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Farms to Visit With Kids Near Chicago's North Suburbs
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Toddler
Article made by:
Toddler
Updated November 2026. Hours change by season, so check each website before you go.
Few outings delight a toddler like a real cow, a noisy rooster or a horse looking over a fence. Chicago's north suburbs still have farms that welcome families, and several are free. Here are our favorites, starting closest to Glenview.
1510 Wagner Road, Glenview. Run by the Glenview Park District.
Wagner Farm is an 18.6-acre working and interpretive farm, and one of the few farms left in north suburban Cook County. Admission is free. Children can see the dairy cows in the pasture, along with chickens, draft horses and pigs.
For little ones, the highlight is often the Heritage Center. Inside, they can collect pretend eggs, step into a two-story silo and shop in a 1930s-style grocery store. In summer, an ice cream counter inside the Heritage Center serves scoops.
Check glenviewparks.org for current hours and programs.
Lambs Farm has a farmyard, a cafe and a bakery, and it supports adults with developmental disabilities. The farmyard is seasonal and usually opens in spring and closes in fall. See our full Lambs Farm guide.
201 S. Plum Grove Road, Schaumburg. Run by the Schaumburg Park District.
Volkening is a living history farm that shows how German-American families farmed in Schaumburg in the late 1800s. Admission is free, though some special events charge a fee. During scheduled hours, interpreters in period clothing work the farm and guide visitors, and children can see the animals, gardens and farmhouse. The buildings and animal areas are busiest from spring through fall, so check the park district's hours before a winter visit. It is an easy drive for Palatine and Mount Prospect families.
The Lake County Forest Preserves' Ryerson Conservation Area has wooded trails along the Des Plaines River and a historic farm area. The welcome center runs family drop-in programs where children can meet live education animals. See our Lincolnshire guide for more nearby ideas.
Both are about an hour from the north suburbs, so they work best as a half-day trip with a nap in the car on the way home.
In September and October, many north suburban families head to Didier Farms on Aptakisic Road in Lincolnshire for its fall pumpkin fest. Entry has been free in past years, with tickets for rides and activities. Wagner Farm also sells pumpkins in the fall. Dates and prices change each year, so check before you go.
A farm visit gives you a week of conversation. Read a farm picture book before you go, then sort toy animals by where they live on the farm when you get home. Older preschoolers can draw the animals they saw and tell you a story about each one. Counting chickens, comparing big and small animals, and talking about where milk and eggs come from all build early math and language skills.
Yes. Admission is free. Some programs, rides and seasonal events have fees.
Historic Wagner Farm is close, free and easy to walk, and the Heritage Center is a good indoor backup on a cold or rainy day.
Wagner Farm is open year-round. Seasonal farmyards such as Lambs Farm close for the winter, and living history farms often have shorter hours.
It depends on the farm and the animal. Follow posted signs and staff instructions, and wash hands right after.
Children in our preschool program start going on field trips, and our thematic units with STEAM activities bring topics like farms and animals into the classroom. Children's Land has four Glenview locations, including Glenview and Storytime Daycare. Find a location or contact us.
Related reading: Nature Centers for Kids in Chicago's North Suburbs.
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