Looking for some fun family, friendly places to explore this spring/summer in DuPage County? Take a look at what some of the team's family favorites are! Bonus, some of them are FREE ;).
- The Morton Arboretum
- (4100 Illinois Route 53 Lisle, IL 60532)
- Explore the children’s garden as you head through the maze, search for tadpoles, turtles, fish, climb through the treehouses, rock hop in the pond, and explore many other activities in the garden. Take a hike on one of the 16 miles of trails to find some of the Human + Nature exhibits. Wherever you explore you will find beautiful flowers, trees, and wildlife!
- Kline Creek Farm - FREE
- 1N600 County Farm Rd, West Chicago, IL 60185
- Come and visit this ancient farm to see what life was like in the 1890s. Watch the farmers partake in the daily chores around the farm. See some of the farm animals; chickens, sheep, pigs, and horses.
- Fullersburg Woods and Nature Center - FREE
- 3609 Spring Rd, Oak Brook, IL 60523
- Take a walk on the trails, explore the river, and take a look at the nature center to learn about what animals live in the woods!
- Cantigny - FREE (March through December – First Wednesday of the Month)
- 1 S 151 Winfield Road, Wheaton, IL 60189
- Explore the beautiful gardens, play at the park, climb on the tanks, check out the museum, or just take a walk around the grounds! You can even catch one of our pop up-mommy & me classes there this summer!
- Cosley Zoo
- 1356 N Gary Ave, Wheaton, IL 60187
- The zoo is built on the site of a historic train station. Small, family friendly zoo that contains domestic animals and wildlife that is native to Illinois.
- Willowbrook Wildlife Center - FREE
- 525 S Park Blvd, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
- Come and visit this animal rehab center that treats more than 9,000 birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians annually.
- Herrick Lake Forest Preserve - FREE
- 3S580 Naperville Road
- Wheaton, IL 60189
- Take a hike on one of the trails, bring your fishing gear, rent a rowboat, or pack a picnic for the family! Enjoy the beauty of nature around you!
- Blackwell Forest Preserve - FREE
- Butterfield Rd, Warrenville, IL 60555
- Another great forest preserve to hike a trail, fish, rent a paddle boat, canoe, kayak, stand up paddle board, enjoy a nice picnic, or to just take in the beautiful scenery around you.
- George Ball Park-Perry’s Pond - FREE
- 800 Elm St, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
- Visit this historic site of where dinosaur bones were found while digging to make a pond in Judge Joseph Samuel Perry's backyard. While digging they found more than 100 bones of a mastodon's 211 bones. They even found the skull with teeth! After you visit the site where the bones were found, head on over to the exhibit at Wheaton college to take a look at the bones!
We hope you can explore one or more of these recommendations this spring or summer!