I could not believe there was a horse stable this close to my house. They have a LOT of horses and…read moreponies. There were 5 people in my group and Anna was our guide. She was amazing! The ride was leisurely and relaxing but still fun. They recommend dressing for the weather but wearing jeans and gym shoes, which was perfect. My horse was Sammy (ironic) and my husband's was Denny. I also had a connection with Sanchez (although that may be because I was feeding him tons of apples and mints). I wish we would have known about the carrots and apples but you can bring your own and make friends with all of the beautiful horses! I can't wait to go back.

My daughter did a trail ride. She has several years of riding experience so we have seen all sorts…read moreof barns. While the ride was fine and the trainer was friendly, I was SHOCKED at the condition of the barn. The smell of urine was overwhelming. The stalls looked like they had not been mucked out in weeks. Tons of poop in the stalls. Animals just looked sad and depressed. The barn and arena were dark and depressing. Absolutely no outdoor space for the animals. I'm shocked people board horses there. Conditions are terrible. There were about 30 farm animal just standing around in a dark arena. Reminded me of a nursing home. Very depressing. Everything just looked neglected.

We had the most wonderful birthday party experience here back in February. I have been meaning to…read moreleave a review for months! Having a Feb bday doesn't leave us with a lot of fun birthday party locations so we're always looking for something different. The kids absolutely loved this experience. Learning all about different animals and reptiles. The party room was the perfect size for a kid's party. They provided tables, chairs, and tablecloths which was super helpful. The staff is kind and knowledgeable. We got really lucky with having weather nice enough to be outside to see the outdoor farm. They actually said as long as the weather is not unsafe, they continue to provide that part of the party year long. You definitely don't want to miss that part. I'm not sure who enjoyed this party more, the kids or the adults. Thank you Double J Riding!

We enrolled our 9-year-old in the 4-day JJ Horsecamp for $375 after doing extensive research. We…read moredrove more than 30 minutes each way because the camp description sounded exactly like what she was looking for. While we understood that activities were "subject to change," we expected an experience that closely reflected what was advertised. Our daughter was by far the oldest child in her group, and I wish there had been more age-appropriate grouping or activities. She came home each day underwhelmed, which was especially disappointing because she had been counting down the days until camp. The biggest issue was that many of the advertised activities felt much more basic than they appeared. There was far less hands-on interaction with the animals than we expected. Instead of an immersive farm or horse experience, it often felt more like observing, listening, or completing simple crafts. For example, "making parakeet sticks" meant feeding the birds with sticks that were already prepared, and "making a goat piñata" consisted of stuffing a pre-made paper-mâché piñata. She also told us that "learning to milk a cow" involved squeezing a rubber glove attached to a wooden calf with blue-colored liquid inside. While these activities may be enjoyable for younger children, they felt geared toward a much younger age group than our 9-year-old. One thing I did appreciate was the check-in and check-out process. The staff had a clear system that made drop-off and pick-up feel organized and secure. My biggest suggestion would be to make the advertising more representative of what campers actually do. A day-by-day sample itinerary or more photos and videos of children participating in the actual activities would help parents make an informed decision. We chose this camp over others because of the detailed activity descriptions, and the reality simply didn't match the expectations they created.

Christy is a really special person. Her immense dedication to caring for every animal at the farm…read moreis both obvious and inspiring. I feel really lucky to have found her, she's an excellent instructor. Going down to see her and the horses is the high point of my week. I would recommend her a thousand times!

Christy Nahser is one of the most kind human beings I have ever met. I have know her for more than…read more25 years . At times I have known her to find a cat on the side of the road, or a goose, or dog and certainly horses, and take them in or to the vet and nurse them back to health. She is for sure a horse whisperer, I have never know such care and compassion she shows to each and every horse that is in her care at her barn. If you are looking to board your horse or take riding lessons Christy Nahser is the best out there! If you just need a place to be at peace for anxiety or depression just being at Chrislin Farms will give you peace! Looking into the horses eyes is something special. Give Christy a call and once you speak to her you will see what I am talking about 630-802-4996

No better place on earth to board your horse! I have boarded there for nearly 35 years, and my…read morehorses get only the best. Martha Hoyt is a fantastic trainer, from babies to seasoned show horses. Instructors (Allie, Anne, Patty) give expert guidance and care whether in group classes or private lessons. The horses receive exceptional care with feeding and stall cleaning. If you're wondering, pay a visit and see this little piece of horsie Heaven for yourself.

READ THE FILTERED REVIEWS before you make a decision. I've been riding at PHRS for six years and…read morebought my horse there. He gets top notch care from the staff and I never have to worry about whether he's fed or if his stall is cleaned. The trainers there are also good. They listen to your goals and try to help you achieve them. For show riders they emphasize that winning isn't everything, it's about good sportsmanship and having your best ride. That attitude has created a barn full of supportive riders. School shows are held four times a year, and many of the classes are held in the outdoor arena if the weather is nice. I enjoy the wide variety of classes that are available. There's always a chance to try something new. This is a barn that is steeped in tradition. When they say it's a family affair they truly mean it. The staff and riders do their best to make everyone feel like family. Don't base your opinions off of a few unflitered reviews when there are tons of positive reviews that didn't make it past Yelp's ridiculous system! When in doubt, go out there and see for yourself.

Still great place to board and for lessons, but they discontinued trail rides. The surrounding…read moreforest preserves sadly make riders feel unwelcome as peds, bikes don't want to share the trails. It's a shame so many people fear horses

I've been riding here for the past 6 years and I loved it, every horse is well mannered and some…read morepeople are as well. I have quit at this barn because of fat shaming by a lady, which I will not name. Because of this, I have lost all confidence in riding. I also do not recommend camps, any of them. Prices go up while everything stays the same or even becomes worse.

Excellent place to get started with your horseback riding experience...for all ages. They have…read moregreat friendly rescued horses and certainly make the experience memorable. I would encourage them to add an element of what it is like to keep a horse on their trail rides to encourage and intrigue first time riders.

This is the 2nd year we have had Sarah's ponies out to our Autumn Fair Fundraising event. Her…read morestaff, once again, was phenomenal. Nicole was very communicative with me and she was able to get the pony wheel and petting zoo set up quickly and efficiently with her staff. Thank you!

Where should I start? I got a Living Social deal and decided…read moreto try them with my girlfriend who is an experienced Hunter/Jumper rider. Let me just preface that their regular prices are so good I drove from Chicago, and will again. First of all, if you think you are at the entrance, but not sure because no one answers your knocking on the door, just walk in. We spent 10 minutes hoping someone was around while their two goats followed me. One of the owners came out and got us and I had to leave my goat girlfriend who escorted me along their property. The owners (a couple, forgot their names) were very nice, which is a treat because I have gone to other places for riding and in my experience most horse people are arrogant and don't have patience for beginners. Not the case here, very kind, patient, and a sense of humor to boot (no pun intended). They do all kinds of training, western, english, dressage, and they train their customer's horses daily. Horses were well maintained, as were the stables. I was retaught how to post, and I cantered for the first time. Smallish arena, but music was playing and it was relatively easy to hear the instructors, who were the owners. My girlfriend and I got to ride together for the first time, and even though it wasn't a scenic trail, it was very fun. Worth the trip Worth the money Worth a look I will be back, at least to see my goat friends.

My family and I found Country Meadows about 12 years ago, I was 9 years old and had been riding at…read morea barn through the local park district of my town. Someone had told us about Country Meadows and that we should really check it out if I wanted to continue horseback riding. We took a trip to see the barn and meet the owners and right away we decided we wanted to have a lesson there. I remember from my first lesson, how happy I was and how safe I felt on the horse and in their barn. I had just one, hour long lesson and I never went back to my previous barn. The owners Mike and Dale, and trainer Julie make it feel like home. They are all so friendly and loving and really want you to grow and become a great rider. They are like family; they support you, help you achieve your goals, and really genuinely care about you as a rider and a person. From my first lesson to now I've grown so much as a rider and a person. I have learned and grown to be so much more confident and outgoing. Continuely connecting with so many of their friendly and happy horses. And really became a rider that I always hoped I could become. Every horse you will ride teaches you something new and different and really challenges you as a rider. With the training and attention to detail they give you during your lesson, you will find yourself starting to get a hang of it and becoming a better rider every lesson. They take great pride in the way their horses are taken care of and getting the treatment and love they deserve. Their red barn is so gorgeous with beautiful wooden stalls and siding, the viewing room is very clean and nice and heated for cold winter days with a large window for you to be able to watch your children, spouse, or friends ride. They have a heated indoor arena that is very long and big so that you have lots of space to ride if there are a few other people in your lesson. They also have a beautiful large outdoor arena for lessons when theres a nice sunny summer day. They have the sweetest dogs that will come greet you with lots of kisses and some very vocal chickens in their second barn across the indoor arena that you'll want to meet. If you are looking for a barn that will teach you and help you learn to be a great rider, who are friendly and really truly care about the rider and that persons lesson and progress. This is definitely without a doubt the barn for you. I am so grateful and really just thankful I found this barn 12 years ago and the people in it because it really is a family away from my family. Honestly I do not think I would be the rider I am today if it wasn't for finding Country Meadow Farm!

Palos Preserves has a lot going on. You can fish; in fact, I saw a few people doing that. There…read morewere several people biking through the preserves (some casual, some much more hard core). Walking trails, which is what I was using with the group I was in. Of course, Camp Bullfrog is a major attraction at this site, situated on Bullfrog Lake; you can rent paces for camping anywhere from 2 or 3 days up to 10 days per month. And there's also picnic groves around the place too. There are a few port-a-potties, and there may be an actual restroom with flush toilets a bit southwest of Bullfrog Lake; I forgot to check. Nearby are Sagawau Nature Center and the Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center, amongst other places. Palos is an International Dark Sky location, so the Forest Preserve District of Cook County sometimes has programs here. There's some hilliness here, and some of the areas I was in were not accessible--though it's possible the campsite is. You should contact them if you are in need of an accessible place to recreate.

Never in a million years would I have believed you if you told me that one of the best running…read moretrails in the USA was in IL. But that's exactly what I found at Palos Forest Preserves. I ignored the Yelp map directions, which drops you in the middle of the street, and instead followed that street until it became a dead end. I parked in the parking lot by the dead end and began my trail there. This ended up being about a 2-2 1/2 hour adventure, at about 16K steps (running half way). The trail has some nice markers to help keep you on the right track, but more would be even better because I ended up doing "eenie meenie minie moe" at several junction points and just hoped for the best. My favorite part about these trails were the inclines and natural obstacle courses. Watch out for the trees though. A couple of the roots reached out and grabbed my foot on more than one occasion, causing me to kiss the ground. I'm certain I heard some giggles coming from the treetops. Cheeky lil bastards. The views were breathtaking during my autumn visits. Very peaceful in many areas and not too crowded, unless you came on the weekend when the bikers take over. They treat it like it's their world, which is very annoying. If I lived in the area, I would definitely frequent these woods with my mountain bike. If running/hiking was fun, biking would be a blast! However, I would remember to share the trails with pedestrians.

Nice recreational area. Kayaks and canoes available for rent at a reasonable fee. Lake is not too…read morelarge, usually pretty calm. There's a well maintained 1 mile trail around the lake, also a butterfly garden, kids area, and other points of interest. There are also a lot of special events and programs for kids and adults. Ample parking in their lot or on the street.

DO NOT HAVE YOUR EVENT HERE! Unless you want to pay for hours of dance time you never receive! My…read moredaughter's accessibility needs were not met, she's in a wheelchair, they were rude, unhelpful, and ruined her Sweet 16, she will never forget dancing her opening dance with her father, then the group dance music came on and the music abruptly ended with no notice or anything, and when we complained to the TEENAGER they left to run the event she said, sorry, nothing I can do. I'll never have an event there again and NEVER refer anyone to go there! 2020 was bad enough, 2021 she was lucky to have people willing to come, then this! Terrible customer service and communication forget it! Go somewhere else, you'll have great memories instead of miserable ones! ​