Celebrating the Eighth Anniversary of My Blog, Nature in Chicagoland

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 … Continue reading Celebrating the Eighth Anniversary of My Blog, Nature in Chicagoland

More Than 20 Indoor Places to Visit in the Chicago Area on a Blazing Hot Day

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF THE NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND BLOG UPDATED JUNE 2025 Today is not a good day to take a long hike or exercise outdoors because of the extreme heat. But there are many nature centers, museums, and other destinations that you can visit today and on any challenging outdoor day … Continue reading More Than 20 Indoor Places to Visit in the Chicago Area on a Blazing Hot Day

Goodbye 2022…Hello 2023!

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND I want to thank my Nature in Chicagoland readers for visiting my blog in 2022. I continue to love writing this blog, and wish I had more time in my daily life to do so. I visited many nature destinations in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West … Continue reading Goodbye 2022…Hello 2023!

Oak Park Conservatory: Visit the Mediterranean, Tropics, and Desert in a Matter of Minutes

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER OF "NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND" BLOG UPDATED NOVEMBER 2024 A beautiful oasis overlooks Interstate 290—one of Chicagoland’s busiest, and most irritating-to-travel-on, highways. But unlike many urban oases, you won't be able to get a greasy bag of fries or play that kids claw machine game, where you can never snatch the good … Continue reading Oak Park Conservatory: Visit the Mediterranean, Tropics, and Desert in a Matter of Minutes