Great things to do during spring break right around here

Here in Geneva, kids have four more days of school until more than a week of freedom beckons.

Believe me, they're ready for the break.

But are the parents? Some people (it seems like just about everybody, to those of us staying home) are going away, of course. They're set to enjoy warm-weather fun in Florida, or Mexico, or the Gulf Coast; or skiing vacations in the West.

But there's no reason why the rest of us can't have some fun here in winter-bound Illinois. Who knows? Maybe the weather will actually be spring-like!

Here are some ideas to put some fun into spring break. Most are available for spur-of-the-moment decision-making, so important during a week off from the same old routine. (And double-check all times and hours of operation, because sometimes details have a way of changing.)

• Visit a children's museum or two. There are plenty of options, including the DuPage Children's Museum in Naperville (my kids and I spent hours at the museum, years ago, when it was still in Wheaton), the Chicago Children's Museum, Sci-Tech in Aurora and the Kohl's Children Museum in Glenview.

• Visit one of the many other museums in the area, including the Museum of Science and Industry or the Field Museum in Chicago. Take in the wonders of the underwater world with a trip to the Shedd Aquarium, also in Chicago.

• To add to the day, take the train, instead of the car, to the Chicago destinations.

• Go bowling. You don't even need to worry about smoke anymore.

• Head to the movies. Midday shows are cheaper, leaving you enough money for popcorn.

• If spring won't grace us, embrace winter. Visit the Raging Buffalo Snowboarding Park in Algonquin, or Chestnut Mountain ski slopes in Galena, where the ski/snowboard season has been extended until March 22. Granted March 22 is Saturday, only a day or two after break starts, but that gives families Friday and Saturday to hit the slopes. Raging Buffalo is open all week, though generally not until 4 p.m. weekdays.

• Those of us yearning for the beach can still enjoy the water. The Wisconsin Dells, the indoor water park capitol of the world it seems, is only three or so hours away. Closer to home, there's the new KeyLime Cove resort with indoor waterpark in Gurnee. But be advised; I tried to find a room, just for the sake of illustration, and it seems availability is fairly limited for the spring break week.

There are cheaper ways to enjoy the water, though. Various park districts have indoor pools, many with slides and spray grounds to provide a small taste of the Dells right here in the Chicago area.

• Take in a play. The www.hottix.org Web site offers last-minute tickets to various shows at reduced rates. Regrettably, "Jersey Boys" has yet to make the site, but there are lower-cost tickets to all kinds of great shows available. If you're willing to pay full price, your options expand, naturally.

• Let the kids enjoy nature, with the Fox Valley Wildlife Center's Spring Break Kids Day Camp, for children in kindergarten through third grades. Day camp will be from 10 a.m. to noon March 25 through 28 at the center, in the Elburn Woods Forest Preserve on Route 38, one mile west of Route 47 in Maple Park. Kids can attend any or all sessions. Cost is $10 a day or $35 for all four sessions. Call the center at 630-365-3800 or visit www.foxvalleywildlife.org.

• Kids age 16 and older can get fit. The Geneva Park District's Sunset Fitness Center is offering Spring Break Fitness Classes during the week of March 24. Visit www.genevaparks.org for more information or check the spring brochure.

• The park district also is offering a Spring Break Volleyball Camp for kids in grades kindergarten through eight. Times vary. Visit the district's site for more information.

• Take advantage of your tax dollars at work by signing up for free "Search for Spring Hikes" offered via the Forest Preserve District of Kane County. The district offers three 90-minute hikes. All ages are welcome. All hikes begin at 1 p.m. Hikes are March 25 at Camp Tomo Chi-Chi Knolls at Freeman Kame-Meagher Forest Preserve, Gilberts; March 26 at Tekakwitha Woods north of St. Charles and March 27 at Hannaford Woods, Sugar Grove. People may register at (847) 741-8350, ext. 10. More information is available at www.kaneforest.com; click on "family nature programs" in the "nature programs" section of the site.

• Check out science and nature in your own Fox Valley back yard, by visiting Fermilab in Batavia. Take in exhibits at the Leon M. Lederman Science Education Center, plus self-guided tours and even the Margaret Pearson Interpretive Trail, a quarter-mile self-guiding nature trail through a portion of Fermilab's restored prairie. You can also look for the bison herd. Fermilab is at Pine Street and Kirk Road. For ideas, information and specifics, visit Fermilab's Web site, www.fnal.gov.

• Talk to the animals by visiting the Cosley Zoo, 1356 N. Gary Ave., Wheaton, a facility of the Wheaton Park District. The five-acre zoo includes a large variety of domestic farm animals and native Illinois wildlife. Admission is free.

• For another zoo, take a road trip! Visit Milwaukee, not that far north of us, and home to the Milwaukee County Zoo. Milwaukee also boasts the Betty Brinn Children's Museum, among a host of other attractions.

There are other choices, of course. The Internet can also open the world to even more ideas.

A week's not such a long time. For those who are able to spend some of that time away from work, with your kids, enjoy it.

bbales10@ameritech.net