I have driven down Deerfield Road for years and noticed the buildings and always thought someday I'll have to research this or stop by and see what this is all about. Well last Sunday my girls and I went exploring and had a great time!
Deerfield's Historic Village, part of the Deerfield Historic Society is a mini version of Napersettlement. A self guided visit to the past has much for the interested child and parent at heart. You can tour two log houses, a farm house, horse carriage stables and our personal favorite...the school house.
My daughters had so much fun exploring every nook and cranny AND playing school marm! We spent the most time in the school house just in time for a new school year.
Admission is free but they love contributions too. Open for your own tours every Sunday June through September from 2 - 4pm. For school and group tours call 847-948-0680.
Visit www.deerfieldhistoricalsociety.org/visit.html
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Naperville, IL
What a cute town! I have been told about this town for years and somehow never got there until now. If you are a history buff or appreciate quaint towns then Naperville is the town to visit. Some things to mention....
First, I am for sure going back as I know there's more to uncover that I just brushed over. The drive from my house is about 1 hour 10 minutes which I deem perfect for a day adventure. Truly you feel as though you're taking a vacation day and having a break.
We went to town and had a picnic lunch on the DuPage Riverwalk a must see and do when you visit there. Once you're there you'll see there are many restaurants to choose from if you want to take this option - we didn't know so we picnic-ed this time. What we did do once we were there was get a yummy treat. We found an adorable cupcake store called Sugar Monkey there is an ice cream parlor right near by if that's what you prefer. Be prepared to spend $3 each for both ice cream or cupcake treat. That's why it's a treat!
For those of you who love Egg Harbor like my family does, there's a restaurant right across the Riverwalk - which we didn't know this visit but will check it out for our next visit.
The town is full of shopping options of those of you who want that experience. Something interesting to mention if you're a shopper....Crate and Barrel and Land of Nod has an outlet in Naperville.
What we wanted to do was visit the Naper Settlement. I have been told about this historic center for some time. The mini historic village has everything to engage children AND adults. You will walk from building to building and step back in time with docents appropriately dressed in period clothes offering you a historic perspective. The various structures just to name a few are visiting a blacksmith, printing press, chapel, log house, schoolhouse, fort, prairie wagon, mansion and MORE.
Sadly the village is under construction right now until September 30th. We weren't able to tour the entire village but had a sampling for sure we'll return. My oldest and I went to the Martin-Mitchell Mansion and had a docent tour for 30 minutes. Our docent was wonderful and took us through the house with historical facts about the family and local history while relaying historical perspectives and innovations for that time period. We had two adults and a 5 children of varying ages in our group and the children were pretty much engaged. The chapel and main building (which has a great exhibit with overview of Naperville's history located in the basement of this building) gave you a taste of life in the historic village. If you go after reviewing the website, I would wait until the construction is over. They're re-doing the pathways from building to building. The full settlement closes I believe end of October so there is still time for a fun fall activity or a fun option for next year. One thing to add, the Settlement is right near the town so you can park and walk - very close by.
If you are a Geocatcher they've got a section on that on their website - take a look!
Another reason to visit Naperville with your kids....DuPage Children's Museum is right in town hands on indoor fun! Sounds perfect to me. http://www.dupagechildrensmuseum.org/
Bottom line, we'll be back. We thought the town AND Naper Settlement was adorable.
Visit http://www.napersettlement.org/
First, I am for sure going back as I know there's more to uncover that I just brushed over. The drive from my house is about 1 hour 10 minutes which I deem perfect for a day adventure. Truly you feel as though you're taking a vacation day and having a break.
We went to town and had a picnic lunch on the DuPage Riverwalk a must see and do when you visit there. Once you're there you'll see there are many restaurants to choose from if you want to take this option - we didn't know so we picnic-ed this time. What we did do once we were there was get a yummy treat. We found an adorable cupcake store called Sugar Monkey there is an ice cream parlor right near by if that's what you prefer. Be prepared to spend $3 each for both ice cream or cupcake treat. That's why it's a treat!
For those of you who love Egg Harbor like my family does, there's a restaurant right across the Riverwalk - which we didn't know this visit but will check it out for our next visit.
The town is full of shopping options of those of you who want that experience. Something interesting to mention if you're a shopper....Crate and Barrel and Land of Nod has an outlet in Naperville.
What we wanted to do was visit the Naper Settlement. I have been told about this historic center for some time. The mini historic village has everything to engage children AND adults. You will walk from building to building and step back in time with docents appropriately dressed in period clothes offering you a historic perspective. The various structures just to name a few are visiting a blacksmith, printing press, chapel, log house, schoolhouse, fort, prairie wagon, mansion and MORE.
Sadly the village is under construction right now until September 30th. We weren't able to tour the entire village but had a sampling for sure we'll return. My oldest and I went to the Martin-Mitchell Mansion and had a docent tour for 30 minutes. Our docent was wonderful and took us through the house with historical facts about the family and local history while relaying historical perspectives and innovations for that time period. We had two adults and a 5 children of varying ages in our group and the children were pretty much engaged. The chapel and main building (which has a great exhibit with overview of Naperville's history located in the basement of this building) gave you a taste of life in the historic village. If you go after reviewing the website, I would wait until the construction is over. They're re-doing the pathways from building to building. The full settlement closes I believe end of October so there is still time for a fun fall activity or a fun option for next year. One thing to add, the Settlement is right near the town so you can park and walk - very close by.
If you are a Geocatcher they've got a section on that on their website - take a look!
Another reason to visit Naperville with your kids....DuPage Children's Museum is right in town hands on indoor fun! Sounds perfect to me. http://www.dupagechildrensmuseum.org/
Bottom line, we'll be back. We thought the town AND Naper Settlement was adorable.
Visit http://www.napersettlement.org/
Thursday, August 4, 2011
St Charles and Paddle boat
Boy do we love St. Charles, what a great town! There is much to see and do in St. Charles and some nice restaurants to make a day of it.
We came because of a paddle boat deal featured in Groupon. My only complaint was it was HOT outside. Other then that we had a great day. The paddle boats are really interesting as they're historical and oftentimes have a docent offering local history and perspectives of famous people, historical facts about the boat and St. Charles perspectives while journeying down Fox River listening to music appropriate for that time period.
Right near the paddle boat launch are other fun things to check out with your family...
Golfing, Pools,Waterslides, Canoeing, Biking, Festivals, Dining, Mini-Golf, Museums, Winery, Theater, Shopping, and more
Visit http://www.stcriverboats.com/ for the Paddle boat information
http://www.stcparks.org/ for the park district regarding the waterpark, mini golf, etc.
http://www.stcharleschamber.com/ St. Charles Chamber of Commerce
We came because of a paddle boat deal featured in Groupon. My only complaint was it was HOT outside. Other then that we had a great day. The paddle boats are really interesting as they're historical and oftentimes have a docent offering local history and perspectives of famous people, historical facts about the boat and St. Charles perspectives while journeying down Fox River listening to music appropriate for that time period.
Right near the paddle boat launch are other fun things to check out with your family...
Golfing, Pools,Waterslides, Canoeing, Biking, Festivals, Dining, Mini-Golf, Museums, Winery, Theater, Shopping, and more
Visit http://www.stcriverboats.com/ for the Paddle boat information
http://www.stcparks.org/ for the park district regarding the waterpark, mini golf, etc.
http://www.stcharleschamber.com/ St. Charles Chamber of Commerce
Pioneer Sholes School and Prairie home - St. Charles
Oh did my family love this place! I thought it was perfect timing to visit a one room school house for my 7 year old. We read three Little House on the Prairie and Anne of Green Gables books so she had a pretty good understanding of life on the prairie not to mention the one room school house. I am a true believer of dimensional learning. Reading, watching a movie and seeing in person I think heightens the learning perspectives and helps children collect their own creative thoughts and perspectives in understanding concepts. This experience was dimensional and wonderful.
My daughter learned through a docent (whose own mother attended the school as a child) what life was like at school for children went from 1st grade to 8th in one room with one teacher. What a typical day looked like, how the children learned and what they wrote on i.e. chalkboard tablets for the younger children and paper and ink for the older children. We saw education primers of what books they learned from. What a child brought each day in terms of food for lunch, what they wore, etc. AND what every child finds interesting...the boys and girls outhouses. My daughter seriously didn't want to leave she loved it there.
As we went to our car we discovered another house/museum not to miss. Run by 4 docents of varying ages our family learned what life was like for a family with modest means living on the prairie. We saw where the father/husband worked to manage a farm and home. What a wife did in terms of cooking, cleaning and managing her family and a wonderful perspective of what life was like as a child. There were three docents of varying ages to help create the perspectives of a child and young adult ready for marrying age. We were then taken outdoors and discovered games from ring toss, darts, stilts and more then learned how to collect buckets of water to wash clothes and yes my 7 year old washed clothes!! Seriously, what a great experience and the docents were wonderful!! A must see experience for all!!
Visit http://www.pioneersholesschool.org/
My daughter learned through a docent (whose own mother attended the school as a child) what life was like at school for children went from 1st grade to 8th in one room with one teacher. What a typical day looked like, how the children learned and what they wrote on i.e. chalkboard tablets for the younger children and paper and ink for the older children. We saw education primers of what books they learned from. What a child brought each day in terms of food for lunch, what they wore, etc. AND what every child finds interesting...the boys and girls outhouses. My daughter seriously didn't want to leave she loved it there.
As we went to our car we discovered another house/museum not to miss. Run by 4 docents of varying ages our family learned what life was like for a family with modest means living on the prairie. We saw where the father/husband worked to manage a farm and home. What a wife did in terms of cooking, cleaning and managing her family and a wonderful perspective of what life was like as a child. There were three docents of varying ages to help create the perspectives of a child and young adult ready for marrying age. We were then taken outdoors and discovered games from ring toss, darts, stilts and more then learned how to collect buckets of water to wash clothes and yes my 7 year old washed clothes!! Seriously, what a great experience and the docents were wonderful!! A must see experience for all!!
Visit http://www.pioneersholesschool.org/
Fabyan Villa Museum & Japanese Garden - Geneva, IL
I am a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture and discovered the weekend home of Colonel George and Nelle Fabyan. The home was re-designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and is open for tours.
The home contains the Fabyans' private collection of Asian artifacts, natural history specimens, original furniture and more! Documents and photographs detail George's involvement in the Treaty of Portsmouth and Japanese international relations, the Bacon/Shakespeare controversy, code-breaking that significantly influenced both World Wars and pioneering research and development in acoustics. The captivating combination of significant architecture, military intrigue, Japanese culture and personal exploration.
Definitely not to miss is the Japanese Garden Installed c. 1910, the historic garden is truly a lovely and peaceful place to wander and unwind. Make sure to venture beyond the house across the bridge (Fox River) and walk around the park/pathway there. Seriously there is much to see. We saw a white and blue Heron, geese and ducks along with a small lighthouse and windmill. Seriously not to miss. I will caution on warm days there is no air conditioning in the home so keep that in mind and the home is docent tour which takes about 30 minutes. For sure a must see
The Villa Museum has guided tours on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays mid-May through mid-October. Tours are approximately 45 minutes long and cover the 1st and 2nd floor of the house, highlighting the Fabyan history, the scope of the estate, and the Frank Lloyd Wright architecture.
Visit www.ppfv.org/fabyan.htm
The home contains the Fabyans' private collection of Asian artifacts, natural history specimens, original furniture and more! Documents and photographs detail George's involvement in the Treaty of Portsmouth and Japanese international relations, the Bacon/Shakespeare controversy, code-breaking that significantly influenced both World Wars and pioneering research and development in acoustics. The captivating combination of significant architecture, military intrigue, Japanese culture and personal exploration.
Definitely not to miss is the Japanese Garden Installed c. 1910, the historic garden is truly a lovely and peaceful place to wander and unwind. Make sure to venture beyond the house across the bridge (Fox River) and walk around the park/pathway there. Seriously there is much to see. We saw a white and blue Heron, geese and ducks along with a small lighthouse and windmill. Seriously not to miss. I will caution on warm days there is no air conditioning in the home so keep that in mind and the home is docent tour which takes about 30 minutes. For sure a must see
The Villa Museum has guided tours on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays mid-May through mid-October. Tours are approximately 45 minutes long and cover the 1st and 2nd floor of the house, highlighting the Fabyan history, the scope of the estate, and the Frank Lloyd Wright architecture.
Visitors are able to stroll through the Fabyan Forest Preserve, encompassing 200 acres of the Fabyan estate, and enjoy the remnants of the elaborate grounds; including the renovated historic Japanese Garden, open Wednesday and Sunday afternoons. From June thru August, the Villa is open on Thursday afternoons for self-guided mystery tours, geared towards families with children.
Visit www.ppfv.org/fabyan.htm
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