In 1922, salt company magnate Joy Morton established this tree haven on 175 acres. Today it spans 1,700 acres of woodlands, gardens, wetlands and other natural areas. The backyard gardener or landscape professional can sign up for classes or learn about nature in a 27,000-volume library featuring 5,000 rare books, 62 rare magazine titles and 1,500 pre-20th-century nursery catalogs.
Already got a jack-o'-lantern carved up at home? Ogle more than 7,000 unique, hand-blown glass pumpkins made by 18 artists during the Morton Arboretum's annual glass pumpkin patch. The multi-day event lets guests watch glass blowing demonstrations, meet the artists and buy their very own glass pumpkins from October 11-13.
Peep some of the most gorgeous fall foliage in Chicago at this 5K race, which takes participants down a tree-lined, car-free stretch of street in the Morton Arboretum. Runners (and walkers) will make their way through the wooded East Side; after completing the race, they can stick around for live music and food trucks, or wander the rest of the Arboretum's grounds. If you'd prefer to stick closer to home but still want to support the Arboretum's plant-protecting mission, you can also register for a virtual 5K.
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