Great place, we stopped by for some leg stretching on our way back to NWI (Northwest Indiana) from…read morevisiting my fiance's family in Wisconsin for Easter. This Preserve is really neat, the parts we did explore were very clean and had several garbage cans alongside the crushed gravel paths. There were several ponds suitable for fishing with easy access to the trails too. We parked in the smaller parking lot toward the south which has about a dozen or so spaces and a small field for picnics I presume... Walking toward the North you'll find a larger field and extensive parking area. Close access to both is a fairly large pavilion with a charcoal grill and several picnic tables. Nearby is a quad of Restrooms featuring handicap accessible stalls as well. There are even recycling bins enclosed in a small shelter. Never seen those before at a park, I kinda love it, go green people! Even though we didn't get to see much of it, the part I did get to check out was top notch! I'd definitely go back to check it out again.

Perfect flat winter trail for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing! The trail was visble even though…read moreit was covered with snow. The trail is wide and the brush protects you from wind.

Was way too crowded. Not nearly as nice as it used to be. The beach was not well maintained (weedy,…read moredebris). It was also very noisy. Disappointed.

It is a Lake Bluff residents beach. Not sure if some people sneak in or what…read more... We were enjoying the beach with lots of space. All of a sudden a family came and sat in front of us for no reason. Speechless!!

Independence Grove is such a nice forest preserve with lots of things to do especially in the…read moresummer time. Beautiful trails to walk/run along but they also have a playground for kids. They have a beer garden and snack shop. They also have water activities that you can rent like paddle boats and kayaks. It's just a nice place to go solo or with friends if you are looking to connect with nature for a bit.

Independence Grover is very much a Beautiful Paradise to My Husband & I. We discovered this great…read morenature center when we shopped at a thrift store I like. There are many fish by the tables if you bring something to eat. The bathrooms are very clean & close by. The natural nature is gorgeous! People can rent boats too. The paths are nice to walk on & this is a huge place! Plenty of parking in each section. Fishing as well. I seen there is a beach by the tables to eat at. Very cute. Peaceful too. We live in Chicago & many of our nature areas are very crowded. Even if it would get busy there is enough room for everyone here. I love it!! The plants & flowers are Amazing! I do wish we lived closer. If you have not made a visit please do.

been here a dozen of times...a hidden gem that is not easily visible and accessible from the main…read moreroads...located off the historical "old grand ave"...very well maintained recreational area...great for hosting different indoor and outdoor events (i.e. bday parties, weddings, craft shows, private gatherings)...several indoor centers with that old country settings...the rental rates are cheap maybe because it's a gurnee park district and not privately owned...clean indoor bathrooms complete with plumbing...different outdoor courts (basketball, tennis, volleyball, badminton, etc.)...plenty of parking scattered around...beautiful large old trees (especially the acorn) compliments the setting that mimics a bob ross landscape painting...the only negative comment i can say - metra line is next door so expect some train noise when outdoor...or wear ear muffs!

Nice clean recreational area for a family reunion picnic. Lot of areas for group play, privacy and…read moreclean restrooms.

A nice, clean park for people of all ages to either exercise, take a leisurely stroll, do…read morerecreational activities like fishing, picnic or just chill (or all of the above :-) ). I enjoy going here for walks and jogs. I forget how long of a trail it is for walking/ jogging/ bicycling purposes but either way, it is enjoyable. They have BBQ grills and picnic areas, benches, fields for baseball and soccer, a basketball court and some complimentary exercising (gym) equipment for anyone who would like to use it. The park has easy (multiple) access points and although, certain parking areas can get busy during nice weather days, you have other parking options nearby. There are multiple restroom areas in the park. Pets (dogs to be exact) are allowed for a walk. You get pretty views of sunsets from here over the small lake that's there as the area is scenic. I go here occasionally for either exercising or just to get my mind of things as I find this place relaxing and chill. Check this park out if you haven't been here before. It's worth the visit.

It is a beautiful place, lots of areas to walk and picnic areas too. It is a good place to go…read morewether you want to be alone or with someone

This park has a little bit of everything: new playgrounds, old playgrounds, basketball court, path,…read morefitness stations, sheltered picnic area, bathrooms, and a spray park.

Beautiful park named after the famous hometown author. It's one of the must see places in Waukegan,…read morebut it's usually pretty quiet. Ray Bradbury Park is located in a residential area, so it's isolated from tourists. A lot of people don't know where it is either. That helps keep them away and you can enjoy it better without crowds and stuff. As for the park itself, it's actually not that big. It has an entrance off a side street, close to a few houses. There's a marker noting history of the Waukegan River and the ravine that was mentioned in Bradbury's Dandelion Wine and Farewell Summer. Cool for book nerds. For sure it's cool for anyone obviously. Bradbury was even at the park dedication and met a few excited authors and fans. The marker has photos and information. Has no parking lot because this is a residential area. It's usually not busy so street parking is pretty much okay. There's not a whole lot of people who know where this is, so it doesn't get lots of tourists.

The great Science Fiction writer Ray Bradbury was born in Waukegan in 1920. His writings include…read moreFahrenheit 451, and of course The Martian Chronicles. Several of his novels are semi-autobiographical. In stories such as Dandelion Wine and Farewell Summer he reinvented Waukegan as Green Town. He wrote about a park, drawn from childhood memories, in Dandelion Wine. In 1990 the park, located a few blocks from his boyhood home, was rededicated as Ray Bradbury Park. Bradbury himself, was on hand to do the ribbon cutting. The park is not large, but it has a neat stairway that drops down into a deep ravine. It is easy to imagine Bradbury as a child, exploring this magical place. It obviously left a lasting impression on the great writer. Go pick up a copy of Dandelion Wine, wait for a nice sunny day and let Mr. Bradbury take you on an adventure as you explore his park. You never know what you may discover!

Had never been to this small size farm and Café/Farm market in Lake Forest. Went for breakfast and…read moretook a nice walk around the property. You can sign up to hang out with the goats, and there are also chickens and ducks. The food and my lavender latte were yummy. I will definitely be back over the summer just to walk in the beauty of nature.

Went to Elawa Farm for a community dinner; truly farm to table. Chef Lee prepared a delicious…read morechili, green pepper/onion/rice, jalapeno corn bread and a plum cobbler. This was the first chili I had made without tomatoes and beans. Local meats were used. The green peppers were picked this morning. Elawa Farm has the best community dinners. They also do cooking demonstrations. Highly recommend looking into this amazing place.

Amazing little area has a great trail around some ponds around a Farmstead, Cafe, and grounds that…read moreare beautifully kept yet also wild. We were looking for a European goldfinch and did not see one. But we saw plenty of other birds!

Joggers, Walkers, Nature Lovers…read more I've been coming to Middlefork for years. Throughout the day, you'll find people jogging, biking and waking on this long trail. I love how peaceful it is. Every season offers different different sights, smells, fauna and flora. It's such a lovely place to go. Then, off the main path, there are paths that go through the savannah. What a lovely walk! Along the paths are signs that tell you the history of the place or plants/birds you may see. Sometimes I'll just stroll with my dog (leashes are required) and read up. To get there, park at the Elawa Farms building. There's a map near the entrance so you can see how far and where the paths go. Happy trails.