Wonderful place for families especially little ones. We went here recently and the kids loved it…read more (Private school event) There was a merry go round, train, and huge playground area. There were a variety of animals in the barn area. Kids were loving the baby goats. I'm sure we didn't see everything. Will be going back for sure.

SO much fun. Made the drive from the city visiting family to aurora to check this place out after I…read moresaw some instagram posts about how cool it was. It is truly fun for all ages. My two year old loved the train ride, tractor ride, and carousel. And we also fed the goats, sheep, and alpaca. The map is easy to follow and even though we spent two hours ago we easily could have spent another two here! They have a cute little gift shop too. I saw they were setting up for a wedding here too which was cool! Great spot for families I totally recommend.

A hidden gem! I was originally intending to stop here for a short nature walk before an event but…read moreended up doing a much longer visit once I realized the amount of different activities there are too do here. The Nature Center is a nice building with fun interactive displays as well as an assortment of different wildlife like fish and tortoises. It also provides indoor bathrooms and spaces for different activities. The nature trails are paved very well, providing a very easy walking path largely free of elevation changes and challenging terrain to walk on. Very easy in comparison to what you see at many forest preserves, and on par with nicer parks in terms of path maintenance and quality. Along the trail are also tons of fun stories about a seahorse and jellyfish named peanut butter and jellyfish. These are fun ways to incentivize walkers to walk the entire train and be entertained at the same time. There are also an assortment of birds such as barred owl, red-tailed hawks, and more to see in a variety of outdoor displays. I was very happy with how well spaced out these were and as a result, it was easy to casually watch these beautiful animals without feeling crowded at all. Overall a hidden gem and great free way to experience both nature and animals.

We absolutely love visiting the nature center--it's become one of our favorite spots to spend time…read moretogether. My daughters and I walk there often, and every visit feels a little different. There are always incredible birds to see: owls, hawks, falcons, even turkey vultures. which keeps things exciting and gives us something new to talk about each time. It's such a special place for kids to stay curious and engaged. My girls are always intrigued by what they might spot next, and I love how it naturally gets them interested in wildlife and the outdoors. No matter how many times we go, we never get bored. It's peaceful, educational, and just a really cool experience for the whole family.

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!

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?

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

This Fire Museum is something to behold. What a fabulous place to learn the history of our Fire…read moreFighters whether volunteer or full time. Incredible history in the exhibits and the building itself. Very well done. Megan was an amazing host and welcoming party. Make sure to ask for the stories around the wood water main! Highly recommended.

Great place for those who love firemen and fire trucks. There were even some things that the kids…read morecould touch and interact with. The employee was very friendly and helpful.

Haven't been since last summer but excited to visit again. Very cute museum with lots of input from…read morethe community, cool art and lots to learn about the surrounding area.

This is seriously the cutest little museum!!! My daughter and I popped in one Sunday while hanging…read moreout in the downtown area and it was the highlight of our afternoon!!! The staff was amazing and super informative. It was neat to see the history of Roselle. We even got to check out the house behind the museum which was super fun as well! Check their website for hours but I know they are open on Sundays! They do scout programs so if you are in a scouts program, this is a great place to get a badge!! It's is down the street from the main downtown strip, but it is worth the detour!

A few weeks ago, I was walking through the neighborhood and noticed the Roselle Historical Museum,…read moreacross the street from the village hall and police station. I almost missed it since it looks like every other house on the street, with the exception of the sign out front. I noted the hours (only open on Sunday afternoons from 2p-4p) and made a point to come here the next free Sunday afternoon my husband and I had -- which was a week ago. We anticipated being there for about twenty minutes, not an hour and a half! The museum is actually two houses -- the Sumner House and the Richter House. The smaller one in the back looked closed so we walked up a path to the back door of the larger house and were greeted by a man that seemed very happy to see us. He offered to unlock the small house and give us a tour. I love walking through older houses, so I was excited about this. The small house, which belonged to the Richter family, is pleasantly small with a parlor, sunny kitchen, pantry, and a second floor with two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a children's play area. It reminded me of my grandmother's house (the smell of... mothballs? age? what is it?). Family photos and relics were everywhere. The children's play area was littered with many vintage toys and dolls, almost giving off a creepy aura. I could just imagine a doll's head turning around slowly or the scooter rolling across the floor on its own. ANYWAY. The man gave us a very informative tour with different stories and random bits of information. An interesting tidbit about the Richter house: it was built in 1878 and relocated to the museum campus in 1996. Mrs. Richter remained in her home, even after its relocation, until her death in November 1999, when she was 105 years of age. With Mrs. Richter's blessing, the house was restored to represent a Roselle working man's home during the 1920s. Approximately 85 percent of the artifacts in the house belonged to Mrs. Richter. Cool, huh? (And a little bit creepy?) After the man locked up the doors, we headed back to the Sumner House and proceeded to explore on our own. The house, which belonged to several families over the years, was eventually turned into a historical museum. It has various exhibits of different businesses and organizations from every decade since Roselle was established. Downstairs, there is a general store, a barber shop, a room devoted to a 1950's diner that was popular in Roselle but doesn't exist anymore (sad!), a HUGE map of Roselle decorated with old photos of different sites, and a timeline room, which has artifacts, news, and information from Roselle as time progressed. Upstairs, each little room was devoted to different things: farms, military, boy scouts & girl scouts, police & fire departments, and schools & churches. All the rooms had many pictures and artifacts with so much information! If you live in town, you need to make this place a Sunday afternoon destination. You'll leave with a different view of this town and a nostalgia for things that don't exist anymore. Oh, and watch out for the mannequins! They pop up everywhere. Who knew that Roselle had so much history!? Now I do.

My family and I go to Pumpkin Daze at Abbey Farms every year. It's the most analog of the pumpkin…read morepatch places in the area and it suits us very well. The kids love it and it's usually not very crowded which makes for a very pleasant way to spend a day. The tickets are a little pricey, but it includes plenty of activities including a petting zoo and corn maze. They have an indoor and an outdoor bar as well as a lunch restaurant and shop, so you really could spend the whole day!

Came here out of curiosity, I always past Abbey Farm when I'm driving about and decided to actually…read morecheck the place out. I mostly explored the store and the front portion of the farm. When you initially walk onto the property there's a sight that has an arrow pointing towards the direction of the store and another arrow pointing towards the direction of the ticket booth. I didn't go to the ticket booth so I'm not sure what that area entails. This review will be restricted to the store and their pumpkin patch selection that's located out front. I really enjoyed the store. They have a bunch of treats and knick knacks available for purchase. I ended up buying 1/2 dozen of donuts. 3 were apple cider and the other 3 were their pumpkin donuts. The pumpkin ones were pretty tasty, but their Apple Cider donuts take the cake by far. So delicious! As far as the pumpkin selection out front I thought it was a little sad. I found much healthier looking pumpkins at Walmart. Overall, it's a cute place to bring your family especially during the holidays. Will definitely be back for those donuts!!