Review Visit: April 24th, 2017…read more Carpenter Park is more than your typical park. Since the coming of Spring, I have been getting the itch to hike. There are plenty of places to hike in Illinois, but I wanted something different. Something off the beaten path. Somewhere that wasn't Starved Rock or a 2 hour drive for me. After scouring Google Maps for a place, I stumbled upon Carpenter Park. So in my car and off to hike I go! Carpenter Park is located on the outskirts of Springfield, almost in Sherman. Taking Sherman Road in, you will find it on the right. Your turn will take you to a one lane road where it leads to a small but ample parking lot. Beware, this road is mighty bumpy and will test your suspension due to all the dips and holes. Parking at Carpenter Park, you'll easily notice the main board that has a map with the trails marked on it. Food for thought, if you ever go hiking, take a photo this is map with your phone. You never know when you will need it. I have referred to the maps on my phone many times, just to make sure I was where I thought I was. The main parking area has all the entry hiking points, so it is easy to hop on a trail and start walking. I noticed main of the trails tend to intersect and cross each other, so you could easily go from one path to another to another. While this was fine and dandy, it was at a certain point that I noticed all the crossings no longer had markers. So you really need to pay attention to where you are going or you may end up getting lost... like I did. Just like at Matthiessen State Park, I somehow wandered out of the hiking area and into the main road that leads to the parking lot. As for the trails, they are all fairly flat, well-defined and suitable for people of all hiking skills. There are quite a few that had logs laying across the path, so you will have to go around or climb over. Not a hassle for someone who is in shape, but if you are looking for a gentle walk, this may be a problem. Some paths had a path going around the logs, but it's not a guarantee. While kind of getting lost, I did stumble upon some really cool cliffs/canyon of Sandstone. They were facing the Sangamon River. If you view some of the images below, I managed to sit on a part that stuck out. It was a fantastic view as long as you didn't look down and see the rocks and river below. Thrilling! Overall, I was here just shy of 2 hours and it was a fun place to hike. It is somewhat connected to another place called Gurgens Park that seems to offer more of the same as here. So if you felt daring, you could literally cross the road that splits them and hike both places. Carpenter Park has some interesting history, if you read the Wiki link below. Guess it is an Old Route 66 attraction. How cool! If you do hike/camp/fish in nature areas, please please please pick up after yourself. I filled an entire Kroger bag full of trash. Keep Nature Beautiful.

Could use better maintenance and more signage…read more Pro tip- to find this park on google maps search "Historic Stone Shelter" This park is a nice little oasis in Springfield and my go to place for a short hike. I love the views by the river but my biggest gripe with the trails is that there aren't very many signs to delineate where trails are intersecting. The trails that are not by the water are nice for a little taste of nature but don't have any standout features. In all, I enjoy coming to Carpenter Park to hike and enjoy a scenic lunch but I wish there was better marking of the trails.

This was such a fun place to go. They have lots of jogging trails. They have both paved and…read moreunpaved ones. Making this place a good handicap accessible place. They also have free community classes. I did a mushroom foraging class, and a maple tapping one. Lots of fun stuff for the kids to do. They have an indoor and outdoor bathrooms. They also have a free parking lot to park. The staff are very nice and helpful in the visitor center. I definitely plan to go back here. It was such a beautiful, nice relaxing place.

Review Visit: September 27th, 2016…read more I have been to Springfield, IL quite a few times, so it came to me as a surprise that there was a Memorial Garden/Nature Center dedicated to Abraham Lincoln. So, on a beautiful fall day, I decided to make a trip there and see what it was about. Talk about picking a perfect day to walk a perfect place. Parked my car, grabbed my outdoorsy hat and went walking. You could say that this place is split in two, with a section around the Nature Center and a section all on its own. There were only a few people on the trail and they were friendly. It was an enjoyable walk around the Nature Center section. Even saw two fawn play around while their mother fed. If you like to walk some easy trails while enjoying nature, this place needs to be on your list.

I've always loved Washington Park! It's very clean, peaceful and one of my favorite places to see…read morenature, take in beauty and get some good walking in and/or a morning run! Being back in the city for a few weeks has really brought back many memories from years ago! This is where I had so many highlights as a teen. Prom pictures, family gatherings, awareness walks and so much more. This is such a beautiful park, located in a beautiful and calming part of the city! Park closes at 10:30 but it's very large, clean and many places to sit.

Beautiful park, lots of wildlife. Loved walking around and seeing all of the landscape, and the…read moreflowers around the botanical garden!

Checked in on Monday was charged for holidays fee for one day .After a couple of hours at campsite…read morecome to find out that shower houses are closed .All I m saying is that after charging me one night at holiday rate you think you would have mentioned that the bathrooms were closed.

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

A beautiful spot to spend time outdoors, walking, praying, and being alone. There are Dominican…read moresisters who host this space, with some animals, the grounds, an art center, and some retreat space that can be rented. They hosts events seasonally; I recommend walking the labyrinth.

Nice little zoo! We took advantage of a free admission day. The kids had a blast, staff was very…read morefriendly and knowledgeable & its so nice to not having outrageously priced food (we all ate for under $15) would definitely return in the future.

Love this zoo! Very cute! However think the birds could have better enclosures somewhere for them…read moreto fly around.

I was happy with the front of the facility which catered to littles. Of course, my four year old…read moregrandson wanted to go into the climbing structure in the back. There were no signs regarding age, so I saw no reason to refuse. There was another little boy about three back there, too. Both of them got up in the structure, couldn't see their mom and grandma and wanted to come out. The complexity of the structure made it confusing to find their way out and they both started screaming for us and panicked. The man at the front desk just kept on reading his book or phone and ignored the chaos. I am way too old to try to climb up into the thing so I was lucky that the young mother retrieved her son then went after my little guy. Much better supervision is needed there. I won't be back.

We L O V E love love love Ergadoozy!!!! The building really is massive which we were not expecting…read more Our 20 month old still isn't walking unassisted and our house is so small that she can get anywhere while walking along and holding onto a table, chair, or couch. Ergadoozy has tons of open area to encourage her to take some independent steps! The little shopping carts she loves to hold onto and walk so while it's not totally independent, we'll take it, lol. We got the 6 month pass and it's already paid for itself with how often we've gone. I haven't had any other issues with kids or parents and everyone has been so polite, even helping my daughter stand back up when their kids might bump into her while playing. It's so nice to have a space for kids to be kids! It can be loud and busy, so if you aren't a fan of that maybe go later in the evening on weekdays when it's slower. I love that kids can run around yelling and be kids in a safe environment. It's also great for her to try new toys so we're building a nice Christmas list every time we go, lol. There's a gift shop inside too so we try to steer her away from that.

Great park in Springfield and you can get some exercise walking while your their. As a local…read more watercolor painter I love painting around the scenic stone bridge area plus it has a storied history with many tales to tell.

Lincoln Park in Springfield is a fantastic destination that offers a wide range of activities and…read moreamenities for visitors of all ages. The park is beautifully maintained, with lush green spaces, well-paved walking paths, and plenty of shade provided by mature trees. It's an ideal spot for a leisurely stroll, a family picnic, or just relaxing in nature. One of the highlights of Lincoln Park is its excellent disc golf course. The course is well-designed and offers a fun and challenging experience for players of all skill levels. The layout makes good use of the park's natural terrain, with a mix of open fields and wooded areas that require a variety of shots. The course is well-marked and maintained, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable game. There is a north and a south course! Which gives diversity and more fun and options! In addition to the disc golf course, Lincoln Park features playgrounds, sports fields, and picnic areas with tables and grills. There's also a beautiful lagoon that adds to the park's charm and provides a peaceful setting for fishing or simply enjoying the view. Overall, Lincoln Park is a wonderful place to spend a day outdoors. Whether you're there to play disc golf, have a picnic, or just enjoy the scenery, you're sure to have a great time. Highly recommended!