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    Heller Nature Center

    4.5 (25 reviews)
    Open 10:30 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

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    Madea brings her Heller to Heller
    Dylan M.

    As Madea would say... WEELLLLL HHHHEEELLLLEEEERRRR! This is defiantly an off the radar gem. Just a block off route 22/half day rd is this hidden treasure offering meandering hiking trails and a visitors center. I have to say I have yet to explore the visitors center other than to use the bathroom but it's quite nice and so are the people working there. They gave the dog a treat and some water. That's unexpected and lovely. The trails only loop within a few miles but it's easy to get someone turned around so taking a picture of the map as a reference couldn't hurt. Hellur also houses a covered picnic area and historic cabins. They do a lot of educational programs for kids although the times I have come on the weekends it's been a quiet retreat to walk around and explore.

    Cottage in the middle of one of the trails
    Dee W.

    First of all, use google maps or the map on their website to get here - Mapquest will get you hopelessly lost. I came here with a group to go cross country skiing and we had a blast! First of all, it was only $12 for rental for the whole day or however long you wanted to be out there. We only lasted about 2.5 hours before it was time to go get some grub! We were given maps for three different trails and got to check out two of them. One of them even brought us to the border of Michael Jordan's property. This is a beautiful location with helpful employees and great outdoor activities.

    Rob N. B.

    We came here rent cross country skiis. The trail was beautiful, well marked, and everyone was very nice.

    Main nature center with walking paths
    Katharine M.

    Love this gem for a quick walk in the woods, and it seems great for kids, as they have a playground, a nature center, bees, birdhouses, and a small cabin to peer into. I have seen deer here too. Its a small park with some woods, some picnic tables by an open area with birds. It's better for a short hike or a couple of loops for a longer walk, although with young kids it would be a perfect hike. They're open sunrise to sunset. I was here later on a Sunday and there were just a couple of other families here, and lots of birds singing as the sun was setting. The paths are well-maintained and there's not any mud, so you can go in sneakers and not worry about puddles. I highly recommend stopping by here, even if you only have 30 minutes to walk. Its a great way to get out in nature without going too far off the beaten path.

    Feeding the birds on discovery day
    Effie D.

    Nature Discovery Day at the Heller Nature Center is one annual February event not to be missed. Even in the winter, you can experience so much of what the center has to offer inside and out. Inside, you can walk through a mini forest, touching tree branches, watching bees make honey and learn about birds. For the event, they had live skunks and bats and tables with a variety of vendors showcasing their services. There is a log cabin with educational pieces about nature. There is also a classroom that offers a variety of classes, especially for the little ones. For the event, the little ones did some art work and put some from feed for the birds. We didn't get a chance to walk the nature paths this time, but will definitely make that a must do when we return in the spring.

    Laura N.

    I've been here twice this summer for after-school activities with some of my students. Heller is a neat little nature center tucked away in a residential neighborhood -- you'd almost miss it. One day, we learned about bees and had the awesome opportunity to put on some beekeeper suits and check out the bees! The other day, our students were led on a somewhat self-guided geocaching tour as they navigated the woods with GPS devices in search of signs and treasure. They really enjoyed themselves. Both activities were led by Marna, the program leader. She was extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and yet really good with the kids -- they actually listened to her! The woods themselves are gorgeous, with many trails that lead through different wooded areas and some fields. I also noticed an old log cabin on the grounds and bird habitats. Apparently, you can also go cross-country skiing here. I'd love to give that a try. If I lived nearby, I'd be here a lot more often!

    Beautiful day cross country skiing!

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    8 months ago

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    18 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    12 years ago

    Great place to bring the little ones, tons of space to explore.

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    9 years ago

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    12 years ago

    This is my go-to sanctuary to calm my senses. There really is an escapist vibe, here.

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    Review Highlights - Heller Nature Center

    Even with google maps and GPS, we had trouble finding this place, but eventually we made it there despite the crazy snow-storm.

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    Deerfield Historic Village

    Deerfield Historic Village

    4.3
    (4 reviews)
    2.7 mi

    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 historic village in downtown deerfield is home to various historic cabins which rest on a small…read moreplot of land. The historically society opens the doors to the cabins Sundays during the summer months and pulls out the old wagons and lets you tour the inside of each dwelling. The volunteers are helpful and offer some history for those who inquire. It's not a site I would go out of my way to visit or recommend but a nice piece of history to walk thru if you happen upon it while strolling around deerfield.

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    Deerfield Historic Village
    Deerfield Historic Village
    Deerfield Historic Village

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    Heller Nature Center - parks - Updated June 2026

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