Category: nature centers

The 7 Most-Popular Stories at Nature in Chicagoland in March 2026

by anders458, posted in Uncategorized, @FPDCC, biking, birdwatching, breweries, camping, canoeing, Chicago, fall colors, fishing, FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF DUPAGE COUNTY, Forest Preserve District of Will County, Forest Preserve of Cook County, hiking, Illinois, Illinois Department of Natural resources, Illinois Nature preserves, Lake County Forest Preserves, Lake County Illinois attractions, local history, Minnesota, nature centers, prairies, spring wildflowers, Upper Peninsula of Michigan, waterfalls, winter activities, Wisconsin

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG In case you missed them, these were the seven most-popular articles last month at my blog, Nature in Chicagoland, based on reader viewing statistics. Click on the links below to access the articles.  1. 10 Places to See Bison in the Midwest 2. Palmisano Park: A … Continue reading The 7 Most-Popular Stories at Nature in Chicagoland in March 2026

Author of Beer Hiking Minnesota, Wisconsin, & the Upper Peninsula Discusses Great Nature and Hops Spots

by anders458, posted in Uncategorized, birdwatching, books, breweries, fall colors, hiking, holiday gifts, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Michigan, Minnesota, National Park Service, nature centers, pets, waterfalls, winter activities, Wisconsin

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF THE “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG AND BOOK Kristen and and her dog Lu on the Sandstone Bluffs Loop Trail, © Kristen Radaich The Upper Midwest (e.g., Minnesota, Wisconsin, Upper Peninsula) is a wild and wonderful place that offers some of the best hiking trails and pristine (or semi-pristine … Continue reading Author of Beer Hiking Minnesota, Wisconsin, & the Upper Peninsula Discusses Great Nature and Hops Spots

Celebrating the Ninth Anniversary of My Blog, Nature in Chicagoland

by anders458, posted in Uncategorized, @FPDCC, biking, birdwatching, botanical gardens and arboretums, Chicago, chicago park district, Chicago Parks, Chicago River, Chicago stories, fall colors, family and friends stories, FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF DUPAGE COUNTY, FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF KANE COUNTY, Forest Preserve District of Will County, Forest Preserve of Cook County, hiking, holiday gifts, Illinois, Illinois Department of Natural resources, Illinois Nature preserves, kids activities, Lake County Forest Preserves, Lake Michigan, MCHENRY COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT, National Park Service, nature centers, prairies, spring wildflowers, winter activities

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG Today is the ninth anniversary of the founding of my blog, Nature in Chicagoland, and I’m so happy to have written more than 300 articles about woods, wetlands, prairies, lakes, and other natural areas in Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana. I’m pleased that my … Continue reading Celebrating the Ninth Anniversary of My Blog, Nature in Chicagoland

The 7 Most-Popular Stories at My Nature in Chicagoland Blog in February 2026

by anders458, posted in Uncategorized, @FPDCC, biking, birdwatching, books, breweries, camping, canoeing, canyons, cemeteries, Chicago, chicago park district, Chicago Parks, Chicago stories, cross-country skiing, eskers, fall colors, Forest Preserve of Cook County, glacial kames, hiking, Illinois, Illinois Nature preserves, kayaking, kids activities, Lake Michigan, nature centers, prairies, sledding, snowshoeing, spring wildflowers, volunteering, winter activities

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG In case you missed them, these were the seven most-popular articles last month at my blog, Nature in Chicagoland, as selected by my readers. Click on the link below to access the articles.  1. Sixteen South Chicagoland Nature Wonders: Great Destinations on the South Side … Continue reading The 7 Most-Popular Stories at My Nature in Chicagoland Blog in February 2026

Visit Spring Valley Nature Center & Heritage Farm for Great Hiking and Birdwatching, Fun Activities for Kids, and to Discover the Area’s German Heritage

by anders458, posted in Uncategorized, birdwatching, conservation, fall colors, farms, hiking, holiday gifts, Illinois, kids activities, local history, nature art, nature centers, prairies, settlers and Indians, snowshoeing, spring wildflowers, volunteering, winter activities

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG They say that life is one big circle. But with the Chicagoland area being so vast, with a population of more than 9.2 million people, I sometimes doubt that. So who would’ve thought that I’d be hiking with my sixth-grade teacher (1980–81) nearly 45 years … Continue reading Visit Spring Valley Nature Center & Heritage Farm for Great Hiking and Birdwatching, Fun Activities for Kids, and to Discover the Area’s German Heritage

Celebrating the Eighth Anniversary of My Blog, Nature in Chicagoland

by anders458, posted in Uncategorized, @FPDCC, astronomy, biking, birdwatching, books, botanical gardens and arboretums, bouldering, camping, canoeing, canyons, cemeteries, Chicago, chicago park district, Chicago Parks, Chicago River, Chicago stories, climbing, conservation, conservatories, cross-country skiing, Des Plaines River, Driftless Region, election candidates, eskers, fall colors, family and friends stories, far, far away from Chicago, farms, fens, fiction, fishing, FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF DUPAGE COUNTY, FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF KANE COUNTY, Forest Preserve District of Will County, Forest Preserve of Cook County, Galena Illinois, gardening, ghost hunting, glacial kames, hiking, holiday gifts, horseback riding, Iceland, Illinois, Illinois Department of Natural resources, Illinois Nature preserves, Indiana, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, insects, Iowa, Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, Jordan, Kansas, kayaking, kids activities, Lake County Forest Preserves, Lake County Illinois attractions, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Lee County (IL), local history, MCHENRY COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT, meteorology, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, museums, music, National Park Service, Native American History, nature art, nature calendars, nature centers, Nature Conservancy, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, orchids, Pennsylvania, pets, photography, poems, politics and the environment, prairies, presidents, product reviews, Rockford, Illinois, settlers and Indians, skywatching, sledding, snowshoeing, social issues, social justice, South Dakota, spring wildflowers, train travel, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. history, Upper Peninsula of Michigan, volunteering, waterfalls, winter activities, Wisconsin, zoos

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

Goodbye 2024…Hello 2025! 

by anders458, posted in Uncategorized, @FPDCC, astronomy, birdwatching, books, botanical gardens and arboretums, Chicago, chicago park district, Chicago Parks, Driftless Region, election candidates, hiking, Iceland, Illinois, Illinois Department of Natural resources, Illinois Nature preserves, kids activities, Michigan, National Park Service, nature centers, prairies, Rockford, Illinois, skywatching, snowshoeing, winter activities

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG I want to thank my “Nature in Chicagoland” readers for visiting my blog in 2024. Last year, my blog received the most reader views (nearly 22,000) and visitors in its nearly eight-year history. I’m grateful to those who take the time to read my … Continue reading Goodbye 2024…Hello 2025! 

Visit Crabtree Nature Center to Enjoy Top-Notch Hiking Trails, an Outdoor Play Area for Kids, and a Beautiful Nature Center

by anders458, posted in @FPDCC, birdwatching, conservation, fall colors, Forest Preserve of Cook County, hiking, Illinois, kids activities, nature centers, prairies, spring wildflowers, Uncategorized, volunteering, winter activities

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER & AUTHOR OF THE “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG Crabtree Nature Center (3 Stover Road, Barrington, IL 60010 Phone 847-381-6592) is one of six nature centers that are operated by Forest Preserves of Cook County. We’re lucky to have such beautiful nature centers in Cook County. They provide access to hiking trails, … Continue reading Visit Crabtree Nature Center to Enjoy Top-Notch Hiking Trails, an Outdoor Play Area for Kids, and a Beautiful Nature Center

Celebrating the Seventh Anniversary of My Blog, Nature in Chicagoland

by anders458, posted in @FPDCC, biking, birdwatching, books, botanical gardens and arboretums, canoeing, canyons, Chicago, chicago park district, Chicago Parks, Chicago stories, conservation, cross-country skiing, eskers, fall colors, family and friends stories, Forest Preserve District of Will County, Forest Preserve of Cook County, ghost hunting, glacial kames, hiking, holiday gifts, horseback riding, Illinois, Illinois Department of Natural resources, Illinois Nature preserves, kayaking, kids activities, Lake Michigan, local history, MCHENRY COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT, nature centers, Nature Conservancy, prairies, spring wildflowers, train travel, U.S. Forest Service, Uncategorized, winter activities

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF "NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND" Today is the seventh anniversary of my blog, "Nature in Chicagoland," and I’m so happy to have written more than 260 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 … Continue reading Celebrating the Seventh Anniversary of My Blog, Nature in Chicagoland

8 Things to Do at Emily Oaks Nature Center

by anders458, posted in birdwatching, fall colors, hiking, Illinois, kids activities, nature centers, snowshoeing, spring wildflowers, Uncategorized, volunteering, winter activities

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” Have you ever driven by a nearby nature center year-after-year without ever visiting? I have. But last month, I finally turned left rather than went straight and, within minutes, I was pulling into Emily Oaks Nature Center in Skokie, Illinois, on a sunny, blue-sky day … Continue reading 8 Things to Do at Emily Oaks Nature Center