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 2025. I’m grateful to those who take the time to read my stories and correspond with me about nature in Chicagoland. I continue to love writing this blog (which I've … Continue reading Goodbye 2025…Hello 2026!
BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND BLOG Last Monday—on the coldest February 17 (9-degree high) in 67 years—my wife, son, and I decided to leave the warmth of our home and travel to the Chicago Botanic Garden to soak up the indoor warmth of greenhouses and exhibition spaces and the estimated 10,000 orchid … Continue reading The Orchid Show: India Blooms Provides a Blast of Color and Beauty During the Cold Months of Winter in Chicagoland
BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND BLOG The Chicago Botanic Garden (CBG) in Glencoe, Illinois, is a popular destination in any season—but especially during the warmer months. If you love nature and hikes and strolls through flower-filled meadows, English and Japanese gardens, forests, and much more, you could easily spend an entire day … Continue reading Visit Chicago Botanic Garden for Breathtaking Gardens and Greenhouses, Model Trains and Other Seasonal Shows, and Fun in Any Season
BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF THE NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND BLOG UPDATED JUNE 2025 Spending outdoors is great unless the weather is life-threatingly cold or hot or other conditions (e.g., wildfire smoke) exist that make it unsafe. But on some days, we just need to stay safe. The good news: there are many nature … Continue reading More Than 20 Indoor Places to Visit in the Chicago Area on a Freezing or Boiling Hot Day
BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND Summer officially began at 9:58 A.M. this morning, although I'm sure you've been enjoying our beautiful weather for awhile. But, despite global climate change, summer remains short in Chicagoland. In just a few months, our kids will be back in school, and a month or … Continue reading 17 Things to Do Outdoors in Chicagoland This Summer
August is here, and summer is in its third and final act. The “actors” are still on stage: the leaves are green, the flowers are in bloom, the beaches are packed, the kids are still out of school, the sidewalk cafes are jammed with summer revelers, and the sun doesn’t set till around 8 p.m. … Continue reading 14 Things to Do Outdoors in Chicagoland Before Summer Ends
Looking for some indoor winter fun with the kids? If so, you should check out the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Wonderland Express. It's an annual holiday extravaganza that features model trains journeying around and above dozens of Chicagoland’s major landmarks—from Wrigley Field and the Baha’i Temple, to Sears Tower and The Bean—all lovingly created with the … Continue reading All Aboard for Winter Fun at the Chicago Botanic Garden!: Model Trains, Chicago Landmark Miniatures, and Much More
BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS ARTICLE IS FROM 2017 AND HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED; CHECK WITH THE ORGANIZATIONS AND NATURE CENTERS BELOW FOR THE MOST CURRENT INFORMATION Local parks, forest preserves, botanical gardens, zoos, arboretums, and national parks in Chicagoland offer a variety of Halloween activities … Continue reading More Than 20 Halloween-Related Events Available for Kids in Chicagoland Forest Preserves, Parks, Zoos, and Other Nature Areas