The Morton Arboretum

I have been coming here since i was a young child and my mother tended to the landscape. Many generations later and my little sister brings her child to enjoy the trees. I believe we are lifetime members.
Many of my photos here are from Illumination, when i tend to make the trip to Lisle, but i have enjoyed bringing a picnic basket in the past to have a nice romantic evening in nature.
I like the concept of conservation and setting area aside to preserve the land for nature. I take away one star as reading some reviews here, make me sad that there is a direction headed of commercialization, gift shops, ticket booths, etc that taint this goal.

Amazing place to enjoy a stroll in beautifully maintained grounds. This 1700 acre arboretum has it all from woodlands to prairie… from secluded to looking right over the highway… and plants from all around the world. If you need a break from the really flat areas around Chicago or just want to enjoy natural beauty without getting lost in the woods, give Morton a visit by yourself or with the family.

The Morton Arboretum is a very nice facility and very well kept. I wish there had been a bit more to see in the winter but I think if you come prepared to walk around a lot you would have a great time. There is a lot to explore, but it might be more fun to come when the whether is nicer and plants are blooming.

Huge, sprawling, and gorgeous, the Morton Arboretum is a treasure. It’s a bit far from the Metro in Lisle (definitely made for drivers rather than pedestrians), and it’s probably catering a bit too much to the suburban kiddie crowd, but if you ignore those things and just focus on the natural aspects, it’s a must-​visit. It goes on for miles, has tons of hiking paths and bike trails, and is full of some of the area’s most beautiful fauna. Birds and wildlife are everywhere, the staff is incredibly friendly and helpful, and even when you get overwhelmed by all the visiting families, it’s easy to slip away somewhere quiet, peaceful, and gorgeous to silently contemplate the beauty of nature. Give it a go.

The Arb’s mission has clearly changed from what it was. It used to focus on the trees.
Now it focuses on revenue, donations, and being trendy (in order to appeal to millenials). Sadly, trees are secondary, just a tool to raise money.
Birding also used to be a major focus. Only a shred of the fabulous ornithology program remains.
It’s clear they are copying the Chicago Botanic Garden’s formula for becoming a big business, down to having the same style of entryway and ticket booths. All of that equates to higher pay for ambitious executives.
I truly would not be surprised to see them install rides for kids — anything as long as they can make money at it.
They do a great job of soliciting money from elderly patrons who don’t realize what is going on.
Peg would NOT be pleased with current developments.

This park is absolutely fabulous!
Morton Arboretum is a great place to get away from your busy days and walk around! We have been here for a few times and its usually quiet & peaceful!
Trees, trails and beautiful scenery! The grounds is gorgeous, walking trails are well marked!
I remember one time, they had glasses blowing demonstrations along the side of plethora of beautiful pumpkins of all sizes!

Illuminations… Sounds like some Cirque du Soleil amazingness, but not. Someone slap me the next time I decide to spend $ 17 on some Christmas lights. I dunno what I was expecting, but this wasn’t it.
Now, I looooove everything Christmas. Christmas presents, Christmas food, Christmas candles, Christmas carols, Christmas! So I was so hyped to go see some trees! Even though the ride to the arboretum was supposed to be 30 minutes and turned into an hour with traffic and there were like two tolls, I was still pumped… Until we got there.
I could see from just pulling into the parking lot that I was not going to have fun. It was already lacking something. Parked, paid, and started walking. I spent… an hour being bored out of my mind and walking around in the cold. Before we started on our doomed journey, we got some treats from the overpriced cafeteria.
Now is the time I will admit to only coming here because I heard there would be spiked cider. I’m a lush at times — I can’t help it. I ended up not paying the extra for the liquor and just had cider which was still pretty good. Tried to have a brownie… Nearly cracked my teeth. Why was that jank so dry? And why did my coworker’s peppermint hot chocolate look like burnt coffee? Who decided not to love themselves that day? Us, obviously. Spent the first quarter of the walk trying to force the goods down our throat and then trying to find a trash can.
Maybe if I were a kid it would have been more magical or something, but this was horrible. Maybe if I HAD kids, I would have enjoyed it. I have no idea. It did seem really kid-​oriented, which was a mistake on our part since none of us brought little ones.
I kept leaving my coworkers behind because they wanted a picture with every tree (well, one of them did), but I was so tired of it. The little light shows that some of the trees put on were so bland. One of the lights didn’t even work. Also… lots of people, coughing, everywhere. Achoo. Ugh.
The most interesting part of the walk was the end when we found a maze that was closed. It was pitch black, so I don’t blame them, but that would have been worth at least $ 10. Then I would have only wasted $ 7. The gift shoppe was pretty great, although, I was in such a bad mood from being underwhelmed that I bought not one thing. Not one. I’m a shopaholic! Blasphemy!
I remember towards the end of the walk hearing people say this year was way better than last year. What in the world could have been worse?!
Out of the three of us that went, only one had a fun time and it wasn’t me and people heard about it. It was a running joke in the company for a while. Whenever we were driving down the road and saw a decorated house, someone would shout out «Just saved $ 20! And another!» It sucked.
EDIT: Someone tipped me off and said that maybe my review should have been more focused on the arboretum itself and not Illuminations since that’s a seasonal thing
1. I went there FOR Illuminations and nothing else. If I had gone there during the day, this could have been a different review. Look forward to my review of Muir Woods.
2. Speaking of Muir Woods, I’ve been spoiled. Morton Arboretum ain’t got jack on Muir Woods.
3. The hug a tree event was bummy.
Save your damn money next year.

LOVE going to the Arboretum. My wife and I took time to go see the Illumination this year and it was very well done! I do wish some of the other patrons were more courteous to others but the staff was very friendly, except one woman at the check in area that told my wife to move so she could do her job. My wife wasn’t standing in her way at all and she was extremely rude.
The lights were good, just avoid the cranky lady at the check in!

This was a festive event for sure! Illuminations is a holiday fun event with clearly some brains behind the operation. The lights are captivating and the concession huts are heated to stop and grab a toasty hot drink! Wear your walking shoes and warm attire so you are comfy!
Parents with children, old, young all ages this event works for!
There are fires to sit at along the path as well, nice romantic place… And then go have a nice dinner and drink afterwards, its what we did!

In regards to the Christmas lights.
I don’t get it. Maybe I went in with unrealistic expectations, but I thought it was sooooo boring. I even heard a little boy at the end say, «it’s done? IT’S ABOUT TIME!» and I said, «My thoughts exactly kid.»
It is 17 dollars to do what you can do for free driving around in a car and looking at houses. Concessions are overpriced as you would expect. None of the technology is all that impressive, and we kept waiting for it to get better, or for something to happen. BUt… nothing ever happened.

REVIEW OF CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: Let me start this review by saying — BUY YOUR TICKETS AHEAD OF TIME! This place does sell out… and their website doesn’t really make it obvious that you ought to buy ahead. Shame on them for not being more forthcoming. I think they just assume people know.
Okay… that said. I’m shaking off my bitterness of driving out there only to be turned away.
Rather than accepting defeat, my family decided to go for Trees 2.0. We bought our tickets ahead of time. And because we were driving from the Northshore on a Friday, we left early and decided to grab dinner in the area. There are tons of choices!
Driving into the parking lot, you immediately know you’re in for a serious treat. I had heard that there’s a mad rush right at the beginning, so we arrived at 6 (the lights turn on at 5). Smart move on our part. While the parking lot was full, we didn’t get stuck in the throngs of people walking along the path. Instead, we had a nice steady stream of folks and it was completely manageable.
My husband, kids and I were all surprised, delighted and enthralled with the holiday lights. You follow a path that winds through the grounds to different light displays. The displays are ridiculously inventive… and no words I could say would really do the evening justice. Take a gander at the photos and then multiply the beauty.
There’s music along the way as well, turning it into a full sensory experience. Some our favorite spots were where the lights were interactive. On one display, you speak into a «speaker» that then turns on the lights. When you go silent, so do the lights.
Another display let you direct the lights on the trees with a sensory that follows your hand. My kids had a blast!
There are concessions along the way (it is limited) and some bonfires to help you warm up. Such a spectacular family outing — and a new tradition is born!

This was the best Christmas lights display I’ve seen yet in the Chicagoland area. The experience was peaceful and serene. There were lots of kids and interactive stations… the hot chocolate was delicious. I’d recommend this for a date night or family experience.

I hadn’t been to the arboretum probably since early grade school. I’d been going to Brookfield Zoo Holiday Magic for the lights in years past, but wanted to switch things up. I found a Living Social deal for discounted tickets to Illumination, and the decision had been made.
Illumination runs from 5 – 9, with last entry at 830. We got there around 520, and HOLY HELL… the line to get in the place was massive! The crowds at this event (which was considered sold out) were huge! There were parking lot attendants, but they directed us to lots that were already full, which was frustrating. We ended up parking very far away, but thankfully there were shuttle buses to get us back to the entrance.
There were ample stations to check in for the event, as well as staff to direct you on your way. The actual lights were REALLY enjoyable. Lots of great effects that made the trees look awesome. I really enjoyed it! Some of the enjoyment was taken away though, again, just due to the crowds. There was a lot of snaking around to do to get past people, which was annoying. Many people were stopping abruptly. The whole trail took about 45 minutes to complete, and I felt like I got a good show.
Due to the crowds, I would think twice about coming back, but I’d love to come back on a regular day to see what this place is all about!

This park is absolutely fabulous! If I lived in the area, I would definitely get the annual pass. The grounds are gorgeous, the walking trails well marked. While there were quite a lot of people in the park, the walking trails were not too busy — since the park is so huge, one can easily go for a walk and not have to worry about bumping into other people.
The leaves were beyond peak, but there were still quite a few trees and bushes with gorgeous colors. I am sure the park is beautiful no matter what the season.

The fall colors are at their peak! Lots of yellows, oranges and reds. Check the fall color report on the website for the latest information.

Trees, trails, and beautiful scenery… Oh my! I love this place.
Came here because of the annual Glass Pumpkin Patch. Let me tell you, one of the best seasonal vendors I’ve ever been to. They had glass blowing demonstrations along side the plethora of gorgeous glass pumpkins of all sizes all strewn on haystacks and benches. Talk about creativity.
Had breakfast at the Ginkgo café. Ama-​ZING!!! The breakfast is perfectly portioned and great flavor. They have a small menu but it’s worth it. The view in the main dining room will take your flippin’ breath away. They’re clean, the staff is friendly, good coffee and clean drinking coca cola machines. You must visit!!! Breakfast is served Saturday and Sunday starting at 9am.
Then afterwards, my family went for a walk around the arboretum. Probably my favorite place now to explore. You can rent bikes as well and explore the other side of the arboretum.
Most definitely worth the $ 60 membership!

I came here on a cloudy Sunday so my boyfriend could perfect his photography skills. I thought the grounds were very well maintained and everything was very clean. I was kinda bummed that I couldn’t bring my dog but the lack of dogs is probably linked to how clean everything was. I was nice that the trees were separated by region so you could see trees of Europe, Asia, etc. Some of the more heavily forested parts made me feel like I was in a fairy tail. I would recommend wearing gym shoes or hiking boots because most of the paths are not paved. It was a little more money then I would like to spend to go for a walk but it’s nice for once in awhile.

I grew up a couple miles from the park so it’s been part of my life for few decades. As kids we used to sneak into the park to go fishing. When I turned 16 my mom would take me back here to learn how to drive. I remember going on a couple dates here with girlfriends and in more recent years, rediscovered the park with my son.
MA has added some nice enhancements over the past 10 yrs, a favorite being the children’s park. They kept the area simple with a handful of slides etc, but the main draws for my son and I are the creek (which you can take your shoes off an play in) and the tree-​house. We ran across the suspension bridges in the tree-​house yesterday. my son still loving this area at the age of 7. Another cool addition is the maze, just east of the children’s park. It’s built to be kid friendly but also offers a game that they can play while running through. There’s also a tower that you can climb into to see the entire maze from atop. Kids and parents really get a kick out of this part of the park.
We’ve made our way to the Arboretum to see a number of cool displays, yesterday’s was a favorite for my son. the Nature Connects display of Lego designs. They currently have 13 large animal, insect and plant displays. most of which are really cool. MA gives you a map of the various displays which they spaced out into four different areas, one of which being the library. We’ve never really ventured back over to this building and I doubt many have. After spotting the Lego spider we went in for a look.
After sifting through the Lego displays, etc we drove through the east side of the park. When we reached the Big Rock visitor station on the north side we decided to park the car and hike the trail back to see big rock. All of the trails at MA are very nicely cared for and well marked. If it wasn’t close to 90 degree’s we probably would have hit more trails, but my son was done for after a few hours of site seeing, running through mazes, creek wading and tree-​house exploring.
MA has a ton of events, like their craft beer festival, 5K’s, concerts, etc. Even if you don’t like to take a stroll in the woods, this place surely has other opportunities to enjoy.
Cheers.

The Morton Arboretum truly is my «happy place.» I started coming here about 7 years ago, and it is a magical experience. If you’re outdoorsy or just like the occasional immersion in nature, you will love it.
The best way that I can describe the Arb is that it is like a zoo for trees. As you walk the paths (which are extensive — 9 miles paved, and 16 more miles mulched), you pass through different tree collections. You can see trees from all over the world, set up in groupings such as Oaks and Maples, but also areas such as Japan and China. There is of course plenty of local wildlife to see as well. It is so peaceful walking the paths, listening to the birds, and enjoying being outside.
In addition to the collection, there are plenty of other things to do and see. The Visitor’s Center has a lovely little shop of nature-​based trinkets, books on trees, and other souvenirs. Their café is quite yummy. And they have a strong educational focus as well, with places to visit like the library, the children’s garden (EXTREMELY kid-​friendly), and the education center. There are also soooo many awesome special events — they host a 5k and a 10k run, a Fall Festival, Tails on the Trails days where you can bring your dogs, and so much more. Pretty much every weekend there is something new and fun to check out.
The price is really reasonable for a day’s admission, and you know that the money is going to a great cause. This is a local landmark and I am so thankful that in a relatively nature-​deprived and highly developed location, we still have a gem like this where you can go and lose yourself in nature for a day.

Rapidly becoming my favorite place to run. It’s a beautiful venue to visit obviously and I’ve known that. But not until Kelly M’s review and tips did I realize how fabulous it is to run. She nailed it.
The trails (paved, gravel, dirt/​marsh and more) are just a dream. It’s challenging, too; rolling hills. I don’t enjoy running rolling hills. Hell, I don’t enjoy curbs, cracks in the pavement or dips. Flat is my friend. But when I saw the Arbor Day 10K being held there, I decided to try the course in advance for the challenge of both distance and course. Glad I did. Frost Hill is my nemesis. And somewhere between markers P8 and P13, a no name gradual incline did not go undetected. It’s fantastic vistas for any run, always something beautiful or interesting to look at, peaceful, too. Never boring. And those trails are off the beaten path enough that you don’t really get the foot traffic of mainstream visitors, but yet you do encounter regular runners and bikers. It’s nice to feel somewhat remote, but also safe.
Two words: reciprocal agreement! I have a membership to Chicago Botanic Gardens and it gets me in here (and one guest) for free. Free is good. Like flat, free is also my friend. :)

This review is specifically for the Illumination light show displayed during the holiday season. My husband and I have attended the past 2 years and enjoyed both. Tickets are a little bit pricey, especially for a family. They end tickets sales for a particular day once they’ve reached capacity, which ensures it’s never too crowded. No issues finding a parking spot. There are plenty of warming stations/​bonfires along the path of the displays. Concession stands can also be found throughout offering snacks, beverages and alcoholic beverages for the adults! I don’t believe the displays changed much from 2013 but they are VERY cool. Some are even interactive. Give yourself at least an hour.
Just a couple tips:
–Quite a few children in attendance. If kids aren’t your thing, I’d avoid.
–Bring hand warmers for your gloves and boots. It’s colder than you’d think without the sun.
–Don’t pass up the spiked apple cider! (: