There was a family event here so we decided to come check the place out. Even though my kiddo is…read moreonly two, she liked seeing some of the stuff they had on exhibit and they also had coloring pages and whatnot. We got here near the tail end of the event, so we didn't spend much time inside and went walking along the little trail where they had signs up with information about turkeys spread out through a little loop around the woods. It's a lovely preserve, and I'll bet it's particularly beautiful in the spring and summer. The building is small but sufficient to have some programs and there are bathrooms here. There are a few outbuildings as well; I'm not sure if there are programs there too or not. There's a good deal of parking here. Keep an eye on their calendar to have an excuse to come out, or just spend some time wandering the trails in peace and quiet.

This place is stunning. My neighbor told me about it and I promptly took a drive up here that…read moreafternoon just a few days after "peak" fall colors. It's amazing. I wasn't adequately prepared because it was a spur of the moment decision, so I didn't have a jacket or warm enough clothes, so I didn't stay or walk around too long. (And sadly their giftshop didn't have any sweatshirts -- I would've bought one if they had because it would've solved my problem. So, note to Ryerson: sell sweatshirts in the fall!). I've since come back here for an art exhibit (see my review on the Brushwood Center page for that info). I cannot wait to return again in the spring and definitely multiple times next fall. I want to explore it all.

I stopped by in the afternoon and was surprised to see a lot of the brush had been cleared away for…read morea much better view of the lake. There were more people here (it must be spring) and I saw that the restrooms had been rebuilt (burnt down in fall) and didn't have that horrible smell. There are now permit parking regulations in place around Fort Sheridan residences so beware parking there if the lot is full.

Came on Sunday before Memorial day and was raining in the morning so it was a bit muddy in some…read morepart of the trail. Beautiful stony beach area and lookout points. Parking space could get full on busy days. Lots of bird spotting. We did a 2mile round trip walk but there are shorter routes.

Beautiful trails. Lot of nature . Starts up near Wisconsin and goes to south side…read more They are sandy you can walk dogs, ride bikes, horses have A picnic. I actually had my eldest 2nd bday about 24 years ago at one of the pavilions .

Prairie Wolf has a 1-mile self-guided trail and a 1.75 -mile for hiking, biking and XC skiing. The…read morepreserve includes a 20-acre wetland as part of its 435 acres. Enter off Rt22. The Prairie Wolf Off-leash dog area is accessed off Waukegan Road. An annual or daily permit is required. The area I've pictured here, is off Old Elm and there are no trails or parking in this upper northern section of the preserve. Prairie Wolf is another name for coyote and certainly you can hear the packs howling and yipping (especially January through March).

Great little trail! Stroller and dog friendly! Great for bird watching! Can't wait to visit again!read more

Fantastic preserve that's easy to pass by. Reed Turner is a small preserve that has single-track…read moretrails throughout the preserve. This is not a huge preserve so if you want to log miles, this may not fit the bill. A beautiful woodland preserve with a creek and ravines and great beauty!! Well worth a visit and many repeated visits over the seasons!

Neat little woodland in Long Grove with several trails that go through a creek, a pond, and a lake…read more Here you'll find pure undisturbed nature (you'll have to hike on unpaved roads) with lots of beautiful flowers, animals, and insects. There's majestic trees, great water views, and a great variety of plants. Worth a visit if you want to get away from the typical forest preserve.

Amazing little area has a great trail around some ponds around a Farmstead, Cafe, and grounds that…read moreare beautifully kept yet also wild. We were looking for a European goldfinch and did not see one. But we saw plenty of other birds!

Joggers, Walkers, Nature Lovers…read more I've been coming to Middlefork for years. Throughout the day, you'll find people jogging, biking and waking on this long trail. I love how peaceful it is. Every season offers different different sights, smells, fauna and flora. It's such a lovely place to go. Then, off the main path, there are paths that go through the savannah. What a lovely walk! Along the paths are signs that tell you the history of the place or plants/birds you may see. Sometimes I'll just stroll with my dog (leashes are required) and read up. To get there, park at the Elawa Farms building. There's a map near the entrance so you can see how far and where the paths go. Happy trails.

Such a beautiful location! I really love the safety of a one-way road winding through the park. I…read morecame for a party at pavilion D and it was gorgeous. It felt private and secluded, parking lot and restrooms nearby also felt private to the specific space. There were no sinks in the restrooms so if you have wipes, I'd suggest bringing them. While hand sanitizer is provided, I like to know my hands are clean before I go back to eating. I saw evidence of many well groomed trails for walking and would love to come back again and hike a few of them. I also noticed benches which I appreciate! The covered pavilion itself was huge and looked newer. There were plenty of picnic tables, trash bins and a large grill available for use. Green space behind and to the side provided plenty of room for running around and playing games. Public walkways are nearby, but not close enough to interfere with private events.

A friend and I went here for a walk and I was impressed. There's a 1.5-mile paved loop and a few…read moreshorter limestone off shoots. It's well lit and there's a plethora of parking, bathrooms and pavillions. Really a very nice place for a long run, if you're into that, because you're never far from a bathroom but the terrain is still varied enough to not be maddeningly boring.

Independence Grove is such a nice forest preserve with lots of things to do especially in the…read moresummer time. Beautiful trails to walk/run along but they also have a playground for kids. They have a beer garden and snack shop. They also have water activities that you can rent like paddle boats and kayaks. It's just a nice place to go solo or with friends if you are looking to connect with nature for a bit.

Independence Grover is very much a Beautiful Paradise to My Husband & I. We discovered this great…read morenature center when we shopped at a thrift store I like. There are many fish by the tables if you bring something to eat. The bathrooms are very clean & close by. The natural nature is gorgeous! People can rent boats too. The paths are nice to walk on & this is a huge place! Plenty of parking in each section. Fishing as well. I seen there is a beach by the tables to eat at. Very cute. Peaceful too. We live in Chicago & many of our nature areas are very crowded. Even if it would get busy there is enough room for everyone here. I love it!! The plants & flowers are Amazing! I do wish we lived closer. If you have not made a visit please do.

I fully admit that having teenage boys at home during the pandemic has been a lot. At some point…read moreeach day, my hubby and I get in the car and talk through all our troubles (translation: complain about having children) while driving up north along the lake. We often end up parked in our car staring at Lake Michigan at Forest Park Beach. We're convinced that all the other couples we see there are also doing the same thing ;-) Last week, our laziness and overwhelm forced us to get out of the car and take in a fresh air walk along the lakefront. We walked south past the concessions and over near the boating facility. We typically don't leave our car unattended, just in case we might get a ticket. We took the risk, and it was so worth it. TBH I don't think they are monitoring the parking lots or ticketing right now, but I'm not 100% sure. What an absolutely gorgeous discovery! We honestly felt like we were on vacation (without kids). The air was fresh, the water was fairly calm, and we felt grateful to be living near such a beautiful oasis. Along the walkway we discovered a play area for kids, boats ready to launch, a covered area with picnic tables, tall lampposts and pristine landscaping. At the very end of our walk was a goose waiting for her goose companion to come back from sea (lol). We learned from a local that the goose had been there for a few days. Anyway, the sidewalk came to an abrupt end, something like out of a Shel Silverstein poem. We turned around, took a deep breath, and received a call from one of our sons that he and his brother were about to bring a bunch of friends over to our house. And just like that, our peace and calm came to a stop. Until next time...

Lake Forest Beach is a public area with fees incurred for public access. I am a person with a…read moredisability and unable to walk far distances and can not use stairs (age 59) female. I was harassed/shamed when I requested a reasonably accommodation to be dropped off/picked up. I did not ask for entry/parking. All I wanted was a small accommodation to be dropped off and picked up. I was harassed and wasn't allowed to be picked up due to my disability. This is a violation of the ADA (American Disability Act) and was discriminated against due to my disability. LFB is considered a public park and was in violation of my rights as a person with a disability. I understand there are rules and I just wanted a reasonable accommodation to be allowed to be dropped off and picked up not harassed and shamed and left standing in the heat while my husband explained the situation. He showed the gate guard a copy of my "Illinois ID marked as a person with a disability." Beach management need to educate their staff as to making simple reasonable accommodations for people with a disability. They (staff) have no rights to judge and disregard persons with a disability. Such can be reported and subject to significant fines and lawsuits. I suggest ADA compliance and policies for persons with a disability are seriously reviewed and followed according to the American Disability Act. This should NOT have transpired and was humiliating, to be honest.