The gardens of Cantigny are something to see in every season. I can’t decide if I prefer spring or fall, but the truth is you can’t go wrong any time. The artistically cultivated combinations of textures and riot of color of the plants and flowers is stunning, so much so that we are doing our family photos here this weekend.
Cantigny Park boasts acres of gardens to explore, war tanks to climb on, two museums to learn about history, and a brand-new playground with picnic area to check out. My boys were interested in it all, but of course, the opportunity to scramble around on tanks was the showstopper.
Most recently, we went for a quick morning weekend adventure but quickly realized we could have spent all day there if we had planned ahead. Now that it’s officially October, the parking fee on weekends drops to only $5 instead of the usual weekend $10, so I know we’ll be back before the season is over.
Where:
Cantigny Park
1S151 Winfield Road
Wheaton, IL 60189
Get directions
Plan your visit: https://cantigny.org/
Make the most of your visit with these tips for family fun at Cantigny:
DO: Go early in the morning. The grounds open daily at 9 AM and I like to get there as close to 9 as possible. (With my early risers, 9:01 is pretty much always possible.) When the weather is beautiful, the park gets crowded quickly. Going early lets you avoid the crowds and gives your kids more chances to climb on the tanks before there are masses of kids all over them.
DO: Start at the Visitors Center to see the diorama. The kids got a kick out of standing on the glass floor above the model of the park and locating where we were, where the tanks were, and looking for other familiar milestones. It’s a fun way to orient yourself to what you’re going to explore and get a feel for how much walking you’ll be doing.
DO: Bring your stroller for little ones. On our most recent trip, we loaded up the double BOB only to realize the tires were completely flat. Back into the trunk of the car it went, and we were forced to let our crazy 2-year-old explore the grounds on his own two feet. There can be a lot of walking from the tanks to the Idea Garden to the new Red Oaks Farm playground, so having the stroller would have helped us get from Point A to Point B a little more expediently. The paths are either paved or gravel, easily accessible for a stroller.
DO: Take your kids through the First Division Museum. The Museum is so well done, you shouldn’t skip it just because you have kids with you. My boys enjoyed walking through the exhibits (at warp speed, but I’ll take what I can get) and exploring World War I, World War II, and Vietnam.
The newest section of the Museum focuses on modern conflict and is spectacular. All of us sat with virtual reality headsets on to see what night vision goggles look like as soldiers went on a mission. Easton was transfixed, and even Sawyer was still for whole minutes.
DO: Climb on all the tanks. When else can you explore these monumental machines so up close and personal? Little kids will need a boost to get up, and some careful supervision once they’re up there, so wear your athletic shoes and plan to climb around yourself.
DO: Go from the tanks to the Idea Garden. After you’re tired from climbing the tanks, head over to the Idea Garden, a space perfectly curated for kids. There’s a pond to look for frogs, and garden exhibits designed to appeal to the little ones’ senses. The ideas change periodically, so even if you’ve been before, you’ll find something new to explore.
DO: Bring your camera and maybe a couple of bribes for your kids. At every turn, there’s another spot at Cantigny to set up a beautiful photo. You don’t have to be a professional photographer to capture some great shots (although you’ll certainly see enough photogs walking around patiently with families). I bring Skittles or M&Ms to dole out occasionally when I come across a spot that I just can’t pass up for a picture. (See: The iconic bright yellow couches scattered around the grounds.)
DO: Start or end your visit with the Red Oaks Farm playground. The new playground is located adjacent to the parking lot, in the opposite direction from the park grounds and Visitor Center. So I recommend tying in your playground time to the beginning or end of your visit when you are already by your vehicle. As the name suggests, the playground has a farm theme, and it’s big enough to hold your kids’ attention without being so big that you feel like you can’t keep track of them.
Share your beautiful Cantigny Park captures with #NeverDoneWithFun and make sure someone snaps a picture of you with your kids instead of staying behind the camera the whole time!
