2011 was another great year. The trail is just as gorgeous as ever and parking was a breeze. I…read moreshowed up 40 minutes early, parked, picked up my packet and got to racing. TMI, but I made the mistake of eating really spicy Indian food the night before and got sick. I was so thankful for the Porta Potty at the 1/2 mile mark. Wish there had been more along the trail or at least one near the finish line. They had ample toilets at the end of the event area, but when I went to use them I felt little desire to walk all the way back to the festivities. Their toilets were still in better condition than most race events'. So why the star downgrade? A couple reasons - Packet pick up was organized alphabetically, but from right to left instead of left to right. I got in line where I thought A might be, but it turned out I was over by Z and had to get back in line on the other side. This annoyance was offset by the chuckle I got from the handwritten MEDIAM on one of the shirt boxes. But the real reason I'm a little pouty today? I ordered (and paid for) a Medium shirt. Medium was written in my registration and on my bib. The woman checking me off even told the guy grabbing the shirts that I needed a "Mediam." So you can imagine my disappointment as I pull out my much anticipated Zorrel running shirt and discover it's an XL.

The Morton Arboretum holds an annual 5K through its grounds every year and I did it, for the first…read moretime, today. As I arrived and later ran, I realized I had never been to the Morton Arboretum before. It is beautiful! The 5K was really great. I would say, my only complaint, is that they should consider having waves or corrals next year. Everyone was released to run at once, which made the path a bit crowded, especially in mile 1. This didn't really bother me because my goal was to take my time and really soak in the surroundings. I do many 5Ks, many of which are on city streets or along the lakefront. -So to do one on such pretty grounds (sort of an open field alternating with a forest vibe), it was really cool. You leave the city of Chicago and you really feel like you are in a whole 'nother world! My other feedback is that I was hoping to see the vibrant hues of the leaves changing for fall (since it is called the Fall Color Run). Everything was still lush and green! -Not sure if it would be better to hold it later in the year? It's a tough call -the weather was perfect today -it was mild (60) and overcast so it made for great running weather. Maybe having it later when the leaves change would lead to much cooler temps? Not sure, but it's food for thought. I'm glad I did it, either way, as it was a really nice event overall. Nice people, well organized and a whole "festival" vibe afterward with many vendors, food and a live band (Soda -a local cover band). Regardless of the leaf color, I will be back for the beautiful, serene run next year!

This was a pretty cool race. I have to give them credit -it was super well-organized. We got there…read moreabout an hour early to park in the lot with a shuttle bus that takes you to the start. My parents came to watch and I didn't want them to have to walk very far and this was an excellent service. The other lot option required you to have to walk about a mile, which is too far from them. The only bummer -and this is probably for safety reasons -was that I thought the planes were going to be taking off and landing closer to us. You know how you drive on I-90 or Mannheim Road and the planes are literally 10 feet over your head? Yeah -call me foolish, but I thought that was going to happen as we ran. I just assumed that if they got that close to the major streets, they would just be taking off and landing close to the route. So, you will not be experiencing that -but as far as a unique experience -this was still a cool race. There is a big plane that you can pose next to for pictures and just overall an interesting event because you are accessing areas of the airport property that most people will never see. You are literally running on a runway they close for the event. The shirt was cotton -would like to see a "tech-T" in future years, as they tend to hold up better after multiple washings. After all, it is going to be a fun shirt to wear and a great conversation starter regarding our experience!

The arcade is so worth it The go-karts are fun and cool…read moreLaser tag was awesome You should definitely try

Variety of kids' entertainment here like arcade games, laser tag, go karts, and bowling as well, I…read morethink. The building is dated. The worst part is there is no order to redeeming your tickets for prizes. No line, no nothing. It's just chaos, and the employees randomly pick and choose which kid to help next. Sure, they get to power trip, but would it hurt to have 1 or more lines to establish some order to the chaos? Never returning on my watch = unhappily ever after. The end.

Jacob/cuba is the man he works on weekends he carry's this place and the older man they actually…read morelet you race the go carts how there ment to be raced genuinely welcoming staff feels like another home compared to Andrettis , andrettis has a better track and pricing to be honest but when you factor speed customer service and overall experience k1 takes the cake I also prefer those one over the bufflow grove one and that one is closer to me

I bring my boys here and they always are thrilled to race. They have gotten so good that they have…read moreplaced first place several times.

I am late getting this review in because we went here the Halloween just before the pandemic hit -…read moreso Halloween 2019. This was a delightful pop-up patch out in Lisle and was an excellent event for all ages. You walk around a trail with your family and are entertained. Since it is a rain or shine kind of event, wear boots that you can wash off when you get home ... it can get messy. What they do here is set up a trail that you follow and around which they display thousands of pumpkins in different displays. It was really well done. All the displays are illuminated so it is really a visual treat. We have never seen anything like this over-the-top Halloween display - and mind you there are no scary things. So if you want a Halloween activity for the family without any scares, this is your place. Loads of parking so don't worry about that issue. Now the bad news. We went here in late 2019, the pandemic year of 2020 had nothing, and the people who run this did not put it on in 2021. But now you know - if they do set this up again - hopefully in 2022 - go. Make a reservation as soon as you hear about it because it sells out. We hope they come back ...

I came to know about this place through Yelp's Elite Event experience. decided to attend this…read moreevent as it was on a Sunday evening. The Yelp Chicago Burbs community manager had mentioned about picking up the complimentary tickets at their table booth right outside the event area. When my wife and I got there (around 7:30 PM), the place was packed and busy. There already was a long line to get inside. Once I got the tickets from the Yelp community manager, I was given instructions about the express line for the Yelp Elites to get inside. We took advantage of that were able to get to the ticket scanning area quickly. From there, we merged into the main line of the actual entrance to the Pumpkin Glow exhibit. We enjoyed viewing all the different types of pumpkin exhibits they had at this place. It was quite colorful. The carvings on the pumpkin was great and whoever did those carvings, did an amazing job. There were different themes (pop culture based) showcasing these glowing pumpkins. It was a cool experience. Too bad it was pretty chilly outside and we had to bundle up. Thanks to Yelp Chicago Burbs and Jack's Pumkin Glow for this opportunity. Without Yelp Chicago Burbs information, I probably wouldn't have known about this place and thus, would not have gone. Things to keep in mind when going here is that it can be extremely busy so expect long (slow moving lines); when it's cold outside, bundle up as this is an outdoor venue; there can be slick and muddy path on your way in, there is gift shop and a snack shop when you exit the venue, and parking is free. Check them out.

The food court area is very messy and unorganized A lot of…read morehand washing stations, outdoor restrooms.Plenty of games and rides for all kids of different age groups. Very nice craft vendors- support local and small business please. Live concert by Don felder was amazing. Fireworks at the end-- everyone enjoyed. Overall great fest to go and have family time with great entertainment options. Bring your chairs, hoodie and may be picnic blanket.

Its an amazing fest. I went for this fest for the 2nd time. Amazing performances, food stalls,…read morerides and best game stalls. Very good time.

Had my daughter take the glass blowing class at the Ikonic Glass tent. Omg!! Seriously, the coolest…read morething EVER!!!

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.

Complete waste of money . This place is atrocious. Go literally anywhere else. Half the equipment…read moredoesn't work. Lines are long and not worth waits. Exposed outlet wiring, gym mats taped to the wall in the "toddler area". This business is a complete money grab with no safety standards and complete disregard to who ever pays to enter. It's a literal dump. The kids slide and "play area" is dirty. It's ran by a bunch of teenagers. Just a horrible experience altogether.

Completely Oversold and Ruined Our Family Day…read more We came to Astro Fun World on a rainy day, and unfortunately it was one of the most disappointing family outings we've had. The first warning sign should have been the 30+ people waiting just to purchase wristbands. With only one employee working the front counter, it took us about 20 minutes just to get inside. Looking back, we should have turned around right then. Once inside, it only got worse. Every attraction had an unbelievable wait. We started at the ropes course, where we stood in line for over an hour and a half with almost no movement. After 30 minutes, I sent my husband to take the kids to mini golf because it was obvious we weren't getting anywhere. Meanwhile, I stayed in line for another hour watching the go-kart line double in size while ours barely moved. The building was packed far beyond what it appeared to comfortably handle. The air conditioning couldn't keep up, making it hot, crowded, and miserable. Kids everywhere--not just mine--were becoming restless, crying, melting down, and asking to leave. Parents around us were frustrated and giving up after standing in line for long periods with no progress because their children simply couldn't take it anymore. What made it so disappointing wasn't just the long waits--it was the feeling that Astro Fun World continued admitting more and more guests without any regard for the experience of the people already inside. At some point, there has to be a balance between making sales and providing an enjoyable experience. Instead of spending quality time making memories with my family, we spent most of our visit standing in lines, sweating, calming disappointed children, and watching our day disappear. Family time is precious, and this outing was supposed to be fun. Instead, it left everyone frustrated, exhausted, and wanting to go home. I understand rainy days bring bigger crowds, but there should be better crowd control, staffing, and capacity limits. No family should spend the majority of their visit waiting in lines that barely move while continuing to watch more people pour through the doors. Sadly, this was a complete waste of time and money, and we won't be returning unless major changes are made.

Being a dog lover, I was so ashamed that I kept missing the Expo for years, but I finally was able…read moreto go this year and it was amazing! I really had no expectations coming here, because I had no idea what it really was. I figured it was more of a place to buy things for your pets and for entertainment you could watch dog and cat shows..WAS I WRONG!!!! The Expo went from Friday-Sunday, 9AM-6PM and it was $10/a person. We went on Saturday a little after 10, and it was already a nightmare walking around this place. But I didn't mind that. It's to be expected. The place is jam packed with booths from different rescues and shelters around the Chicagoland area. Of course they brought some of their adoptable dogs with that you were able to interact with as much as you wanted. Some of the booths cleverly setup Kissing Booths and Hug/Hold a Puppy for a 1$. It was adorable! Also a big hit! People were giving money left and right to kiss and cuddle the pups. It was precious. On the Second and Third levels they were holding the dog and cat shows. We didn't stick around to watch any of them because they were so over crowded. I'm sure they were cute! Maybe next time. :) They also had booths where vendors were selling nutritious dog foods that they don't normally sell in stores. Of course they were expensive but they claimed to be the best. They also set up little bake booths where you could purchase treats for your dogs. They were very clever with some. They had cookies, cakes, donuts, french fries, all sorts of different shaped treats. It was very creative! We spent a good 2 hours walking around the Expo, and that's without attending any of the shows. If you go next year, plan on spending the majority of the day here. It really is a lot of fun, and very educational. Don't hesitate to bring the kids either! HAVE FUN!! :)

I am looking to adopt a Samoyed, and the Northern Illinois Samoyed Assistance would be at the Pet…read moreExpo. Instead of mailing my application, I decided to trek out to Arlington Heights to drop it off at their booth. I scanned through the exhibitor list and was happily surprised to see a huge number of adoption and rescue organizations that will be showcased. I looked forward to going. The Pet Expo was held at the Arlington Park this year. Immediately upon entering the massive building, I saw people walking around with birds and dogs of all colors and shapes. I made my way to the NISA booth, but stopped by to get information from several rescue groups. There were many breed-specific ones. The second floor had a number of cat and bird rescues. It was wonderful seeing people inquiring about the animals that needed rescue. This was a completely different environment from IKC dog show I attended a few weeks before. While the Pet Expo is an annual event, anyone who is looking for a furry (or feathery!) family member next year should check the Pet Expo out. I wouldn't call it an "expo" though. It was more like fun and educational adoption fair.

A massive disappointment--more of a playground than a car show…read more I've been coming to the Chicago Auto Show for years, but this year was a shell of its former self. Instead of a sea of cars, the floor was dominated by four massive test tracks that ate up all the space. There were no concept cars, hardly any supercars, and major brands were missing entirely. I specifically went to see the Audi RS7, only to find Audi wasn't even there. This felt more like a "Chicago E-Car" event than a real auto show. Give us back the variety and the "real" cars that made this show great.

Massive | Interactive | Traffic | Forward Thinking…read more -Massive: This is the largest auto show in North America. It is huge! There were two major sections and almost every auto maker was represented with the exception of Mercedes Benz and BMW. -Interactive: There are multiple interactive courses for attendees to drive vehicles. Kia, Jeep, Land Rover, GMC, Ford all had places to drive their SUVs to test out there capabilities. The one draw back is that the lines to do so were VERY LONG. Be prepared to wait 1+ hours. -Traffic: Traffic was Horrendous! McCorrmick place does not have a good signage for locating the CTA stop, Uber, or Lyft locations making it difficult for the drivers to find us and for us to navigate our arrival and departure. -Forward Thinking: It was cool to see new technology offered from multiple car companies. Also, seeing the concept cars and more niche vehicles was an awesome experience. - Lost Stars?: minus one star for traffic. It was painful. -Pro Tip: Military gets in for free. Bring your own snacks, because the concessions are VERY expensive. Don't fall for the $8 pretzel or the $12 chicken fingers.