Ah, the Winey Mary--a concoction that dares to ask, "Why be ordinary when you can be a cheeky…read morecunt?" This sassy cousin of the Bloody Mary trades in its vodka for a rich, full-bodied stale sake wine, and oh, what a trade it is! From the first sip, you're greeted with the robust warmth of the sake, which pairs oh so harmoniously with the traditional tomato juice base. But don't be fooled; this isn't just a Bloody Mary in a fancy dress. No, the Winey Mary has a personality all its own--bold, slightly rebellious, yet undeniably charming that you'd think it's asking you "Hey, do you come here often?" To which I won't! And let's not forget the garnish. Whether it's a classic celery stalk, a twist of lemon, or a few olives bobbing playfully on the surface, each adds its own layer of whimsy to the classic Bloody Mary. But the Whiney Mary? It's as if the sliver of lime at the bottom of the glass is winking at you, mocking you by what a horrendous choice you've made. So, raise your glass to the Winey Mary--a drink that's not just a cocktail, but an experience. It's the perfect companion for those who like their beach days with a side of alcoholism and regret. Cheers! WORST. PRETZELS. EVER. !!!!

I love this lake and park…read more. Our church has been coming here for their annual picnic/baptism ceremony, the past several years.. I have been along the past three years and have really enjoyed hanging out here each time. The park is beautiful and maintained very well, the amenties are generous for being a public park. there is a small charge of course, but it is worth it. The beach is clean, the lake is beautiful, and the swimming area is very safe, albeit a bit shallow, but great for toddlers and pre-teens to play and cool off on a hot summer day. Hungry?? the field house offers snacks and light food, such as hot dogs, chips, soda, ice cream. Or, you can bring along a BBQ grill or use the grills provided and whip up something you toted along. Grab a spot by one of the many picnic tables and relax. There are some real nice walking paths for those of you that enjoy soaking up nature and hiking thru the prairie. Great place to snap some nature pics or give the kids a nature tour. I would give this place five stars if they put the volleyball nets back up.. but that is just me just feeling a bit disappointed we were unable to play beach volleyball..

This beautiful park is located about 15 minutes east of the I-94 freeway. There is a driveway that…read moreleads to a large parking lot far enough away that one cannot hear automobiles from the adjacent road. The park hosts a large pavilion (it can be rented out) with a lot of picnic tables that are like brand new, grills, nice indoor bathrooms, a softball diamond, a large playground, a basketball goal, a sand volleyball court, horseshoe pits, and plentiful areas for picnics. During the time of my first visit, I was unable to explore the hiking trails that lead through the natural areas of prairies, woodlands, and wetlands. However, I was able to enjoy the tranquility of the surround landscape while discussing upcoming plans with friends. There were a couple family with kids playing at the playground and a man walking his dog along the edge of the manicured lawn and prairie plants. The lights are on a timer at the Pavilion and turned on at dusk. The women's restroom was clean and I did not see any spiders (this is extremely important to me.... I hope it continues to remain spider free!). After a Google search, I discovered this park was created recently to serve as a "pollinator paradise" that also slows runoff from the surrounding landscape into the Pike River. *my heart* It's everything I went to graduate school for and then some. This is an ideal place for a nature hike, meeting, taking your kids to play, picnic, family reunion, bridal/baby shower, etc. I was really impressed with the up-keep. Although it is a 35 minute drive, I plan on returning to explore the hiking trails with my pup and meeting up with friends. This is definitely a successful project that was completed by Mount Pleasant and Root-Pike WIN (with assistance from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, Fund for Lake Michigan, and other partnerships). 5 stars!!!

Kids Castle is one of the best parks and playgrounds around. The playground has so many different…read moreareas to explore that kids can easily spend hours playing without getting bored. Everything is well maintained, and there's plenty of space for families to spread out and enjoy the day. One of my favorite things about this park is its location. It's close to great walking trails, so it's easy to go for a relaxing walk before or after visiting the playground. There are also fishing ponds nearby, which make it an even better place to spend the afternoon outdoors. Whether you're bringing young kids to play, going for a walk, or just enjoying the peaceful surroundings, Kids Castle is a fantastic destination. It's one of those parks that keeps you coming back because there's so much to do, and it's always a fun place to visit.

Entertaining for all ages! Took my step daughter (5/6 year old) and husband here one summer…read moreafternoon. Clean, updated and a blast for all 3!

Review Six-Hundy! Since I'm happiest outdoors & we enjoy exploring various parks & nature preserves…read moreI'm glad the timing worked out to make one of those a milestone review for me. Nestled up in McHenry County on Elizabeth Lake this nature preserve has 2 miles of trails with views of the surrounding 345 acres. I took a photo of the map but their website also has a nice one posted there as well. I wish the trails went all the way around the lake but due to the makeup of the ground/marshy area, preservation efforts, etc. the trails are all on one side of the preserve. It's a lovely setting with a large variety of wildflowers, prairie grasses, plants & trees to take in and the songbirds were in full effect on our visit. There are no restroom facilities here so plan accordingly. The trails are a mowed path with a few footbridges so if it has rained recently the paths could be wet/muddy, especially in the shady areas. We had to turn back twice due to areas that were too wet/muddy to get through in the footwear we had on but would have been doable with hiking footwear. We still enjoyed most of the trail with me in my sandals. There is seating near the parking lot at the overlook/entrance area but no other benches along the trails...but with just 2 miles of trails not really necessary for most.

Wonderful trail to walk your dog, wonderful addition to Twin Lakes considering there are no…read moresidewalks on Lake Shore Dr. I just wish they would connect it with the trail system at the south end of Lake Elizabeth to have a longer trail. Beware of ticks in the warmer months. The grasses usually prevent it from getting too muddy. The trail is pretty well maintained and the map is available at the beginning of the trail so you can choose your loop.

I don't make it out to the Kenosha area very often.But a friend's band was playing at the…read morepetrafying Springs beer garden, so we took a drive out for some Saturday evening entertainment. Tons of parking available. A huge amount of picnic table seating around the small stage. Plenty of activities happen all throughout the week.On the different days. The beer garden has a wide selection of beverages and also has large refillable beer stein's available for purchase. All the food that came out of the kitchen looked absolutely amazing. We tried the kenosha Pizza and also the pretzel, which was accompanied with somersausage cheese, curds, a delicious mustard and an absolutely incredible cream cheese type dip.I highly recommend it. Music was done at nine o'clock and the beer garden closes at ten. Played an interesting game which you can view in the photos. Very kid and dog friendly with a playground and dog park nearby. Wasn't able to walk through the rest of the park , but had an amazing time just at the beer garden. Stay thirsty my friends.

What a nice park. We were cruising through town and saw this on the map and decided to check it…read moreout. There is a lot going on at this park. + Free spring water where you can fill up your own jugs. + A dog park + A beer garden (though unfortunately it was closed given it is off season) + A golf course + Plenty of picnic areas and shelters + Hiking trails + Bike trails + A raging river (spring runoff) + Many playgrounds + Free Wifi (given the ravine it is in cell service was spotty - at least T-Mobile) The one negative is that a number of the picnic shelters do not have convenient parking nearby - it is a very odd set-up. Overall a real gem for this community.

Hawthorn Hollow will always have a special place in my heart because I grew up as their neighbor…read more The Pike Creek is truly a hidden gem in southeastern Wisconsin. The land is serene and peaceful, filled with wildlife throughout the area. Great for bird watching or taking a nice hike with the family. Hawthorn Hollow hosts a variety of fun events and workshops. The folks that work there are some of the friendliest as well. Highly recommend visiting Hawthorn Hollow if you've never been!

This was my second visit to this quaint, tucked away nature mecca. I was in awe of the natural…read morebeauty and history that is so delicately preserved. After driving all the way to the back, we parked our car near a discreetly tucked away porta-potty. There is also a small building with information and photos for the visitors. Personalized bricks are available for purchase that are then placed on the floor in front of the visitor's building. Classes, concerts, tours and options for wedding photography are available. I was struck by the many private trails and paths to choose from. They wind around vast amounts of foliage and over streams. We only encountered one other group of three women the entire visit There is a tiny outdoor theater area with small wooden benches, where you can attend shows and concerts and a teepee hidden back in the dense wooded area. At the front of the park, there is an place for honeybees to work - doing their thing. Also, toward the back of the park, the trees open up to a beautiful field of grass and flowers. Set way in the back are three tiny white buildings. First and second Pike River School Houses and Somers Town Hall stood, with quiet elegance in the distance. They were maintained beautifully and enjoyable to walk through. The effort put forth to maintain everything naturally was very obvious. If a tree falls it stays. If the bushes and foliage grow dense it stays. I did not get a commercialized and man made impression as I toured the nature sanctuary. There is even a tiny wooden box for donations. I peeked through the crack, before I dropped in my money, and was very happy to see that others appreciate what goes into maintaining this storybook setting and had donated as well. I am so pleased they are able to preserve the Hawthorn Hollow Nature Sanctuary. It's a little piece of quiet elegance, where children can learn, families walk, friends can enjoy a concert or class and couples can celebrate in this hidden gem.

MY FAVORITE PLACE!! Great place for families and or…read morecouples! Great photo spot too! Can't say enough about it.

I love this park! Nice trails and plenty of parking. There's hilly trails, prairie trails, and…read moretrails by the river and pond.

Reserving and checking in were very easy. We made our reservations online just a couple days before…read morearriving, and purchased the vehicle pass online upon arrival. We did self-serve check in and got to our campsite immediately. Bring bug spray! Lots of mosquitoes and dear flies.

This is a beautiful state park/recreation area. Lots to do. Free entrance if you're just driving…read morethrough and not exiting your vehicle... Then you do not need to buy a permit. The lands and the views are gorgeous. The Rangers are super friendly and helpful. Be sure to check it out.