So sad to see the trees burned to the ground the deer have no where to hide from the coyotes and…read morewhere will the birds make their nests it looks like a tornado hit the land burning of trees laying o the ground why is this nessisary looks awful no regards for the animals.

This is a great place for a nature walk, power walk, run, bike or leisure stroll. There are walking…read morepaths that are paved, gravel , grass and dirt. You will often see rare birds, deer and a variety of reptiles and insects. During nice weather I go there daily.

This is a very nice nature center, which features a really nice exhibit space with animal displays,…read moreincluding turtles, snakes, and toads, and information about the region. The space opens up into a beautiful garden area with some log cabins, and there are a few more animals set up outside - a hawk, turkey, and a very talkative Great Horned Owl. We took a nice walk along the Lost Beach Trail, though part of it is gated off. It was still fun to explore the marshy area and see all of the plants and animals. There is a boardwalk that lets you get further out into the area. There is a parking lot available.

Sand Ridge is a part of the Forest Preserves of Cook County system. You almost miss it when you…read morepass by! As a nature center, it has an interpretive center in addition to the trails, gardens, and prairies. When I was there there was an exhibit about Lake Chicago, which may or may not be a permanent exhibit. I attended the night sky walk they hosted inert and it's a good location for such a program. It's a heavily wooded area, and whilst it's very near the city, it's a better place from where to stargaze. We went on a short hike, in part to help adjust our night vision, and followed with using the large telescopes that the nature center has. There are many trials here for a leisurely walk or a more advanced hike. I am not opposed to the concept of a night hike (I actually think it's pretty cool); what concerns me more is not being able to see the trail and whether there's a lot, root, or other obstruction on the trial. The trail we used here was pretty level and had few trip hazards, though they don't generally allow evening hikes--that was specifically a feature of this program. Some of the attendees at the program I attended were fairly inconsiderate. Some were loud and constantly talking (had they not been talking as much and kept the volume much lower, we might have seen other creatures, or those like bats might have swooped down closer to us). The guide did remind folks of that, but I don't think it helped. I think what annoyed me more was that for a night hike and a 35 minute walk to develop some night vision, there were people taking photos with full flash. Rude. You don't have to document ever moment of a kid/persons life! I'm not sure I'll return to Sand Ridge for a program unless it's something I REALLY want to attend. It's pretty far from me--I live in the north side and this place is a good 55 minutes from me when traffic is reasonable. Also, I got here about 15 minutes before the start... but they didn't actually begin the program until 20 minutes after the stated start time. I totally understand waiting a few minutes, maybe as much as 10, for latecomers; oftentimes that would mean they were waiting for me! But 20 minutes is really excessive, especially for a program that was billed as 1.5 hours. The guide said something about another hike (I couldn't hear since I was near the back), which I may have been able to join if it had started promptly, and they said that though the program had an end time of 9 they could go as late as 9:39. I needed to leave at the original time since I have an hour long drive to get home, so I ended up leaving about half hour early. I took a look in one of the telescopes but it didn't look any more magnified than what I could see with the naked eye (i overheard someone else make the same comment). They did mention sky tracker apps which help one view and learn what is in the night sky, so that was helpful. The trail we walked was not accessible. There were some areas that where wooden planks were laid down, ostensibly because there was marshy area it was providing a path over. They may have an accessible trail here (just inside the entrance I saw something that could have been), but I'm not sure. I do wish the FPDCC would list more information in their events--particularly basic information like whether it's accessible or not.

You can get on to the Yellow Trail if you head across the field and into the woods. The field by…read morethe parking lot is a nice flat open space, great for picnicking. There's lots of parking and it doesn't seem like too busy a park (but not creepy or deserted--a welcome change from the likes of Swallow Cliff, for example). There are little lakes around of course, but it's not right on a lake lie some of the other parks--I'd say that's an upside and a downside in that it lacks the beauty of a lake, but probably lacks the mosquitoes, too. Out in the woods at Cherry Hill is a different story--out in the trees that place is literally swarming with mosquitoes, so don't forget your bugspray.

I love the visitors center. Nice selection of souvenirs. Very helpful clerks. I would've given them…read morean additional star, but they're not open every day.

I know there's not much to do in the Beecher-Crete area. I grew up there. However, I have fond…read morememories of Plum Creek, and I've gone back there with younger siblings who didn't get to experience it (up to that point). The Nature Center has been redone, and it looks great, and the hiking trails are pretty good. Yes, this part of Illinois is mostly unremarkable for wildlife, but in just a few minutes, we found a tangle of snakes near us sunning in a pond (it's a brain teaser to count how many, see attached). Plum Creek is also famous for its hill. Even in springtime, it's fun to see who can run up and down the fastest. Of course, when there's snow, the competition is really on.

Great paved walking path. It is not very forgiving on a hot summer day. There is little to no…read moreshade on this path. The trees along the path are immature and not tall enough to provide shade but, there is plenty of nature to observe and reset yourself.

Nice trail. Wildlife, plants, many trees. A pond with lots of different kinds of birds.read more

This is a great gathering place all year long . Today was a fire and ice event. As I walked in the…read morepark area I was greeted with a big gas fed bonfire . The stage had blocks of ice ready to be transformed into clever and stunning art . The setup in the small parking lot flowed smoothly . Great job by all the restaurants that participating in the chili cook-off . The samples were so diverse , who knew chili could be so different ? Hot chocolate was available at the front and s'mores trimmings in a baggy was being distributed by local police in the back . Small wood burning fire pits were putting out the heat to toast those marshmallows . There was a very well built bags board game from ice . It was fast and slick , the challenge was fun. Two other Photo Op ice pieces were in the lot and on the stage . The event ran from Noon until 3:00 . Just the right amount of time to sample ten specialty chili's and vote for your favorite . We stayed for the award ceremony , three trophy's we're given out . The people voted fat Rosie's as the best. If you missed it try restaurant week during Feb 17 - 27 . Although the fire and ice event will remain very special to me and my fiancee . The outdoor dance in the brisk weather with radiant heat from the bonfire was epic . And thanks to the little girl who took our picture. Great community spirit during less social times .

Breidert Green is the heart of Frankfort and many of its activities. Depending on the time of…read moreyear, there are so many diverse actitivities that occur here. There are Sunday concerts in the summer and Arts and Crafts fairs in the fall. There are ice sculpting events, chili cook offs, runs and out door movies. The Green is maintained beautifully with the stage set inside a replica of the former train station. It is located along the Old Plank Trail which runs on the old railroad path. There is even a magnificent public washroom which is always spanking clean. If you come to Frankfort, you will probably see the Green. It is at its best in the summer bloom or under the sparkling holidays lights. I just love it, however corny that sounds!

The Prairie Estates Park sits on 1.5 acres of land. It has an ADA accessible playground equipment,…read morea small shelter, and a drinking fountain. The paved Turkey Creek Trail starts at the park and runs thru the county?s Ivan Gatlin Nature Preserve, connecting to the Erie Lackawanna Trail at the other end. Park Hours: Dawn to Dusk Park is good for little kids. Great parking and starting point for walking path.

Trail is great for cyclist, walkers, and runners. Trail is wide to accommodate traffic both ways…read more Trail is miles long and extends to other trails. I enjoy walking this trail and looking at the wildlife and enjoying nature. Trail is peaceful and tranquil. This trail can be enjoyed all year long. Open dawn to dusk.

Beautiful walking trail. Especially during the fall, the leaves are awesome! It was perfect for the…read morewhole family as the kids could run or ride their bikes ahead. Very safe area