Historic Holidays at Clarke House Museum  | Chicago

Experience a traditional mid-nineteenth century Christmas at Clarke House Museum this holiday season. Discover the simple joys of homemade decorations, including pine boughs and a tabletop Christmas tree, which adorned the 1850s Chicago home. Learn about gifts exchanged by families like the Clarkes and pick up a period recipe to try.

Drive-through light show includes a mile of Santa, reindeer, candy canes, penguins, Old Man Winter, lighted trees and more.

Search for gnomes in the Children's Garden using your best "I Spy" skills. Checklist provided.

Drop in anytime between 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the conservatory's Elizabeth Morse Genius Children's Garden to plant an imaginary garden, build a tropical habitat, help water the plants, or read a book under the tropical canopy. Runs through entire 2012.

Model trains will wind their way through a miniature village set in a field of poinsettias. The village is made entirely of natural materials and features a variety of Chicago-style homes and famous buildings such as the neighborhood bungalow, Chicago Theatre and Chicago Water Tower Place. Nov. 26-Jan. 8.

Visitors can walk inside the two-story silo and turn the crank of a silage machine, watching "corn plants" delivered to the top of the silo. Plus, learn about the history of silos and silage, build miniature silos with building blocks simulating wood, brick and metal and much more.

With small solar lights to guide their way, hikers, skiers and snowshoers can traverse the 1.3-mile fitness trail at Old School Forest Preserve in Libertyville or the 1.65-mile hilly section of the Millennium Trail adjacent to the winter Sports Area at Lakewood Forest Preserve in Wauconda. Starting Sunday, Nov. 4, the trails and adjacent parking lots will remain open until 9 .m. daily until March 9.

20,000 twinkling lights and hand-decorated trees transform Cosley Zoo into a fairy tale winter wonderland.Visit the animals and purchase a cup of hot chocolate, your tree, wreath, and holiday gifts.

Burn off those Thanksgiving calories in the crisp autumn air while meeting the trees in their winter garb. Bark, branches and overall form reveal the species' identity.

A lightly narrated 2-hour tour showcasing the best of Chicago's holiday lights and sights. Passengers see views of the Magnificent Mile, State Street & Macy's Holiday Windows, the John Hancock Plaza tree, Navy Pier's Winter Wonderfest, Buckingham Fountain and have time to hop off at the Zoo Lights at Lincoln Park Zoo and the Christkindlmarket.