This movie theater's really cute. I think it's a hidden gem in the Glen. Located right next to Yard…read moreHouse in Glenview, IL. The guy was very helpful getting me a cup for water and had the whold theater to myself. Definitely coming back.

Can you turn the freaking air on? Maybe at least the fan to circulate air. If you want to watch a…read moremovie in great seats but hot stuffy air and warm and musty this is your place. I get times are tough but it makes for a miserable experience

Yes there was a robbery at this spot in Rondout, of my time, that is. We were stopped at this train…read morecrossing while a very long freight train passed by. We certainly were held up. I almost was late for my appointment.

Not sure how to review a historical marker but I think nostalgia wise it has some good potential…read more Best seen while going east bound on 176/Park Avenue in the Lake Bluff/Libertyville area. I took a picture of it while waiting for a very long freight train so there you go. In any case it's a nice historical marker which documents the (at the time) largest train robbery in the country. Yes....Metra riders this was a long long time ago. I seem to recall some short clip or movie documenting or at least utilizing some facts about this robbery in my film studies class back in college but I could very well be mixing up my robberies. Check it out when you are stuck in traffic while waiting for the train to pass!

My husband and I visit Historic Downtown Long Grove quite a bit. There is so much to do there. In…read morethe summer there are festivals almost every week, celebrating strawberries, chocolate, and much more. For a good brew, try the Buffalo Creek Brewery. The beer is brewed on site and they have a lot of exclusive and unique flavors. Our favorite restaurants are Joanie's Pizza and The Village Tavern. The Sock Monkey Museum is fun and educational at the same time. The covered bridge is pretty to look at and has been renovated many times after being hit by busses that are too tall to clear the bridge. Historic Downtown Long Grove has been featured in many movies and should be featured in your food and entertainment plans. I highly recommend Historic Downtown Long Grove!

My memories of Long Grove were always favorable, a fun day browsing in many, unique shops. It was…read morereally depressing to see what it has become. Most stores were empty and the remaining ones had very limited hours. The few remaining stores are not enough to visit. It would be great if it could be revitalized . It seems as if they are scheduling events to bring people to the village, i.e. revive handmade market, craft beer, but not sure if it is enough. It is very sad to see what has happened here, hope it can change.

I've been coming here with my family since I was a child. I had the day off today and spent the…read moremorning listening to the bell concert. Then found various places to enjoy sitting and reading alternating with meandering strolls. Every area is beautiful although weekends can get quite crowded. Some of the further areas as well as the pines and wooded areas are usually a little less crowded. What was new for me this time was realizing their food offerings are wonderful. Not only do they have quite a variety but they cater to various dietary restrictions including swapping in tofu to make items vegan or vegetarian on some meals. The ideas range from burgers to fried chicken to excellent salads and tacos. I decided to try the beet hummus with roasted carrots because it seemed so fresh and innovative. Perfectly balanced meal with slightly sweet smooth hummus, crunchy pita chips, lightly toasted sweet carrots with a good chew still left in them. Plus a whipped goat cheese, pistachio pieces, and powdered mint. The flavors were wonderful.

Located in Glencoe, IL, the Chicago Botanic Garden is a renowned living museum, making conservation…read morean important part of its teaching mission. My brother, his son, my wife, and I met up in Chicago, and decided to take a bit of free time to visit. With the gorgeous Midwest summer weather, and the good company, the afternoon turned into a memorable one. I grew up close to here, but have not had the chance to visit the Gardens until now. Up to now, I've always thought it was located in Highland Park (which would put the gardens in Lake County, not Cook). So was a little confused when seeing that the admission price was lower for Cook County residents. Later learned that it's located in Glencoe, very close to Lake-Cook Road (the divider between the two counties), but definitely on the Cook side. It officially opened in 1972, as a 385 acre site across nine little islands and continues to be a partnership between the Forest Preserves of Cook County (owner) and non-profit Chicago Horticultural Society (operator). The entrance to the parking lot is metered, with parking for non-residents being $12. General admission is $27.95, $25.95 for residents. Fees for both are waived for active military and their families. Major sites to not miss would include the Japanese and Rose gardens. The site's main central focus is the 60 acre lake system with a 6-mile shoreline, with the central lake named the Great Basin. Many of the picturesque shots will include part of the lake as the background. Water is central here, with the view of the lake never being too far away. As we walked around the area, noticed a lot of places where man-made streams with waterfalls were turned off, with the surrounding ground being quite dry. Since it was June, it should have been running, but maybe it was off for maintenance. The huge spouting aerators in the middle of the Great Basin was on, and made for great background shots. During this time, there was also an exhibition of bubble like orbs (Evanescent) throughout the park. Of course, the gardens has a large cafe and gift shop. Whenever I walk through a botanic garden of this size, always wonder how many gardeners/landscapers are needed to keep a place like this looking so nice.

Only open four a few hours on Sundays during the summer Deerfield Historic Village is a fun place…read moreto go. There you can see a collection of historic homes, a coach house, farm, and a schoolhouse. There are docents stationed in every building and throughout the grounds to explain, guide, and answer any questions a visitor might have. It's a great time to learn and experience history. There is convenient parking in the school district parking lot. I highly recommend Deerfield Historic Village.

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 Robert Parker Coffin Bridge (formerly known as the Buffalo Creek Bridge) was built in 1906 by…read morethe Joliet Bridge and Iron Company. It is 41 feet long and has a height clearance of 8 feet 6 inches. As the Sprinter van is 10 feet, I did not try to cross the bridge. Instead, I parked nearby and walked across for my photographs. There are plenty of warning signs along the road and a last minute "turn here!" road for those who don't spot the signs until the last minute. Though it does tend to still catch moving trucks and buses occasionally. It is a single lane bridge with a covered pedestrian walkway on one side that gives it the asymmetrical shape. It is in a Pratt truss design with pins rather than rivets though the state considers it a steel Pratt pony truss eyebar bridge. The bridge has been renamed after Robert Parker Coffin (1917-2019) who was an architect and served as the president of Long Grove for some time. [Review 20636 overall - 183 in Illinois - 1617 of 2023.]

A pleasant surprise as this museum has a good number of well presented rooms and arranged artifacts…read morespread over 3 floors. The staff was very helpful in explaining the history behind the different items as we toured throughout the building. Parking was easy and that was a nice little gift shop available to pick up some very reasonably priced souvenirs. It would be nice if the hours were a little longer as it is only open for two hours each Sunday.

Great museum! Tells a lot of the town's history. Very helpful and knowledgeable volunteers…read more Fantastic treat for history lovers!

I was a chaperone for a 4th grade field trip here, and I must say, I was very impressed by the…read morestaff's patience with the kids. The team building games were excellent, and the kids enjoyed exploring the "playground". These trails are absolutely gorgeous, and I plan on returning with my own child! My only concern is that the fish tank is far too small for the amount, and the types of fish. I would expect more from a nature center that is promoting more knowledge about wildlife and nature. These fish were very clearly distressed and the biggest one was nipping at the smaller ones, tearing holes in its fins. Hopefully this is addressed soon.

Really a wonderful place, with several trails to follow to see different types of trees and plant…read morelife. There's an indoor exhibit of a large fish tank plus a mini-learning center with information about birds and plants. A large showroom exhibits paintings on the walls of very talented local artists. The staff is very friendly and helpful, the building is very clean and there is adequate parking. I personally think that the Fall season is the best time to visit here. Highly recommended.

There was a family event here so we decided to come check the place out. Even though my kiddo is…read moreonly two, she liked seeing some of the stuff they had on exhibit and they also had coloring pages and whatnot. We got here near the tail end of the event, so we didn't spend much time inside and went walking along the little trail where they had signs up with information about turkeys spread out through a little loop around the woods. It's a lovely preserve, and I'll bet it's particularly beautiful in the spring and summer. The building is small but sufficient to have some programs and there are bathrooms here. There are a few outbuildings as well; I'm not sure if there are programs there too or not. There's a good deal of parking here. Keep an eye on their calendar to have an excuse to come out, or just spend some time wandering the trails in peace and quiet.

This place is stunning. My neighbor told me about it and I promptly took a drive up here that…read moreafternoon just a few days after "peak" fall colors. It's amazing. I wasn't adequately prepared because it was a spur of the moment decision, so I didn't have a jacket or warm enough clothes, so I didn't stay or walk around too long. (And sadly their giftshop didn't have any sweatshirts -- I would've bought one if they had because it would've solved my problem. So, note to Ryerson: sell sweatshirts in the fall!). I've since come back here for an art exhibit (see my review on the Brushwood Center page for that info). I cannot wait to return again in the spring and definitely multiple times next fall. I want to explore it all.

Fort Sheridan was originally developed as a US Army installation in the late 1800s, and it has…read moresince been designated as a US historical landmark property. Fort Sheridan was officially closed in 1993 and portions were renovated and sold as private residences. The Town of Fort Sheridan, divided between Highland Park and Highwood, consists of ninety-four historic buildings on 640 acres of prime Lake Michigan property. The center is the 54 acre, oval parade ground and the 228 foot tower. The Town of Fort Sheridan is unique on the north shore due to its proximity to the beach, the lake, the forest preserve, its landmark status, walking paths, historical significance, stopping point for migratory birds, and more. Things I've seen: the thin red line at the horizon before sunrise which blooms into a red and purple sky; coyotes sauntering down the street at dusk; black and brown squirrels tossing nuts from the trees; hawk circling overhead and the early warning system of screeching bluejays; rocky pebble beach with thundering waves; the lake which can be a cold grey or cobalt or Caribbean blue; walkers, runners or racing jersey wearing bicycle packs; eye contact with a family of deer silently watching; red fox scrambling out from under a bush; technicolor display of leaves in the fall; butterflies and dragonflies in the meadow; other moments that may have significance to me but more than 100 years ago someone is standing where I'm standing and experiencing the exact same thing.