Liberty weekend in Great Lakes IL after navy bootcamp

Question

My son and I are going to see his daddy graduate on friday =] and i understand theres a liberty weekend and he gets to hang out with us until like 9pm what is there to do in the great lakes i know they cant leave within 50 miles of the base. has anyone ever been there? is there a movie theater close by??

Answer 1

Nearby Great Lakes don't had anything, is not a good area, my suggest to you, take a train to Downtown Chicago, there's sightsee there, such as the famous Sears Tower.  

Answer 2

You will need to make sure he actually gets a liberty weekend.  If his "A" school is not in Great Lakes he will be leaving the day after boot camp to fly to his "A" school.

If he does get the weekend you will want to go to Gurnee, IL which is the closest largest town in the area.  They have a huge mall that has a movie theater, ice rink and tons of restaurants in the mall or on the property.  Everything you need is in the mall or on Grand Avenue which is the street the mall is located on.  Hopefully you have a rental car to get around in, if not it is just as much money to pay the "Jam Van's" to shuttle you around.  

He needs to find out exactly what HE is allowed to do before you make big plans to go see him.  Great Lakes, IL is only the base, there is no town of Great Lakes.  North Chicago is the closest city but there is not much to do and not too safe after it gets dark.  Every recruit in the Navy goes to Gurnee and the mall.  There is also a Six Flags Great America there is you want to do that.  Keep in mind he has to wear his Navy uniform everywhere he goes but he will be one of thousands so he won't stick out.