by Kristen Kucharski
EVERYTHING FOR OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS
Oh, if there was ever a place close to home that captured all my passions in one setting – it is The Forge:Lemont Quarries. Hiking, biking, kayaking, zip lining, aerial courses, AR adventures, tactical laser tag, yoga ……PLUS food – oh how I love food - with the additional bonus of entertainment in the form of a concert and film series. One stop shopping for the outdoor enthusiast that is open 365 days a year.
The 300 acres of awesomeness reminded me of being on one of many Glancer Magazine #MomsLittleBlackBook Road Trips with the girls; yet, all wrapped together in one place. It brought back memories of our hikes in the Black Hills of South Dakota, The Wheel Mill in Pittsburgh where we thought we were BMX bike pros riding the rails and pump tracks; conquering the undergrounds zip lines of Louisville, KY; kayaking on the Jersey shorelines; and playing tactical laser tag in our backyard of Aurora.
The Forge: Lemont Quarries brings my love for the outdoors and my quest for extreme thrills within an easy drive of the western suburbs. Better yet – its for all ages, all abilities, AND open all year! It’s not often you can find a single place that can provide exhilarating experiences for children as young as three (3) years old, while also providing an outdoor dining experience over the lakefront with jazz, classical, country, and of course, rock n roll music! The venue is all encompassing and the ability to purchase a year-round membership offers value and fun for everyone, regardless of age.
Amidst the pandemic, this is certainly a must-do on your list of activities as safety and cleaning are on the top of their list!
So get out and enjoy!
OVERVIEW
The Forge: Lemont Quarries is a state-of-the-art adventure park designed to deliver unique year-round activities for adventurers of all ages and abilities to experience elevated outdoor adventure 365 days a year. Special features include a versatile and wide-range of mixed recreational activities which include biking, paddlesports, aerial courses, tactical laser tag, AR adventure games, outdoor dining and entertainment and more – all set among a reclaimed natural landscape.
The Forge: Lemont Quarries
1001 Main Street, Lemont • (630) 326-3301
www.forgeparks.com
Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Saturday; Extended Hours for Members
Price $: Varies depending on activity or membership selected. Check website for details.
ABOUT THE WRITER
Naperville mom Kristen Kucharski graduated from Illinois State University in 1992 with an International Business Degree. She has two energetic daughters and her house is always full of children. Kristen’s column titled, Mom's Little Black Book, is a monthly feature written for moms who are looking for ways to keep their kids busy. Read her past columns at
