Talk about environmental stewardship in all the right places. Visited your property for a TedX talk…read moreand able to tour your property. Enjoyed learning of your local levels of conservation bridging the way for others to learn. Thank you for your educational layers, your land use and your kindness to those who visit. Hands down a great place to come whether adult or to guide the young. What a beautiful way to leave a positive imprint in this world. Thank you for being inclusive to community coming your way!

McDonald Farm is a simple self discovery landscape with exhibits that demonstrate land useage and…read moreconservation. The volunteers are friendly, but not immediately helpful as they go about their daily duties. Nice place to bring a lunch & eat. I didn't check out the restrooms, so no review there. Quite a pleasant place to visit for a short time. Great for kids!

This was our first time attending the Dupage Native Plant Sale. It is now held at the Dupage Event…read moreCenter and Fairgrounds. Parking and admission were free. This is a 2 day event selling over 150 different types of native flowers,grasses,shrubs and trees. There were many volunteers around to ask questions and get recommendations. Plants are not restocked daily so best is to go early on the first day. It gets crowded and with so many people pulling wagons and carts,patience is required! They do have a few trays to use but best is to bring your own boxes. Cash,check or credit cards are accepted but I wish the checkout area was in a different location than where the plants were being sold as the lines for checkout were very long. Proceeds benefit the Dupage Forest Preserve.

It's a cute little county fair. My little family and I enjoyed it. Normal fair attractions and…read morefood/drinks. Reasonable fair prices. Little animals barn animals to enjoy. The cool little octopus to climb and take pictures with was different. What I didn't enjoy was the wristband didn't really work for my toddler. She went on one ride just fine and then was told she was too short for all the other rides, which should've been noted when purchasing the wristband. She was later told she couldn't even go on the same ride she first went on.

A lot of monuments are along the Naperville Riverwalk, and this is one of the many. Dick Tracy is a…read moreclassic comic strip character, and he got a statue. It makes you wonder why that was. Because the assistant to the creator lived here. That sounds like not much of a reason, but the statue is nice though. For those interested, there's a story behind it. In the mid 1900s Dick Tracy was a lot more popular. The comic strip was created by Chester Gould, from Woodstock. Dick Locher was from Naperville, and was his assistant a few years, then took over after he retired. There's not a huge connection of Dick Tracy to Naperville, but this was enough for a statue. Have some fun taking pictures in front of it. It's located along the Riverwalk. This is close to the intersection of Water and Webster.

Good thing they moved this guy to higher ground because he was waist-deep in water half the time…read morewhen he used to be down closer to the river. People frequently ask "why is this statue in Naperville?" Well, Dick Locher, the assistant of Dick Tracy's creator Chester Gould, lived in Naperville and drummed up civic interest in it. I sometimes wonder if in the middle of the night our old gumshoe here ever meets up with "Darth Naper" who hangs out a few blocks away....

I would absolutely do this again in a heart beat! My boyfriend and I had such a great time walking…read morearound Naperville and learning its history while enjoying a verity of different dishes, some of which I wouldn't have thought to try if I were out exploring by myself. Mike was an incredible tour guide! Funny, personable and knowledgeable!! We had so many laughs our group. By the end of it, we all felt like friends who had know each other for years. We even said it would be fun to have a reunion tour. It was a memorable day, one I will cherish for a long time to come. This is an absolutely must do if you're in Naperville! Doesn't matter if you've lived here your whole life, or just passing through. You won't regret the experience

I was a suburbanite long before I became the savvy city girl that I am today. In the time of…read morecurfews and strict parental rules, downtown Naperville was the next best thing to hanging out in the city. Yes, I understand, a distant second place! So, when I saw the Groupon for this tour, I had to seize the opportunity to reacquaint myself with a big part of my childhood. First of all, Naperville has come a very long way from what I remember it to be like. It's now a bustling suburban downtown with a wide variety of eateries both chain and local, shopping and service oriented establishments. It automatically made me very excited about what I was going to learn that day. This tour has a great balance between history and food. Mike, the tour guide is passionate about what he does and it's clear from his historical accounts about downtown Naperville. The tour stars out at the old Kroehler Furniture factory which has long since been re-purposed as condos and retail space. From here begins the leisurely two mile walk (comfortable shoes are a must for this tour) into the historic district of Naperville to feast on the beautiful architecture that has allowed it to acquired its historic status. Food stops on our Sunday tour included: 1. Orazio's Pub, which started doing toasted subs long before Quizno's came around and a hearty bowl of peasant style potato soup. 2. Quigley's Irish Pub, which is the actual pub from Dublin, Ireland! They dismantled it and brought it all the way here. I fell in love with this place and can't wait to go back for the Reuben egg rolls. They were AMAZING!!! 3. LeChocolat du Bouchard, where we actually met Cathy Bouchard who gave a very interesting mini lecture on the history and health benefits of the super-food Cacao. I loved it so much that I can't wait to attend a full seminar at her chocolaterie. What stood out as much as her passionate lecture was the Mexican Hot Chocolate. OH. MY. GOD. It left me swooooooooooning!!!!!!!!!!! That's reason enough to go back there. It was a warm day when we took the tour and I still gulped down every last drop of my drink! 4. Twisted Olive (even though this was only supposed to be a Saturday stop), where we sampled flavored olive oils I didn't even know existed. We were pressed for time here, but I would love to go back and purchase the habenero and cilantro olive oils. I really feel like they might take some basic recipes up a few notches! 5. Cookie Dough Creations, to sample actual cookie dough ice cream and cake batter. This was good, but a little too rich for my tastes. I actually couldn't finish my tasting portions of the two items. 6. Giordano's for a slice of heavenly stuffed cheese pizza. From here, the tour ended and you could continue exploring on your own or do anything else you pleased. The only negative comment I have about it is in the day and age of dietary restrictions, vegetarians and vegans, Mike should have really inquired if my friend and I had any restrictions he should be aware of because we were attending a food tour after all! So, I was sad to not sample the subs or soup at Orazio's because they were pork based, which I do not eat. From what I could tell, everyone else really enjoyed both items because they were gone in a flash. It was a great tour and I would recommend it to anyone who is in the area. Even if you're not, it's worth the drive to Naperville to participate in it.

I love ghost stories! I really, really do. So, it came as a delightful surprise to learn that…read moreNaperville is a very haunted place. Fright Night Tours runs several different tours focusing on the paranormal in the area and I think they do a phenomenal job. We arrived and our guide (the formidable Dan) was waiting in full, scary regalia. He then took us up into the headquarters to begin the tour with the haunting of their own space. After that, we set out into the streets of downtown Naperville to hear all about the creepy stuff that packs the history of this upscale suburb. First off, I highly recommend Dan as a tour guide. He has obviously done a lot of his own research and he is very knowledgeable about his topics. He's also such a great performer that he could make a nursery rhyme send a chill up your spine. It's so weird looking at these buildings that I drive past everyday and knowing that, not only have they been around for over a century, there may be dead people peekin' out. To sum up: Awesome. I give it 2 tombstones up.

I really liked the event because I love the idea of drinks, food and fun. The place combines…read morewhirlyball, bowling and laser tag with food and drinks. It makes for a fun adult time out with friends, coworkers, date night, etc. I went to this event with my dad and we had a good time. I was worried that he wouldn't be able to do whirlyball with his bad knees but luckily was just able to fit in the bumper car. The food was great and there were a lot of vegetarian options with some healthier options as well. I really liked the broccoli and the I guess it was a healthier margarita like pizza with balsalmic glaze on top. It made a full dinner and the two drink tickets a person was very generous. We just kind of shared everything. It was only a touch difficult to go right from eating a dinner and drinking with then being full to go right to whirlyball but I guess there wasn't a better option. Then we started a game of bowling but weren't able to finish as the lanes shut off precisely at 8pm. I understand the event ended officially then but with only being open 1 more hour and without other people waiting I don't know why they couldn't just let us finish the game. I really loved the event and thought everything went smoothly it was just too rushed. That being said we did arrive a touch late from traffic but we still wouldn't have been able to do all the activities provided. I don't even know if anyone got a chance at laser tag or not. One employee even threatened they would take our drinks that we weren't yet finished with but then changed their mind. It just was a let down to be unwelcome suddenly instead of just making the event a 3 hour time which I think would have been a lot more appropriate. In any case that's what they chose to offer and it was still a great event. If I were choosing to go here on my own I definitely would have wanted a longer than 2 hour visit.

I ordered Fontina's through DoorDash. I wanted a roast beef sandwich. The sandwich was beyond my…read moreexpectations! The amount of meat was phenomenal! It was thinly sliced and very tender. I asked for lettuce and red onions. Both were fresh and plentiful. I had read reviews about their excellent meatballs. I had to see for myself if they were good. They were great! They were tender and flavorful! I will definitely be ordering from Fontina's Italian Kitchen again.

This is like a hidden gem sitting right next to Jewel-Osco. We always order capri and Italian, my…read morepicky eater loves the 6" Italian sandwich. Maybe next time we will try their pasta. We have not eaten at their restaurant as we always buy to go. Even thought it is to go, they really take time to listen to your orders and they are fast. The sandwiches are packed nicely and labeled. Instead of going to subway or Jimmy John's we come here, don't mind paying extra.

Similar to Chicago's Glass Slipper Project, Cinderella's Closet was founded by the Junior League of…read moreKane and DuPage Counties to provide free, gently-used prom dresses to girls who would have trouble affording one. In 2005 and 2006, Cinderella's Closet was held at the Aurora Family YMCA on Garfield. Check the website to see where it will be held for future prom seasons.

Recently my sister and I hosted an 80th birthday party for our mother at Vai's (her absolute…read morefavorite restaurant). From the initial planning session with Tara to selecting the menu and then finalizing the details prior to the event, everything was absolutely perfect. The menu that we chose included many crowd favorites and was absolutely delicious. We enjoyed lunch and mingling on the enclosed patio. Our servers, Morgann and Brianna were so attentive and kept an eye on everything including the timing, any refills and all of our guests needs. We all had a wonderful time and our mother can't stop smiling from such a wonderful event. Thank you Vai's!

My girlfriend Diane and I have been coming to Vai's Italian Inspired Kitchen + Bar since we first…read morestarted dating in September of 2023, and somehow this place continues to exceed expectations every single time. Tonight felt especially memorable and worthy of a proper review. We usually avoid Friday nights because Vai's is almost always packed... and after tonight, it became crystal clear why. Diane and I were craving a standout meal, a little comfort, and a relaxing evening together. What we received was far beyond dinner service. We were treated like valued regulars and genuinely welcomed from the moment we arrived. Pete, who I believe is the manager, recognized us immediately and encouraged us to put our name on the waiting list despite the crowd. I'm grateful he did. While we waited, we sat outside near the fire on a cool evening, which added another layer of warmth and ambiance to an already inviting atmosphere. Within minutes, Pete came outside personally to let us know two seats had opened at the bar. That level of attentiveness matters. As soon as we walked in, Eliot and Mallory greeted us with smiles and authentic positive energy. Not forced. Not transactional. Genuine. They made us feel appreciated simply for being there. Even on one of the busiest nights imaginable, they engaged with guests with the same warmth and attentiveness we've experienced during quieter weekday visits. In the background, Morgan was crafting cocktails with precision while still finding time for a familiar nod that quietly says, "Good to see you again." That kind of hospitality cannot be faked. We ordered our favorite dish, the Lobster & Shrimp Rigatoni and once again it was exceptional. Rich, consistent, perfectly prepared, and easily one of the best dishes in Naperville. Without us even asking, the kitchen thoughtfully split the entrée onto two plates. That small gesture perfectly captures what makes Vai's special... attention to detail seems woven into everything they do. From the fire outside to the flowers inside, from the cocktails to the consistency of the food, Vai's creates an atmosphere that feels welcoming, polished, and sincere all at once. Authenticity and respect seem embedded in the culture there. Tonight was a standout evening for us, and I'm genuinely glad we decided to stay despite the crowd. Pete, Eliot, Mallory, Morgan, and the entire staff - thank you for reminding us what great hospitality looks like. Outstanding indeed.