Fox River Trolley Museum

This museum in South Elgin lets families ride a restored historic trolley along the Fox River, with a conductor explaining the history of the railcars and the region on the roughly two-mile, 30 to 45 minute trip between the Castlemuir depot and Blackhawk in the Jon J. Duerr Forest Preserve. Kids get to blow the trolley's whistle on the way back, and tickets are valid all day so riders can hop on multiple trains and explore the outdoor collection of freight locomotives and cars. Visitors can also walk through a restored Illinois Central Railroad caboose on display and see the historic Wayne Depot. The museum runs special seasonal events too, including a WWII reenactment, an Easter Bunny visit, and a Christmas train with hot chocolate and carols. It is open Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 11am to 5pm between May and October, with the last train departing around 4pm, and closed except for special events the rest of the year.