A few weekends back, we set off on a day trip to the Children’s Museum of Illinois (CMI) in Decatur, Illinois. Even after having the boys and living in Illinois for the better half of my life, I had never been to the CMI in Decatur until this trip.
Stop 1 – Dollar Tree
We started our trip around 10 am after I finished up a few photos in a few RBX Active outfits for a clothing partnership. The sun shone bright and the weather felt like a breezy, beautiful summer day. After driving for about an hour, our first stop was Dollar Tree. I love Dollar Tree and each one is a little different. Originally, I went in to pick up some batteries and a mini screwdriver to get my daughter’s strawberry bubble blower working.
But, with it being Dollar Tree, I found so many more fantastic finds such as a collapsible handbasket that I used to house cups, water bottles, and other miscellaneous objects in the car. I also found an adorable floral plastic bowl with a lid that would be perfect for bringing a dish to an event.
Lastly, amongst other things, I found the plastic pastel flatware that I absolutely love that I can only find during the early spring. I took the lavender set with us on our Enchanted Fairies Road Trip last year and will take another set on our Spring Break Mini Vacation this year. They are beautiful and come in handy!
Feel free to check out the video of this post on Instagram, Decatur Day Trip Mini Vlog.
Stop 2 – Kentucky Fried Chicken | Lunch Pit Stop
After we finished up in Dollar Tree, we crossed the street to Kentucky Fried Chicken. I don’t eat there much, but it was close by. I ordered a three-piece chicken tender meal for us to split as we sat in the car in the parking lot. I kept the drink and poured her apple juice into her cup.
A cute little hack that I mentally noted from Pinterest was to use a school supply caddy (from Dollar Tree) to put your child’s food in when you are eating in the car. I tried the hack and it was perfect. I placed her cup in the small compartment and her chicken tender and fries and a napkin in the other compartments. It was easy to sit on her lap and for her to eat. Once we finished eating, we headed over to the museum.
Stop 3 – Children’s Museum of Illinois, 55 S Country Club Rd, Decatur, IL
When we arrived at the museum, we were able to get a parking spot near the entrance which was nice. I put my daughter in her umbrella stroller and we headed in.
I want to point out something here. I keep two strollers in our vehicle, an umbrella stroller and a jogger stroller. I’ve noticed that when going into children’s museums, it’s very beneficial to have an umbrella stroller. It’s not as bulky as the jogger stroller, and easily allows you to get from floor to floor while keeping your toddler under control.
The museum has two floors and also has some attractions outside, and since the weather was beautiful, we were able to experience both indoor and outdoor activities. Some of my daughter’s favorite exhibits included the water table, Johnston’s Market, Mama Mia’s Pizzeria & Gelato Stand, and the crafts table. There’s quite a bit to do and one could easily spend several hours there with their children. I think we spent close to two hours there.
Admission is about $12 per person, but I want to point out that there is a program called Museums for All which offers incredible admission discounts to families who participate in government programs such as LINK/SNAP/EBT/WIC. It’s certainly worth checking out.
Stop 4 – Scovill Zoo | Temporarily Closed, Off-Peak Season
After leaving the museum, I figured that we would do a swift stroll through the Scovill Zoo, located just a quick walk across the parking lot from the museum, however, when we arrived, it was closed and had not yet opened for the season. From the parking lot, it looked like a nice zoo and also had a large playground in front where a lot of families were enjoying the beautiful weather.
Stop 5 – The Main Scoop Monticello, 315 W Main St, Monticello, IL
Our final stop before ending our day trip was the Main Scoop in Monticello, IL. I first heard about the Main Scoop while at the Mohomet Soda Fest last year. After sampling some of their ice creams at the festival, I grabbed a card and vowed I would return. And, we did!
My daughter and I both had a scoop of ice cream, relaxed a bit, and took a photo in front of their photo-op wall before heading home.
Final Thoughts
Overall, we had such a lovely day trip with beautiful weather and enjoyable activities. Not to mention, February is National Cherry Month and my daughter wore an adorable cherry-themed outfit!
