We booked a private play for our almost 2 year old on our trip to Starved Rock, trying to keep him…read morebusy. It was such a treat. He especially love the foam pit, the kitchens, and the fact that he could touch EVERYTHING. If we lived close, we would do this all the time.

Great experience visiting the play land this weekend. We…read morecame with a 1.5 year old and a 6 year old. They had an awesome selection of toys that appealed to both ages. Highlights include a cool indoor climbing structure, lots of fun nooks and crannies and a foam pit. We met the owner who was friendly and helpful. Bottom line: Awesome spot for kids (and parents!)

Really great off road park in IL situated on 300 acres. We've been here more than a few times and…read morealways have a blast. If you're lookin to get dirty, this is the place! Whether you have an atv, dirt bike or 4x4, there are trails a plenty for you to get your kicks off or get stuck in. Lots of mud, steep hills, dense trees, creeks, boulders. Really beautiful sights. Some trails are more challenging than others, but they are all challenging. Make sure you have mud tires, cause you will get stuck and what a difference those tires make. A winch would be helpful. Be prepared. Rain boots are a good idea too. There are 4 trails and we usually stay on trails 1 & 3. As other reviews have mentioned, you'll run into parts that are not clearly marked. You may see a sign then a mile out nothing. It's easy to get lost so make a mental note of your turns cause they happen fast. Recently came on a Saturday and trails were super sticky, some drier than others but you'll definately run into muddy groves. Some parts of the creek had lower water levels than others, and boy was that fun to go through and doable with our 4Runner. Most of the trails are wide enough for 4x4's and not just 4 wheelers or bikes. Some parks aren't like this. So basically you can go through just about any trail. Everyone riding is super friendly and courteous and willing to help out should you need it. Surprisingly, we didn't get stuck in mud this time but by trees instead. Trying to get through, we were practically kissing a tree on the passenger side. This was the same time we saw storms coming in and knew we had to head back. This is were it got tricky as we lost sight of signs turn after turn. As luck would have it, it started hailing, lightening and pouring rain. We had to wait it out and called the office for help getting out, so as not to damage our vehicle any more than we did. After about an hour and a half Brad came and saved the day..super cool guy. Just know you can always call the office for help. They will charge you though, and it varies. Anywhere from $40+ depending on your situation. Cash only, fyi. If you're looking for more of a beginners park, I'd head to River Road Valley in McHenry. Much smaller and they have a wash station. Biggest downside of The Cliffs is no wash station. Closest car wash is only a few miles away; Irish Suds and the owner is on premises (for real) looking for people like us because he wants no mud in his stalls. So beware. If you're lucky, he might let you use the diy stalls depending on how much mud you got. But that's really your only nearby option for a wash. They have various events and even zip lining! Atv's are available to rent and Brad even does tours for a fee so you can get a feel for the park, he'll give you lots of pointers too. Check out their website. Never a dull moment here..and yes, you can really F up your vehicle if you don't know what you're doing and/or don't have the right set-up. One of the best off-road parks we found in IL. We always come back.

I personally would not make a reservation with this place for ziplining. All the reviews are spot…read moreon, $300 down the drain. This place will never get another dollar for me ever again. Their trails aren't great either. Can't go 3' without getting stuck. They need to give it up and let this place die. Place has no clue about customer service and maintenance.

This was my second year. I had a really great time even though it rained a little bit the weather…read morewas perfect most of the trip. The river was Tad low so we did get stuck a couple times. It is a very fun experience. I recommend it highly

On a trip back to my hometown, I went on a 12 mile canoe trip down the Fox River. I loved it! I…read morehadn't been down the Fox in many years. Going to Ayers made it super easy. This way, we didn't have to transport any canoes. They took care of that. We made a 10 AM reservation, which gave us time to drive there and stop for breakfast. We were taken on a school bus with just one other family who was also renting canoes. They drove us to the starting point and we canoed back to Ayers. It was simply a beautiful trip! We saw deer, herons, turtles and lots of geese. The rocks on the sides of the river are amazing. There is a picnic area with bathrooms half-way through with bathrooms and then we canoed the rest of the way to Ayers. The only issue we had, was a small leak in the canoe. It wasn't a bid deal, but we did bail waiter one time.

Matthiessen State Park is such a gem. The trails take you through gorgeous canyons, lush greenery,…read moreand peaceful streams that make you forget how close you are to the city. The waterfall views are the highlight and absolutely worth the hike in, especially when the sun hits the rocks and everything feels like a hidden escape. The trails are well marked and offer a good mix of easy walks and more adventurous climbs, so there is something for everyone. Even on a busier day you can still find quiet corners to enjoy the sound of the water and the view of the sandstone cliffs. If you enjoy hiking, photography, or just want a beautiful spot to reset in nature, this park is a must visit. Bring good shoes, some water, and be ready to take a ton of photos.

Matthiessen has a lot of really wonderful attributes. I'll get to those in a second…read more But first, we have some real nasty issues. 1. I have visited twice and the actual bathrooms are always locked, forcing everyone to use the disgusting porta-potties. The only running water is a strange foot-washing station near top of the stairs. What the hell is going on here? I get that the park is free, but can we charge everyone $1 so we have functional bathrooms and water refill stations? 2. A lot of the park infrastructure looks rough/dated. There are places where the only way across a body of water is to walk on some manmade cement platforms. Some of them have been toppled by the water (years ago?), making for a fairly treacherous journey if you choose to attempt it. I hate the disgusting metal gate between the upper and lower dells. It totally wrecks the natural beauty. Both times I've visted, there are so many areas of outright mud. Nothing wrong with that, but it seems there's been almost no attempt to improve the infrastructure of bridges and walkways where this is a recurring problem. My most recent visit was in mid-October, when the rain had turned a lot of Matthiessen into a waterlogged mess. You'll see some beautiful scenery and then be forced to navigate a giant mudfield to get to the next thing. Another issue is the generally terrible behavior of your fellow hikers. I saw so many people taking their shoes off and trying to scale slick sandstone canyon walls. I kept waiting for someone to fall off and die. If you go to Matthiessen - and I do think it's worth the trip even with the drawbacks, here are my key tips: 1. Waterproof boots are a must. Tennis shoes will suck. Crocs are insufficient. My kids' tennis shoes were basically murdered by their hike. 2. Bring good trekking poles (at least one per person). You will probably need something sturdy to lean on or probe the depths of water or mud. Each of us had one and I witnessed people without them struggling mightily. 3. Come with your own water and hand sanitizer. Even that will be insufficient to clean off the grime you encounter, but you should never count on those dumb restrooms being operational. 4. Expect that the canyon areas are *much cooler* than the trails above. That's great on a hot day, but could be an issue if you're hiking when it's cooler on the surface. 5. Leave your dumb dogs at home unless you want them drinking some of the foulest water in Illinois. 6. Be prepared to strip off your clothes for a head-to-toe refresh when you get back to the car. They will get gross. 7. If you go on a holiday weekend (I was there on Columbus Day), you may be stuck in the too-far overflow parking lot and have a ton of extra knuckleheads to deal with. 8. There are a lot of stairs. A lot. Take Advil beforehand if your knees are over 35 years old. I don't think it would be too hard to upgrade Matthiessen to become a crown jewel of the state park system. The natural beauty is there. But the human contribution really alls short.

Had a great night. Not a big crowd/ live music Joe Stamm…read moreBand. Shipwrecked weekend fest. $9 chicken plate and $3 dollar assorted beers. Great way to pass a Friday night..

Used to go here all the time for lunch last year. The burgers were fresh, huge, and tasty. A…read moregreat deal at like 7.00 for a 1/2 lb cheeseburger and chips. Double fisted pork tenderloin for 8.00. Not sure what has changed but what a disappointment. Website states 1/2 lb burger but not hardly. Burger was smaller more of a smashed culvers type. If I hadn't have been here previously I might have given them 4 stars. Rating based on the fact we used to go there a lot... low low 3 stars.

I've played here 3 times now and I always have a hard time explaining what it's like to play the…read moreBourne. The best way I can describe it is Diabolical and the best way to understand it is to play it. It's not always fair and a few holes just don't make sense but somehow it all works. Not fancy, but the staff are super friendly and leave plenty of time to play because this place is a journey.

Well a lot of things have changed since I last reviewed 11 years ago. I now have way more time to…read moregolf and I love golfing here. It's reasonably priced. Its never busy but I don't golf in the afternoon or on the weekends. Plus the place is 20 miles past where Jesus lost his sandals, so it works for me . 18 holes, decently maintained, priced well, not overly crowded. Clubhouse people are nice. Cons: yardages are not marked, they have signs which should get you to the next hall but sometimes they're extremely confusing. Like I'm still confused on which green I'm hitting to when I'm going to the 9th and the 18th. You think after playing enough rounds I would figure it out , but it's just not marked, so dumbass Me can't figure that out.

Wow, what a great place! I took my fiance here last weekend for our first visit, and all I have to…read moresay is WOW. The staff is super friendly, the environment is outstanding, and a special thank you to DAN, the range officer. Dan stood by my car when the range closed and talked to us for a while! We will be returning regularly! Thanks again for a fantastic experience. The only bad part of the trip is our fault, we assumed that they would be open later than 4 pm, so we took our time driving up and got lunch, so we didn't pull in till 3 pm - so we still paid the total price, but the hour was worth the money! Well Done! Erick Fettingis

I have gone to many shooting ranges in my life, and I have prior military experience. I started…read moregoing to this this shooting range. My first experience was positive; the shooting range officers were courteous and helpful. My 2nd experience at this shooting range was terrible. I was at the 50-yard range when they switched range offices in the late afternoon. The new range officer was an old guy, and he made my experience at this shooting range terrible; unlike the other range officers who were helpful and courteous, this range officer was rude and ignorant. I had planned on going to this shooting range in the future, but because of this one range officer who was disrespectful, rude, and ignorant to me. I will never go to this shooting range again.

Our family had a great time on these electric bikes! There were awesome trails to ride on and…read moreplaces to see. Doug was kind and full of knowledge about the bikes. 2 hours for $40 3 hours for $45

What a fantastic experience. The staff was so patient and helpful. They really knew their stuff…read moreabout e-bikes. Gave us so much information and offered any assistance we needed when we decide on what bike to buy, even if we don't buy from them. My husband and I had a nice ride down the canal trail. Great way to get outside and enjoy the afternoon. I can't recommend this place enough. If you're worried about getting back on a bike after a long time, don't be. These people will help you every step of the way. Thanks guys.