We discovered this place in 2020 & kept going as nature walks were the only family activity we…read morecould do during the pandemic. This park is impeccably maintained, safe & offers a vast green space along with ample parking. Views of the fox river, mature trees & big lush grassy lawn. There are numerous activities available besides walking, biking, picnicking. You can enjoy amenities such as a baseball park, tennis/pickleball courts, paddle boats & mini golf (for a fee), fitness circuit, beach volleyball & bocce or bring your own set of outdoor games. Also a small water park with slides. Now all that's lacking is a set of basketball hoops & this would be THE perfect park! The bike path runs alongside the scenic Fox River, providing breathtaking views. Benches & picnic tables are plentiful & scattered throughout the park. It's the perfect spot to set up a pop-up tent & picnic blanket like we always do. You can also rent a pavilion for parties & gatherings. This park is conveniently located near a variety of restaurants, stores & bookstores on Main St. in St. Charles.

Came here to picnic for Mother's Day. It was very crowded but a lot of green space. The park has…read morewide sidewalks for a stroll or biking. There are also activities. Paddle boats, scenic boat ride and mini golf. There are some snacks sold by the mini golf area. My only complaint is there isn't enough restrooms. There is one facility close to the parking lot but it is a long walk of you decide to camp farther away. There should at least be portopotties spread out.

I have mixed emotions about this Kane County forest preserve…read more On the one hand I love it because it's very "birdy" and for those who love to watch and count birds it is special. On the other hand I hate the bikes that go whizzing by and rattle the bridge just as I'm capturing a melodic or mournful bird song. There are some who politely slow down and call out "On your left" but some really seem to get a kick out of almost knocking someone over. If you walk over the two bridges and go down the path to the right along the opposite bank of the river you will be in Tekawitha Woods, a twofer! Bikes cannot go through there.

Decent forest preserve a really nice running trail in the morning. Perhaps not as taken care of as…read moreother preserves. Beware of yellow jackets in late summer-early fall. I've gotten stung in this preserve a couple of times just minding my own business and running.

I've hiked Veteran Acres many, many times. There's a decent variety of trails and they do a pretty…read moregood job of maintaining them. I'll run into deer; especially early in the AM or at dusk. Not very crowded. And you don't feel like you're in the middle of Crystal Lake once you get back into the wooded areas.

Veteran Acres Park is gorgeous, with a clean and historic nature center and plenty of hiking…read moretrails, with water features sprinkled in. I really enjoyed looking at the animals inside such as the snakes, and the trails were difficult enough to be challenging, but easy enough to enjoy the beautiful surroundings. I'm taking a star off because they were spraying Roundup all over the park while we were there, and the lake was quite green. Regardless, it was a fun experience to connect with nature and get off of our phones. We saw some caterpillars, chipmunks, and a lot of turtles. I remember coming here as a child, and will continue to visit when I'm in the area for some fresh air. I didn't see any ticks, but keep in mind there can be ticks and mosquitos in the damper months.

Daughter had her wedding here in December a beautiful white building with snow was awesome. They…read moresupplied the chairs and table tables.-if I remember correctly. It was in 2014. Would definitely recommend spring summer winter fall. I think this building would make anything look beautiful.

My brother and sister-in-law went to Walton Island Park in Elgin to take pictures before their…read morewedding on their wedding day. As the name suggests this park is made up of an island and several bridges in the middle of the Fox River. There is a walking and running trail, fishing spots (with the appropriate permits of course), and benches and shaded places to sit and enjoy the nature. While we were visiting, the trees had turned color in the fall and added to the beauty of the area. There are some fantastic places to take pictures. The park even comes with a gigantic American flag. For a beautiful park to experience and enjoy, I highly recommend Walton Island Park!

Nice place for a walk and to observe nature. During the winter the indoor bathrooms are closed, but…read morethere is a porta potties. (Bring your own TP and hand sanitizer!) Trails had maps available and decent signage.

This is a great place for a pet friendly, on-leash walk with your dog. The limestone trails are…read moreflat and soft, and the trails around the water were busy, even on a chilly morning. There's a lot to see here and a variety of ways you can head on the path. I saw plenty of people fishing, no boats out yet, and a lot of other dogs and strollers. If your dog is not good around many other dogs or people, this might not be the place for you to walk on a busy day. But I did notice other directions you can walk, away from the water, that doesn't have as much traffic. The views are nice (if you can get past the fact that the giant mound you're seeing is garbage underneath) and the grounds seem well-kept and clean. There's plenty of parking, too. The only negative is getting around the goose poop and some litter blowing around in areas. But overall, it is a nice place to get some exercise in.

Charming little park located in downtown Cary. It has a pond and a pavilion. Jaycee Park has a lot…read moreof good things. Has a big pond in the middle. This also connects to other places by paths and sidewalks. A little history about it. It's one of the city's best parks. This was acquired in 1982 through a developer donation, so that was one kind thing from them. A few improvements have happened. In 1999 they added the shelter and first trail. Also they have added fish if you like fishing. The pond has bass, catfish, and walleye among others. Good little park for this town and close to lots of local attractions. It's located on Silver Lake Road north of the railroad bridge. The pavilion also has outlets to charge phones.

I've been living here for 8 years and this is by far my favorite spot. It's not the prettiest view…read moreif you just sit on the dock or pavilion but if you actually take a couple minutes and walk the path it is absolutely covered in wild flowers, which are stunning. I took the first batch of my senior pictures here and honestly I'll probably go here for the last two sets.

I love Primrose Farm Park!! It's actually one of the few parks I will frequent alone-- well, with…read morethe company of a ferocious Golden Retriever or perhaps Shar Pei. What can I say? You can never be too careful. Although this park is located in what many people would consider to be the "middle of nowhere", it's really not to those that live on the west side of STC. The park is a wide open space, and is visible from both Crane and Bolcum. In addition to the peaceful atmosphere of the park, there is a good amount of parking, playgrounds, and some ball fields. It's a great place to do an outdoor workout or meditate, as when I frequent the park I'm usually the only person there so I don't have to worry about looking like a jackass doing exercises. I mean, the people from the street don't get that good of a view so I'm not worried about being busted out. As always, please clean up after yourself! There's occasional garbage or dog waste which is naaasty!!

Easy access from Army Trail Road near the historic Wayne train station with a circle drive parking…read morearea Dunham Forest Preserve is a little utilized gem. So many varieties of native plants that attract a nice variety of birds, bees, dragonflies and butterflies of many kinds. The gravel trail is not a loop so you'll have to backtrack. They are two picnic tables and a relief station. So many flowers are in bloom now but not appreciated from the road so take a hike!