The best playground we have ever visited!!! The playground and restrooms were surprisingly clean,…read moreespecially seeing the number of people here. Our two year old could have played another hour, and still would have been entertained as there is so much to do!!! All different types of ramps, walkways, swings, slides, climbing and even a "spinny thing!!" This playground is also visually very beautiful and lots of seating for the parents. Yes, there was a couple teenagers playing a bit rough, however it is summer break and that is to be expected. Many more kids and toddlers and a friendly environment when we visited!!! Honestly I can't believe this is even a free attraction, such an amazing value for what they offer here!!!

We came to this playground as it was recommended as the best one in the Kenosha area and I…read moredefinitely think this is likely true! My kid spent quite a bit of time playing here. It was pretty darn busy on a beautiful summer day when we visited and I was happy there was a picnic shelter with tables and restrooms nearby. It was a lovely recreation opportunity for the kid with lots of places to climb and lots of things to interact with.

I took a few of my nieces and nephews to River Bend this week end.. It was a wonderful time. They…read moreabsolutely enjoyed their selves. However,, there were woodcarvers showing young people how to carve.. You had to be 10 or older. So they said.. we seen children there that we no for fact were not 10 yet it seemed almost sad that it did not concern anyone.. And likewise I met with a supervisor there that was less than warm to us.. I don't usually get any negative feelings from protocol or rules.. But for some reason this time around here on this day I got a really sad feeling from these few individuals.. I dare not mention much else as I'm certain they will know who I am.. We did after this sad encounter .. meet up with a few awesome volunteers that didn't seem to care one way or another who we were or what we were..and they showed the kids how to build a fire and gave them some awesome knowledge.. but I think I'm gunna stick to Colonial No one to pass judgement .. thank you ...

I just discovered this park earlier this summer and love it. It's serene with beautiful vegetation…read moreand has a great trail that follows along the Root River. The trails are well maintained with either gravel or wood chips to prevent walking in mud. I have seen herons, bunnies, and deer up close and personal while hiking through the woods. It may just be my favorite park in town.

This beautiful park is located about 15 minutes east of the I-94 freeway. There is a driveway that…read moreleads to a large parking lot far enough away that one cannot hear automobiles from the adjacent road. The park hosts a large pavilion (it can be rented out) with a lot of picnic tables that are like brand new, grills, nice indoor bathrooms, a softball diamond, a large playground, a basketball goal, a sand volleyball court, horseshoe pits, and plentiful areas for picnics. During the time of my first visit, I was unable to explore the hiking trails that lead through the natural areas of prairies, woodlands, and wetlands. However, I was able to enjoy the tranquility of the surround landscape while discussing upcoming plans with friends. There were a couple family with kids playing at the playground and a man walking his dog along the edge of the manicured lawn and prairie plants. The lights are on a timer at the Pavilion and turned on at dusk. The women's restroom was clean and I did not see any spiders (this is extremely important to me.... I hope it continues to remain spider free!). After a Google search, I discovered this park was created recently to serve as a "pollinator paradise" that also slows runoff from the surrounding landscape into the Pike River. *my heart* It's everything I went to graduate school for and then some. This is an ideal place for a nature hike, meeting, taking your kids to play, picnic, family reunion, bridal/baby shower, etc. I was really impressed with the up-keep. Although it is a 35 minute drive, I plan on returning to explore the hiking trails with my pup and meeting up with friends. This is definitely a successful project that was completed by Mount Pleasant and Root-Pike WIN (with assistance from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, Fund for Lake Michigan, and other partnerships). 5 stars!!!

I don't make it out to the Kenosha area very often.But a friend's band was playing at the…read morepetrafying Springs beer garden, so we took a drive out for some Saturday evening entertainment. Tons of parking available. A huge amount of picnic table seating around the small stage. Plenty of activities happen all throughout the week.On the different days. The beer garden has a wide selection of beverages and also has large refillable beer stein's available for purchase. All the food that came out of the kitchen looked absolutely amazing. We tried the kenosha Pizza and also the pretzel, which was accompanied with somersausage cheese, curds, a delicious mustard and an absolutely incredible cream cheese type dip.I highly recommend it. Music was done at nine o'clock and the beer garden closes at ten. Played an interesting game which you can view in the photos. Very kid and dog friendly with a playground and dog park nearby. Wasn't able to walk through the rest of the park , but had an amazing time just at the beer garden. Stay thirsty my friends.

What a nice park. We were cruising through town and saw this on the map and decided to check it…read moreout. There is a lot going on at this park. + Free spring water where you can fill up your own jugs. + A dog park + A beer garden (though unfortunately it was closed given it is off season) + A golf course + Plenty of picnic areas and shelters + Hiking trails + Bike trails + A raging river (spring runoff) + Many playgrounds + Free Wifi (given the ravine it is in cell service was spotty - at least T-Mobile) The one negative is that a number of the picnic shelters do not have convenient parking nearby - it is a very odd set-up. Overall a real gem for this community.

This was my second visit to this quaint, tucked away nature mecca. I was in awe of the natural…read morebeauty and history that is so delicately preserved. After driving all the way to the back, we parked our car near a discreetly tucked away porta-potty. There is also a small building with information and photos for the visitors. Personalized bricks are available for purchase that are then placed on the floor in front of the visitor's building. Classes, concerts, tours and options for wedding photography are available. I was struck by the many private trails and paths to choose from. They wind around vast amounts of foliage and over streams. We only encountered one other group of three women the entire visit There is a tiny outdoor theater area with small wooden benches, where you can attend shows and concerts and a teepee hidden back in the dense wooded area. At the front of the park, there is an place for honeybees to work - doing their thing. Also, toward the back of the park, the trees open up to a beautiful field of grass and flowers. Set way in the back are three tiny white buildings. First and second Pike River School Houses and Somers Town Hall stood, with quiet elegance in the distance. They were maintained beautifully and enjoyable to walk through. The effort put forth to maintain everything naturally was very obvious. If a tree falls it stays. If the bushes and foliage grow dense it stays. I did not get a commercialized and man made impression as I toured the nature sanctuary. There is even a tiny wooden box for donations. I peeked through the crack, before I dropped in my money, and was very happy to see that others appreciate what goes into maintaining this storybook setting and had donated as well. I am so pleased they are able to preserve the Hawthorn Hollow Nature Sanctuary. It's a little piece of quiet elegance, where children can learn, families walk, friends can enjoy a concert or class and couples can celebrate in this hidden gem.

Hawthorn Hollow will always have a special place in my heart because I grew up as their neighbor…read more The Pike Creek is truly a hidden gem in southeastern Wisconsin. The land is serene and peaceful, filled with wildlife throughout the area. Great for bird watching or taking a nice hike with the family. Hawthorn Hollow hosts a variety of fun events and workshops. The folks that work there are some of the friendliest as well. Highly recommend visiting Hawthorn Hollow if you've never been!

it's so Wisconsin here that I'm seriously considering parking a high mileage Winnebago at the far…read moreend of the lot and settling in for the duration except for, well, you know... January. it's just mid-December now and it's already bug killing cold out... water at the shore is starting to freeze into fantastic shapes as it slaps the colder boulders around the boat launch. slightly sub-freezing with light winds out of the west and I'm the only one out here not dressed appropriately; even the deer are wearing hats! a half dozen cars in the lot buttoned up against the chill, people quietly watching the sun rise, looking ahead to the possibilities of a new day, a new year. meanwhile, the bluff hides the bustle of construction top side: fancy little houses too close together trying too hard to blend. meanwhile, life goes on at a slower pace down here as the sand gradually gives place to the water or the grass in turn.

Bender Park: Located on the shores of Lake Michigan in Oak Creek, this park offers some lovely…read moreviews of the lake and scenic trails. While it is a nice park, I prefer Lake Vista Park, which is located directly next door to the north. If I visit Bender Park in the evening, I've noted on multiple visits that certain drivers tend to speed recklessly through the parking lot. The other plus to Lake Vista is it does have a playground for kids, while Bender does not. Only other complaint is that the WE Energies plant to the south is a bit of an eyesore in an otherwise scenic location.

Nice big park with all sorts of recreation possibilities including soccer, softball, baseball,…read morehiking, picnics, frisbee, kite flying, or fencing. Actually I don't know if fencing foils or any swordplay is allowed here but I didn't see any signs prohibiting it. The real attraction is the beer garden, they have a couple of great food choices, good beer, some bad beer, fire pits, and a friendly low key crowd of families, couples, smaller groups of friends. Lots of parking.

Nice park, scenic, peaceful, and well maintained. In nice weather it's a good choice for a picnic…read more Always easy paeking.

I went to Pershing Park with friends before sailing. We decided to hang out and have a picnic. It's…read morea nice location near the marina. It overlooks Lake Michigan. There is plenty of parking and plenty of space to hang out and relax while sharing a meal. It's particularly a nice spot in the late afternoon.

Harbor Park is one of my favorite areas of Kenosha…read more This open and spacious area is perfect for relaxing while watching boats come & go. Get some sun as you stroll along the walkway lined with art sculptures. There are benches, flower gardens and statues. The gorgeous view of the lighthouse is a central attraction to this area. I love stopping by there when I'm in the area, especially if I grab a coffee from Common Grounds. It's an incredible area to sip your latte and take beautiful photos that capture the special lakefront Kenosha has to offer.

A "hidden gem" of a spot to visit if you're from the Chicago area. If you want a nicely maintained…read morespace, with a giant farmer's market on Saturday, tons of beautiful sculptures, lots of parking, lots of great museums and other buildings to visit, great nearby restaurants, a beautiful view of the lake, nicely maintained gardens, and other benefits of being a well maintained area right next to the lake, then visit Harbor Park. There's really no better way to enjoy public activities, Pokemon Go, and festivals without the crowds of Milwaukee or Chicago.