River Trail Nature Center

The first time we visited the River Trail Nature Center, there had been a major snow storm a few days prior. But on that particular day, the sun was shining and we all needed some outside-time in a major way. We gathered our boots, hats, gloves and a bag of snacks and spent several hours relishing in the glorious outdoors. Since then, we've gone back many times and continue to have a lot of fun.


First of all, it takes me about 40 minutes to get there. I take either Lake Street or Golf Road all the way to Milwaukee Ave. Turn right onto Milwaukee and then keep your eyes peeled for the sign on your left. There's plenty of parking, so don't worry about that.

Now, the reason I'm willing to drive this far for a nature center is because, well, I like nature and because this particular place is pretty cool.

The scenery is beautiful.  Have a picnic by the water.

Explore the area on bike or foot. While you're out there, be sure to visit the animals located near the start of the trail. There's a coyote, bald eagle and a bunch of others who live in large structures close enough to look at, but not close enough to touch.

And when you're done with that, go inside and explore some more.

Turtles, fish, frogs and other creatures to check out.

Interactive stuff for little hands to touch.

There's also a fine space for the preschool crowd to enjoy. It was a little dusty, so my crawler came out looking a mess, but he had fun checking out the toys and books.

In my experience, this place is never crowded and it's easy to feel like you're alone when you're on the trails. The indoor area sees more action, but not so much that it has ever been overwhelming to my kids.

The only con on my list is that the gates close early; the latest they stay open is 6pm and that's only on certain days. Despite that, I think this place is definitely worth checking out.

Merrick Rose Garden

For my first few months here, I thought the Merrick Rose Garden was just an amazingly well-kept private space. It's situated in the midst of some beautiful homes, so it was a plausible mistake. Luckily, though, I was wrong. This garden is a part of the Parks Department and is open and free to everyone.

Merrick Rose Garden is on the corner of Oak and Lake Streets in Evanston, IL. It's a large garden that is filled with some of the most beautiful, colorful, good-smelling roses around. There is free street parking available.

My kids are still young, so they enjoy smelling the flowers and running in the small field in the middle of the garden. If you have older kids, they might enjoy reading a book out here or playing Minecraft on one of the benches :)

There are events here sometimes, so be aware that if you want to visit on the weekend, there might be a wedding or photography session taking place. Otherwise, stop by when the weather is good and enjoy some nature.