The dock is in for the year and the fishing enthusiasts have been taking full advantage --…read moreespecially today as it hit 60 degrees and sunny and was such a welcome break amidst the lackluster weather and social isolation we've been enduring lately. Keep in mind, the lot fills up quickly I'm the summer and you can't park your truck and trailer on the road so be sure to arrive early. I wonder if they're issuing fishing permits during the shutdown. Also ... I've heard the Secretary of State is closed so I hope they won't be ticketing boat drivers who can't renew their tags. I'll have to investigate.

We've been swimming here for years, so I was surprised to see I hadn't written a review yet!…read more This park has a sandy (with some gravel) beach, accessed via a hilly sidewalk from the handicap parking next to the newish picnic pavilion. Note: to get to the handicap parking, you don't park up top (and walk down those stairs, obviously!), but drive down a clearly marked accessible road down to the four handicap spaces nearer to the beach. You will still have to walk/wheel from those spots to the water. The water starts out really shallow (good for playing, if you have littles), and then goes deep pretty quickly. There is often a bunch of seaweed near to the shore, and, depending on the weather, the water can be murky. Persevere! STILL! It is a swimmable lake, and feels really good to get in the water, so close to home. There's a small playground area, a grassy area next to the sidewalks, and then, along the lakeshore, plenty of space for fishing.

An oasis in the middle of the city, it's easy to blink-and-you-miss-it this gem across from Oakwood…read morePlaza near the intersection of Oakland Drive and Parkview. This small park offers an elevated path and raised overlook and a small beach. If you work nearby, this is a great place to escape on your lunch break with a picnic and a good book. I once spotted a snowy owl in a tree adjacent to the park. Definitely a life highlight! Not the best swimming hole in the area (definitely visit Portage's Ramona Park for a bigger, better beach), but still worth the trip.

Nothing beats a nice stroll in the park. No matter the season! The beautiful green now has a slap…read moreshot of other colors bringing the fall features to life! But as lovers of spring and summer. Green was our calling card for sure. Very beautiful park!

I stopped here for a bit to destress in the green. This is a very pretty park that has been set…read moreaside though it isn't completely isolated from the noises of the buses and trucks that pass by. Still, pretty, green, refreshing. Great walking and jogging and biking trails, picnic benches, covered areas, grills, fishing areas, permanent structures with restrooms. This park has everything. Over 200 acress and connected by a 3.5 mile trail. [Review 11230 overall, 1006 of 2019.]

Even on a cloudy day in November, Chipman Preserve is beautiful…read more This was our first time to visit Chipman Preserve. I recently joined the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy and my goal is to visit all 19 of the public preserves. Chipman Preserve is located in between Comstock and Galesburg on E. Main St. There is a gravel parking lot, which probably holds 10-15 cars. Chipman Preserve is nearly 230 acres that take you through savanna, forest, and grassland habitats. There are six miles of trails. The main loop takes you around the perimeter, but there are lots of smaller twisting trails that take you off the beaten path. The dense forest area is so peaceful. I'm anxious to return in the spring so I can see the beautiful wild flowers. I've always been loved the beauty of nature and Chipman checks all the right boxes. The paths are easy to follow and there is not a lot of elevation. It only took us a little over an hour to traverse most of it. Besides hiking, you can cross-country ski, snowshoe, and it is also used for trail-running. And it is dog friendly. If you want to get away from it all, this is the place to do it.

This out-of-the-way hiking spot is a good go-to if you want to avoid the crowds (although they're…read morepretty adamant about no off-leash puppers, which is one of our top reasons to seek out lesser traveled trails). Really enjoyed a short lunchtime hike here recently and love that they have lots of kiosks where you can learn a bit about the area and its wildlife.

What a place to unwind and relax amongst the uninterrupted landscape. Walking through the woods and…read moretaking in thr sights and sounds of nature's creatures and thrblight breeze makes for an hour or two of serenity that is important to recharge with. Go to clear your head, get a little exercise, or both! There are literally miles of trails where you can take in all nature has to offer. I can't imagine how you could be in a bad mood as you're out exploring this little gem.

Been wanting to visit Al Sabo for awhile now and so glad that I did. Such a beautiful place with…read morenice paths for walking, running or biking. The wooded area with the tall pines have been planted in rows - so cool! Loved seeing people enjoying the woods in their hammocks. Parking lot is small and congested.

Feeding the fish in the show pond is always fun. The museum is very nice with excellent educational…read morefeatures. Get free fish food and milkweed seeds here. Lots opportunities to volunteer and participate in fishing events. Trails open year round.

We went here hoping to spot some baby merganser ducks that a friend of mine had posted a photo of…read moretoday, but we didn't spot them. We did enjoy viewing lots of fish and also spotting some beautiful wild flowers. It sounds like they have lots of cool programming for kids from fish feeding to fishing programs. There are informational signs throughout the area instructing visitors about the various fish and plants. Was pleasantly surprised by how well maintained the porta-potty was.

This is our favorite local lake to kayak in because it has so many little creeks that connect it to…read moreother local waterways. It's so peaceful to paddle slowly through the reedy sections and connect to the neighboring lake (Howard Lake). Between the lake itself and its adjacent creeks/rivers, you could be busy from dawn to dusk exploring every little cranny. The main lake gets pretty busy with speedboats, though, so be sure to stick to the edges in your kayak and don't bring a tippy one!

Beautiful kayaking adventure with my sister on a serene river. It was a 3 hour long ride full of…read morebeauty, nature, peace, white swans, dragonflies, and some cranes. Amazing experience. Once you are about to reach the third bridge, you call them and they'll pick you up. The owners of this business were helpful and kind, down to earth, and they explained everything in detail. Highly recommend!!!

Couldn't find much online about these folks, but I needed to rent a kayak for the brand new…read moreGeocache Trail along the St Joseph river. It was $30 cash (+tip) for a four hour kayak rental. So bring cash, because no digital payment accepted. When you get to the third bridge, you call the number on the paddle and they drive down to pick you up. Karen was kind enough to hold onto my rental car keys while I was out. The river was serene and gorgeous, totally worth the price for the rental. Where I'm from this trip would be hundredsz