Trailside Museum of Natural History

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🦒 Zoo · River Forest

1.5 hours · Free · No reservation needed

age fit
0–1 yr
★ 4.0
1–3 yrs
★ 5.0
3–5 yrs
★ 5.0
5–10 yrs
★ 5.0
  • 🚗
    About 30 min drive
    From Naperville · Parking: Free museum lot (738 Thatcher Ave)
  • 🍼
    Stroller-friendly
    Flat surfaces — bring the stroller
  • 🌳
    Lots of shade
    Great on sunny days · Good on cool days · Rain-OK · Fine on cold days
  • ⏱️
    Typical visit: 1.5 hours
    Best seasons: Spring · Summer · Fall · Winter

An 1870s mansion on the Des Plaines River housing non-releasable owls, hawks, turtles, snakes, and a porcupine, with deer and fox enclosures in the yard, all free; step out the door onto the woodland trails of Thatcher Woods.

💡 Tips
The museum is closed Monday and Tuesday (check the website); the outdoor animals can be seen every day. It's small, so an hour is plenty — a rainy-day backup for Oak Park families.

What this place offers

✓free
✓live animals
✓raptors
✓turtles
✓old mansion
✓woodland trails
✓restrooms

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This weekend's weather in River Forest

Forecast at the destination itself (coast and hills often differ from home)

☀️
Sat 10/17
Sunny · 35–53°F · 0% rain
☀️
Sun 10/18
Sunny · 46–62°F · 0% rain

Location

River Forest, Illinois

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