meal for first timers. We were hungry so we ate first. We had to wait about 25 minutes for our food. Our waitress Nicole was a gem. She was very polite & fun. Our food was very good. We only stayed a short time because they don't have wheelchairs & mother is 91 yrs old

The brand new casino was full of chaos on opening day. Restaurants were not approved (license/permit issues) for our reservations at the last minute, parking was a nightmare as the building itself is confusing and tight, there was a lack of handicap parking, and there were no real handicap restrooms (missing elements). The overall vibe was lackluster, the music was too loud, and the casino floor was cramped. If it gets crowded, one can barely move around, and you get bumped into seats in the aisles. It's hard to believe they spent 100 million dollars on new construction, which was ridiculously designed as a parking garage (wait for tons of accidents to happen) and a casino floor plan that was undesirable, cramped, and limited in space. Maybe I'll review it again after it's been open to work out all the kinks for a while.

Really nice and clean. Plenty of tvs to watch the game. Sportsbook is really nice. Eat before you come. Food isn't great.

This casino is not worth the drive, they could have left it closed! They are only giving $20 to new players but if you've lived in the Chicagoland area and go to casinos, you probably already have a card here. They do have ESPN Bet but if you sports bet, you go that promo already too; so no real reason to come here unless you like new casinos. Restaurants are not open yet and the ones that are, don't have half the menu. What a waste of time, loaded a couple of photos if you're interested.

As expected very friendly staff. Was really nice in the casino. The music was quite loud. It was a little chilly so bring a jacket or sweater.

WOW on the food here, and a foodie from Chicago. Antique Taco and The Lucky Goat are my current favs but I need to try the other restaurants here. The casino floor is Las Vegas style with live music and and lot going on. I feel lucky here as I've already hit several jackpots playing at this casino. Quickly has become my new favorite. Wish they had a hotel.

Fantastic wedding venue. Wedding reception started with cocktails and hors d'oeuvre on the main Rialto theater stage. The wedding couple made a grandiose entrance from the second floor balcony into the rotunda section of the great hall for their first dance. Dinner was in the main foyer hall which is absolutely stunning with marble and mirrors reminiscent of the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles. Just a spectacular facility right in Joliet.

Truly a work of staggering beauty. A must-see building if you're a fan of lavish architecture, neo-Baroque style or remotely in the area. The staff exhibit great hospitality, they're all very welcoming and knowledgeable. They were able to help find my seat when I arrived slightly late to the event The theatre itself is well designed with wide aisles and the same beautiful and detailed friezes and bas reliefs. They do a lot of local events that make use of the theatre space, which makes it a great local institution

Great theater. Personally I'd like to see more rock and blues bands like the Arcada gets but maybe whoever is booking the acts has other preferences.

Just a beautiful venue. The architecture and interior design of the venue is just breathtaking. Wonderful place for live entertainment.

Beautiful place, friendly staff, & comfortable seating. I would definitely go there again.

They have a tour of the theater on Tuesday’s. My friend took me and it was so informative and beautiful. Best 5 bucks I ever spent. This is a MUST see! The coolest thing is the organ they give you a small concert and you can actually sit on it and play it, very, very fun.

Best concert ever: The Bee Gees tribute, danced, memories, met friendly people!

We had my husband's retirement party in the lower ball room that was just absolutely amazing! The owner was very nice and helpful during the event! Highly recommend!! 5 🌟 for sure.

Very cute little museum with lots of history and information about space and industries and the canals! Good signage and information on Route 66 and cars. Lots of historical artifacts.

Staffs were friendly and chatty which is so impressive, and I appreciate their help. The museum has two floors. There are so many excellent displays, and you can learn everything about Joliet from here. If you are on a road trip on Route 66 and want to take a good picture, don’t forget to buy the Route 66 Soda, check out the picture below.

Awesome museum. Very well put together. Mostly Joliet history vs route 66, but still really well done.

I decided to drive route 66 for my 66th birthday. This was my starting point and I must say the 2 young ladies at the counter were fantastic and very helpful. This was the best way to start my birthday road adventure.

Tickets are inexpensive. Parking is on the street and there is a lot on the east side of the street. It doesn't take long to get through and there is a lot to read. Interesting stop to learn about the history of Joliet.

I decided to do a review about the Joliet Muesuem. A lot of people are unaware of this place and all it has. There are several floors of interesting history of Joliet. A gift shop. In the basement. There is a beautiful hall you can rent for parties. On rare occasions it is free to go inside and explore. I have a membership that comes with perks. They even have roof top concerts. Come here to explore, learn and have a fun time with family. Especially during Star Wars day…

Went into the mall today to go shopping with my family. It felt like a sauna in every store we walked in to. No one in any of the stores had any explanation as to why the air conditioning wasn’t working. We left quickly (with headaches) as there was no way we were going to try anything on in those hot stores! Safe to say we will not be coming back this summer!

Dont let the front entrance fool you. Shopping center is very open and alive. Plenty of brand stores and lively food court inside. Great place to shop & dine at! Highly recommend.

I enjoy going here because its location is convenient and it's nice that you can stroll and peruse the stores for merchandise in live time. There are still a variety of stores and a movie theatre but alas....unlike the 90s, when malls were the place to be, you can see the stores are not as vibrant and exciting as they once were.

We stopped by this mall because we were in Joliet for dinner at White Fence Farm and had some time to kill. Unfortunately, like most malls these days, it was nothing special. If you've seen one, you've seen them all. Malls seriously need to evolve. They should offer something unique—something that sets one apart from the next—so that there's actually a reason to visit beyond just killing time. What used to make towns interesting and full of character were the small, independent stores. Each one had its own personality, its own flavor. Now? Malls have wiped them out and replaced them with the same chain stores you can find anywhere. The result? Every town ends up looking and feeling exactly the same. No charm, no surprises. Just plain boring.

Never anything here. Just a few anchor stores holding it in place. Could be better if Joliet really wanted to bring their area back to life. Lots of food options outside the mall. But super lowsy choices inside. Overall if you want to walk around in some AC on a hot day just to pass time it serves its purpose. But don't go out of your way to come here.

The mall itself is pretty empty, yet enoughs open to make the trip. Still good for movies. Plus, the area around it has a lot to offer.

Unprofessional environment. I walked out of Claire’s around 11AM Saturday Oct 4 while a mall worker was hanging holiday signs in the open lobby area. While working, he was blasting inappropriate music featuring violent words and swears I wouldn’t say in front of my own mother let alone women or children. If he wants to listen to degrading music on his own time, fine, but don’t subject the public to it. Very unprofessional, not a safe area for women or children.

Very fun, clean and family oriented place. Took my mom and brother just yesterday and stayed for over 5 hours. Lazy River is just bliss lol. Always try to go at least twice a year. Plenty of parking even on day's they are packed. Food is pretty good and great pricing. Always tell people about this place. The music they play isn't bad either lol.

Fun for a few hours. Got there at 4, stayed until 7 which is closing. That was just the perfect amount of time to do all 5 slides, a few laps around the lazy river, lunch, and wade in the pool. Not good for all day however, unless you don't mind doing the few slides over and over. Overall good experience, would come back.

Very enjoyable at splash station.

I give it 3 stars due to me having a large family & you can't bring food in (and they check your bags) so desperate for you to buy food from their over-priced concession stands. You would get more ppl if you allowed outside food and stop being a greedy owner. Other then that, I had a great time.

Great place, but too many summer camps visiting on the same day. Was looking forward to a fun relaxing day, but 5 bus loads of kids showed up. It got really wild in the pool area, too many kids running, jumping on each other and acting crazy. Poor life gaurds didn't stop blowing thier whistles all day.Had to leave early.

Very nice. Clean. Staff was very nice. Love the fact there are Life Guards at every station. They are very attentive along with enforcing the rules, especially at the lazy river. Definitely will be back next year.

Not hated the splash station is closed for the season. I just happened to walk by so google maps caught my signal. Looks like a cool place for young ones on hot days. Being 70 air conditioning and a cool adult drink takes care of me on hot steamy day of summer.

It has a nice small waterfall inside the greenhouse. A few trees and a lot of colourful flowers for photo enthusiast. But we could not locate any toilets in the building or in the area. We walked on a small .05 mile trail behind it and it was good. Spotted a few birds and a pair of deer.

This is my go-to greenhouse for family and maternity sessions! My favorite rooms are the desert room and the tropical/aroid room for photos. Clients always rave about how beautiful the space is and I have built a great relationship with the staff over the last couple years. I will continue to come here and shoot as much as I can! It's really such a lovely space inside and out.

The plants are nice but the greenhouses are much smaller than I expected. There are no public bathrooms which is not at all convenient, overall, it wasn't worth the drive.

Beautiful greenhouse and outdoor gardens attached to the Barber and Oberwortmann Horticultural Center which is the perfect venue for weddings and any other occasion. Great food, great service & the best venue in Joliet. Truly unique. Very friendly and accommodating staff. A hidden gem in Joliet and a must-see venue.

Great place to visit and take pictures for special events.

Small delightful greenhouse with surrounding Pilcher Park trail.

Although it was closing ( which was fine) but the girls for prom wanted to go inside and take pictures and the lady had said it would be 30$ a person and than she said never mind we are closing anyways and closed the door on them. Again, understand the timing but I didn’t know we charged for the greenhouse now? Is that new?

It's a nice short walk/area. It has great historical information. Some of which is hard to read due to vandals and nature. Other deliberate graffiti was present and not appropriate for my kids (one who can read). I'd love to go back by myself or remain on the main path and bypath the educational, self walking tour.

Great place for history especially if you work in a labor union. A handful of information disks along the way and trails at the end. Definitely recommend checking out.

Thought this place was really cool to walk around and explore . Was cool to think of all the history there . After exploring the main part of this place it leads to trails you can walk to through the woods . Little ponds are the side of you as you walk . Was cool to see the old Joliet Prison in the back ground ofcourse you are not allowed past that fence without permission . Liked exploring all the remnants of the old buildings . I’d watch your steeping while walking through . a lot of nails and uneven surfaces .

Free! Awesome trail to explore and learn. Parking lot on site. Picnic pavilion also on site. Paved/stroller friendly trail. It was really cool to see the ruins and read the placards. I recommend this trail for a family friendly thing to do without needing to spend money. It really is a cool trail!

This is a very intriguing scenic landmark that is laced with amazing history. It is located along the I&M Canal Trail in Joliet, and it is worth a visit. Admission is always free, and it has a park area with benches and tables, so it would be a great place for a family to have a weekend picnic.

Great trail to explore. Historical markers were good generalized info. Would like to have read more specific info about each of the buildings we looked at, as it was hard to figure out their functions, but overall it was interesting. If you have small children, keep them on the walkway or close by as the ruins can be a safety issue. There is also a fair amount of broken glass from kids partying. Trains went by a few times, which was fun to see and hear. There was a police officer patrolling, but would not go alone as it is isolated. Old jail in the distance. We didn't go any farther than the ruins, which was approximately just over 2 miles there and back.

The path next to the ruined sites is really well taken care of. So walking, running, and biking is a breeze. But please make sure to stop and take a look at the ruins. There's plenty of info on what happened here and it's worth reading and appreciating the history of Joliet.

Pilcher Park offers 640 acres for you and your family to enjoy! Walking, biking, or driving, you'll enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the woodlands and streams. Stop by the Nature Center for a plethora of community events, site information, and comfort stations. Pilcher Park is truly a gem and more than worth the visit!

Trail was clean and well maintained. We only took a short hike. Everything we saw in the park looked very nice. The nature center had quite a few animals on display - mostly reptiles: turtles and snakes. They have a red tailed hawk on display. I usually frown upon wild birds being in captivity but they had a sign said that it had been injured to the point where it couldn’t hunt on its own. There was one employee working the front desk. She was friendly and helpful.

Fun place to bring kids after a walk in the woods. Several small animals to see and learn about, such as, tortoises, turtles, snakes, amphibians, fish and a red-tailed hawk. They also sell small nature related trinkets.

Beautiful walking area, plenty of parking, great to bring families here. Parks for kids in certain areas, trails for every level, fishing and picnicing as well.

Had a great time at the summer ceramics event! Loved looking at the indoor animals and shopping the little store. Bought a map for the trails and can't believe I've lived here for 8 years and never knew it existed. Can't wait to attend more events!

A beautiful place. The earlier you go the better.

We come here all the time. Beautiful walking areas with a fun animal zone for kids to see things like turtles and snakes.

Went to the pool. Kinda pricey. For me, my wife and 5yr old. They charged her as an adult price, not a kids pice.. So we ended up paying $21

Decent facility to enjoy a youth hockey game. Should have a concession stand for patrons and most certainly have a usable Livebarn type viewing for grandparents, relatives and friends to enjoy watching the youth hockey games.

74 years old, I swim laps to exercise. The well maintained pool and sauna ( I like to heat up before diving into the pool ) are topnotch. I suggest wider shower curtains for the sake of modesty.

This place discriminates against and tried to intimate people with services dogs and emotions support animals.... they will harass u they will run up to u and our rude and they try to say if ur dog can't do some sort of "tricks" that doesn't count.... they are very horrible to veterans and many people alike it makes me sick this is now the 2nd time this has happened and I had go call the cops because they were trying to say my service dog wasnt aloud........Insane and the guy that runs this place as a manager should be fired!

This is a huge community activities building. Multipurpose used by local schools as well as community members. I was there to referee a swim meet. The Joliet swim coaches always run a very precise meet. Parents have the best of both worlds being able to sit on the west side on the pool deck.

Taste of joliet never disappoints we went to see a Spanish group called huracanes del Norte and they were good felt like I was back in the 1990’s listening to them.

Best spot in Joliet area to play my favorite sport!!! Viva el béisbol

Ordered boards and they weren’t fully finished w screws poking out. My kid got a splinter from legs. Contacted via email and they replaced 1 board but not both yet. Pics of unfinished original board and then original/replacement side by side. One pic shows they used scrap wood. Ongoing for weeks now. They replied a few times saying the warehouse is working on it. Probably supply issues from china.

I purchased a Marine Corps cornhole board set from Cornhole Games USA. The boards are advertised as a scarlet red color with the official Marine Corps flag. The set I received was HOT PINK. This was a gift for a combat decorated Marine veteran and it was very insulting to present. I engaged with their customer service and management team for two weeks and repeatedly was told the color was accurate and I would have to pay the full cost of any return, shipping, and replacement. This is after sharing multiple pictures showing the obviously PINK boards. I checked with the Marine Corps and this company isn’t licensed to sell Marine Corps logo gear. Very disappointing and would expect better quality and customer service for a $300 board set!

I love the boards, the design is amazing, the bags are perfect. Everything is neatly packed and cornhole is an American af sport, and the design is perfect for that! The kit included a bottle opener, and a yard stick with a score counter on it. Very unique. Happy with the quality ❤️ Also love the small business flex. 🇺🇸

I took a chance on them because it was a made in the USA company. I was not disappointed. My board arrived chipped and they immediately made it right with me and stayed in contact via email to make sure my issue was resolved. The boards are amazing!! Customer service even more so.

One star is too many for this company. I received a set of boards as a gift. Upon opening the box, it was obvious that they had been dropped on a corner and damaged. Multiple attempts have been made to contact the manufacturer via their email address, without any replies. No contact phone either. What a terrible way to conduct business. Absolutely would not recommend dealing with this business.

I recently received the Cornhole set and bags that I ordered. Had a small issue (nothing major) and when I contacted them they went above and beyond to fix said small issue. My boards are awesome, my bags are just as awesome, the lights are fantastic and the carrying case is a nice touch! I would definitely recommend using this company for all your Cornhole needs!

Got the boards in a timely manner but all the screws were loose. Not just one or two but all of them. For that kinda money I shouldn't have had to tighten all the screws. Couple of the corners were damaged...... probably shipping but never the less. Not sanded well at all. I picked out 2 splinters and one out of my 9 year old son's also! For the money I spent they should have been better quality!

Came here for the Joliet Sundowner 5k

this place is peaceful if you're looking to park and rest under the trees.

Trip there was ruined by a rude female staff member on the afternoon of June 9, 2024. Her demeanor was appalling in the way she spoke to me and another memeber of my family. If I acted that way at my job, I wouldn't have one. A membernof my family went to meet me inside the Nature Center and was told to leave, not kindly, but rudely by this woman because they we having a "private event'. Then, after a short walking outside, I walked over to see Sky, the hawk *outside in her enclosure. The woman handling the bird said very rudely, "Can I help you?!" - not what she said, it's how she said it. I said I just came to see Sky. She then told.me to "stay where I was and pretend.the she (Sky) was invisible" - as she walked the bird over to other people. She could have said things nicely and apologized for incoveniwnce - but instead she chose to talk to me like I was dirt. I won't bother to explain exactly who I am, but had she known I think she would have treated me differently - and I'm applied to know.that this is how the general public gets treated by her.

This is a hidden gem with plenty of walking trails and space for the whole family. Always leaving you with more to explore.

Park was recently revamped with all new pavement, solid wood barriers on the sides of the driving path, gates at each entrance/exit and a major cleanup of trash and dead trees. I only wish there was a police presence to deter the frequent drug users that take up parking spaces along the path to get high.

I've been going to Pilcher Park for years. I like the Nature Center but I love driving through the park. The best part is seeing the Deer.

Wonderful trails, a playground, and an awesome nature center with classes during the week.

Grandkids enjoyed playing here.

My baby had ah blast