Theme & Amusement Parks in Chicago

Reverberating with the ring of baseballs on wire cages and the tunes of dueling pianos, Sluggers World Class Sports Bar serves its clientele with drinks, classic pub eats, and sporting good times. More than 30 televisions beam the latest athletic happenings, including six 10-foot big screens and several tubes that, like blood viewed under a microscope, are high-definition plasma. Bar denizens drink down glasses of domestic, import, and microbrews while picking at finger foods ordered from the menu, such as wings, deep-dish pizzas, sandwiches, and burgers. Seven pool tables clatter with the impact of broken racks; the arcade jangles with tokens feeding the hungry slots of skee-ball, air hockey, and video games; and batting cages resound with the peal of aluminum bat on mechanical fastball. On Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, piano-wielding pairs face off on the second floor, taking requests from the crowd while brave spectators wage dance battles on behalf of their favorite ivory tickler.

When he shuts up his workshop at the North Pole after another successful holiday season, Santa Claus doesn't simply hibernate until next December. Instead, he packs up his sleigh and heads to his summer home at the Fox River Valley's Santa's Village Azoosment Park. Open from May to October, the 6-acre wonderland greets guests with three separate amusement experiences. The fun begins in Santa's Village, where quaint alpine building and expertly manicured pathways awaken feelings of nostalgia in hearts young and old. There, visitors can zoom down the original Santa's Tree House Slide, hitch a ride on the Kringle Convoy, or snap a picture at a recreation of Santa's North Pole home. They can also tap into the amusement rides including the antique carousel, the Tilt-A-Whirl, and Dracor's Dragon Coaster.

A renowned lover of animals, Santa has also filled his park with a menagerie of animals both familiar and exotic. After visiting Rudolph and company at Reindeer Ridge, visitors can grab a ride on a horse-drawn sleigh on their way to see the denizens of Parakeet Paradise, Tortoise Island, or Old MacDonald's Farm and Petting Zoo. In addition to grabbing up-close peeks of everything from a red-tailed boa to a fennec fox, visitors can also take in an exotic animal show that educates audience members about the park's wild residents.

In addition to the traditional rides that have made the park a destination for generations of families, Santa's Village Azoosment Park also welcomes new thrills for the 2013 season. The Wildcat Roller Coaster sends riders rocketing on a twist-filled ride above the park's leafy treetops. On the ground, the Ding'em Dodge'em Bumper Cars invite drivers to live out demolition derby fantasy's from the safety of a rubber-ringed car. Always in the holiday spirit, the park welcomes groups looking to add a spark to reunions, birthday, or group outings. This accommodating spirit even extends to the park's rule book: parking is free, and picnic baskets are encouraged.