Sledding, Skating, and Snowy Days: Schaumburg Area Guide for Families

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!  Winter in the Northwest Suburbs brings a magical wonderland of sparkling snow.  While grown-ups might bundle up and brave the cold for work or errands, kids see snow as an invitation to play!  So, this winter, ditch the screens and embrace the frosty fun with a day of sledding, snow forts, and creative snow crafts.

*Weather permitting. See location websites for details. Red Flags mean that the location is not open for use. Please ski, skate, sled at your own risk, many of these areas are not supervised.

Arlington Heights:  

• Sunset Meadows Park (700 S Dwyer Avenue, Arlington Heights, IL 60005)
• Galloping Hill Park (400 E. Miner St., Arlington Heights, IL 60005) 
• Heritage Park (506 W Victoria Lane, Arlington Heights, IL 60005)
• Nickol Knoll Park (3800 N Kennicott Avenue, Arlington Heights, IL 60004)

Bloomingdale:  

• Westlake Park (307 Edgewater Drive, Bloomingdale, IL 60108)

Elk Grove Village: 

• Roosevelt Park (241 Wellington Avenue, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007)
• Udall Park (811 Willow Lane, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007)

Hoffman Estates:  

• Birch Park (1045 Ash Road, Hoffman Estates, IL 60169)
• Pine Park (750 Charleston Lane, Hoffman Estates, IL, 60169)
• Seascape Family Aquatic Center (1300 Moon Lake Boulevard, Hoffman Estates, IL 60169)

Rolling Meadows:  

• North Salk Park Sled Hill (Park at Community Center 3705 Pheasant Drive, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 or 3160 Owl Drive, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008)

Roselle:  

• Clauss Park (430 Mensching Rd, Roselle, IL 60172 - Near the Maintenance Barn) 

Schaumburg:  

• Duxbury Park (715 S. Cambridge Drive, Schaumburg, IL 60193)
• Freedom Park (800 S. Pinehurst Lane, Schaumburg, IL 60193)
• Fox Run Driving Range (550 Meacham Rd, Schaumburg, IL 60193)
• Meineke Park (220 E Weathersfield Way, Schaumburg, IL 60193)
  
• Slingerland Park (921 Pheasant Walk Drive, Schaumburg, IL 60193)

Streamwood:  

• Sunny Hill Park (1480 W. Irving Park Road, Streamwood, IL 60107)

Looking for a more graceful way to enjoy the winter weather?  Here are some great ice skating rinks in the Northwest Suburbs:

Arlington Heights:  

• Arlington Ridge Center (660 N Ridge Ave, Arlington Heights, IL 60004) Outdoor Ice Rink
• Camelot Park (1005 E. Suffield Drive, Arlington Heights, IL 60004) Outdoor Ice Rink
• Frontier Park (1933 N. Kennicott, Arlington Heights, IL 60004) Outdoor Ice Rink
• Heritage Park (506 West Victoria, Arlington Heights, IL 60005) Outdoor Ice Rink
• Hickory Meadows (1324 N. Hickory Ave., Arlington Heights, IL 60004) Outdoor Ice Rink
• Pioneer Park (500 S Fernandez Ave, Arlington Heights, IL 60005) Outdoor Ice Rink
• Rec Park (500 E Miner St, Arlington Heights, IL 60004) Outdoor Ice Rink

Bloomingdale:  

• Circle Park (163 Fairfield Way, Bloomingdale, IL) Outdoor Ice Rink

Elk Grove Village:  

• Mead Park (1769 Gibson Dr., Elk Grove Village, IL) Outdoor Ice Rink

Hoffman Estates:  

• Triphahn Center Ice Arena (1685 W Higgins Rd, Hoffman Estates, IL 60169) Indoor Ice Rink 
• North Ridge Park Pond (1370 West Sturbridge Dr, Hoffman Estates, IL) Ice Skating Pond
• Fabbrini Park Pond (1704 Glen Lake Rd, Hoffman Estates, IL) Ice Skating Pond
• Evergreen Park Pond (600 Washington Blvd, Hoffman Estates, IL) Ice Skating Pond
• North Twin Lake Park Pond (950 Hassell Rd, Hoffman Estates, IL) Ice Fishing Pond
• South Twin Lake Park Pond (985 Hassell Rd, Hoffman Estates, IL) Ice Fishing Pond
• South Ridge Park Pond (1460 Freeman Dr, Hoffman Estates, IL) Ice Fishing Pond
• Black Bear Park Pond (1484 Essex Dr, Hoffman Estates, IL) Ice Fishing Pond

Roselle

• Kemmerling Park Tennis Courts (400 S Prospect St, Roselle, IL 60172) Outdoor Ice Rink

Rolling Meadows

• Nelson Sport Complex (3900 Owl Dr, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008) Indoor Ice Rink
• West Meadows Ice Arena (3939 Winnetka Ave, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008) Indoor Ice Rink
• Kimball Hill Park Winter Ice Skating Pond (2800 Cardinal Dr, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008) Outdoor Ice Skating Pond* 

Schaumburg:  

• Volkening Lake (900 W Schaumburg Rd, Schaumburg, IL) Outdoor Skating Pond*
• Timbercrest Park Ice Rinks (120 W. Beech Drive, Schaumburg, IL) Outdoor Ice Rink

Streamwood:  

• TBD

Schaumburg

• Snow Shoeing at Spring Valley Nature Center (1111 E Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg, IL 60194)

Bartlett

• Skiing and Tubing at Village Olivia (1401 W Lake St, Bartlett, IL 60103)

Itasca

• Curling at Fox and Turtle (400 East Orchard Street, Itasca, IL 60143)
• Snow Shoeing at Springbrook Nature Center (130 Forest Avenue, Itasca, IL 60143)
• Outdoor Ice Skating Community Athletic Fields (1375 N. Arlington Hts. Rd, Itasca, IL 60143)

Make a Snow Volcano:

Materials:

• Baking soda
• Vinegar
• Dish soap (optional)
• Red food coloring (optional)
• Spoon
• Cup
• Tray or baking sheet
• Cardboard or construction paper, empty toilet paper or paper towel roll (optional)

Steps:

1. Build a volcano base. Pack the snow tightly into a cone shape on a tray or baking sheet. You can use a cup or other round object to form the center of the cone.
2. Create the volcano crater.  Make a well in the center of the top of the snow cone.
3. (Optional) Line the crater with cardboard, construction paper, empty toilet paper or paper towel roll.
4. Simulate the eruption.  Pour vinegar into the crater.  For a more dramatic eruption, add a few drops of dish soap and a few drops of red food coloring to the vinegar before pouring it in. The volcano will fizz and erupt!

THEN, after a day of sledding and skating, warm up inside with a fun snow craft! Here's a simple and creative idea that the whole family can enjoy:

Snowball Pinecone Friends

Materials:

• Pinecones
• Berries
• Googly eyes
• Small twigs

Steps: 

• Decorate your pinecone friend with googly eyes, berries for a smile and buttons, and twigs for arms.
• Get creative and add other fun features to your snow creation or add a string and hang it from an outdoor tree or place on top of your own snowman!

When visiting events and local businesses, be sure to tell them Macaroni KID sent you, and don't forget to tell all your friends!