🎉 The Naperville FunTimes
YOUR WEEKLY GUIDE TO FAMILY FUN IN NAPERVILLE, IL
Issue #8  ·  Friday, May 1, 2026
Happy Friday, Naperville families! 🌸
It’s May Day, and the whole Naperville area is bursting into bloom! This is the weekend to finally peel the kids away from screens, get some sun on those faces, and make the kind of memories that show up in the school “what I did this weekend” essay. We’ve got an outdoor history village, a gorgeous lakeside forest preserve (totally free!), and one of the best indoor trampoline parks in the suburbs — all fresh picks you haven’t seen from us before. Let’s go!
🌸 May Day Weekend Picks Are Here!
 
📅 This Week’s Top 3 Family Picks
🏆 Pick #1
Naper Settlement — Step Into Naperville’s Living History! 🏠
📍 523 S. Webster St, Naperville 💰 $12 Adults | $8 Youth (4–12)
👪 All Ages (Best 4+) 🕐 Tue–Sat 10am–4pm • Sun 1–4pm
Right here in the heart of Naperville, Naper Settlement is a fully walkable 19th-century village with over 30 historic buildings, costumed interpreters, and hands-on activities that make history genuinely fun for kids. May kicks off the outdoor season — so you get blacksmith demos, a one-room schoolhouse, a working print shop, and the fan-favorite Harvard Early Learning Playscape for the littlest adventurers (ages 2–7). The grounds are gorgeous in spring, completely stroller-friendly, and easy to spend 2–3 hours exploring without anyone getting bored. May also brings hands-on STEM activities and Sensory-Friendly Saturdays — check the calendar before you go!
🏠 Plan Your Visit at Naper Settlement →
  ⭐ Why We Love It
Naper Settlement is one of those rare places where kids are completely absorbed and parents actually enjoy it too. May is peak season — the grounds are fresh, the interpreters are energized, and the Playscape means even toddlers are happy. It’s a proud piece of Naperville history that feels like a field trip and a family adventure all in one. 🏭
🦍 Pick #2
Herrick Lake Forest Preserve — 887 Acres of FREE Family Adventure! 🌊
📍 3S580 Naperville Rd, Wheaton (~10 min) 💚 FREE Trails (Kayak Rentals Extra)
👦 All Ages Welcome 🕐 Open Daily • Dawn to Dusk
Just 10 minutes from downtown Naperville, Herrick Lake Forest Preserve is one of DuPage County’s best-kept outdoor secrets — and it’s completely free to explore. The preserve sprawls across 887 acres with over 7 miles of trails winding past wildflower meadows, mature oak forests, and a beautiful 22-acre lake. May brings kayak, canoe, and rowboat rentals back for the season — perfect for families with older kids (kids 9 and under need an adult in the boat). There are also fishing spots, picnic shelters, and grassy open areas perfect for letting little ones run free. Strollers can handle the crushed limestone paths, and the whole preserve has a calm, “the world slowed down” energy that parents love just as much as the kids do.
🌊 Explore Herrick Lake →
  ⭐ Why We Love It
Zero dollars. Zero tickets. Zero planning needed — just pack snacks and go. In May, the wildflowers along the trails are stunning, and the kayak rentals reopening makes it feel like a fresh adventure even if you’ve been before. Bonus: the lake views are genuinely beautiful — this one earns those Instagram photos effortlessly. 🌞
🏈 Pick #3
Sky Zone Westmont — 30,000 Sq Ft of Pure Bouncing Bliss! 🚀
📍 52 E. Ogden Ave, Westmont (~15 min) 💰 From ~$20/person (60 min)
👶 Ages 2+ (Toddler Zone for Little Ones!) 🕐 Fri–Sat 10am–10pm • Sun 10am–8pm
If the weather doesn’t cooperate — or you just want to seriously wear out your kids — Sky Zone Westmont is your answer. About 15 minutes from Naperville, this massive 30,000 square foot indoor trampoline park has something for every age: a dedicated Toddler Zone with soft play areas for the little ones, a Zip Line, foam pits, dodge ball courts, and wall-to-wall trampolines for the big kids. The whole family can jump together, or parents can watch from the comfy seating area. Book your tickets online to save time at the door, and sign the liability waiver ahead of time on their website — pro tip that saves you 10 minutes when you arrive with excited kids!
🚀 Book Your Jump Session →
  ⭐ Why We Love It
There’s a reason kids beg to go back — trampolines are basically joy made physical. The Toddler Zone means even your 2-year-old gets a safe, gated space to bounce their heart out, while older siblings get the full jump experience. And those kids? They will sleep like absolute champions tonight. You’re welcome. 😴
 
🍽️ Kids Eat Free This Week!
Two great deals for the week ahead — IHOP works Monday through Friday, and Jason’s Deli’s unbeatable Monday deal is perfect for the upcoming week!
🥞 IHOP Bolingbrook ⭐ TOP PICK
📅 Mon–Fri Evenings!
Kids 12 & under eat FREE with the purchase of one adult entrée, dine-in only — valid every weekday evening 4–10 PM. Pancakes, chicken strips, mac & cheese, all-day breakfast… the kids’ menu has something for every little picky eater!
📍 730 Janes Ave, Bolingbrook, IL 60440
🥪 Jason’s Deli Naperville
📅 Every Monday • 4–9 PM
Score 2 FREE kids meals with every adult entrée purchase — one of the best deals around! Jason’s Deli in Naperville has a massive salad bar, loaded deli sandwiches, and a kids’ menu that actually has good options. Monday nights just got a whole lot easier.
📍 1739 Freedom Dr, Naperville, IL 60563
 
That’s a wrap on Issue #8, Naperville fam! 🎉 Whether you’re stepping back in time at Naper Settlement, paddling a kayak across Herrick Lake, or bouncing off the walls at Sky Zone, this weekend has something for every kind of family. Get out there, soak up those May vibes, and don’t forget to tell a fellow Naperville parent about us — the more the merrier!
The Naperville FunTimes Team 🧡
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