10 Best Things To Do In Addison, Illinois

Susanna
Posted May 17, 2022
| 4 min read

Addison, Illinois a city west of the Chicago Metropolitan Area, in Dupage County, with a population of about 40,000 people. Addison is a family-friendly city, full of places to see and dining that welcomes children and families. Addison was originally settled by the German and Lutheran population. Now, it is a city with a lot to see and do. Addison may not be a bustling and dazzling metropolis, but it has plenty of activities to make sure everyone has a fun time.

Read on to find out about the top things to do in Addison, Illinois.

1. Marcus Addison Cinema

If ever you’re in Addison, Illinois, and you’re thinking to yourself if there’s any entertainment near me, you can watch the latest movies at Marcus Addison Cinema. The theater features comfortable seats, great sound quality, and top-notch images to make sure your viewing experience is at its best. To complete the amazing movie-watching experience, the theater also features a concessionaire that serves tasty treats like chips, pizza, popcorn, and other bites as well as all sorts of refreshing drinks.

Treat your family to a great movie night at Marcus Addison Cinema! Check out its official website for showtimes.

Marcus Addison Cinema

Address: 1555 W Lake St, Addison, IL 60101, United States

Website: Marcus Addison Cinema

2. Wood Dale Grove Forest Preserve

For the most relaxing time out with Mother Nature while in Addison, check out Wood Dale Grove Forest Preserve. This forest preserve is situated in the northeastern boundaries of Addison. As compared to other parks, it may be a small outdoor spot but it’s teeming with natural beauty and various outdoor recreational activities. Are you thinking to yourself, “Are there any spots for sightseeing near me?” Some of the ecosystems here include wet prairies, ephemeral ponds, and wetlands that support a healthy flora and fauna—from trees and wildflowers to owls, deer, amphibians, and other wildlife.

Wood Dale Grove Forest Preserve is a hiker’s and an angler’s heaven as it features a trail through the woodlands and a pond that carries game fish in abundance including bluegill, crappie, channel catfish, and largemouth bass.

Wood Dale Grove Forest Preserve

Address: 895 S Wood Dale Rd, Wood Dale, IL 60191, United States

Website: Wood Dale Grove Forest Preserve

Opening hours: 7am - 7pm (daily)

3. K1 Speed Addison

If you’re thinking about what to do in Addison, IL, and you have the need for speed, you can race against the clock or a friend at K1 Speed Addison, an indoor go-kart racing track. Riders must be 4 feet (121.9 centimeters) tall or higher to participate. After you put the pedal to the medal, each racer will receive a Race Result Sheet, which allows you to compare your times and rank against other drivers. You can even compare your race online, after you get home, to see how you stack up against the best racers of the week or month. Each race takes about 10 minutes to complete and may have up to 12 drivers per race.

K1 Speed is available to rent for private parties of any kind and is open from 12 pm to 10 pm Monday-Thursday, Friday 11 am to 12 am, and Sunday 10 am to 10 pm. Adult racers must race other adults. There are no junior races after 8 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Price per race is 19.99 USD and seasonal passes are available.

K1 Speed Addison

Address: 2381 E Army Trail Rd, Addison, IL 60101

Website: K1 Speed Addison

4. Laser X of Addison

Laser X of Addison is one of the Midwest’s largest laser tag arenas. This multi level arena is available to rent for parties and events. Your heart will pound as you race through the levels, trying to catch players and shoot them with your laser. Each player wears cutting edge vests and uses phasers. As the players chase each other through the course, they’ll come across interactive mines and moving robotic creatures. At the end of the game, players receive a sheet with the results of how many times they tagged players and who tagged them. There is also an arcade on site.

Prices start at 8 USD for 20 minutes of play. Hours are Sunday to Thursday, 1 pm to 10 pm and Friday and Saturday 1 pm to 12 am.

Laser X of Addison

Address: 1455 W Lake St, Addison, IL 60101

Website: Laser X of Addison

5. Addison Ice Arena

The Addison Ice Arena is one of the finest ice rinks in the Chicagoland area. It features an NHL rink, an Olympic rink, the Blue Line Bar and Grill restaurant, and a pro shop. There are a variety of figure skating and ice hockey classes available, for all ages and levels. The ice arena can be reserved for birthday parties and group events. There is a calendar online to check for events. General daily hours are from 9 am to 12 am. Call +1 630-543-9200 for information or questions.

Addison Ice Arena

Address: 475 S. Grace St. | Addison, IL 60101

Website: Addison Ice Arena

6. Stardust Bowl of Addison

The Stardust Bowl of Addison is the largest bowling center in Illinois and one of the largest in the country. But, Stardust Bowl is more than just a bowling alley, it has four lounges, pool tables, darts and shuffleboard. The bowling alley includes bumper bowling for children eight and under. The center also has a diner, billiards room, games room, and pro shop. There is a banquet room for events and Stardust Bowl offers league play, as well.

The Stardust Bowl of Addison is an entire entertainment center, in one building and is open Monday through Wednesday from 9 am to 12 am, Thursday, from 9 am to 1 am, and Friday and Saturday from 9 am to 2 am.

The Stardust Bowl of Addison

Address: 37 E Lorraine Ave, Addison, IL 60101

Website: Stardust Bowl of Addison

7. Links and Tees Golf Facility

Links and Tees Golf Facility is run by the Addison Park District and is rated a top 50 Stand-Alone Range by the Golf Range Association of America. Links and Tees runs lessons, events, and tournaments. There is a par 3, 9-hole golf course, which is a great course for a beginner. The outdoor practice range has 50 hitting stations and the landscaping is well-kept.

The indoor golf dome is open November through April. The outdoor driving range is open Monday through Thursday from 8 am to 10 pm, Friday 8 am to 11 pm, Saturday 7 am to 11 pm, and Sunday 7 am to 10 pm.

Links and Tees Golf Facility

Address: 880 W. Lake St. Addison, IL 60101

Website: Links and Tees Golf Facility

8. Addison Historical Museum

On March 7, 1974, a group of Addison citizens decided to create the Addison Historical Society, to preserve the history and artifacts from Addison’s history. The museum was opened in the 1892 Blazer residence and displays artifacts from Addison’s history, including a farming display, quilts, a recreated clerk’s office, and more. The museum is open from 12 pm to 4 pm, and the archives can be viewed by appointment only. Call +1 630-628-1433 for information.

Addison Historical Museum

Address: 135 Army Trail Blvd, Addison, IL 60101

Website: Addison Historical Museum

9. La Scarpetta

Editor’s note: Establishment is permanently closed

La Scarpetta is a modern, Italian restaurant, committed to bringing good, fresh food and quality service to each of its guests. Meats and seafood are delivered fresh daily and sauces are made to order and from scratch. There is a lunch and dinner menu and lunch includes fresh pasta, crisp salads, hearty soups, and more. The prices are around 12 USD. The dinner menu includes delicious cuts of meat, generous portions of pasta, and tasty appetizers and desserts.

La Scarpetta is open Monday, from 4 pm to 9:30 pm, Tuesday through Friday, from 11:30 am to 10:30 pm, Saturday, from 4 pm to 10:30 pm and Sunday, from 3 pm to 8 pm.

La Scarpetta

Address: 1570 W Lake St #104, Addison, IL 60101

Website: La Scarpetta

10. Bigby's Pour House

Bigby’s Pour House serves 20 types of beer on tap, 23 types in bottles, and 18 different types of beer in cans. The average price for a beer is 8 USD. Bigby’s serves food as well and its hours are Tuesday through Thursday, from 4 pm to 1 am, Friday, from 4 pm to 2 am, Saturday 12 pm to 2 am, Sunday, 6 pm to 12 am, and it is closed Mondays.

Bigby's Pour House

Address: 1700 W Lake St B, Addison, IL 60101

Website: Bigby’s Pour House

Addison, Illinois

Addison, Illinois has some big fun packed into a small city. From go-kart racing to a bowling center to delicious dining, Addison has plenty of options for a fun time.

Frequently asked questions about the best things to do in Addison, Illinois


  • Which are the best attractions to visit in Addison?

    As mentioned in this article, Addison is a beautiful place teeming with attractions including Wood Dale Grove Forest Preserve, Links and Tees Golf Facility, the Addison Historical Museum, and many more.

  • What are the best activities in Addison?

    For a place with so many attractions, of course, there will be many fun activities that come along with them including hiking and fishing at Wood Dale Grove Forest Preserve, go-karting at K1 Speed Addison, ice skating at Addison Ice Arena, and bowling at Stardust Bowl of Addison, just to name a few.

Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

LET'S CONNECT