I returned here after visiting about 30 years ago, and was very impressed with the trails. You can…read morespend many days here and still not see all the areas the park offers. We parked at the Oak Opening area and hiked down to Lake Defiance, taking the Lake Defiance Trail. We stopped at the Nature Center to see some displays and chat with the ranger, and then continued our hike. Seeing the moraines, the leftover hills and ridges from the retreating Wisconsin Glacier, 10's of thousands of years ago, was a geologic trip through time. This is a great local state park that does not have an entrance fee! (None of our state parks have entrance fees to the best of my knowledge!) This is a place I can't wait to get back to explore, right in the backyard of the Chicago 'burbs!

Very pleasant to go to. Very close to home if I just want to go somewhere with no noise. Lots of…read moretrails and just driving through it is very nice. Sometimes you can't just drive somewhere super far to sight see but thankfully this State park is here. Also it is free which is very nice.

This was a lovely place to go for a short winter hike in north suburbs. We followed the…read moreequestrian trail, which takes you past a couple of ponds and up and down a couple of gentle hills. Hikers are welcome, but horses have the right-of-way. Our segment was about two and a half miles, perfect for the spouse, who is not as keen on hiking as I am, particularly in the winter. If you are looking for more or less distance, there are some short cuts and extensions available. Clean outhouses at the trail head, well-stocked with toilet paper. Always a plus. Plenty of deer along the trail. Dogs aren't allowed on the horse trails, but they are allowed elsewhere in the preserve. A couple of bike trails pass through the area as well. We didn't have time to check out the Lake County Discovery Museum, located onsite, but I understand it is worth a visit. It's not what I'd call a spectacular park, but if you are in the area and want to get outside for a bit, this is a pretty solid option.

I love this forest preserve! It is close to my house and I love to come here to take walks, it is…read morevery relaxing and the nature is beautiful. There are a few different trails you can pick, I see people riding their bikes walking or running it's also great to bring your dog for a walk.

Nothing spectacular or super exciting, but a park with a pretty nice lake view. They have a…read moreplayground-- a playground that's very old. Needs maintenance-- there were literally geese skeletons everywhere. Don't look at that picture if you're squeamish. Oh, also dead fish and other animals. Maybe it's a lion!

I happened upon this park when I got to the library just up the road a little early and had some…read moretime to fill. If you're waiting for the library open like I was, it's a short, easy walk. I was so glad for the extra time as I wouldn't have found this great park otherwise! The park being on the waterfront is mainly what makes this park great, it's a nice open area to enjoy the water. There is a cute little park with lots of slides and some swings. The picnic shelter is very large and close to the water. Further down from the park area there looked to be some ball fields. Looking forward to coming back here!

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!

Good park and playground located in Cary. It's small, but for children, it's mighty. Knotty Pines…read morePark is mainly used by families that live in the adjacent subdivisions. Has a playground as the main feature. There's also an open space and trees. Basic looking park to be honest. It has a little history about it. This was created in 1990 by the developer, who made the surrounding subdivisions. A place for the neighborhood children to play. Main feature is the playground, which includes slides and swings. A lot of trees here. There's ash, burr oaks, and evergreens among others. Has enough to keep the kids busy. It's located on Three Oaks Road by White Pines Drive. There's no parking lot so you have to park on side streets.

Grassy Lake is a nice place for a good walk in nature. Bikes are not allowed here so it is good…read morefor a quiet stroll without a biker flying by you. Barrington does an exceptional job in keeping this place in tip top shape. The signs and paths are well marked. My only gripe is, the paths don't form a loop, so once you reach the end, you have to turn it around and head back the same way you came.

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.