Goodbye 2024…Hello 2025! 

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! 

Reflections on My First Snowy Hike of the Season and 12 Tips for Winter Hiking

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF "NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND" BLOG One month ago yesterday, I picked the last of the tomatoes, beans, and peppers, as well as dug up our sweet potatoes in our city garden. The winter chill came for a bit after that, but with the exception of one brief snow, Chicagoland … Continue reading Reflections on My First Snowy Hike of the Season and 12 Tips for Winter Hiking

The 7 Most-Popular Stories at Nature in Chicagoland in January 2021

The wildest place in Cook County 12 tips for a successful winter hike and some destination suggestions The celebration of a high school friend taken too soon More than 20 amazing nature spots on Chicago’s South Side and in the Southland to check out this weekend and beyond. A midwestern region where you’ll be saying, … Continue reading The 7 Most-Popular Stories at Nature in Chicagoland in January 2021

The 7 Most-Popular Stories at Nature in Chicagoland in January 2020

40-foot limestone cliffs, a stream, beautiful waterfalls, and a fishing pond–all in a Chicago neighborhood  12 tips for a great winter hike 20+ museums, nature centers, and other destinations to visit in Chicagoland on a winter day 14 beautiful National Park destinations–start your spring and summer trip planning Great hiking and biking and remnants of … Continue reading The 7 Most-Popular Stories at Nature in Chicagoland in January 2020

Goodbye 2019!…Hello 2020

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER OF NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND I want to thank all my Nature in Chicagoland readers for visiting my blog in 2019. In nearly 35 blog posts and more than 59,000 words (I didn’t count them, so I’ll have to trust my data analytics software), I’ve covered everything from an adventurous trip down … Continue reading Goodbye 2019!…Hello 2020

12 Tips for a Successful Winter Hike in Chicagoland and Beyond

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER & AUTHOR OF NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND UPDATED FEBRUARY 2025 Winter hiking is the perfect antidote for a Saturday morning marathon of Netflix’s Nailed It. That’s what I discovered last Saturday as I managed, after several hours of finagling, to pull my 8-year-old son away from the amateur baking competition culinary-astrophe (just … Continue reading 12 Tips for a Successful Winter Hike in Chicagoland and Beyond