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Morton Arboretum
Categories: Active Life Parks Arts & Entertainment Botanical Gardens Event Planning & Services Venues & Event Spaces Parks, Botanical Gardens, Venues & Event Spaces [Edit]
4100 Illinois Rt 53Lisle, IL 60532
(630) 968-0074
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 7 am - 7 pm
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
106 reviews for Morton Arboretum
106 reviews in English
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Review from Stacey K.
1/30/2012
I completely love and adore the Morton Arboretum. It's just like The Secret Garden, for those of you that have read the book and/or seen the movie. As soon as you're inside this feeling of tranquility overcomes you. I am not overexaggerating. Stroll through a stand of pine trees on a sunny day, then stop and inhale as deeply as you possibly can. There's nothing on the face of the planet that can give you the same kind of feeling. Yep - I get high on clorophyll. There it is. Now it's out there. It's a habit I love.
There are more than 100 reviews here already. There's nothing for me to add that hasn't already been said. I just have a few items: my mom volunteers here now that she's retired and she totally, totally loves it. The MA treats their volunteers very well, which is a really nice thing.
I do agree that the admission is pricey. That's why I'm a member for $55 per year. SO worth it! Pays for itself in about 2 visits. Plus you get good perks.
Picture this: heading down a gentle slope toward a beautiful lake that's surrounded by blazing purple red bud trees and patches of daffodils and crocus. Across the lake is a small forest of hemlock, beckoning you with their delicate branches that filter the sun and sway in the breeze. Just as a hawk swoops overhead you spot it - a bench near the water to sit on as long as you like and drink this whole scene in. What I have just described can be found in the west loop at Lake Marmo.If you go the MA around the 3rd week of April, you can experience this for yourself. It's a beautiful place in all seasons, but spring is truly idyllic!Listed in: The Great Outdoors
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Review from Deanna D.
Lombard, IL
I love Morton Arboretum! Even though it is surrounded by suburban sprawl, you can get away completely to peace and quiet in the Aboretum. It's the perfect place to watch the seasons change. I enjoy the Arboretum most during the slower seasons ... early spring, late fall, winter. If you can visit during a weekday, you may feel like the only one in the park. A great way to recharge.
The Aboretum isn't only for trees. There are flowers and flowering shrubs which are especially beautiful in spring. I really enjoy the yellow daffodils and blue scilla on the west side of the park in the Daffodil Glade.
The Arboretum is a great place for wildlife too... lots of birds, turtles, frogs, squirrels. There are often turtles sunning themselves on rocks in Meadow Lake.
Meadow Lake is a good place for an easy stroll. A level, paved path surrounds it which makes it accessible to wheelchairs, strollers, walkers, and people of all ages and abilities. There are plenty of benches along the path for taking a rest or taking in the view too. Meadow Lake is adjacent to the Visitor Center.
There are many walking paths to choose from which vary in length. You may also bike or drive or run to enjoy the Arboretum scenery. In winter you may rent snowshoes!
The Visitor Center has Starbucks Coffee, The Gingko restaurant & cafe, and a gift shop. The gift shop has a nice selection of nature, gardening & wildlife books; pretty tableware & serveware; gardening tools and accessories; children's toys & educational items; jewelry; candles, soaps, and t-shirts. Some of the items are pricey. Members get a 10% discount.
Also on the grounds is the Sterling Morton Library. It houses an amazing special collection devoted to botany & horticulture (some which are circulating), several hundred periodical titles, rare books, historical nursery catalogs and more. It's a lovely space too and has a quaint garden.
My only complaint about the Arboretum is that many of the classes and programs are expensive, even for members, so we rarely take advantage of them. -
Review from Robyn C.
1/7/2012 4 Check-ins Here
There isn't one bad thing I can say about this place. All the workers are very nice and helpful.
I had my daughter's 1st birthday here today and they did an amazing job. I had the party in the chestnut room adjacent to the Ginkgo Restaurant. The set-up was great and very nice looking. The staff was quick and efficient and very nice. Brenda was a pleasure to work with to get the food arranged.
Corenna from the Children's garden was great. She arranged a scavenger hunt and we made snow globes. The kids had a fantastic time.
The view from the chestnut room was fantastic, the food was okay. I would definitely recommend the Arboretum for Children's parties!! -
Review from Julia J.
1/6/2012
You can really beat a day putside with your favorite kids, climbing on all sorts of stuff, learning new things and enjoying nature.
That's really all there is to say. -
Review from Joanne W.
Glen Ellyn, IL
11/6/2011
I am writing this review for the facilities at the Morton Arboretum. My brother got married here. The Morton Arboretum is a beautiful place to have a fall wedding. Even in November the grounds are lush and picturesque. Fantastic for pictures. I looked forward to spending the evening here with family and friends to watch my brother and his bride exchange their vows.
The wedding festivities took place in the Thornhill Education Center. The Founder's Room is the library of the former Morton mansion & where the ceremony was held. It's a beautiful room with hardwood throughout along with a fireplace, gorgeous stained glass windows and library bookcases. It was the perfect venue for a ceremony on the smaller side. It got a bit toasty in that room with the fireplace going but luckily we were able to crack open some windows so it was not blazing hot.
The Arbor Room was the site of the reception located on the same floor as the ceremony, just down the hall. The view was truly wonderful and provided a lovely back drop... if only we had a little more daylight to enjoy it. Why do we change our clocks again? Anyway, the room was nice although nothing special like the Founder's Room. The view of the grounds is the big draw when it comes to this room.
I totally want to give MA a higher rating but I can't. Despite all the wonderful things about the arboretum there was something that really bothered me. The lack of likability of one event planner named Denise. Now, I'm sure when doing weddings you have to deal with all sort of crazy brides, parents, etc. With that said, I don't care how crazy someone is on the day of the wedding...it's bound to happen that's why we have shows called Bridezilla and Say Yes to the Dress. It's your job to deal with it.
Me, the siblings and parents are trying to get things together, the reception room was not set up at all. It was a bit after 2. I hunted down Denise to ask if we could at least get the table cloths on the table so we could put centerpieces out. I was told this could not be done b/c the staff did not start until 3. Actually she snapped at me and told me "absolutely not. the staff starts at 3 and that is when we will set up. we do this 164 times a year. we know what we are doing. we will get it done."
Excuse me? Clearly we are concerned about getting the room together and instead of reassuring me in a pleasant manner, this woman snaps at me? Seriously, I was fuming. Clearly, weddings are stressful Denise. Your job is NOT to add to it. A group of ladies waiting to take a tour of the facilities for an event witnessed her snap at me giving them a nice preview of what they might deal with. Way to go, Denise! /sarcasm font.
Oh, she also kicked guests out of the reception room after the ceremony b/c "the bride and groom had not seen the room yet." First off, this was false. Secondly, what bride and groom goes in the reception hall before the guests? They are always the last to arrive b/c of the introductions. Nice try. This lady was a real piece of work. Not only that, but I did not see this woman smile once.
My other two slight gripes - the bridal room. It's a lovely little room upstairs from the Founders Room. It was kind of a mess and it was so warm in there. Who wants to freshen up or get changed in a warm room? The dancing portion of the reception took place back in the Founder's Room, NOT in the Arbor Room where dinner was held. I thought this was odd. I thought they would have cleared some tables to the side after dinner service to open up the floor for dancing. Afterall, the bar was set up right outside this room. Nope. If you wanted a drink, you had to walk down the hall. Weird. And the Founder's Room was warm as hell. Remember, this is the room with the fire place.
The food was pretty solid for a wedding. We had passed apps of coconut shrimp, bruschetta and potato bites. Our main course consisted of mixed greens with goat cheese and dried cranberries, filet with duchess potatoes and vegetable bundle - the steak was cooked to perfection. Gourmet sweets buffet and cake of course. The bar and reception staff for the wedding were wonderful. My man Darren at the bar took care of me and my other main man Angel took care of our dinner needs. You were the man, Angel!
If it had not been for those few snafus and a certain you-know-who, this would be a five star review. I would be happy to attend another event at the MA as long as I'm not on the preparation side of things. Oh, and if you are thinking of booking a wedding here...one thing to keep in mind is that the MA is non smoking environment...this includes ANYWHERE outside. I totally get it but it's kind of the suck in an open bar type of situation. -
Review from Michael N.
Campton Hills, IL
1/31/2012
This place is overran with mice, I see them crawling around the dinning room and kitchen, Be careful what you eat here!!!!! The food has gone to shit and the new manager has let this place go.....The Arboretum itself is beautiful but, be aware of the food you purchase here!!!!
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Review from Ericka A.
10/12/2011
I love the Arboretum! It's so beautiful and serene. I've visited a couple times just for fun and a couple times to participate in the Fall Color 5K. The other great part is that the Morton Arboretum is basically the backyard of the building where I work.
My most recent visit was with a Groupon for free admission and parking. My friend and I spent about two hours here walking around the pine forest with some of their glorious evergreens from Serbia. We also went on a scavenger hunt for the artwork that is currently hidden (or not so hidden) among the trees and shrubs. Our last hour was spent grabbing some snacks, browsing the store and checking out the weekend festivities.
The day we visited was the last day of the Honey Bee Festival. They served up fresh kettle corn, provided information about beekeeping, and sold honey-made items from different vendors. I purchased a 13.5oz bear jar with mint honey from Bron's Bee Company and rosemary sea salt caramels from Katherine Anne Confections.Listed in: G-Unit: Adventures in…
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Review from Tracy V.
Naperville, IL
11/23/2011
I absolutely love everything about the Morton Arboretum. I've been going here since I was a child, and still love it today as much as I did then.
My mom, aunt, and I have done the Fall Colors 5k run/walk for the past few years, and it's a fun new family tradition for us...it's a very welcoming and fun race, not to mention gorgeous!
My fiance and I were engaged at the Arboretum and had our engagement photos taken here as well, which turned out beautifully with the backdrop of the Arboretum. Note that you must purchase a photo permit to have any sort of professional photos taken here. The price of the photo permit struck me as rather expensive when I first looked into it, considering that it was just going to be my fiance, myself, and our photographer, who wasn't going to have lights or any large equipment. When I inquired about the permit, I mentioned that they were for engagement photos, and the helpful woman I spoke to over the phone told me that an engagement photo permit would be only $50.00 as opposed to $200 or whatever it was to procure a permit for wedding photos. Definitely worth mentioning if you would like to have your engagement photos taken here! -
Review from Aimee M.
10/16/2011
Urban Dictionary describes a person who loves trees as a "hippie". Well, I guess I'm a hippie then. Really, you don't have to be a "hippie" to enjoy what the Morton Arboretum has to offer. Beautiful landscaping, majestic trees, serene waterscapes...absolutely gorgeous. My favorite season is Fall because of the changing colors. But the MA is a great place any season. You can walk, bike or drive through. But take a little time, enjoy every second. The grounds are well-maintained and there are designated picnic areas.
There are also guided tours via Tram, plays in the outdoor theater, children's activities, art sales, so much going on, so it's best to check their website for activities. The admission fee is $11/adults. On Wednesdays, the fees are slightly lower. And If you have a membership to the Chicago Botanic Gardens, your admission fee is waived.
Nature in all it's glory. Good for all ages. Some walking paths are not stroller friendly unless you have the all-terrain type stroller. 5 Stars easily.Listed in: Nature!
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Review from Corinne K.
Seattle, WA
11/12/2011
My aunt and I come here in Spring/Summer when I am visiting Chicago. this place is beautiful. the tram is always a fun thing to do, we saw cranes last time we went. great for families and children.
I got stung by some sort of evil red bug and started to have an allergic reaction, the tram driver immediately stopped what she was doing to help me and probably saved me from having to make a hospital trip. I am glad they have kits on the trams. -
Review from LOIS B.
Updated - 8/28/2011
I have returned ~ on the perfect day to explore.
Believe the reviews, this place is amazing. Our specific need, at this time, was ground cover. We walked away with a long list of extremely eye pleasing possibilities.
In the future, I recommend visiting the Arboretum FIRST, and then meeting with the landscape architect.
And be sure to stop in the gift shop. OMG, one could fill their car with gifts for others, of course.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/18/2010
I've lived out here for over 24 years and have never been to the Arboretum before. My timing could… Read more »
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Review from Brooke H.
The Morton Arboretum is pretty awesome. I'm not going to lie, I shied away from ever becoming a member here because i considered this place a nice place to visit, but more of an uptight no-fun zone that was pretty to look at but I felt like the attitude there was too serious.
But things have changed, it used to be that there was no running or bike riding and things overall used to be, well, tighter. Now, I'm NOT AT ALL saying they've let this place go at all. It's still just as beautiful - if not more beautiful as ever, but now you can ride a bike through it, this is a BIG deal to me. I enjoyed my first bike ride through here so much that I became a member on the spot. Being a member has so many perks, discounts on merchandise, events and classes, as well as discounted admission for friends.
If the Arboretum wasn't beautiful enough the I could spend half the day in the gift shop and the other half in the Gingko Café (I hugely recommend the buffalo wrap and the crab salad - yummm!)
Tips: Bring/use bug and sun protection. HYDRATE, it's something like 16 miles on the hiking trails and 9 miles on the bike trails. If you're riding a bike, ride mouth closed, I had some kind of unexpected winged snack in one of the west loops of the park.
5 stars.
PS, every person I met from the entrance gate to the visitor center, restaurant and gift shop was just lovely. -
Review from Andy K.
Lombard, IL
10/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Wow. I've lived a few miles from this place for four years and had absolutely no idea what I was missing. At first I thought it was basically "Chicago Botanic Gardens, South Campus" ... but the focus, as the name suggests, is on the trees.
I came here with my wife and son yesterday, not realizing how staggeringly huge the place is. We managed to walk the Meadow Lake Trail and several other, walks nearby, eventually stopping alongside the Conifer Walk to throw down a blanket and have lunch.
Now ... for those of you who drive up and down 355 or 88 (where they're parallel, at least) and have a Honda with navigation ... that spaghetti-squiggle of road to the west of the highway? That's the Morton Arboretum. If I had the resources, I'd have the place shut down and stage a massive go-kart grand prix or something over there. The road that goes through the forest is awesome. Narrow, yes, but there are sharp turns, blind corners, elevation changes ... if the speed limit wasn't 20, and there weren't bikers, runners, and other cars all over the place, I'd totally want to tear that place UP. -
Review from Michelle K.
Naperville, IL
6/20/2011
Yeah, yeah, it's pretty and peaceful and everything but FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, CHECK YOURSELF FOR TICKS AFTERWARD.
I'M NOT EVEN KIDDING YOU GUYSListed in: Five-Star Rock Stars, Bored?
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Review from Danny Y.
8/27/2011
Natural beauty at its finest.
Great destination for just about EVERYone. There's a kids garden and playground. Grass to picnic on. Plenty of trails for hikers or casual strolls. 2 bike paths for bikers totaling 8 miles.
To top it off, the cafe prices are very reasonable, and portions are plentiful. The turkey burger was so much better than I anticipated. The grilled salmon was only so-so, but the mashed potatoes and veggies that accompanied it were very well prepared. -
Review from Matt H.
Glenwood, IL
5/24/2011
Morton Arboretum is a tourist attraction that wouldn't have the almost universal appeal of something like one of the zoos, or the Field Museum. It pretty much breaks down as this: if you like long walks in the park, you will like the arboretum. If you aren't really the type to wander around dirt trails and look at nature (plant life, very little in terms of animals and such) then this won't be your speed. It's like walking through a huge forest preserve that some non-native trees have been introduced to.
My biggest criticism is that, even as someone who likes nature and parks, the sign posting around this place leaves something to be desired. Following one of the major paths isn't particularly helpful, and I think your best bet is to wear decent shoes and just walk through the grass and wander. Signs that seem to point in one direction don't seem to actually bring you to what it says. My group had a lot more fun when we stopped paying attention to the signs and just wandered around aimlessly.
The restaurant at the visitor center has quite good food, comparable to the cafe at the Art Institute in Chicago. It is cafeteria style, with one place offering wraps and sandwiches, one offering pasta dishes, that sort of thing. The prices weren't too crazy, even for a museum. My wife and I had wraps and beverages each with a side of macaroni salad for less than $20, and the food is really good.
I don't know necessarily that the arboretum is the kind of place I would personally feel the need to have a membership for unless I lived nearby (which I don't), but it was lovely to go and I wouldn't say no to a return visit. $11 a person seems pretty steep for parkland, so be like me and make friends with a member who can get you in for free. -
Review from Allison M.
Palo Alto, CA
6/27/2011
The place is beautiful, and naturally, filled with trees. Definitely a peaceful place, and a great place to walk around. Lots of informative plaques to teach you about so many facets of trees, from the botanical to the economical.
It is enormous, so you should be prepared to walk a solid distance. And I'm torn between giving it 3 or 4 stars, simply because there were so, so many bugs when we went. We planned to spend around 4 hours walking around the arboretum, but ended up leaving after about 2 because of how many mosquitoes there were. The experience is almost entirely self-directed, which is fine, but can get old if the weather isn't absolutely phenomenal.
There are sculptures throughout the landscape with cheesy interpretive descriptions, although the art in the park is temporary and ever-changing.
Honestly, the best thing about the experience for me was sharing it with someone special, who found the same things beautiful, or funny, or meaningful. I don't think that it would have been the same-- not nearly as enjoyable, although perhaps more reflective and rewarding in that way-- if I was navigating the expansive trails on my own. -
Review from Kay N.
Lockport, IL
8/10/2011
Great place!
One suggestion is have a solid plan of what you want to see...what trail etc. They have markers of where you are at but its a big place and lot of different types of trees and trails.
And yes.. wear bug spray...and some trails are very narrow so I suggest pants and gym shoes if you plan on taking a more off the beaten path trail. -
Review from Zach T.
9/23/2011
Love this place. It's larger than you can cover in a day... especially in a car. The Children's garden is outstanding and a great place to spend the day with the kids. Lots of programs to participate in. Also, lots of open space to just walk. Take pictures. Lose yourself.
Listed in: These kids are looking at me…
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Review from Jessica D.
Aurora, IL
Amazing place to rest, relax, and recharge after a busy commute, workday, or just to get away without going away!
If you don't want a full meal at the great cafeteria (salads, sandwiches, and made-to-order specials) you can sip a hot chocolate or coffee (they have soy milk!) and even grab a snack at the little coffee shop.
Their store has some great seasonal items, and a great little sale section in the back corner.
We've made a tradition of attending the Halloween-themed theater hike. They also feature great open-air evening concerts. We attended our first last summer, it was Huey Lewis.
The trolley gives everyone a great behind-the-scenes perspective on the arboretum's background and preservation work.
Members get discounts in the store and when they're registering for classes and other special events like concerts and theater-hikes.
In summer, be sure to bring adequate hiking apparel/shoewear and plenty of mosquito repellent--even useful advice for attending the theater
hikes.
Don't miss their online resources, such as blogs and other information shared by their very talented scientists.
I love walking around the Thornhill Center, especially in spring, when the perfume garden is at its best.
The secret reflection pond in the kids garden area is spectacular, and the hedge maze is great fun for adults or kids alike.
Don't forget your camera, there's always something to capture.
The volunteers are all very helpful and great to talk to. I can't say enough good things about this place. -
Review from Mary R.
Minooka, IL
Updated - 11/2/2011
I thought that they did a good job with the storyline that they were working with. What I didn't like was that it was a shorter hike than usual and we only went to three different areas. But the majority of the play takes place in the house so we had to stay in that area for a long time. Even though it wasn't as good as I had hoped, it won't stop me from going again next year.
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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10/5/2011
I will be going to see the theatre hike showing of "Night of the LIving Dead" later this month. Will… Read more »
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Review from Steve S.
Brentwood, TN
10/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Outstanding - joined immediately! We hiked several trails and ate in the restaurant. A must see if in the area.
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Review from Lori O.
Bartlett, IL
10/2/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I visited here last month for the first time. I liked it so much I bought a membership. There's many different trails so you wont cover the whole place in one visit. Overall very peaceful & pleasant place to hike or relax.
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Review from Kyle H.
9/9/2010 10 photos
Trees, trees, everywhere! Where can one find Oaks of every ilk from around the World? Where can one walk over a wooden bridge 10 feet long between Japan and China? Where can one view the haunts of nature in the west suburbs? Morton Arboretum, of course!
Okay, $11/per person admission is kinda steep, but consider it a small price to pay for some good food for the soul and psyche. I tallied my walking for the day and clocked it at about 5 miles. You can bike in the Arboretum, and also drive between parking lots and get out and walk around too if you want to lessen the leg fatigue!
I would much prefer small signage on the trees, rather than having to read the dog tags that are nailed to each tree. On my visit a deer was spied, and an owl was heard hooting. The Fragrance Garden was being used for engagement photos, and even though it was Fall, there was mint and flowers aplenty.
Can't wait to come back and knock off more of the paths!Listed in: Nature Beautiful Nature
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Review from gail r.
Cook, IL
10/24/2010 4 photos
I really enjoyed myself. The fall colors were beautiful!
Lots of walking trails. You can run or cycle but only on the main roads, not allowed on the walking trails :(
It seems alittle expensive for the entrance fee($11 pp) but if you think you will be back several times a year, it is cheaper to buy a year membership.
Also, have a large meal before going here, food in the restaurant is expensive too.
Go early like we did & enjoyed the place to ourselves. -
Review from Michael W.
Chicago, IL
9/24/2011
We had a very beautiful reception at Morton Arboretum on August 27 with wonderful weather. Margaret and Elana were a joy to work with, even up through the final weekend allowing us to get everything just right. The venue is beautiful, and all the guests were raving about the location and the outdoor beauty. The staff was also amazing, I even had a waiter following me around with a personal appetizer tray! I also heard from multiple guests that the filet was "the best they ever had". I would definitely recommend this location for receptions for anyone!
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Review from Rodger W.
8/9/2010 1 Check-in Here
Its a beautiful place. I attended a wedding ceremony there and the hedge garden was lovely. Afterward, we were served excellent Hors D'Oeuvres on the patio. Dinner was OK... The lamb was a bit tough. However, the room that the dinner was held in is stunning. Overlooking a small lake, the room has a glass wall that gives the effect of being outside.
Downsides: Expensive admission, distance from the city, and a stupid water bottle policy. Bottled water is not available because of a ignorant pseudo-green agenda. Management will not sell bottled water, but will sell you aluminum bottles that you can fill at a drinking fountain. What makes this policy ridiculous is they will gladly sell you soda pop in plastic bottles. For parents who refuse to give their kids soda, you are left with schlepping water bottles, or buying their overpriced container.
Consider this: The location is out in the suburbs with no practical way of getting there with public transit. Each auto driving visitor will have a larger deleterious impact on the environment than a stupid water bottle. Typical green weenie nonsense. -
Review from Howard L.
7/11/2011 5 photos
We attended a wedding ceremony in the Hedge Garden and reception in the nearby Gingko Restaurant in the visitor's center. We found the Arboretum to be quite a nice, scenic, and unique venue for a smaller size wedding party (100 people or so). I'm not sure if the restaurant is sized to handle much more. The reception dining room had floor to ceiling glass walls with a nice view of the Arborteum at the backs of the wedding party. Hors d'oeuvres were plentiful, varied, and tasty. The dinner entrees were quite good also with a selection of salmon or prime rib. They also served a nice salad, and sorbet palette cleanser.
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Review from Courtney O.
Oak Forest, IL
7/1/2010
Pros: Well, since the scenery goes without saying, I'll start with the Children's Garden. Amazing! My kids love, love, love absolutely everything about it, and get so stoked as soon as they see the entrance. It's a really creative place. We tend to hit it up more in spring/fall than summer (a lot less crowded, imho), but we've never been disappointed.
Also? The driving path is lovely in the winter. It's very tranquil and peaceful. But it's actually pretty nice year round.
My personal favorite is the maze garden. When it's cooler (read as: the arboretum is almost empty), I like to walk/jog around it endlessly to take in the fresh air and clear my mind. I know it a bit too well, so I'm always happy when the optional gates are opened/closed at whim to keep me on my toes.
Cons: OMFG, the price. I understand it's probably a lot of upkeep. And I understand there's a lot of work that goes into the MA all the way around, but even still...it's pretty ridiculous to pay *so* much money to get inside. Membership is a great investment, so you should really consider this option if at all possible.
The staff is a little...dicey. Some of them are so amazing and into their work, but some of them act like you're a huge imposition on their day. I really can't even label this as a straight up "con", though. It's more like a 50/50 split, really.
Overall, I'd highly recommend this. My husband works in the area and we went to MA for the first time a few years ago--we were all immediately hooked. Definitely worth the trip. :) -
Review from Unity O.
Updated - 4/8/2010
Oh the Daffodils look lovely today...oh and lets not forget the Magnolia Trees as well. Spring is in the air & nature is showing all the signs of that. Last weekend the hubby & I headed to the Arboretum for some fun in the sun. Hmmm, okay for some strolling along in Daffodil Glade. I love going to the Tree Zoo in Spring...lots of things come alive & you can see all kinds signs of life.
This past weekend there must have been a memo sent out that the Morton Arboretum was the place to be cause it was PACKED! This place is definitely growing in popularity and it is fun to see people enjoying such a spectacular place. Not only is there much to be learned from this place, there is so much to see & do. There is a little something for everyone...so get there!
If you have kids---The Children's area is spacious & great.
If you need to get away--The arboretum has many walking trails & spaces to just cop a squat with a good book.
If you need a place to take someone who loves nature---er, what are you waiting for?!?!
If you just want to get a workout--trust me, don those running shoes & have at it.
If you need a place to take relatives--check out the above reasons.
Whatever the reason...just go, you won't be sorry.Listed in: Oh how I wish, really really…, Natural Beast
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/30/2008
Oh, I love visiting the Tree Zoo!! This is my affectionate name for the Morton Arboretum--as it is… Read more »
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Review from Shannon C.
Chicago, IL
9/30/2010
I'll be the Debbie Downer and say this place is boring. I like nature a great deal, and I love to photograph nature. But Morton Arboretum is pretty much all trees. Not even a huge variety of trees from what I can see. I suppose I should have expected this given the name, but I have been to other arboretums that are a bit more interesting.
I did the East side hiking path, and I used to think I had a good sense of direction and the ability to read a map, but this place taught me differently. How I managed to be going in the opposite direction of the way I intended not once but THRICE is beyond me. Finally I just followed the car path to find my way back to the visitor center.
Speaking of which, $1.60 for a can of Coke? Really? After being gouged on the admission, that really annoyed me. I'll stick to the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe which is way more my speed. -
Review from Alison V.
10/13/2010 9 photos
I have been coming here for 18 years, and have enjoyed watching the arboretum transform over the years.
Although all seasons at Morton Arboretum are beautiful, fall is my favorite. Right now, the fall color is really starting to come thru. I guess I am not the only one, last Saturday we waited patiently in our car for 35 minutes to get in!
Over the next couple of weeks, there should be a symphony of autumn colors peaking through from each collection. I hope to get a chance to come back before all of the leaves fall. Check out some of my photos from 10/09/10! -
Review from Mary B.
Glen Ellyn, IL
4/27/2011
One of my favorite places in the world. That's right...the whole wide world. Morton Arboretum is a beautiful gem in the western suburbs. We are fortunate to live a few miles away and go there several times a week. As a runner, the roads in the Arboretum are a great place to train...little traffic, some hills to keep it interesting, and an ever-changing natural
landscape. It's great for cyclists too; the east side is regularly closed to auto traffic in the early morning for cyclists.
They also host concerts, and other special events, as well as offering a wide array of classes for children and adults. There is a beautiful library on the grounds as well.
I cannot recommend the Morton Arboretum too highly; having a natural area like this available is a true luxury for many of us. I have gone to the Arboretum AT LEAST 3 times a week for the past 5 years and I can STILL be surprised by things I have never noticed before.
Several reviewers have complained about the price of admission. I find it a little ironic that people will gladly pay $9 (or more) for a film, and probably another $8 for popcorn and soda, yet find the $11 admission to a natural area where you can spend the entire day too much! Pack a picnic or eat at the cafe....bring your bicycles (or not), wear your walking shoes....JUST GO!!!! You don't know what you're missing. -
Review from wade t.
Chicago, IL
7/4/2011
Exciting new additions. It's been awhile since my last visit. Better than ever and cool new Childrens Garden. Great Easter brunch too.
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Review from Linda G.
Plainfield, IL
1/28/2011
Great place to walk and get fresh air!
Take your preschoolers and young elementary grade children to the kids' area! You can bring a picnic lunch too.
Become a member and go often. It's worth the money to see the seasons change with the kids. -
Review from Candice G.
Naperville, IL
2/23/2010
This place is my Dad's heaven. Me? Not so much.
I like a little more obvious wildlife and a little less having to search for things that are maybe there, maybe not. But that's why I bought a zoo membership and my Dad bought an Arboretum membership. I don't have time to be tracking animals. This isn't LOST, and my wilderness survival skills just don't take me far. For instance, the bottom of my pant gets wet, I'm done.
I just can't get down with the crazy expensive admission price of $11 a person... okay, it's not THAT out of this world but the zoo is only $8 and it has attractions, ya know? I mean, sure, there's lots of places you can roam but how about a little something to entertain my attention.
I do like the annual fall festival here. We would go every year as kids and make our own caramel apples with all and every fixin'. It was sooo much fun! It's still loads of fun as adults, though now the gratuitous amounts of children sort of spoil it for me.
One thing I will note, is that it seems like a great place for a wedding. I've seen some beautiful wedding parties here and it looks (and this sounds totally weird to say) nothing short of magical.
If you're with kids or just looking for a leisurely, scenic (but costly) stroll or drive, this is a great place.Listed in: It's a Nice Day For a... WHITE…, I Am So Smrt.
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Review from Rachel G.
10/11/2010
I can never say the name of this place to save my life! Every time I think I have it right I don't....sad.
Moving on...
I came here this past Sat (when it was 85 degrees in October. Which is not THAT uncommon) and really couldn't ask for better weather. So my mood was good and I was excited to see all the trees and plants. Plus, in October they have make your own Taffy Apples (delicious and they even can slice the apple for you!), FREE wine tasting, grilled corn, brats and Fall pumpkins and decorations. It definitely puts you into the Fall mood! All this was probably the hilight of the afternoon.
The main event....trees...was disappointing. The landscape itself was well mantained, no garbage to be found any where, but all the trees blended together. I saw a sign that said we were in Asia, but there were no signs that told me the name of the trees or even what country in Asia we were in. I wanted to put a name with the look of a tree, but couldn't. It just looked like a huge park with lots of trees. I thought it would be a little more separated. This place really is expansive and has many paved roads that you can drive on to see the trees from the comfort of your own air conditioned car. Be prepared to go around many bikers though!
Overall we had an enjoyable day. Was it worth the $11 admission? Yes and no. I think I would come back here with a bike so I could see a little bit more of the property. Plus maybe pack a picnic lunch. We saw a couple taking engagement photos and they were setting up for a wedding so it would be an excellent place for that!
As my boyfriend said "We saw lots of Fall Foliage!" -
Review from Gerry X.
Chicago, IL
11/9/2010 47 photos
I had gone a couple of weeks ago...so this review is alittle late. However I an needing to post about this area of awesomeness.
Taking my niece with me, we went here and it was a small drive to Lisle from Des Plaines, but the weather was enjoyable and it promised to be a beautiful day.
So when we get there, there is a small line to get in with a guy asking if we were members or not. Adult charge was $11 and child was $8. I am sure if you were a member it would be discounted somehow. Ifo should be on their website.
So this being a huge area, would would think parking would be in one area. Nope, different section on the resvere you had to go to as each roped off section was quickly filles and another area was created (these were not next to each other by the way.) But I didn't mind it.
Going along the trails and seeing different trees and colors and type of trees from different parts of the world...I am sure we scratched the surface a bit but I know we didnt get a chance to see it all. And since it was the beginning of fall, there were nice colors but if we had gone a month later it might have been a pallette of beauty. (Yes I am verbose sorry.)
I took many pictures. (I will post some of them in a bit.) The main building was big with an outside bazaar type setting for wine tasting and wares selling of cool stuff, and the inside resturnat ws nice and the food good and not too expensive. (I think it was called the Ginkgo Café and Restaurant)
All around the outside were scarecrows that the local schools did with a theme behind them. It was nice. And of course the sculputres were really complimentary to the scenery. One can easily spend a few hours here and get a good hike in. :)
Oh yeah....and on the way out...the line to get in had DOUBLED! And I hear the line is as long earlier in the day. I was like whoa! (Ok not really but damn.) And alot ALOT of pics uploaded. Hope you like. The rest of my shots can be found here....
http://www.flickr.com/...
http://www.mortonarb.org/ -
Review from Kate M.
3/11/2010
I really love the Morton Arboretum. I've been coming here since I was a little kid, they've changed so much since then, all for the better.
My sis-in-law has a convertible and more often than not spending a day with them in suburbia in the spring, summer, and fall includes a trip through the arboretum. Sometimes just a quick drive to enjoy the colors and smells, sometimes we'll park the car and get out to take a stroll.
The children's garden and special events are usually fun too. The Arboretum isn't a botanical garden, so they don't have the elaborate gardens that most people expect, but it is well worth the trip and time.
Their restaurant, the Ginko Room, has some pretty good food. Their salmon is very yummy, the burgers are good, and the salads are tasty and filling. When the weather is nice you can sit outside and enjoy your food with the birds or if you prefer you can sit inside and watch nature through the floor to ceiling windows. Definitely a nice place to spend a lazy weekend afternoon.Listed in: A Nerd's Guide to…
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Review from Jeanette K.
Addison, IL
10/19/2010
The Arboretum sorta makes me feel like I'm Alice in Wonderland. Maybe its the hedge maze, or the super tall trees, or the otherworldly steel root sculptures. Anyways, I don't think anyone can deny the beauty of this essentially massive tree park. I visited last weekend for the fall festival and it was just gorgeous. If you're visiting for the first time, I highly recommend taking the tram ride. The place is just way too massive to see everything on foot in a day, and the tram gives you a nice overview.
I do have to knock them for a few things, though:
1) $11 per person? It just seems a little steep given that you also have to pay for any activities, and comparable state parks are free.
2) Their ridiculous water bottle policy. The walk up cafe refuses to sell disposable plastic water bottles, and instead forces you to buy an aluminum or plastic reusable bottle. Yet, the cafeteria inside the visitor center sells the disposable plastic water bottles and soda in plastic bottles. As someone else pointed out, the Arboretum is not easily accessible by car, and they give you tons of paper guides etc. when you arrive. Hypocritical much?
