This museum isn't very big and can probably be walked through in right around an hour, but it is a…read morehidden gem. The museum is housed in the old Batavia Train Depot (hence the name!) and does a great job introducing the importance of the early railroad on the area. Some of the displays include an original caboose that you can walk through, a very cool reproduced ticket counter, a working Western Union morse code station, Mary Todd Lincoln's bed and dresser (she was treated at a nearby sanitarium after Abe's assassination), and, in the basement, an exhibit on the general history of the area. Check back often, as they have periodic presentations, as well. My kids absolutely loved the one on antique toys and games the museum put on this past summer. It's an inexpensive way to get the family out and about!

This is a great place to visit and learn about local history. From initial settlement, through the…read moreMary Todd Lincoln years, and up to recent history like Furnas Electric, the Depot Museum has something for everyone. There is also an extensive library for people who are researching their families.

What a fabulous place for various artists and artwork! It was great to see all the different pieces…read moreand styles in this collection. The art institute is huge and covers a wide variety of different styles. It's a big place so expect to spend some time here. Map shows different levels and different stairs and elevators leading to different places. They even have a cafe in the 3rd floor. Really cool place to check out in Chicago while you're here. They do have free lockers for large backpacks and items near the front.

My husband and I visited the Art Institute of Chicago on 6/6…read more During our visit, we got to see the Korean National Treasures: 2000 Years of Art exhibit. We spent a lot of time in the Modern Art wing. There is so much to see and experience there. We were there for a few hours, but I'd say you really need a whole day if you want to attempt to see everything.

It is very small but alot of animals and birds behind glass that are stuffed. Very inpresses as a…read moreadult.

Another Sunday with my sister in law in charge of how we spend our day. She is famous for finding…read morethese obscure museums and the like to check out. Of course, they are usually closed when we get there, but this time we lucked out. The Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum at Benedictine University is really quite impressive. It's not very large, but they have a considerable collection of specimens. Taxidermied and preserved animals ranging from glass coral to polar bear. Not only are the specimens very well preserved (they put the sad furballs at the Field Museum to shame), but since most of the collection isn't behind glass you can get a really good look at them. If I didn't have the respect for museums that a Montessori school instills in a child I would be able to share a picture of me kissing a lion with you, that's how close you can get to them. The museum is located on the 2nd floor of the Birck Hall of Science. When we arrived the lights were off and we assumed Sue had confused their hours, but apparently they turn the lights on when someone arrives! We found the entrance and the docent welcomed us and turned on the lights. There is an annex across the hall with a dozen or so more stuffed creatures to check out. Aside from their impressive and well displayed collection the next best thing about this place...it's free! Free parking and free admission.

Cool discovery center. Great for ages 1-99. Lots of cool animals (I didn't take any pics tho,…read moresorry!). They have a rabbit, snakes, turtles, tortoises, fish, and even a tarantula (not my favorite). My daughter and I went for a birthday party and we had the place to ourselves. I was very surprised at how big the animal exhibit area was. Lots of things to learn about, watch, and discuss. The floor to ceiling windows overlooking the prairie land was wonderful. We were there in early December and winter birds were happily flying back and forth to the feeders and enjoying themselves. We will definitely be going back!!! It was a little hard to find because it's VERY deep into the property but not impossible to find. Just keep driving and you'll get there.

I went to Hickory Knolls Discovery Center for a wedding. It was a very pretty space with indoor and…read moreoutdoor options. They were originally supposed to have the wedding outside, but it was raining, so they weren't able to do that. Personally, I thought brining the wedding inside made it even better! They have displays and little exhibits talking about the wild life in the area. The space is open which left a ton of room for dancing and just interacting. The pictures outside were very pretty as there was a lot of greenery to work with.

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.

From the owner: We are the oldest museum in the State of Illinois built to be a museum, that is still in operation…read moreas such. Our building is a neo-Classic architectural gem, designed by David Postle.

5 stars the GOAT of museums!…read more The Coal Mining exhibit is so freaking cool! The real sized plane you can go into. Old school trains, just tons of cool stuff to see and do no matter what age! If you go to only ONE museum go to this one!

We spent about 3 1/2-4 hours exploring the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry and really…read moreenjoyed our visit. The museum is huge, so be prepared to do a lot of walking, and it can be a little confusing to navigate at times. Our favorite experience was the Coal Mine tour--it was very well done and definitely worth doing. We also loved the first room of the Blue Paradox exhibit, which was incredibly immersive and made a great first impression. The weather exhibits and the airplane were also highlights for our family. There is so much to see that you could easily spend most of the day here. If you're visiting Chicago with kids or anyone who enjoys science and interactive exhibits, this museum is well worth a visit. We had a great time!

Run by Veterans who know their history, this small Military Air Museum is a must see for airplane…read morebuffs and all veterans. You'd miss it if you blink while you're driving past, but take the time to stop and witness the nostalgia within these relics. It's worth the stop and shouldn't be ignored.

A place for fans of war memorabilia and aviation, we were fortunate to have a tour guide that…read moreprovided information beyond our expectations. They have a painting created by a Tuskegee airman and a section on women aviators. This museum is private so expect to pay a fee and wear clothes that you won't mind getting dusty.

Beautiful.Lots of unknown history.I didn't know this existed and I was born in the area.Went to…read moremuseum and coming back for Japanese Gardens.

What a fun time!! The staff is very energetic and seem to enjoy their job. I wish there were more…read morerooms to explore but you can eat all the nice cream you want. While the hot dog ice cream was the worst thing I ever tasted, it will be a lasting memory for my family and the laughs we had trying it. This a fun stop to explore for all ages. Signed- Le'Mon Keezy (my ice cream name) . This isn't a spot I'd continually visit but you should definitely give it a try!!

I visited the Chicago location and paid $63 for a single-admission ticket. I was looking forward to…read morethe full experience, including the ability to get any flavor of ice cream I wanted from the main case, as this is advertised and included with the ticket price. Unfortunately, upon arrival I was informed that the main freezer/case had broken, so there was no ice cream available from that location (see attached photo). I was only able to have the ice creams provided in the various rooms. There was no separate line or alternative setup for the main offerings, and the attraction was effectively shut down for the entirety of my visit. This significantly impacted the value of my $63 ticket, as the unlimited/custom ice cream from the main case was a major part of what I expected and paid for. I didn't get to try the flavor of the day or the Chicago hot dog ice cream. I am requesting a full refund for my ticket as a party of one. Upon writing the company I was told that someone would be in touch and it's been over a week with zero communication. I've followed up twice. Zero response.