# Retzer Nature Center > Place to go for families in the Milwaukee–Waukesha area (WI). Times are Central Time. - When: Trails 6 a.m.–10 p.m. daily. Office/building: Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m.–3… - Where: Retzer Nature Center, S14W28167 Madison St, Waukesha, WI 53188 - Ages: All ages - Price: Free entry and parking; no annual membership or daily permit required - Schedule: Trails 6 a.m.–10 p.m. daily. Office/building: Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; closed Sunday and County-observed federal holidays. - Organizer: Waukesha County Parks - Official page: https://www.waukeshacounty.gov/parks-and-land-use/parks-and-recreation/retzer-nature-center/ - Last checked: Sat, Oct 24 Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Oct 24, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-10-24), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/milwaukee/activities/retzer-nature-center--listing-47e06c29b900f73292a7e81e ## About A 483-acre Waukesha County nature center of prairies, woodlands, wetlands, gardens and trails, once the retirement home of John and Florence Retzer, who planted more than 26,000 trees, shrubs and flowers there. For families, the Discovery Trail has Exploration Stations with sensory play and STEM activities and is built for all ages and abilities; there is also a butterfly and rain garden and an oak opening. The Environmental Learning Center hosts programs year-round and houses the Horwitz-DeRemer Planetarium (run by the School District of Waukesha). Snowshoes can be rented in winter. Dogs are not allowed (leashed service dogs permitted), and youth groups need adult supervision. ## Similar picks in Milwaukee - [Scarecrow Lane at Retzer Nature Center](https://grassyknees.com/milwaukee/activities/scarecrow-lane-at-retzer-nature-center--listing-944019f65f4d2179aa514832) — Oct 24 – Oct 31 · Retzer Nature Center, Waukesha · All ages · Free · checked Oct 24. A self-guided fall hike past more than 42 creative, one-of-a-kind scarecrows set up along Retzer's trails by the Friends of Retzer Nature Center. Start near the Discovery… - [Fall Story Hike: The Acorn and the Oak — Retzer Nature Center](https://grassyknees.com/milwaukee/activities/fall-story-hike-the-acorn-and-the-oak-retzer-nature-center--listing-fd4aaafb0293c15dd66d564f) — Oct 24 – Oct 31 · 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM · Retzer Nature Center, Waukesha · All ages · Free · checked Oct 24. 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