BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND”
Today is the eighth anniversary of the founding of my blog, “Nature in Chicagoland,” and I’m so happy to have written nearly 300 articles about woods, wetlands, prairies, lakes, and other natural areas in Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana. I’m pleased that my articles on Nature in Chicagoland have received nearly 100,000 views in its eight years, with most of these numbers being accrued in the last four years. I mention these statistics because what writer wouldn’t want readers. But it’s more gratifying to have visited so many wonderful nature destinations and share this information with people in the area. Don’t let anyone tell you that Chicagoland nature is boring.
In the past year, I visited many new nature destinations in the Chicago area including Cuba Marsh Forest Preserve, Marengo Ridge Conservation Area, and Freeman Kame-Meagher Forest Preserve, as well as some more distant places in Illinois, including Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford and Horseshoe Mound and Galena Gateway Park in Galena. And I revisited many spots that I love such as Cap Sauer’s Holding Nature Preserve, North Park Village Nature Center, Sand Ridge Nature Center, and Illinois Beach State Park. I have to be honest that my most exciting 2024 trip was to Iceland. Wow! Volcanoes, glaciers, hot springs, geysers, Icelandic horses, and so much more. It was the trip of a lifetime, and I’m looking forward to going back soon. You can learn more about my trip by reading, 12 Great Destinations on Iceland’s South Coast and 26 Things You Should Know About This Magical Country Before Your First Trip. Two of the biggest meteorological stories in Chicagoland last year were the ubiquity of Northern Lights sightings in Chicagoland and areas further south for the past year or so and the appearance of Comet C/2023A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS. NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration report that the sun has reached its maximum phase in its 11-year solar cycle. From my Chicago Northwest Side backyard, I viewed the Northern Lights on May 10, August 11, September 16, and October 6, 7, and 10—mostly through my phone . . . but at times with the naked eye. (NASA says that the May 10 solar storm was the “strongest geomagnetic storm at Earth in two decades—and possibly among the strongest displays of auroras on record in the past 500 years.”) The October 10 storm—which I viewed from the sandy shores of Lake Michigan at Illinois Beach State Park—was also very powerful. It was the first time that I saw the Northern Lights in much of their glory with the naked eye. Here’s my story about that night: Thoughts On Chasing the Northern Lights and Other Celestial Phenomena in Chicagoland . . . and 30+ Tips/Resources to Help You Find Them. Finally, I saw Comet C/2023A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS from my rooftop in Chicago. While I did not experience the spectacular view enjoyed by others in dark sky areas, it was still thrilling to see a comet that last appeared in our skies 80,000 years ago. Northern Lights– and comet– mania hit Chicagoland last year, and it was exciting to see so many people outside and engaged with our natural world—rather than on their phones or distracted by other distractions.
During the past eight years, I’ve filled you in on how to see bison, sandhill cranes, ghosts, and rare and endangered species in the Midwest. I’ve interviewed nature authors, photographers, filmmakers, artists, politicians [including candidates for alderman, Chicago mayor, and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago], and others who care about natural places in Chicagoland.
I’ve occasionally taken a break from nature to tell stories about my parents and beloved family and friends or discuss an issue that’s important to me—such as gun control; stopping gerrymandering by both political parties; saving a historical building or church; lamenting the tragic loss of life in Ukraine and trying to rally support for its people; and protecting the work of our nation’s hardworking journalists. One of the best parts of writing a blog (as opposed to writing books for other people—a big part of my day job) is the fact that I can write about whatever I want, and that’s a great feeling! This past year, I wrote articles about one of our beloved guinea pigs, who passed away earlier this year; see Remembering Coffee), shared some Fond Memories of My Childhood Tree House, and wrote about other topics.
Another great thing: getting the opportunity to talk with some very nice people about nature via the comments section of the site, as well as via email and in person. It’s a satisfying feeling when someone you’ve never met from Wisconsin, Michigan, or Chicagoland takes the time to comment on your blog or send you an email.
A few years ago, I published my book, Nature in Chicagoland: More Than 120 Fantastic Nature Destinations That You Must Visit, which includes stories from the blog, but also covers more than 70 new places. It was fun to roam Chicagoland visiting nature sites of all types in order to conduct “research” for the book. I treasure Nature in Chicagoland because it’s a time capsule of our time with our son—from age six to age 11—in the outdoors. My nearly 15-year-old is now taller than me, which is both humbling and wonderful—as I watch him grow into a kind, thoughtful young man. It’s a little harder to get him to join me for hikes these days, but we’ve still had some fun adventures in the last year. Back in the 1970s and 1980s, my dad shared his love of nature with me, and in the 2010s and beyond, my wife and I were lucky enough to share it with my son. When he is older, I hope he continues to spread the word about the Chicagoland’s wonderful outdoors to his children and grandchildren.
It’s been a rewarding eight years, and I look forward to telling you about many of my favorite destinations in Chicagoland over the next year. Look for stories on Harlem Hills Nature Preserve, Lowden State Park, Kankakee River State Park, Rock Cut State Park, and much more in year nine.
But before I move on, here were the most popular nature posts of the first eight years at Nature in Chicagoland (based on reader views).
1. Nine Places to See Bison in the Midwest
2. Cap Sauers Holding Nature Preserve: The Wildest Place in Cook County
3. Palmisano Park: A Hidden Gem in Chicago
4. Nippersink Creek Provides a Great Kayaking or Canoeing Adventure Just an Hour From Chicago
6. Red Gate Woods: Hawks and Hills, Sloughs and Snakes, and Ghosts and Buried Nuclear Waste, Oh My!
7. Eleven Things to Do at Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens
8. 7 Things to Do at Rock Run Rookery Preserve
9. Black Partridge Woods: Cool Ravines, Great Hiking, and 6 Other Reasons to Visit
10. West Ridge Nature Preserve: An Oasis in Chicago
Top Non-Nature stories
Here were the 15 most-popular non-nature stories at “Nature in Chicagoland” based on reader views:
1. My Personal Ghost Story, Ghosts of Chicago’s Southwest Suburbs, and 11 Spots for Post-Ghost-Tour Fun
2. Saying Goodbye to Our Lady of Victory and Hoping to Save an Architecturally Significant Building
3. Visit Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery Not Only for Spooks and Scares, But Also For Its Rich Local History
4. Remembering David Fode (the story of one of my best friends, who passed away suddenly…a great artist and even better human being)
6. Remembering Lin Brehmer and the Time I Made Him Laugh
7. Visit to Lincoln Cemetery Reveals Rich African American Aviation History
8. Elegy for a 100-Year-Old Red Brick House
9. Take a Drive to the Volo Auto Museum for Vintage Cars and a Blast of Americana
10. Michael McDermott’s Memoir, Scars From Another Life, Tells the Story of His Addiction and Redemption
11. I Survived—and Thrived—on a 38-Hour Roundtrip Amtrak Journey
12. On the Death of A.J. Freund and Healing the World
13. Celebrating the Artistic Excellence of My Beloved Friend, David Fode
14. “The Loop Files” Tells the Inside Story of a Groundbreaking Chicago Radio Station
15. Sad Thanksgiving News and the Celebration of a Great Life
Thanks for reading and supporting Nature in Chicagoland. Have a great year outdoors!
Copyright (text/photos) Andrew Morkes
Except photos of eagle and egret, copyright USFWS
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Looking for some other great nature destinations in Chicagoland? If so, check out my book, Nature in Chicagoland: More Than 120 Fantastic Nature Destinations That You Must Visit. It features amazing destinations in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Click on the title to learn more. The book has 306 pages and 210+ photos and is only $19.99.
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ABOUT ANDREW MORKES
I have been a writer and editor for more than 30 years. I’m the founder of College & Career Press (2002); the author and publisher of “The Morkes Report: College and Career Planning Trends” blog; and the author and publisher of Hot Health Care Careers: 30 Occupations With Fast Growth and Many New Job Openings; Nontraditional Careers for Women and Men: More Than 30 Great Jobs for Women and Men With Apprenticeships Through PhDs; They Teach That in College!?: A Resource Guide to More Than 100 Interesting College Majors, which was selected as one of the best books of the year by the library journal Voice of Youth Advocates; and other titles. They Teach That in College!? provides more information on environmental- and sustainability-related majors such as Ecotourism, Range Management, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Built Environment, Sustainability Studies, and Sustainable Agriculture/Organic Farming. I also served as a member of the parent advisory board at my son’s school for five years.
In addition to these publications, I’ve written more than 70 books about careers for other publishing and media companies including Infobase (such as the venerable Encyclopedia of Careers & Vocational Guidance, the Vault Career Guide to Accounting, and many volumes in the Careers in Focus, Discovering Careers, What Can I Do Now?!, and Career Skills Library series) and Mason Crest (including those in the Careers in the Building Trades and Cool Careers in Science series).
Here’s a list of the environmental-focused titles that I’ve written:
- Nature in Chicagoland: More Than 120 Fantastic Nature Destinations That You Must Visit
- Wind Turbine Technicians (Great Careers Without a Bachelor’s Degree series)
- Environmental Scientists (Cool Careers in Science series)
- Renewable Energy Careers (Cool Careers in Science series)
- Environment (Getting Started series)
- Solar Power Technicians (Careers in Infrastructure series)