Well, on this hot and muggy Sunday, we decided to have an atypical weekend visit to the shady Grove…read moreto do our almost daily walk. We typically only visit here on quieter weekday mornings. We were pleasantly surprised and fortunate to find the Blacksmith Shop open and that is the case only on Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 3pm. Alec was the blacksmith on duty and he provided some insights into his craft as well as a walk-through of their various iron products, both functional and decorative. He is one of five volunteer blacksmiths on the staff here and really enjoys his time here. Thanks for the tour Alec!

What a great surprise. Needed a little down time and a chance to relax. The Grove provides just…read morethat. Free parking and no cost to walk around. The paths are easy to walk and the native prarie plants along with wild life is spectacular. The period building are relics from a very different era that look perfectly in place in woods. Will look to see what programming they have.

OMG. My family and I are huge Home Alone Fans. I have been wanting to come here for years. I…read morefinally stopped being lazy and took the ride out to Winnekta. This is a must see attraction and worth the drive. I turned the corner and there were lots of people standing in front of the house taking pics. I met a few people from other cities and even even other countries. This was just a dream come true to stand in front of the famous Home Alone House. You can also see the other houses that were filmed in the movie. Old Man Marley's house next door and The Murphy's house which is right across the street. The neighborhood is so beautiful. Just standing there felt so unreal. It Instantly gave me flashbacks from some of the movie scenes.

We had an adventure today me and my daughter Victoria we decided to stop by the home alone house…read more We weren't the only ones so if you want to get a photo opt in you just have to be patient. You can park on the street you can't get really close to the house because there's a fence. We had a lot of fun and then we went into town and got coffee from a local shop and just walked around for a bit.

It's unfortunate that Deerfield Historic Village has such limited hours as the buildings have great…read moredisplays within them with lots of details about the history and a broad timeframe of history covered between them. The Caspar Ott Log House really takes you back to 1837 with an impressive array of items such as a bed, dresser, toys, chairs, table, and other items from the area. This is definitely impressive in the comprehensiveness and presentation, as well as being the oldest standing building in Lake County. Outside of Volo Auto Museum, I'm not sure if I've seen as many antique vehicles and farm equipment as there is in the Carriage House. It's a really great experience to be able to view these magnificent vehicles up close and see all the unique details that went into their construction. I also enjoyed seeing the large selection of historical farming tools. The Sack House has a wonderful assortment of items from the early 1900's, once again really giving me a feel for what life may have looked like back then with an impressive assortment of art, common household items, fully furnished bedrooms, and lots of signs with explanations The Brand Luther House has a nice visitors center with a neat set of displays that show an eclectic mix of history covering everything from music to Sara Lee. The volunteers here were very helpful in explaining some details in different buildings. Finally, the Little Red Schoolhouse is a neat replica of a one-room school house complete with small desks, a stove, old books and map. Though it was built in 1981, the old furnishings and items really give a feeling of stepping back in time. Overall, definitely worth a visit for any history lover. A great free experience with well designed displays.

The historic village in downtown deerfield is home to various historic cabins which rest on a small…read moreplot of land. The historically society opens the doors to the cabins Sundays during the summer months and pulls out the old wagons and lets you tour the inside of each dwelling. The volunteers are helpful and offer some history for those who inquire. It's not a site I would go out of my way to visit or recommend but a nice piece of history to walk thru if you happen upon it while strolling around deerfield.

On a recent fresh air walk, I was drawn to the Stupey Cabin. For those who don't know, it's the…read moreoldest building in Highland Park built in 1847. It's been moved from another location, saved by the town, and resurrected from it's older self into a fresh updated version that stands tall and proud right near City Hall. In a time when so many of us are seeking hope and strength, there's something very peaceful and majestic about this little cabin on the lawn. There are park benches for resting, tables for picnicking, and a nearby rose garden (not yet in bloom). The cabin is currently not open, but you can schedule a tour...hopefully when the COVID-19 ban is lifted. I'm pretty sure this little log cabin has survived its share of national pandemics.

Stupey Cabin sure isn't stupey(d). It reminds me of The Little House on the Prairie. Except this is…read moreLittle House on the North Shore so our prairie kids corn cob dolls probably had Lacoste polos. Anyhoo it was built in 1847 and is Highland Park's oldest freestanding structure. One room house with a fireplace, spinning wheel for yarn and wool, butter churn, a bed . . . the usual jive that Amish folks still use today or that come with kids Kirsten American Girl doll. To get inside you need to arrange for a showing. Of course there's the Annual Stupey Cabin event every June 1st where they have cabin tours, a ho down, people jamming, BBQ picnic, petting zoo. It seems like EVERY YEAR they hold this fundraiser to SAVE the cabin (sotto voice "That's what the definition of 'annual' is beeyotch. Every year") I mean its a tinyass wood plus sized shack, how much money to they need to collect each year? I mean it should be fine now, LOL. So next time you are in the area take a gander. It's nice to have a respect for history in Highland Park and a respect for such a tiny house here!

Shhhh...don't shout. Don't talk too loudly, because you might disturb the butterflies that flutter…read moreabout in my favorite North Shore secret garden. The Eklund Garden is a magical place. It's located on the Glencoe Historical Society grounds, and its brick path leads to one of the history buildings. Step foot in the garden, and I promise all your worries will be forgotten. Sit for hours on a wooden bench. Stroll the maze of pebbly paths. This garden is filled with so much care and dedication to loved ones who have passed, but are no doubt watching over the grounds. The Eklund Garden is a peaceful hidden gem right in the heart of Downtown Glencoe. Blink and you'll miss it.

Fort Sheridan is a hidden gem of a small residential community that was once an Army post from the…read morelate 1800's era.  Honestly, we only came through here to get to the Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve, a large enclave that is technically part of Fort Sheridan.  Before heading to the preserve, we did stroll around the attractive centerpiece of the town, and that is the Water Tower which is on the National Register of Historic Places.  The tower and many of the community's buildings all have the same attractive yellowish brickwork that was used in the construction of the original military post.  All of the residences look quaint, upscale, and well maintained and strolling about is very peaceful and pleasant.  If in the vicinity, it's worth a drive-by and/or stroll through this historic area.

No tour was available. Looks well maintained. Not worth the trip unless you are in the immediate…read morevicinity.

On December 5th, Walt Disney would have been 115 years old! Crazy to think he died 50 years ago at…read morejust 65. On December 5th, they did a little party type of thing outside the house to celebrate. Walt started his magical journey (ie was born) on the 2nd floor of this home. That's just crazy to think about! Walt's parents actual bought the land, then designed and built the home from the ground up! Walt's family ended up moving to Missouri when he was 4 or 5 years old...but it all started with a man born in Chicago who would make a mouse! As a Disney enthusiast, I wanted to roll by and check the place out. They are currently in the process of restoring the home to it's 1901 state when Walt was born. However it was neglected for years! The current owners are Disney people and on board with the historical significance, planning to do great things! Read more in this great Trib article: http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/ct-walt-disney-house-20150807-story.html A few days ago on Walt's birthday, they unveiled the new honorary street sign Disney Family Avenue! I just love it! This home needs to be marked as an official Historical Landmark. Let's do this Chi City!

Excellent roadside attraction. Completed in 1934, this is a water tower in disguise. Added to the…read moreNational Register of Historic places in 2019 the tower is closed for tours while the tower itself, the grounds around it and the parking area are getting a face lift. Keep an eye on their social media and/or website for updates on when tours will begin again. The tower bells ring out a song at 9am, noon, 3pm and 6pm and gives a single chime every quarter hour. The bells are lovely. At the time of this review the parking area is unavailable during renovation. The Aldi's parking lot next to the tower would be a good option until their lot opens again. The gardens around the tower are filled with beautifully scented flowers. The reflecting pool in front is very nice and there are two tiers of seating facing the tower with gardens between the tiers.

Me and my wife recently checked out this place to see what all the buzz is about. This place was…read morereally great especially after passing it up all these years and not realizing how interesting this place was. It's a miniature version of the leaning Tower of Pisa and it looks like by seeing all the security cameras that you were able to go to the top of this place.. It's a great place to visit for about 10 minutes before getting bored and just leaving. I do think that the maintenance is lacking about this place as well.

I finally found my way to the Grosse Point Lighthouse. I wasn't sure where I was actually supposed…read moreto go at first--Google Maps sent me to the driveway to the homes just south of the lighthouse--but finally found my way. There's a lighthouse next to this area that's shared with the beach just to the east, so I think it could be tricky to find a space if the lighthouse is your primary stop, given the hours that the light house is open. I haven't had a chance to explore the lighthouse itself, but I have wandered the grounds, which are maintained by the Garden Club of Evanston. There's a lovely little trail here and a trail that heads down to the beach. I'm looking forward to visiting the lighthouse and checking it out sometime soon.

Nice place, gorgeous lake with a beach nearby. Very pretty. The grass is little wet due to…read moreyesterday's rain. Parking is free for Evanston resident, but I'm coming from out of state, so i paid 3 dollar for one hour. Played balls with my daughter's dog. Beautiful place.