This is a real hidden gem in the Western Suburbs…read more If you pre register , Wednesdays are free parking ! Easy to walk on paved trails,the Fall Displays are beautiful especially in mid October. Plenty of parking is available.

Cantigny Park is basically therapy with better landscaping…read more One of my favorite things about this place is that it somehow manages to be both incredibly family friendly and peaceful at the same time. There's tons of space for kids to run around, explore, and burn off energy without feeling crowded or chaotic. And if you need a little reset yourself, there's always a quiet corner waiting for you. Whether it's a walking path, a bench, or just a peaceful stretch of the gardens, it's one of those rare places where you can step away, clear your head, and just breathe for a while. Beautiful grounds, relaxing atmosphere, and something for everyone. I came for a walk and left feeling lighter. Cantigny really is a little escape hiding in plain sight.

I wish I could give the Wade Center 10 stars on Yelp! It's an over-the-top experience to visit and…read moreget a full tour if you're a CS Lewis and/or JRR Tolkien fan! This museum and library is located right on the Wheaton College campus. Currently (September 2022), a meditation garden is being landscaped outside of the back exit, the design of which is inspired by "The Hobbit." My hubby and I have taken so many out-of-town guests here, and recently some local relatives who had never been! Each time I join a tour, I learn something new. The tour guides and staff are so learned!

I heard about this place through Roadside America and am so glad I went. It was amazing to see…read moreTolkien's desk (on which The Hobbit and parts of the Silmarillion were written), C.S. Lewis's desk, and his wardrobe... yes, THAT wardrobe. The staff are so friendly and were kind enough to take pictures of me with the objects. No admission cost!

This free, educational museum was a fun way for me family and me to spend an afternoon. Miss Grace…read moreis a personable, knowledgeable, and inspired interest in the exhibits. The model train set was an unexpected bonus!

Free, educational and fun. Great seasonal programs. A working blacksmith shop and a quaint little…read morestore. Lots to see and enjoy. Nearby Main st. offers good dining options

The museum was simple, nice and fun. Worth the trip. Both museums were interesting and…read moreentertaining.

We came to view the Hokusai & Ukiyo-E: The Floating World exhibit at the Cleve Carney Museum of Art…read moreat the College of DuPage. Ukiyo-e means "pictures of the floating world," and this art style features scenes from everyday 17th - 19th-century Japan, like entertainment, kabuki, geisha, etc. This style had an impact on the Impressionists like Van Gogh. This exhibition has the debut of the Chiossone Collection, 53 paintings and woodblock prints of ukiyo-e. Prior to this exhibit, the only ukiyo-e artwork that I would have been familiar with is the famous "The Great Wave off Kanagawa" by Hokusai. But this exhibit "rides the wave," creating an immersive and multifaceted experience. Not only do you learn about other artists and their works, you can see original paintings and prints, walk-through an Edo-era street, visit an immersive manga/anime exhibit in "2D", make your own print, visit a garden and more. It was a little confusing how to enter the the historical exhibit (we weren't the only ones), but the info is presented in a very approachable way. That Hokusai, what a character -- He changed his name 30 times, He hated to clean so when his living quarters were messy -- he moved -- 93 times! The manga/anime exhibit was very fun -- with the 2D artwork panels created by the 2D restauranteurs. I was also impressed by the many events planned throughout DuPage county -- so many towns participating. The gift shop items were great! The only thing -- we came on a weekday and only ramen and hotdogs were available -- other items available on the weekend. In any case, I was quite impressed with the exhibit -- and I would recommend it for all ages.

An interesting local museum with about half a Victorian house on display; special exhibits in the…read morebarn; and another building visible only from the outside. Small wildflower walk. It's free (donations happily accepted). This was perhaps a stop on the underground railroad, though there's no proof. Visit is on your own, and a couple of rooms are given over to administrative purposes. Check out a small selection of items that are marked "please touch" (notably some items in the kitchen, such as the irons heated on the stove during the period; a period corset; etc.). The stereopticons (they have 2) are not included in "please touch" and are positioned so you can't actually use them, which is frustrating (hoping they'll buy a stand). In a hallway upstairs are photos and capsule bios of some noted DG citizens; I had no idea noted Egyptologist Henry Breasted had a connection. Signage is somewhat lacking, though there are small cards in most rooms asking kids "can you find {list of items}?" which will help you find some things. The barn includes an early/midcentury fire truck lovingly restored, with displays on the 1976 Bicentennial painted fire hydrants; a beloved firefighter who dressed as a clown to teach kids about fire safety. The temporary exhibit on travel was interesting, and the staff was preparing for a "Victorian dinner." Overall, worth a look if you have an interest in local history or the lives and possessions of the Victorian well-to-do. Did I mention it's free?

We went to the museum expecting to see a few old photos and not much else. Instead we stepped…read moreseemingly back in time to an immersive experience of a founding Downers Grove family. The curator clearly pours her heart and soul into curating every aspect of the museum, from the objects in the house to information about the people who walked its walls. We even walked through the cellar where the family hid people for the Underground Railroad. The long history of the house is imbued with mysteries and surprising details about how people used to live... paintings hidden in the walls, a wife's letters kept from past suitors, a wreath of faux flowers made from feathers... we were absolutely floored. We spent over an hour learning so much about American history through the prism of this fascinating house. Bravo!

This is worth visiting if you're in Chicagoland! Campus is absolutely gorgeous and this is a…read moremust-see. I would say allot 1-1.5 hours for this. The museum details Billy Graham's life beautifully, and has a scavenger hunt for younger kids. I came here with my friends and the rooms at the end are spectacular. I won't spoil anything but I came away so blessed and challenged by Billy Graham's example. Parking is plentiful and the museum is free with suggested donations.

OK, definitely biased on this one, but this is well worth a visit for anyone visiting Chicagoland…read more Parking- no issue on the campus during the summer. The museum is quite and focused, and the staff are helpful! Overall the museum is well organized, and thorough in its coverage beyond Billy Graham as an individual, covering also the context of evangelical revivals in America throughout its history. Thankful also for the detailed coverage of a rare man of integrity throughout Graham's evangelistic career, covering a lot of details that easily net out to practical takeaways for the average layman or Christian minister. Plus, free admission with a suggested donation. Can easily accommodate large groups!

This is one of those small museums only open part of the year. Summer of 2023 they're only open the…read moresecond and third Saturdays from May-September. There are about 10-11 rooms, and apparently each season they have a theme; this year's is "Vacations We Have Taken," so the rooms are full of souvenirs from various 1890-1920s destinations. This house museum is more modern than most of the others in the area; the kitchen downstairs is set to about 1941 (which is still a lot more primitive than I had expected). Most of the people living in the house were women; there is a lot of lacework (doilies; tatting framed on the wall; fancy edges on the tablecloth and towels) and some really lovely beaded purses laid out in the rooms upstairs (some in-progress beadwork is included in the upstairs sewing room). The bedrooms are completely roped off, so you'll get a better view of the other rooms which have at least some access. The house is renowned for its garden; apparently the West Chicago Garden Club was brought back into existence to bring it to its original glory, which they've certainly done. House is smack in a residential district, and there is parking with room for maybe 3 cars in the back (go up the narrow driveway and follow the sign).

The grounds are really pretty, unfortunately we didn't see the inside. We arrived after 11 on a…read moreSaturday when they stated they would be open, but the doors were locked. We walked around the grounds and enjoyed the view, tried the door again and left. We would have loved to go inside and see all that they had. Hopefully it was just a fluke that they weren't open.

My husband and I visited the Glen Ellyn Historical Society on a Saturday morning. On this morning…read morethere was an antique car show on the campus of the museum. This was a fun event getting to see these well cared for classic cars. Inside the main building you will several permanent exhibits, bathrooms, a gift shop, and a model jail in their gift shop. The jail setup makes for some fun pictures. Stacy's Tavern, a historic home and business, was also open with knowledgeable tour guides to explain the building and answer questions. The Glen Ellyn Historical Society is fun for the whole family and comes highly recommend!

Was in the area for dinner and walked around downtown which looked pretty deserted on a week night…read morebut this piece of history caught my eye.

This museum is inside Cantigny park and others have written reviews for it under that heading…read more(https://www.yelp.com/biz/cantigny-park-wheaton) but I feel that the museum is a separate entity (it has its own website, phone number, and operating hours). Just know that you have to pay whatever the current parking fee is for the park to even be able to get in and see the museum (I wonder how they'd handle it if you just walked in to the park?). That fee changes seasonally. When I went in late spring, it was a beautiful day and they were charging $15 per car. There seems to be a lot of other activities to do at the park, but I had limited time, so I only went to the museum (walking through the tank park first). The museum is free. On entering the museum, I went to the left, which is a series of displays about more modern warfighters (Vietnam to current). It was good, but my pro tip is to go to the right first. This was an amazing recreation of WWII battle scenes with an extraordinary amount of detail. The park immediately in front of the museum has a variety of tanks and, surprisingly, they let you climb on them. I saw many kids and adults taking photo ops on the tanks.

Great experience. Admission was $16/car. In addition to the museum, there is a visitor center,…read moreplayground, tank park, walking trail and more. On location is also a golf course and cafe. I would recommend going to the visitors center as a first stop (north parking lot), then make your way to the museum (South Park lot). The museum is sectioned into two parts: WWI, WWII and Vietnam eras and a "modern" section of the 1ID's recent involvements. This museum was very interesting and it was clear that there is a lot of attention to detail in this immersive experience. The grounds were well taken care of and the bathrooms were clean. While there I saw families and people of all ages enjoying the space and learning about the history of the 1ID. Outside of the museum is also steel from the World Trade Center (9/11). Very informative and great way to spend an afternoon.