Willoughby Heritage Farm and Conservation Reserve is a peaceful little escape right in…read moreCollinsville, IL that is perfect for slowing down your day and taking in some good nature vibes. They have a few miles of hiking trails, but beware they are kind of hard to follow and it's really easy to get lost, but also pretty easy to get back on track! They have farm animals you can feed, pet, and check out along with vintage farm equipment dotted all over the farm. It's free to visit and is definitely a local hidden gem in this town!

I stopped by this evening about 4:30 to take a look around. It is a gorgeous, small farm with lots…read moreto do! There is a gorgeous garden, which is a photographers playground -- bees, beautiful butterflies and hummingbirds pollinating all around and enjoying the sweet nectar. Flowers everywhere -- it is so beautiful! It was super quiet as I walked around, it was just me and two hikers that went down to the little trail and back. This is such a wonderful play for kids! There are turkeys walking around loose, that just pass by, so used to humans, obviously. There are two pigs in a pen, a few goats chilling on their tables and a horse, two donkeys in the barn. Friendly, and curious if I had treats to give. (Which you can feed some of the animals, others have signs not too.) Groundhogs running around too but they do hide! Not scary at all. Lots of space for a shaded picnic lunch and a good sized play area for kids. It's well worth checking out. It is gorgeously maintained and the animals are beautiful, so very well taken care of. Just go, already -- It's good for the soul! :) Will definitely be back.

This place was so fun! Even though we were there for at least two hours with one year olds, I would…read moresay we went through half of what they had. I am itching to go back already, it is well-worth the price ($18 for both my child and I). There is a lot of outdoor activities, so I would go on a nice day, but there's plenty to do inside as well if you need a rainy-day activity. So many fun activities for children, from a racing car track to a large outdoor xylophone, a "tree house" and fun little pretend areas, such as a hospital (the nursery, of course) pizza parlor, a market stand with fake food. Outside has a lot of fun things for Littles to climb on and explore. We will definitely be back!

Sooo many thing to see and do! Had to leave but will come back to do more activities.read more

I finally realized this museum was free, and so we came here after brunch. There is a small parking…read morelot behind the Pulitzer next door and street parking everywhere. This is also surprisingingly near the Fox Theater! We were welcomed in very warmly! The attendant at the front desk explained everything: all the exhibits, what to expect, which artists are there now, and what to expect in the fall season. Honestly, she was delightful! There is also a small cafe inside where I got a small iced chai. After that, and browsing the 1st floor, we went upstairs. The 2nd floor features more locally made art from Middle School and High School art programs. It was really delightful to see the range of mediums! My toddler's favorite part was the playroom. Although, it is quite small, but it was just him with lots and lots of interactive and imaginative play! We look forward to see the next exhibit after installation!

I really enjoyed my time at CAM. It's a free contemporary art museum and right next door is the…read morePulitzer. They host fun events too. It's a bit on the smaller side so temper your expectations accordingly. The staff is incredible! Their collections are always really thoughtful. Worth a visit.

The 2025 Edwardsville Art Fair was an absolute blast! The Edwardsville Arts Center (EAC) once again…read moretransformed City Park into a three-day celebration of incredible regional talent. Over 100 artists brought their work, showcasing media from intricate ceramics, crisp photography, and shiny metal jewelry to unique polished wood pieces and, of course, brilliant paints. My personal favorite? Felicia Olin, whose whimsical paintings on canvas and wood keep me looking for her year after year. (I have several of her pieces, including one I got during the Edwardsville Art Fair last year and another at the Fair in 2018!) Other regulars include an artist who uses puffy 3D paints, SIUE art students, a wood and collage artist who makes the most beautiful boxes and mirrors, and, new the last 2 years, an artist who makes beautiful paintings of silly embroidery and nother who makes incredible realistic-looking flower arrangements from a flexible clay. ​The atmosphere was great, too. thanks to the warm but not too hot temperatures (we got lucky there) and the live music on the bandstand (especially the SIUE Jazz Band). And, if you wanted, you could grab a drink, an ice cream, or some food from a food truck or tent, including Global Brew and Cold Stone Creamery, and then sit down to enjoy your selection while enjoying the music and other performing arts. Plus, the fair is a perfect family event, offering kids activities like the Maker's Space. It's awesome knowing that the fair supports the EAC's mission to keep art accessible for everyone. Mark your calendars for next year--you won't want to miss it! Maybe I'll see you there!

This is a great place to take the kids to help them run off some energy. Between pumpkin and apple…read morepicking, the playground, hay bales, slides, maze, rides and shows - there is so much to do at the Fun Farm. The staff is friendly and helpful, and the petting zoo animals are cute. Be sure to check the schedule ahead of time to ensure you catch the pig races and Jack-O-lobber shows. The pig races are nostalgic because I remember the little piglets competing for Oreos when I was a kid! The entry price is a little expensive for families, but there's so much to do here for littles that it makes it worth it for us.

We had an amazing time at the Tulip Trail. Also the food and store was great. Soo much to do here…read more Such a beautiful family friendly place.

I don't know why I've never been to this festival until this year. Maybe the very strange…read morepromotional art? I thought it was going to be very hippie, and it was in a way, but it brought out a lot of people...and not all of them were hippies. I do love the idea though: arts and crafts through upcycled material...how much cooler is that? Getting there is somewhat of a pain because Highway 50 narrows down to one lane each way when you get close to the park. Add to that Oktoberfests galore, and you have a very nice recipe for "traffic jam". Everyone parks everywhere, but surprisingly enough, parking wasn't that big of a deal. It is really a family thing too. They have arts and crafts for the kids, indie bands playing, lots of picnic tables set up with the usual assortment of fair foods, an alpaca petting zoo, and of course, Girl Scouts selling cookies. But the booths themselves are the showcase, and the media is quite varied, even though I heard a booth owner complain, "It is so hard nowadays to be original." She was selling wire jewelry, so I guess I can see her point. And really, my favorite booths are really the unique ones like Beqi Clothing and Newberry Furniture. The Newberrys repurpose old wood for new stuff...their current thing consists of Adirondack chairs made from an old barn. And Beqi takes vintage clothing and changes it all around..she has quite the gift. The whole thing is pretty big, and it really does impress me that there are so many craftsters in the area.

The Strange Folk Festival is the COOLEST shopping festival I've ever attended. The wares are the…read moresort of thing you'd find on Etsy. Great place to get Christmas and birthday gifts. From what I understand, artisans come from all over the US to sell at this event. There is a huge variety and it's so much fun. Cool crowd too. I only wish it was a regular fixture rather than once a year in one place. 17/100 Yelp Challenge 2015

Old ballroom of the hotel filled with curiosities and curated by the most interesting person on the…read moreplanet. Definitely worth the $5 to check out.

Very enjoyable, relaxing atmosphere. Arrived early and enjoyed a glass of wine with some…read moreincredibly delicious appetizers. Live music started at 6, and the deer showed up as if on cue. If you haven't enjoyed a glass or bottle of wine here, you are missing out.

A must do if you're in the area!! We stopped in on a Saturday afternoon. The owner and his wife…read morewere very friendly. Wine tasting was complimentary and every variety was delicious. We grabbed a few glasses and bite and sat outside on the covered patio. The food was delicious - think we had a pesto bruschetta, tuna panini, and a cheese bread.