Among the nicer parks in Champaign. Hessel Park isn't too big but it's still big enough. It has…read morelots of athletic facilities including for baseball and tennis. Even has a fountain. There's also a trail that goes around it. Big enough park for many activities. It has some pretty good athletic facilities. The local youth leagues have games and there's also kids just playing for fun too. Hot summer days are cool here. It has a big sprinkler area in the middle. This is a good place to take kids to cool them all off. For adults, there's areas for grilling. The pavilions are popular for holidays. Good park for almost everyone. It has a good amount of parking around it. There's a big water area for kids, there's sports, and there's a few trails.

Really nice Champaign park! Nice kid's equipment 2-5 and…read moresome stuff for the older kids Really nice splash pad in the summer Multiple tennis courts Lots of open space BBQ's and shelters for reserve

I have never hiked at a prairie before and I am so glad that I chose this place for my exercise…read more Very well maintained park with lots of trails. The wildflowers alone will bring me back to this beautiful place.

The Buffalo Trace Prairie is a system of trails that are on the far western edge of the Lake of the…read moreWoods Forest Preserve. To be sure, there is much more to Lake of the Woods than just Buffalo Trace. The easiest entrance is located just north of Exit #172 off I-74 in Mahomet, on the left across from the botanical garden and before you get to the Early American Museum. Can't miss it. The trails run all through this medium-sized forest preserve and are perfect for jogging, biking, or dog walking. There is one major asphalt trail that runs E-W and several smaller trails that are really just places that they mow the prairie down every week or so. The asphalt trail is a little more than a mile long, and connects to a trail that is 5 mi in total. The intertwined grass trails are much longer all told, but since there are so many, you can customize as long or short of a walk as you want. The terrain is rolling hills, and the biome(s) are a pleasant transition from prairie to woods. None of the trails that I was on were at all challenging or in disrepair. I would suggest that if you intend to take the grass trails, take a good long look at the map before you leave the trail head, or bring one along. Thankfully, there are not really that many people making use of this park, which is cool. If you make use of the trail map, the trail in the far south of this park (by the highway) actually dead-ends and does not connect back to the parking lot, as is indicated on the map. Not a big deal, just a lil back-tracking. I needed the exercise.

I love Rock Sorings! The good:…read moreIt's always well kept. Every time I go there you rarely if ever see trash The staff are always helpful and friendly The observatory is just one of the greatest hangout places ever! (Wish they would turn it into a little coffee area) Path and grounds are always well maintained Rock Springs also has all kinds of extracurricular activities going on that the public can sign up for that's either free or extremely cheap The bad: Unless you get lucky, normally the extracurricular activities are hard to come by. I understand the budget is limited and they can't really afford to go fliering the town. But I wish there was a way for them to communicate the activities better other than Facebook. I wasn't a fan of the cross country skiing, but that didn't reflect my review. I'm just glad they offer stuff like that! Thank you Rock Springs and s

Never been hiking first time but it was fantastic considering I lived on an island all my life!read more

Allerton is amazing. The park is gorgeous and the trails are serene. My favorites are the Sun…read moreSinger (of course) and the Sunken Garden. Plan to spend the day if you want to see everything. There is a little Cafe where you can grab lunch, everything I have ordered has been terrific, and don't forget to stop in the gift shop.

Beautiful park, a lot to see. Very clean, paths are marked, and except for special showings, it's…read morefree.

Such a Great experience for all ages doing both the drive thru and walk thru gave you an up close…read moreand personal experience with the wildlife

I was surprised how much I enjoyed this place. I expected some little petting zoo but this was a…read morelot more. We splurged and did the wagon ride and we're not disappointed. Everyone is given a bowl of animal food and these animals know it! The wagon crossed the cattle guards and here came the animals. Horses, water buffalos, things I've never seen nor heard of. You then can place food in your hand and these animals reach under the bars of the wagon to eat from your hand. For those not wanting that you can always place the food on the wagon floor. But hand feeding a bison was definitely a first for me. There is also an option to drive your own vehicle through the zoo but the wagon ride seems more exciting (and safer on the car). There is also a walking trail past the petting zoo, kangaroos, hyenas, and others. We did not go through the prehistoric museum. Only disappointment for one of us was that we didn't pet the sloth. A great kid experience after spending time driving through Amish country.

It advises the fishing but I've been out here for five hours and I haven't caught anythingread more

Great place to fish, hunt, camp, etc. lots of restrooms throughout park and very clean.read more

Beautiful spot to take a scroll for free and enjoy nature. This arboretum is very well maintained,…read morespacious, and has plenty of parking. In addition to the ponds and gardens, do make a visit to Japan House if you get an opportunity when they're open.

The University of Illinois Arboretum was a nice surprise to. This was a great oasis from a busy…read morecollege campus. My husband and I went on a Saturday afternoon, and while there people there, it was not crowded. There was a nice mixture of trees, lakes, and trails. It is a great place to rest and relax. Be sure to go when the Japan House when it's open.