Waterfall Glen is a beautiful display of nature. Trails offer a robust adventure. Two parking lots,…read moreone off of Cass Avenue and the other off of Lemont Road.

Beautiful place, lots of walking trails. The waterfall was pretty. They have a public bathroom and…read morea big parking lot. One suggestion is to mark waterfall trails from parking lot.

Underrated and beautiful. It's got a fantastic view of the city skyline and there's a whole…read moreindustrial vibe going on but I don't mind it. It's serene and if it wasn't so warm I'd go to it more often. It's good for a long walk but there's no trees along that walk so I'll be frequenting more in the fall va the summer.

Check out this incredible transformation of a quarry into a park in Bridgeport. In between it was a…read morelandfill. Palmisano Park has went through a lot of changes to be sure. A lot of nature of course. There's trails and an interpretive wetlands among the many things to come across while going through. Best to know about the transformation before going. It used to be the Stearns Quarry. The city purchased it in 2008, cleaned it up, and opened it the next year. Has lots of nature to see and more to do. There's more than a mile of paths, including recycled timber boardwalks, and walkways. At first this was the site of a coral reef if you can believe it. Limestone was formed, and there's been fossils discovered here that are now in the Field Museum. In the 1830s it became a quarry, and operated until 1970 when it became a landfill. There's a fishing pond that still has the old quarry walls. After opening this park there was cause for celebration. The community before this had a lack of green space. Have to go here if you like parks that have been restored from abandoned areas. It's quite impressive. There's all kinds of plants and wildlife.

Want a free workout that will kick your butt? Head over to the Swallow Cliff stairs. There are…read morepeople of all fitness levels that make the trek here. Stay to the right and keep your own pace. The forest preserve has done a nice job maintaining the area. There are tables to have a picnic, clean bathrooms, and seasonal café. There is a decent amount of parking too. It does get packed if weather is nice. People like to use rocks to track their loop numbers. Signs say no dogs allowed on the stairs.

Love swallow cliff stairs! This is definitely a workout!! My goodness this is nothing like regular…read morestairs or a stair climber. For those that even exercise regularly, this is a tough workout and you really have to build up to it. Nice location, great walking trail in addition to the stairs. Everyone that goes is very friendly. In the summer the smoothie shop is open. Police regularly patrol the area. Super big parking lots. The only issue is that you're really supposed to walk up one side and down the other - but often people are walking up and down the main flight of stairs which is annoying. Aside from that, it's a great experience.

Yes, yes, yes! A must visit!! This place has been on my list for years to come visit and I finally…read morewas like let's gooooo!! Came on a nice spring day around 2 pm. The most annoying part was the line to get in. They have qr code to pre-pay in line. But not all guests choose to do this which slows down the line. They only had one staff scanning people in. Beautiful flowers and plants. We saw the turtles as well. Plan to spend about an hour here. There are some people that stop and take too many pictures to block walkways for other guests. Parking was free. Also located right on the green line for convenient public transportation option.

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous conservatory! Once you step inside, it does not even feel like you're…read morein the city. The plants are lush and vibrant (except when they are not physiologically mean to be so) and some rooms even have turtles and fish. The signs next to each variety of plant do a good job of explaining what it is, where it is typically found, and how it was brought to the conservatory. One can spend hours just wandering and walking from one room to the other. My favourite is the desert room, which has multiple varieties of cacti. This is definitely a great place to bring kids, but it is important to make sure they don't touch the plants unless specifically permitted to do so. The gift shop is fantastic, with seeds, cuttings, and fun souvenirs. The staff at the conservatory are very friendly. Despite visiting during spring break, the conservatory was not particularly crowded, and I plan to return in the winter. Finally, the conservatory is relatively accessible by public transport, but there is parking available nearby (I don't think they have a specific lot, but I could be wrong). Overall, highly recommend a visit.

The Chicago Lakefront Trail is a scenic walk alongside Lake Michigan. The lake is so large and…read moreexpansive, you forget it's a lake. It feels like you are looking out at the ocean, except that it's so filthy, with no sand. You're reminded it's freshwater because there are so many geese along the trail, on the grass, and in the water. Bird doo doo everywhere, too. The waters are choppy. I even saw a sunken boat. Someone's not going to be happy finding out that their boat sank. Since I visited during the fall season, even though it was cold and windy, the skies were blue with fluffy white clouds in the sky. Handful of joggers and a few tourists taking selfies by the water.

When I was moving from the Boston area, a friend asked what things I was looking forward to in…read moreChicago. One of the things I spoke about was the park system. The Chicago Lakefront Trail is a great example of what I was talking about and is one of my favorites (so far). Disclaimer: I've used the trail from the Northern end to Monroe. There is a lot of good here. I love how it runs 18.5 miles for walking (18 for biking), allowing a ride or walk as long as your heart desires without going in circles like a carousel horse. Speaking of biking, I am thrilled that the trail has designated areas for biking/walking, or at least a painted divide. Other than one section that is packed dirt, the asphalt appears to be in good shape. There are also ample exits for the trail so one can leave once their legs become tired, or even use it as a commuter trail if on a bike or scooter (which I've done on a couple of occasions). However, the trail is imperfect, especially for folks on two wheels. There are some areas where the paint is faded, or it is unclear which areas are for bicycles and which are for pedestrians. This issue is compounded by ongoing construction, resulting in detours that will have one going in circles or in an area they're not supposed to be. On that note, I wish something was done about bicycles in pedestrian-designated zones or vice versa. I don't think enforcement is the right call; rather, I will hammer that abundantly clear signage and fresh paint are essential. It is easier to navigate as a pedestrian, but there are still some issues. For one, a few more benches to rest on what will be a long walk. For another, bathroom facilities are lackluster, to put it very mildly. They are extremely outdated, have limited hours (closing at 7 PM in the summer is downright criminal), and while okay for "standing activities," I wouldn't attempt any "seated activities." Thus, the Lakefront Trail is currently good, but has the potential to be very good to excellent. All it takes is a little paint, a little metal, and some bathroom modernization. In the meantime, I will continue happily using the trail on foot and otherwise, trying to navigate as best I can.

I love The 606. It's a living ribbon of city history, stitched into the neighborhood and still…read moreevolving with every step. On warm days it hums with life -- walkers, runners, bikes, conversations floating by with the breeze. On cold days, it offers something rarer: quiet, space, and a kind of urban solitude that feels like a deep breath. Lovely views, constant motion, and just enough stillness when you need it. A true gift to the city.

This is a public park, not business. A very nicely maintained trail for runners and walkers as well…read moreas bikers. E-bikes and E-scooters are not allowed but some are still riding them which is very annoying. No one there to enforce the rule. Other than that, it is a perfect trail.

Enter near the Trailside Museum, in the parking lot on the south side of Chicago Avenue, then…read morefollow the trail south. There is a large field across Chicago Avenue, around the parking lot north of Chicago Avenue, but that area of Thatcher Woods is much less interesting. Go south instead. Along the path going south, I saw deer, ducks, chipmunks, and loads of birds. Local children have been building structures on the woods, so it is fun to grab some branches and add to those creations. The deer cane up so close, within 10 feet at times. Wear shoes that can get muddy. It was a bit soggy today, but the trails are definitely still passable.

Haven't been here in a while but I love this first preserve! Been here for a few events. It's a…read morelittle of country within the city limits. Great little place to get you in touch w nature. Check it out when you need to get away but stay close.

Beautiful walking trail. The trail is clean, well-paved and safe. Lots of people on it but not too…read morecrowded. Only one downfall for someone recouping from surgery, no places to seat for a break.

Easily my favorite trail. Growing up this used to be train tracks but since 2008 it's a trail…read more Convient to use however a woman was sexual assaulted recently so be careful. Awesome place for the neighborhood

Do NOT book a wedding at this venue!! Park supervisor is beyond rude and they are not prepared to…read morehost any type of activity there. Despite being told construction project would be completed it wasn't and we weren't notified of delay. It was apparently too difficult to call or answer an email. Our event was littered with construction debris/ mud/ smelly algae. ZERO accommodation and in fact, this troll-of-a-supervisor interrupted my nieces wedding vows with yelling at our photographer. It honestly was the rudest thing I have ever witnessed. We had to stop everything and console an hysterical bride. This fool should be fired for such poor judgment and incompetent management. It was unnecessary and just pathetic. Don't go near this part of Lincoln Park!

This spot is a hidden gem to get away from metropolitan noise located near downtown in the Lincoln…read morePark area Great for Photoshoots too

Come here to learn about nature and natural areas. It certainly is a good place for children…read morewanting to know more. North Park Village Nature Center has a long and interesting history through the years. A lot of after school programs. There's also day camps in summer among other things. A kind of hidden place surrounded by the North Park Village campus. It's over 58 acres of natural area and educational facility. There's trails going through prairies, savannas, wetlands, and woodlands. Before this was a nature center, this used to be a sanitarium for tuberculosis patients to get care and live. The city chose this site in 1909, and it operated until the 1970s when tuberculosis was eradicated mostly. It was saved from being demolished for commercial property, and this park was created. Learn more in the Discovery Room, which is located in the middle of it. There's also plenty to explore outside, with the trails and woodlands of the Walking Stick Woods. Has programs for children, families, and adults. The Eco-Explorers summer day camp has nature themed activities and games. Bigger area than it seems to be. It's located at Peterson and Pulaski. This is a good place for exploring nature whether adults, children, or whoever wants to know about this kind of stuff.

I visited here again yesterday with the Chicago Nature Journaling Club. I hadn't explored too much…read morewhen I was last here but did so a bit more to find a place to journal. I didn't realize that they had so many different habitats here, but there are woodlands, prairie, savannah, and wetlands. There's an area in which there's a man-made waterfall and stream which is quite nice and peaceful. I really like it here, and I'm lucky it's pretty nearby. I didn't know until I was here yesterday that this nature center was once a part of the Chicago Tuberculosis Sanitarium. for nearly 60 years. It's quite different now, obviously, and I'm glad they found a way to put this land to good use for the benefit of the community.