Paulus Park

(2 reviews)

0.6 mi

This is a hidden little gem right near downtown Lake Zurich that many locals don't even seem to…read moreknow about. The entrance is tucked between two residential homes, and it boarders the private LZ Golf Course on another side. Growing up in Lake Zurich I remember learning that the Kuechmann family donated the property to the village and I can remember a house standing on the property when I visited. When the vegetation isn't overgrown in winter, you can still see where the house was further back in the arboretum. More recently, the wonderful Ancient Oaks Foundation has taken over care of the property and have done an outstanding job make this a neat spot to visit. The arboretum walking path is a mulched trail. It's a fairly short little loop, perfect for taking young ones on a manageable walk. I am lucky enough to live close enough that I run through frequently in the morning and I have often seen deer and on one occasion a red tailed fox! The Ancient Oaks Foundation recently installed a wonderful natural play scape for kids. It's a great area to bring kids to enjoy being in nature.

What a little hidden gem!!!! I was in the area and stumbled upon it and am so happy I did! My…read moretoddler had a lot of fun exploring the nature set ups, swing, campfire area and the boat. We will definitely be back!

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Celtic Park

(1 review)

6.0 mi

We looked at this park for accessibility for mobility challenged people. Know before you go! Here…read moreis what we found: - Four handicap accessible parking spots - No handicap accessible restrooms or water fountains - Terrain is wood chips - About 700 feet from main attraction to parking - Two parks to get into park and no play ramps - One handicap accessible swing Nice Park!!!

Field in between parking and park

Part of park

Sign about park

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Cuba Marsh Forest Preserve

4.5

(15 reviews)

1.4 mi

Such an amazing trail to walk, run, and bike!! I first visited in middle of summer, truly such a…read morebeautiful walking experience that made it so memorable. Everyone walking/running by was friendly!! The environment is so well taken care of, I can tell the community puts a significant effort into up keeping it! It made me want to volunteer as well!! 100% recommend taking a walk here to decompress, get exercise in and/or to run since the trail does provide different paths along with different sets of intervals that can help!

Beautiful park; you can really lose sight of how close you are to Ela Rd. while you walk/ride/jog…read morehere. Nice mild trails, definitely walkable for most folks. Trails are packed dirt, not asphalt, but graded enough that I think a wheelchair shouldn't have a problem. Reason I took one star off: though the park offers doggie bags for droppings we only saw one trash can the whole trail--this is presumably (giving folks the benefit of the doubt) the reason why we saw so much dog poop on or just off the trails. Jeez people, clean up after your dogs! This is why we can't have nice things...

Egrets in a wetland with low water.

Beautiful scenery while walking down one of the trails.

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One of the several pine groves at the marsh.

Heron Creek

4.7 mi

Love this playground, very cool elevated playground in a beautiful nature setting. Trails and…read morerestrooms are right by it too.

This is a hidden gem of a playground! You cannot see this from the road and may not know it's here…read moreunless you venture into the forest preserve. Take a right upon entering and you'll end up at the playground. Very nice and relatively new play structure with a huge variety of obstacles and slides, and some unique ones you don't see everywhere. The base is that rubber mulch, which isn't as mess free as that spongey rubber surface but still better than wood mulch. There are two separate areas for older and younger kids plus shaded areas and benches. Nearby there is plenty of parking and a bathroom (note, it's the outdoorsy type bathroom as seen in most forest preserves with the metal toilets and such - nothing fancy) plus water fountains. Heron Creek as a whole is a really nice, but small, forest preserve, so take a walk after you get your fill of the park. It's really pretty and usually very peaceful!

Build me Up! Buttercup Baby...

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Bob Lewandowski Park

4.0

(1 review)

6.5 mi

A small but complete park located right on Diamond Lake. There are plenty of activities to do such…read moreas fishing, a playground, picnic area, and areas to sit right by the lake and enjoy the view. Parking is convenient right on the edge of the park.

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Baker's Lake Nature Preserve

3.4 mi

A must visit for wonderful bird watching. Bring binoculars! Parking lot off of northwest highway &…read morehillside ave to see the heron rookery and the Dundee entrance for osprey nest & grass walking trails.

I came here to see the osprey…read more Baker's Lake is west of Route 14. There is an entrance on the north off of Hillside and an entrance on the south off of Dundee. I used the entrance on the south as this is where to post is located with the osprey. This area is literally a road with a few parking spots at the end of it. There are no identifiable paths or walkways. There is a break in the tall grass on the east side of where you can park. This rounds around the right and brings you back directly to where the perch is located. The osprey was there when I visited but he didn't do much. Not sure if it was because it was drizzling, he was tired, or he didn't like my presence. Either way it was still pretty cool. The north end probably has a better view of the lake and the "bird island" that this lake holds. It is a truly phenomenal sight. If you like birds, Baker's lake is home to thousands of water friendly birds.

Russ at age 11

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The island at sunset

Citizen's Park

4.5

2.4 mi

Beautiful park that offers a little something for everyone! If you're up for a walk there is a nice…read morepath that follows the perimeter of the park, and if you want a further distance the path links up to Cuba Marsh. The playground and treehouse are a lot of fun for kids, and there is also and area with tennis courts. There are flush toilets connected to a space that can be rented out, and there is also a stage for various events. Gorgeous scenery in a well-maintained park.

Lovely grounds for a stroll on a nice day. It's very close to the downtown Barrington area. The…read moresetting is very calm--perfect place to bird-watch, read a book, or just relax.

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Crane sculptures

Tom T Hamilton Park

4.7

(3 reviews)

5.5 mi

We looked at this park for accessibility for mobility challenged people. Know before you go! Here…read moreis what we found: - 2 handicap accessible parking spaces and bathrooms - Terrain is rubber composite - Ramps to get into park & play ramps - Handicap accessible water fountains & swing Nice park!

Park is fun for the kids but can get real busy at times. There are multiple baseball and soccer…read morefields here. Bathrooms are never open. They do have a port a potty but not that clean.

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Buffalo Creek Forest Preserve

4.4

(24 reviews)

5.7 mi

Buffalo Creek Forest Preserve offers a nice place for a relaxing 1.9 mile hike. There is an option…read moreto go farther by following the various offshoot paths. Parking is very limited off of Old Hicks Road but there are not many people going onto the path so you should be fine. There is a varied turf combination of paved and gravel. The path is pretty even, smooth, well kept and good for all ages We saw what seemed to be a grasshopper migration (9/21/25). We stopped counting after 25! However we did count 7 furry caterpillars crossing the path. There were many species of prairie willow, berry trees, cat tails and a few wild mushrooms too. Lake County is offering a hiking challenge over the next couple months and it's a fun way to see all that Lake County Forest Preserves has to offer!

The Buffle Creek Forest Preserve is a good place for an easy walk. The day we were there we had no…read moreissue with parking, but it was not crowded. It is mainly an open prairie with low growing plants and few trees. The walking path winds through wide-open restored prairies and some creeks. I can imagine in the summer it get hot since there is very little covering to offer shade.

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Langendorf Park

3.0 mi

Lagendorf park is a nice, clean facility that is heavily frequented by residents. The building is…read moreextremely relevant to the community, as the Barrington Area Job Fair is held there. To me, the best part about the facility is the historic significance of the location--where the Battle of Barrington took place. The Battle of Barrington was an intense and deadly gunfight between federal agents and notorious Great Depression Era gangster, Baby Face Nelson, that took place on November 27, 1934 in the town of Barrington, outside Chicago, Illinois. Very cool if you are a history buff like myself.

I lived in Barrington years ago, when my son was in grade school & middle school…read more At that time, and still to this day, Langendorf Park was *the* park in Barrington Village. It's huge, and has everything you ever wanted in life, including an aquatic center and even a golf course. I feel a story coming on....... So I had an art gallery just a few blocks from the park, at Hough St. & NW Hwy.. My son would often come to the gallery after school to do homework, or just to check in with me. One day he rode his bike to the gallery, with his friend Gerry. The gallery was set back off the street, separated from the road by a parking lot. The sidewalk in front of the gallery did not get a lot of foot traffic. My gallery had two huge windows, right on the sidewalk in front. I sold a ton of artwork just by displaying it in those big windows facing the busiest intersection in town. When the stop light was red, I had a captive audience, haha..... My son and his friend parked their bikes in front of one of the big windows. This town was so safe it was like Mayberry, and there was no reason at all to wheel the bikes inside, so we thought. We could even see them clearly from inside. So I clearly saw when two big "kids", probably pushing 20 years old, jumped on those bikes and took off. By the time we all ran to the front door, the thieves were already a block away. My son had waited a long time for his new bike, a gift from his dad. That bike was his transportation around town, and would you believe I still have it, and sometimes I ride it. As I saw those 2 men ride off on the kids' bikes, my heart sank. I figured it was a done deal, a lost cause. The boys ran in the direction the bikes had been headed, but I still had little hope. The surrounding business people began to come outside, aware of what had happened, but helpless to do anything. Until.......like a character from an action movie, a blonde woman appeared out of nowhere. She ran after the thieves, so fast that I didn't recognize her as my boyfriend's sister, Denise, who worked in the drugstore a couple doors down from the gallery. Denise, the track star. Denise, the marathon runner. Denise.....the savior of the day. She ran like a bat outta hell, like she'd been shot from a cannon, across busy parking lots, down the highway toward Langendorf Park. She caught a glimpse of the thieves entering the park. I had called the police by now, and they were on the way. And my son and Gerry, and me and my employees, and half the shopkeepers in the plaza, were in hot foot pursuit of Denise and the bicycle thieves. If only I had a video of all those people running down Northwest Highway in this sleepy, boring community where nothing ever happened......haha.... You can already guess that Denise caught up with the thieves, in fact just in the nick of time..... just as they were struggling to hoist the bikes over a back fence in Langendorf Park. They ended up abandoning the bicycles and taking off on foot, through the park, with the mob chasing them. The cops caught them. There were charges filed, and eventually a court date. My son had to take off school to go to court and testify. The thieves, who turned out to be like 19 years old, claimed it was all a prank, all in fun (although they were strangers to us)......and the judge let them off. Boooooooooo.......... But at least the bikes were safe. I'm glad for that tall fence at the back of the park. I'm also glad for all the hot summer afternoons when the pool was a godsend. Somebody in Barrington please post pics of this great park, wouldja?!

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Foglia YMCA

3.6

(40 reviews)

2.6 mi

Huge. I love this YMCA. Unfortunately you get raked over the coals for a single-person membership…read morehere, but since they didn't have any Bally's north of Vernon Hills or Lifetime's north of Schaumburg, I settled for the YMCA. In general, as YMCAs go, this one's top notch. I would give them five stars, but for the ridiculous price of their single memberships, you could go to a MUCH better Lifetime Fitness. The membership price for family members are on the cheap in comparison, which ticks me off, since I know I wound up paying for things that kids use that I never would...

Spring planning brings summer camping and programs. Checkout all the new events, camps and…read moregatherings. All areas are open now. Checkout the new renovations. It did not disappoint. Thank you!!

URGENT: Due to construction, the Kids' Health Day at Foglia Y is canceled. Check out one of the other Y's in the area!!

Renovations are underway! Check out the progress!

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Spray 'N Play

4.4

(18 reviews)

7.3 mi

For toddler aged children, this splash pad was a dream! Everything was low to the ground and able…read moreto be reached, there were lots of buckets for transfer play, and plenty of areas with lighter splashing water. My son (almost 2yo) had so, so, so much fun for about 3 hours! He came home absolutely exhausted- a mom's dream for a good nap! It was $4 admission per person, which I found totally cheap! They have plenty of picnic tables to eat, as well as areas to park strollers and lunch bags. There was also lots of seating available if you wanted to sit and watch your toddler play (especially helpful if you're pregnant and need a little break from standing!). The bathrooms were small, but clean. Honestly, all of the essentials were available and it truly made for a great morning!

What a cute place for kids to play! Perfect for toddlers or younger kids. Great on a sunny hot dayread more

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Main Street Outfitter

Chill spot. Feels like a party no matter who is there or playing…read more Bar & Bike businesses are both run well & honestly.

Paul is a fair and honest businessman. Gave me a great deal on a Boomerang a few years back and…read moregave me a few free upgrades. Just got my annual tuneup - he is flexible and always goes the extra mile in providing service and advice. Easy to find location. You can enjoy a bite in the casual pub and come back to enjoy the music. Highly recommend this place!

Out two new City Commuters!

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Langendorf Park

3.0 mi

Lagendorf park is a nice, clean facility that is heavily frequented by residents. The building is…read moreextremely relevant to the community, as the Barrington Area Job Fair is held there. To me, the best part about the facility is the historic significance of the location--where the Battle of Barrington took place. The Battle of Barrington was an intense and deadly gunfight between federal agents and notorious Great Depression Era gangster, Baby Face Nelson, that took place on November 27, 1934 in the town of Barrington, outside Chicago, Illinois. Very cool if you are a history buff like myself.

I lived in Barrington years ago, when my son was in grade school & middle school…read more At that time, and still to this day, Langendorf Park was *the* park in Barrington Village. It's huge, and has everything you ever wanted in life, including an aquatic center and even a golf course. I feel a story coming on....... So I had an art gallery just a few blocks from the park, at Hough St. & NW Hwy.. My son would often come to the gallery after school to do homework, or just to check in with me. One day he rode his bike to the gallery, with his friend Gerry. The gallery was set back off the street, separated from the road by a parking lot. The sidewalk in front of the gallery did not get a lot of foot traffic. My gallery had two huge windows, right on the sidewalk in front. I sold a ton of artwork just by displaying it in those big windows facing the busiest intersection in town. When the stop light was red, I had a captive audience, haha..... My son and his friend parked their bikes in front of one of the big windows. This town was so safe it was like Mayberry, and there was no reason at all to wheel the bikes inside, so we thought. We could even see them clearly from inside. So I clearly saw when two big "kids", probably pushing 20 years old, jumped on those bikes and took off. By the time we all ran to the front door, the thieves were already a block away. My son had waited a long time for his new bike, a gift from his dad. That bike was his transportation around town, and would you believe I still have it, and sometimes I ride it. As I saw those 2 men ride off on the kids' bikes, my heart sank. I figured it was a done deal, a lost cause. The boys ran in the direction the bikes had been headed, but I still had little hope. The surrounding business people began to come outside, aware of what had happened, but helpless to do anything. Until.......like a character from an action movie, a blonde woman appeared out of nowhere. She ran after the thieves, so fast that I didn't recognize her as my boyfriend's sister, Denise, who worked in the drugstore a couple doors down from the gallery. Denise, the track star. Denise, the marathon runner. Denise.....the savior of the day. She ran like a bat outta hell, like she'd been shot from a cannon, across busy parking lots, down the highway toward Langendorf Park. She caught a glimpse of the thieves entering the park. I had called the police by now, and they were on the way. And my son and Gerry, and me and my employees, and half the shopkeepers in the plaza, were in hot foot pursuit of Denise and the bicycle thieves. If only I had a video of all those people running down Northwest Highway in this sleepy, boring community where nothing ever happened......haha.... You can already guess that Denise caught up with the thieves, in fact just in the nick of time..... just as they were struggling to hoist the bikes over a back fence in Langendorf Park. They ended up abandoning the bicycles and taking off on foot, through the park, with the mob chasing them. The cops caught them. There were charges filed, and eventually a court date. My son had to take off school to go to court and testify. The thieves, who turned out to be like 19 years old, claimed it was all a prank, all in fun (although they were strangers to us)......and the judge let them off. Boooooooooo.......... But at least the bikes were safe. I'm glad for that tall fence at the back of the park. I'm also glad for all the hot summer afternoons when the pool was a godsend. Somebody in Barrington please post pics of this great park, wouldja?!

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The Hollows Conservation Area

(8 reviews)

8.5 mi

Great time out with the family came for a picnic did a little fishing and my three-year-old ran…read morearound had so much fun on the beach

We went for a walk this morning and loved the trail. The water was very clear with just the right…read moreamount of activity,

Cute beach area to swim, fish and run and relax by!

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Phil’s Beach

3.8

(8 reviews)

5.0 mi

awesome!!!! great for family beach memories.I grew up going here my whole life with the awesome…read moreslides & water funk There are awesome pets & shops up & down the keep & it feels like a little east coast beach . The blues Brother's movie did a scene here putting this place on the map. It's a great little treasure on Bangs lang!

Why do the adults the ACTUAL TAX PAYERS have to suffer because the kids are back in school so you…read moredecide to close the beaches . It's a dumb policy . Who cares if there is no life guards , swim at your own risk . Some people just want to sit on the sand area .

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Fox River Preserve & Marina

4.2

4.4 mi

The Fox River is gorgeous. We didn't go on a boat but it's a gorgeous site to see, with plenty on…read moreboats zipping through and even some fishermen. A hidden gem in the Crystal Lake area for sure.

Easy use. Big easy ramp. Easy pay online for boat launch. Plenty of parking for truck with boat…read moretrailer.

Slips are either 20, 25, and 30 feet. Slip holders enjoy daily 24-hour access to their boats. Water, electric and dock boxes are available.

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Paulus Park - parks - Updated August 2026

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Adler Park

3.8

(13 reviews)

I always forget there are so many parks around finally checked out this one. Has a big parking lot…read moreand the playground was big enough for the small kiddos to run around in. If there are a lot of people it won't be as fun as it is all just bunched together. Also has a nice walking trail. They have a lodge that you can rent for parties and events that has bathrooms and kitchen.

Nice looking park. We actually rented a building here for a family event. It came equipped with…read moretables and chairs and a small kitchen area. You set up and put away everything and clean up after yourself, it was very nice and convenient. Those who booked it said they'd do it again, and we were all very satisfied with the experience!

Heron Creek

Love this playground, very cool elevated playground in a beautiful nature setting. Trails and…read morerestrooms are right by it too.

This is a hidden gem of a playground! You cannot see this from the road and may not know it's here…read moreunless you venture into the forest preserve. Take a right upon entering and you'll end up at the playground. Very nice and relatively new play structure with a huge variety of obstacles and slides, and some unique ones you don't see everywhere. The base is that rubber mulch, which isn't as mess free as that spongey rubber surface but still better than wood mulch. There are two separate areas for older and younger kids plus shaded areas and benches. Nearby there is plenty of parking and a bathroom (note, it's the outdoorsy type bathroom as seen in most forest preserves with the metal toilets and such - nothing fancy) plus water fountains. Heron Creek as a whole is a really nice, but small, forest preserve, so take a walk after you get your fill of the park. It's really pretty and usually very peaceful!

Kracklauer Park

4.7

This updated inclusive park is so beautiful! Such a great addition to Mundelein parks! My daughter…read morehad an absolute blast here, and I loved seeing kids of all abilities enjoying the space!

Great accessible playground for kids and the park also has pickle ball courts, bocce ball and…read morebeautiful grassy spots for lounging.

Sunset Beach

This is a nice little beach in Wildwood. You do need a resident parking sticker to park along the…read moreposted area however. We are not Wildwood residents but have found parking not too far off. The swimming area is marked and mostly attracts families with young kids.

Nice park. It has a pavilion and a small beach area. The park is not very big, but it is a hidden…read moregem. Recommend you check it out. Oh, and Joe says, "Don't forget...it turns out the grass isn't always greener on the other side."

Jones Island Park

4.3

Spent the morning at Illinois State Park beach...the biting…read moreflies finally win and chased us away...which led us to this little hidden gem. Jones Island Park is a well kept park full of shade trees, a playground, walking trail with benches, a shelter house, a sand volleyball court...and a beach. It's small, we'll-maintained, the swim area is marked off, the water is warm, the littles can stand, and there are no flies!!! Not quite the view of the Great Lake, but still a beautiful setting. Swim in the lake area. Fish in the canal. Relax beneath a shade tree. A little bit of something here to keep the young and the old content for a very long while!!! Annnnnd, unlike the rest of the local park/beaches....it's free!!!

Fantastic local park, with volleball field, kids park and a small beach. Great fishing too.read more

Citizen's Park

4.5