Creekside Woods Park is a 7.3-acre neighborhood park and natural preserve area which is one of the…read morelast remaining undeveloped open spaces in the city of Rolling Meadows. It provides the residents and walkers-by with a nature trail to stroll right into the middle of an authentic, pretty cool woods. It would appear that the trail should have a beginning and an end but it doesn't. It only has a start and a midway point, where it peters out to nothing and no progress can be made. On the other side of the woods, where it looks like the trail is going, is residential housing that is on a private driveway and there's really no great benefit to surprising the residents by tromping out of the woods and onto their lawn or deck. This is a very peaceful, amazing woods and both my wife and myself come here for healing walks of solitude where one can be one with nature. We live right down the street from it, so access is easy for us, but there is no real street parking for anyone who wants to visit. Better to arrive by bike, skateboard, foot, or mule. It's worth it.

Beautiful park that offers a little something for everyone! If you're up for a walk there is a nice…read morepath that follows the perimeter of the park, and if you want a further distance the path links up to Cuba Marsh. The playground and treehouse are a lot of fun for kids, and there is also and area with tennis courts. There are flush toilets connected to a space that can be rented out, and there is also a stage for various events. Gorgeous scenery in a well-maintained park.

Lovely grounds for a stroll on a nice day. It's very close to the downtown Barrington area. The…read moresetting is very calm--perfect place to bird-watch, read a book, or just relax.

This is a little neighborhood park barely visible off of Rand Road in Mt. Prospect, located just…read morepast Business Center Drive along the retail-rich stretch of suburban roadway. We've come here a couple times with the kids, especially if they're bored of a lot of shopping. Hill Street Park has an awesome playground with slides, climbing structures and bridges to run across. Besides that, there's a picnic area and a short walking trail that wraps around the place. You can walk it in about 5-10 minutes, so it's not exactly a big hike, but plenty of fun for the short attention span of our kids. There is no field house, but it's a nice place to stop and play if you're in the area with a couple energetic kids. While it was not fully green when we last visited, I am sure the place is splendid in summertime. Check out the photos.

Hill Street Park is a very decent park and preferred by a lot of moms in the area because of the…read morelow traffic flow, play ground, and relative peacefulness. There's ample seating for parents, a small slide, swingset, seesaw, and jumbo playground for larger children. This is a great area for moms of children varying ages. There is a decent walking area for dogs, although they are not allowed on the playground. Also, for eight or nine-year-olds who want to get off of the beaten path, there are things that they can do in the open "woods", such as build forts, because they are burned out and cleaned out regularly. There is a fire pit for fun as well.

Prairie Grove Park, part of the Buffalo Grove Park District, is on the eastern side of Weiland…read moreRoad. It is across the street from Risinger Park. If ever a park met the definition of a neighborhood park, this would be it. There is a large walking path through a neighborhood of single family homes with a large retention basin in the middle. It is a very pretty park with benches along the walking path. It is great if you want to take a walk in a quiet area!

Best 18 hole disc golf course around that I have been to so far. It is well marked and challenging…read morewith narrow fairways, hills and valleys, and a lot of brush. It is well groomed and overall a good work out and good time.

It may not be obvious from the road, but this large park is full of tons of amenities that include…read morea walking trail, sled hill, grills, benches, picnic tables, and a shelter. For me, the best feature is a large 18-hole disc golf course and for this purpose, Margreth Riemer Reservoir really delivers. This course has a perfect mix of hills, grasses, trees, bushes, and large bodies of water for the small chance that you may lose your disc (fortunately, there's plenty of area between the course and water, so you'll have to throw quite off the mark for it to land in there). The only thing I dislike about the park is the confusing parking, but it's not too bad once you've been there once. Definitely worth a visit if you live in the area, and a great place to get some disc golf practice.

Another somewhat-hidden gem of a nature preserve in the area, Berkeley Prairie Forest Preserve…read morefeatures some of the nicest prairie grasslands in the neighborhood (rivaling Prairie Wolf). This is a great spot for bird watching and finding local beneficial insects. There's a slightly-raised grass path that goes around the prairie, which is usually in pretty good shape as long as you wait a few hours after a rainfall. The path cuts through some oak forest and parallels some wetland along the north branch of the Chicago River. It can be a little tricky getting to the trail. There's a fairly-obvious entrance on Ridge Road, but there's only enough room there for one vehicle. I'm not entirely sure if you're even allowed to park there, as it seems like it is the vehicle entrance for park maintenance (I've never stopped to read the signage there). There's actually a "commando" entrance to the north just past Ryders Ln. on the non-contiguous bit of Berkeley Rd. - you'll see a dirt pull off and a small unofficial path that leads to the Berkeley Prairie trail. The street is narrow here, so this pull off is about the only place you can safely park - there's probably enough room for three cars. If these spots are taken, but you really want to walk the trails, there's plenty of parking at Olson Park further north on Ridge that is about an 8 ~ 10 minute walk away.

Centennial Park in Arlington Heights is a park with four tennis courts, three baseball and softball…read morefields. It features a walking and bike path that leads to a nature preserve area. There is a great area where you can observe the wildlife and pond. There is a nice playground here too. There is an easily accessible parling lot. I enjoyed walking this path. The only negative is that the walking path doesn't connect in the park. If you want to make a complete loop around the path, you need to leave the park and walk through the adjoining neighborhood. I recommend Centennial Park.

What a hidden gem! You get the best of both, beach and bluff and it is HP residents only…read more Accessible by both foot and car; but note that parking space is limited and you have to have a sticker (available at HP Rec center). No matter the purpose of your visit, this place has relax and unwind written all over it. This beach is the opposite of Rosewood, it is more of a DIY beach, which is more my vibe.

I'm not sure if this review is about the park area, the beach, the lake, or the fact that the North…read moreShore has some beautiful historical hidden gems worth exploring. Millard Park pays tribute to all of it! Thanks to Maryana R and Peter S for helping me discover this jewel. At the very end of Ravine Drive, down a long and winding road, up some stone stairs, you'll discover a piece of North Shore history. Not only will you discover a remaining stone wall structure that was part of the Robert C Schaffner Estate, built by Howard Van Doren Shaw, but the restored Schaffner Garden, which is a magical place made for a fairy princess. In the midst of wild flowers, you'll also discover planted trees and benches dedicated to loved ones who have passed on. This garden overlooks the lake and the Millard Park Beach. I can't wait to come back when the flowers are in bloom. On the beach you will find a rock garden and a fun wooden structure/rock identifier displaying native rocks. Kids and kids at heart can take the rocks they discover on the beach and match them to the rock identifier as a learning tool. It's kind of difficult to explain, so you'll just have to see for yourself! Overall, an incredible place to escape to. Note: You can only park there with a Highland Park sticker and dogs are not allowed on the beach.