The best ever escape room and mini golf in Chicago

[caption id="attachment_4568" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Success![/caption]

By Robert, aged 14:

During the recent summer holidays my family and I decided not to exercise and get a typical summer body. Instead we opted to go  to America so our physique could resemble the jellybeans we learnt about on the Jelly Belly factory tour in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin (about an hour and a half from our base in Chicago). But whilst we gained pounds (and lost them at the currency exchange), the week we spent in Chicago was brilliant. I’ve been asked the question “What was your favourite bit?” multiple times since we got back from and every time I’ve replied with the same answer: “The escape room.” 

The Escape Game 

I’d been to three escape rooms in my life previous to this Chicago holiday and I had loved going every time. The one we went to in Chicago was run by the company The Escape Game. On offer at the venue we visited were five different experiences which varied in difficulty: Gold Rush, Mission: Mars, Special Ops: Mysterious Market, Prison Break and of course my favourite of all the ones I’ve done: The Heist. Unlike any escape room that I’ve partaken in before, this one actually had a proper storyline. Before we started, we were shown a video explaining our situation (that we were proving a dodgy art dealer to be a fake by stealing a painting) and this really made the next hour more exciting and fun. 



The rooms themselves were immaculately designed, they actually looked like what they were meant to be: a gallery, an office. There were no clues or objects that seemed out of place, which really made you feel like you were in the story. Also, in the British escape rooms that I’ve been to there have been many worn out props or creased laminated pages of which their sole purpose was to be a clue. The clues and rooms at The Escape Game were all in great condition, there were absolutely no puzzles that were just simply written on pieces of paper. 

[caption id="attachment_4570" align="alignnone" width="1200"] The rooms were so intricate - beautifully designed[/caption]

 

We managed to escape the room with under three minutes to spare and having only used about six  prompts or clues – which we used almost all in haste during the last few minutes! Unlike the typical “find some numbers and open up a cupboard with a padlock” puzzles which we were used to, The Heist would reveal something after we completed a sequence. An object or clue would appear on the floor or the table without us doing anything so it was really cool. 

[caption id="attachment_4567" align="alignnone" width="1200"] We had to rescue this fake picture (it took us a while to find it!)[/caption]

Overall I thought the whole thing was genius and I ended up repeating “that was so cool” over and over for the majority of the day! The storyline and unique puzzles made the experience thoroughly enjoyable, fast-paced and exciting. There were multiple times (which I can’t mention in detail or else it will spoil them) that were outstanding and we keep talking about. I hope that, without mentioning anything about the clues or puzzles, I have conveyed how awesome this escape room was as we all thought it was brilliant and would definitely go back again. If only it wasn't so far away....

The Escape Game Chicago is located in River North and costs $35.99 per player, although there are often offers if you look out for them! 

City Mini Golf 

Another unique experience that we all really enjoyed was playing a round at City Mini Golf which is located in the beautiful Maggie Daley Park. The crazy golf course started off as a popup created by school teacher Rob Long, but then it became so popular that it has now become a permanent attraction at the park and was voted Chicago’s #1 Miniature Golf Course. 

Rob - who we actually met on the day that we went to have a game - makes all the holes himself and every year he expands the designs of the less exciting one. He told us that he already has many ideas for this winter meaning if you visit it will be even better than we went – and we really enjoyed it!  The setting for the game is lovely, with greenery all around you in the park and an open view of the amazing Chicago city skyline.  

The holes themselves were extremely innovative and unique as we had to putt the ball through or around intricately made models of Chicago landmarks: The Willis Tower, China town and even a miniature replica of Picasso’s Chicago Sculpture – as well as loads more.

[caption id="attachment_4576" align="alignnone" width="1200"] You can see the new China Town hole in the background![/caption]

I’ve been to quite a few mini-golf courses in my life and I’ve got to say that the NBA themed hole at City Mini Golf was one of the best I’ve ever played. You had to hit the ball up a ramp and land it in a basketball net which dropped it into tube facing the hole, it was so cool. At the end of the 18 hole course you get to put your ball into a game and if it lands in a certain place you win a free round. Out of the four of us we actually won this once meaning it’s not that hard to get another go at an already extremely good-value attraction. The balls were colourful and painted with designs, the holes were brilliantly crafted and overall it was a great place to come and have a fun time in Chicago. 

[caption id="attachment_4577" align="alignnone" width="768"] Mum by the brilliant Chicago Bulls hole[/caption]

City Mini Golf is located in the middle of Maggie Daley Park, just five minutes from the amazing Cloud Gate (the Bean)! It is open Monday-Thursday, and Sunday from 11-8 and on Fridays and Saturdays from 10am-9pm. It costs $11 per person, but if you live locally, you can get a whole season pass for $32!

Further reading:

NEW! Read about how we took part in a virtual escape room (but did we escape?)

NEW! Read Jess's account of our trip to Chicago, with her tips for teens.

Read about our trip to a London escape room, ClueQuest

Read about our trip to the biggest mini golf course in Europe

Playing at Lost Jungle London: Europe's Largest Adventure Golf

We travel around a lot to visit places which we think we - and other families - would enjoy. So I cannot tell you what a pleasure it was to find a place which excited us and that is not far from where we live! Lost Jungle London is a brand new crazy golf course, billed as the largest adventure golf course in Europe! It's based in Edgware, north London and has a large car park for those driving there. It also has two 18 hole mini golf courses, a footgolf course and a nine hole short golf course.

So, what did we think.....?

Jess, aged 15, writes: Our family had a fantastic time playing at Lost Jungle London - the largest mini golf site in Europe. The site consists of 36 crazy golf holes with two themes: the Amazon, and the Congo, and a nine hole footgolf course. This was definitely one of the most exciting and well done mini golf courses I've ever been to, and our family has visited lots!

We arrived early in the hope of escaping crowds, and soon descended upon the Amazon themed mini golf course, armed with clubs and brightly coloured golf balls (a different colour for each of us). The course was amazing; every hole was different from the next, and the area was finished with some amazing details. During our game, we passed waterfalls, palm trees, "Aztec" ruins, gorillas, and snakes.These were brilliant touches which definitely made our time more interesting.

A particular highlight of mine was the second hole, in which you had to putt the ball across a path, but if you didn't, it would fall into the water. This was extremely difficult, and me being me, I ended up being the only person in the family to fail at it. Worried that we'd lost the ball forever, we ran around to the other side, only to find that, it had gone through a secret hole and had come out in a great position on the other side!

Sarah says: The space here is fantastic. It's built on the site of an old golf course, so it's very uncrowded and you feel as if you're in the country just being here. We all thought the courses were extremely well designed. We played 18 holes on the Amazon course, but also had a quick look around the Congo one (which has its own wobbly bridge to walk across).



I was impressed by all the little touches, such as informative signs on each hole (anything ranging from the Aztecs to Brazilian spiders) and the waterfalls were great to see too. There were a number of families playing, but also lots of people of all ages. I did think it would be great to do with a group of my friends.
All in all, it was such good fun.

[caption id="attachment_4164" align="alignnone" width="1200"] A snake on the Congo course[/caption]

 

Robert, aged 12, writes: Dad and I also had a go at football golf, and I personally enjoyed it more than the golf (although that was really fun, but could get a little frustrating, as well). There were nine holes in the football golf course, each one slightly easier than the next.



We decided to play without keeping score and I found that really good it made it more fun. Football golf is when you try and kick your football into a hole between 30 to 90 yards away. It was really fun and I would definitely do it again. I really loved it.

[caption id="attachment_4168" align="alignnone" width="1200"] The courses are very impressive to look at (and fun to play on!)[/caption]

Jess says: In conclusion, we all really enjoyed our time at Lost Jungle. It really was an excellent morning out, with bright, enjoyable, and unique holes. It really stood out as a fun, exciting place to visit - perfect for all the family. Nothing was too hard or too easy, and the queues weren't massive (although we did visit at 10.30 in the morning!). I would recommend Lost Jungle for anyone in the London area who wants a fun day out, as it was probably the best mini golf I have ever been to.

Lost Jungle London is open seven days a week, from 9am to 9pm (bank holidays 9.30 to 5pm). It costs £9 per 18 holes for an adult, £8 for a student and £7.50 for a "schoolie", aged 5-17. A family costs from £28 (two adults and two kids, or one adult and three kids). If you want to play 36 holes, then a family ticket is £42, and adult is £13.50 and 5-17 £11.25. The foot golf costs £7.50 per adult and for each "schoolie".
Disclosure: We were given a family pass to try the course out, but all the content here is our own and Lost Jungle London had no input into it.