Cantigny Park
Cantigny Park, S 151 Winfield Road, Wheaton, IL, USA
March 1 - December 31, dawn - dusk; closed January; limited hours February.
$$
local-highlights, run, museums
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Visit Cantigny Park to stroll through beautiful botanical gardens, a restored historic mansion, and the First Division War Museum and Tank Park.
Cantigny Park offers something for everyone. Nature lovers will enjoy meandering along the two-and-a-half-mile loop through various botanical gardens. History buffs will love the McCormick Mansion and First Division War Museum. This 500-acre park is the former estate of a family of Chicago media titans, the publishers of the Chicago Tribune, Joseph Medill and Robert McCormick. The McCormick Mansion anchors the grounds and will provide a fascinating glimpse into the family's history when its restoration is completed in 2022.
The botanical gardens feature a number of different areas that are beautiful in every season. A gravel path winds past fountains, arbors, restored native grassland, and a greenhouse. The path is stroller- and ADA-friendly, with benches for peaceful contemplation of the surrounding natural beauty. To the west of the gardens, visitors will find a one-of-a-kind setting: a variety of armored war tanks scattered among the trees. Kids and adults alike are permitted to climb on top of the tanks (the interiors are closed). If you're visiting Cantigny with an active child or a history buff, this section is not to be missed!
Beyond the Tank Park, the First Division War Museum educates visitors about key conflicts in U.S. history, with detailed exhibits and interactive features. If you're visiting with small children or those who require low-sensory environments, be forewarned that some of the exhibits use loud, accurate noise and video to portray battles and battle scenes, and that sections of the museum may be too intense of an experience for these guests. But if you're curious about war history, the detail and design of the exhibits will offer a fascinating and educational glimpse into conflicts from the First World War to the present.
Bertie's Cafe at the visitor's center offers a wide range of yummy soups, salads, sandwiches, and desserts with casual seating. But if the weather is nice, consider bringing a picnic to enjoy at the large picnic pavilion. There are free restrooms available throughout the grounds, and admission to the entire park is free, with only a parking fee required.