The 12 best zoos in and around Champaign-Urbana

This nature center is amazing for kids and adults. Staff is excited to share their knowledge and inspire you and your kids about nature. Beautiful facility and Busey Woods trails populated with lots of singing birds and deer.

Kind staff, clean building. There's lots of information on wildlife and fun activities for all ages. Lots of animal ambassadors like an owl, salamander, and corn snake! They were all super cute and silly the last time I visited. The time before must have been naptime since they were all tucked away. ^^ Still lots of cute pictures around!

Wonderful hidden gem in Urbana. The nature museum is small, but has fascinating exhibits about local flora and fauna, including live snakes, owls, salamanders, and turtles. Everything is very kid-friendly, and includes a place to do crayon rubbings of leaves, a touchscreen activity, and microscope. Make sure to stop at the front desk--the staff are very friendly and enthusiastic, and will give you the chance to pet a snake. The trail is also very pretty, and you can ask the front desk for a wildlife bingo card, and even sign out binoculars. Awesome spot if you have kids.

The Anita Purves Nature Center, at the north end of Urbana’s Crystal Lake Park opened in 1979 and underwent an expansion in 1995. Anita Purves Nature Center has classrooms for programs that are also rentable for public and private events. Before ending your visit, be sure to stop in the Nature Shop, where you can find unique nature-related gifts. Proceeds from this store support local environmental education. Educators get a 10% discount.

This place is beautiful! The inside of the building has some pretty cool stuff to look at, and friendly staff. The woods are beautiful, it's such a nice peaceful walk along the trail. I go here very often.

I love this place, especially when my daughter was young and they added the outdoor naturescape playground. There used to be three little owls inside the preserve who were rescues and I just loved to visit them!

The grounds are a good place to hike. The nature center is nice and there is a little gift shop with some cool items to purchase. I bought a pair of opossum earrings! Staff is friendly and helpful.

Review written 02/09/2025. Cashier scanned the back of my driver license when signing up for rewards points. Uhhh did I give you permission to do that? NO. Did you ask? NO. Lol #tacky. Also they seem to allow regular non-service dogs to shop in the store which is super tacky too (and that would be an interesting lawsuit if somebody was attacked by a dog). Anyway I found what I went in for: catnip puffs for cats to play with. And if the apocalypse comes this would be a good store to head to. Plenty of shovels to fight zombies with. Lol

Terrible customer service. Much needed updating for computer systems. Because if your paying with tap on phone they won't put time in to make it work just try twice and say they cant accept it. It's not as if my animals needed to eat at feed. And you wonder why your rantoul store shut down. Another lost customer

I recently purchased ammunition from this store. Walked to the parking lot and realized that I had picked up 6.5 prc rounds instead of 6.5 Creedmoor. Turned immediately around to merely exchange them for the correct product, only to be told that all ammunition sales are final from the same person I purchased them from. I had never been to this store before, but I frequently purchase ammo, firearms and miscellaneous items. At my home store I have a firearm in hold for a background check. I will be canceling that purchase as soon as I return home.they take your phone number every time you make a purchase. I used to think that it was to track your purchase history, to maybe reward you for being a valued customer. I see now that it’s not. Hey but you live and learn. Thanks for nothing rural king

I absolutely love this rural king. The guy in the Stihl area…outstanding knowledge! The ladies upfront… outstanding customer service!

Good prices and helpful staff on a great variety of offerings. I got a fishing license at Rural King. And they have free popcorn and coffee.

People at Rural King are some of the nicest that I’ve dealt with in a long time. They have great specials as well.

What a great store I’m always amazed at how they have everything you could need. They’ve got food as they’ve got farm. They’ve got fashion. They’ve got faith. What more you need?

A fabulous place for everyone in the family. This place is simply magical. And the apple cider donuts….GOOD LORD are they DELICIOUS!!!!! Oh and the apple slushy is absolutely phenomenal. I just loved the entire experience. It’s 2 hours from my house but let me tell you it is worth the drive. I have been to many pumpkin patches and I have to say this is by far our favorite! Seems to be popular with the college kids too. It was pretty packed with folks of all ages. What fun!

Approximately twenty years ago, when our children were attending field trips, we had the pleasure of visiting Critter's Orchard. It was a delightful apple orchard with a pumpkin patch, a beehive, and several petting animals, including goats, rabbits, and chickens, which the children enjoyed interacting with. It was a truly pleasant experience back then, and the children were particularly fond of it. My husband and I recently revisited the orchard, and we were quite impressed by the transformations. It is truly remarkable. They have significantly enhanced their offerings. The orchard was bustling with children and visitors of all ages. They have a lovely gift shop that offers a diverse selection of items. It was a wonderful day spent admiring pumpkins, honey, and apples, and they even had a cafe where we could enjoy a meal. The food was delicious, with a wide variety of options available.

One of the best places to go around this area during fall time, so much fun things to do for kids and adults! They even have a whole flower field where you can pick your own bouquet now!

We were highly impressed with the retail store and all the options inside. Although the weather was super warm the Flying Monkey Cafe coffee, hot cocoa and cappuccino were all VERY HOT. We enjoyed the drinks with a donut and apple fritter...just a fair warning that the drinks were super hot and I was glad my kids are old enough to handle that. I would have given it 5 stars if we could have done just the corn maze on a token and not the wristband pricing.

Charming place with something for everyone. Lots of stuff for the little ones including pony rides, horse-drawn cart rides, and goat feeding. We didn't get to try the cafe or U-Pick apples but bought some apples, honey, cider, and cider donuts/fritters. When I called earlier in the year to ask about which apples were available for picking, Rachel was so informative and helpful. I learned a lot about apples just chatting with her for a short time. There is a lot of love that goes into this place. Will be back!

Super fun. They have apple picking, chickens and a play area. During certain season they have a bunch of fun things to do for all ages. The have a little store with fresh made goods and restaurant. Great place for kids and adults

Had such a great time here with my daughter, they had new stuff and I had a blast. Apple cider here is amazing. One thing I need to talk about though is when we went into the monkey cafe. The ladies at the front were shaming me and trying to guilt me and make me feel bad when I didn’t want to give my daughter candy. That made me so uncomfortable as I said “no she’s okay she doesn’t need more candy”. That was so uncomfortable and I hated that experience. If a mom says no, then that’s okay and what if someone’s child was allergic to an ingredient and you were pushing the candy on them. 0/10 for that. 10/10 for the Curtis orchard.

I love this farm. The goats and employees are so friendly. They take really good care of their animals. Their products are really high quality and their cheese delicious. I definitely recommend this place.

This can easily be considered a "hidden gem" due to its location. With a farmhouse, barns, gardens, fields, and goats, this embodies the true "farm to table atmosphere." The restaurant and it's staff are quality as is their offerings. Casey greeted us with a positive and uplifting personality and her knowledge of the menu made our choice simple. The chicken sandwich was the best I've ever had! The bun was light and fluffy unlike anything I've ever experienced. It was delicately topped with an Aioli, Tomato Jam, and Thick Cut Bacon which made for the ultimate surprise in our eyes. Tender and Juicy! I'd like to thank Connor in the kitchen for the suggestion to give this place a try! You were right! 10/10 would recommend and will be back again!

Such a cute farm, amazing little farm stand with a variety of both local and specialty foods. I've been multiple times for various events such as goat yoga, an artist's market, and a holiday photo session with goats dressed up as elves. I enjoy going as everyone that works and volunteers there is so kind and knowledgeable. They have goat petting and occasionally goat milking opportunities as well! Parking is off-road and on busy days ends up just off the highway. Parking lot is gravel but walking from lot to farm requires going over grass. The area near the barn, pavillion, and restaurant is gravel.

My partner and I love prairie fruits farm and have been coming here for years! We are so excited to see the new owners expanding this amazing farm to include a restaurant! Yesterday we went for the first time and tried their sandwiches and salads. The food was delicious! We got the gyro flat bread, chicken sandwich and farm salad along with glasses of sparkling rose. Everything was great! Very complex flavor. Lots of lovely details like edible flowers and very fresh! The prices per serving are on the higher end but this is for good reasons! using local ingredients is expensive! Also, they have a no tipping policy and just pay their workers a livable wage. So know that the money is well worth it! Don’t forget to pet some goats on your way out!

Greatly enjoyed our visit to Prairie Fruits Farm. Charcuterie and Cheese Board was very good, especially the cheeses. We will probably take just the cheese board next time. The Pork Chop was very good, with wonderful maple glaze. The mushroom risotto was okay. Could have used a stronger mushroom flavor. We ended up with goat milk gelato which was excellent.

If you haven’t taken the time to drop by this delightful farm, give yourself permission to do so right away. Although my arrival was impromptu, my timing was rewarded with an exceptional wine tasting. The entire team, especially Lisa, she immediately made me feel like a neighbor. Check out their web site for upcoming events. Of course it’s so easy to make friends with all the adorable goats. Make time for a walk about along the trails on this gorgeous property. Come prepared to taste and take home an amazing variety of cheeses that will please your every desire and become a staple on your shopping list.

Came for the art fair and goats, stayed for the excellent restaurant. 10/10 highly recommended.

Lots of nice lights for Christmas. On certain days maybe Friday there is hot chocolate. The kids there were having a great time. There were a couple of ponies in a warm embrace in the cold weather.

We visited for the first time a few days ago. It was cute but rather small. They have a small climber for kids. I love going to different parks with my kids but I don't know that I would go to this one again. The animals are cool, and so is free admission... but you can only see them so many times. If there was a bigger playground area and maybe a few more picnic tables we would definitely be back. Over all it's nice just wish there was a little more.

My daughter went here today there is a heat warning today she said the pigs were huddled up u see some shelter shaking. Is there not any regulations for these poor animals who have to sitting outside in this awful conditions to entertain people??

It's lovely little farm , staff was very helpful It doesn't take much to go through so try to go during petting time (currently 3-5 ) so there is more stuff to do. It's also next to the splash pad/aquatic center so you could spend the day at the area.

They have the Lights. Free ... walk thru. Thursday thru Sunday. 5pm til 7 or 8pm . Not sure.

Perfect for smaller kids. Lots of typical farm animals to see and a few different ones... my 3 year old had a blast in the petting area with the mini horses and donkeys

Loved watching my child enjoy petting and watching g the animals

This place was pretty bad, the duck wings were not at all for an American palette. The peking duck was not tender, so little meat, and the flavors were kind of all a mess. It had a lot of potential but this place was a red flag the moment it was described as “fast food”.

Our visit to Royal BBQ, a new addition to Green Street, was a unique experience. We ordered the Half-duck BBQ, a Pickled radish salad, and a side of rice, accompanied by an import soda called “Arctic Ocean.” We enjoyed the indoor temperature setting—our food did not get cold. The inside was clean and well-decorated. The service was quick despite the place being packed. Free water was available from a dispenser. I have mixed feelings about the meat. On one hand, it was succulent, and the serving was enough for two people. We did notice, however, that about a third of the meat was boney bits, like the neck and legs. These pieces had crunchy skin but little meat. The rest were good cuts soaked with duck fat, though not as crunchy, with some bone on them. I cannot judge how correctly this duck is done since I have only cooked store-bought duck once. The salad was simple, but refreshing on a hot summer day. The rice was not too sticky. The soda turned out to be a Fanta analog. Overall, I am pleased that such an option exists on Green Street. I enjoyed the food and left full. However, I wish the crunchy-to-meaty cuts ratio was adjustable. I recommend visiting it to see if you like it. Four stars.

I was disappointed with the half duck I ordered, as it was mostly bones and had very little meat. The menu pictures didn’t show this, so it felt like false advertising. I also noticed that other tables had different portions that looked better. On the positive side, the staff were friendly. However, I won’t be coming back here.

I lived in Hong Kong for four years and I'm happy to see that we finally get an authentic HK BBQ spot in town. The meats (roasted pork/duck/chicken) are impressively true to the flavors you'd find in HK, making this place a rare gem. I like the roasted pork and duck the most. The meats are more expensive than those in Chicago, but I don't think there is any competitor in town, so they do have a good reason for the premium. The vegetable tastes just normal (not as fantastic as some other places in town) but the price is very nice. For the milk tea, it was a bit underwhelming; the balance of milk, tea, and sugar felt off, so it didn’t quite capture the smooth, rich taste typical of HK milk tea. Despite this, I’ll definitely be back. The authentic flavors of the roasted meats and the fact that there's no real competition in town make it a worthwhile visit for anyone craving genuine HK BBQ.

Glad to see more Cantonese food coming to CU. Food was good and flavours were there. The pickled radish was a great addition to help cut through the fattiness of the duck. Presentation could be improved though. I didn’t like the paper tray

I hate leaving one star reviews, but this establishment is genuinely terrible. The entire experience was disappointing and I'm glad I only got beamed out of $18. Got an order of soy sauce chicken, got the equivalent of "some" meat & straight up just bones covered in sauce. No side for $15, had to add a side of rice for $2 that was okay but my Asian homie told me they had too much water so it wasn't good in his opinion. The homie got a whole duck for $50. In his words: "no meat, all skin" and on top of that they didn't keep the head or butt. The equivalent of this in size in the Chicago area would be ~$30 and you'd have it pouring out the sides. We're in the middle of cornfields, this ain't nowhere near $50 worth of food. Won't be coming back and will tell people that we're enthusiastic to try to avoid it. Bonus picture of a random hair sticking out the tissue box we had on our table.

I had the char siu and siu yuk combo rice. The char siu was too lean for me and I wasn't amazed by the marinade, but it was enjoyable. The siu yuk flavor was excellent and the crispy skin was on point. I'm so glad we have more Cantonese food options in Champaign.