Kids Castle is one of the best parks and playgrounds around. The playground has so many different…read moreareas to explore that kids can easily spend hours playing without getting bored. Everything is well maintained, and there's plenty of space for families to spread out and enjoy the day. One of my favorite things about this park is its location. It's close to great walking trails, so it's easy to go for a relaxing walk before or after visiting the playground. There are also fishing ponds nearby, which make it an even better place to spend the afternoon outdoors. Whether you're bringing young kids to play, going for a walk, or just enjoying the peaceful surroundings, Kids Castle is a fantastic destination. It's one of those parks that keeps you coming back because there's so much to do, and it's always a fun place to visit.

Entertaining for all ages! Took my step daughter (5/6 year old) and husband here one summer…read moreafternoon. Clean, updated and a blast for all 3!

What a beautiful day it was to attend a cystic fibrosis walk with some of my colleagues. I enjoyed…read morecoming here.

What else are you going to do in 70 plus degrees on a Saturday in March? Yes, go for a 3 mile walk!…read more My wife and I have been itching to go for a walk since we go here every Saturday from Spring to late Fall. The entrance we go to is off Dundee road and i had plenty of parking! The trails are well kept and the trees look great in the summer and even more beautiful in the fall. There are gravel trails and paved trails. We typically use the paved trails. People are very courteous when running or riding bikes. They call out that they are passing which it great for safety reasons. The different birds and sometimes we see deer grazing and it's beautiful to see. Along the path there is a radio controlled area where people can fly their gas powered airplane. It is pretty to cook to see and they are very skilled! It has a runway which looks cool, like it is a mini airport. I highly recommend coming here during the summer for hiking, biking, roller blading, picnics, etc. I'll update pictures for each of the seasons!!!!

How can you not love Lake Arlington?! The lake is beautiful,…read morethe treats at the Boat House are great, and the vibe is perfect. 10/10

Lake Arlington is a man made lake in Arlington Heights. There are many things to do there. There is…read morea walking path around the lake. The park also features a playground and exercise equipment. Lake Arlington is a great place to fish, kayak, and boat in the water. In the community center building, you can buy snacks and drinks as well as rent equipment to use on the lake. Lake Arlington is a great place for year-round fun!

My husband, friends, and I love this place! It's pretty clean and is absolutely beautiful,…read moreespecially during sunset. There is a path around a decent sized pond where many run or jog, and there are plenty of benches to sit on around the path, as well. A nice perk is that you can watch all of the cute ducks and geese all over the place. Be careful where you're walking because poo is kinda everywhere, though haha! There is a free outdoor workout area you can use with a good amount of different machines, and there are also canoes and peddle boats that you can rent. I haven't been here in the winter season yet, but apparently you can ice skate on the pond when it's frozen during winter, too. Don't let me just tell you how gorgeous this lake is, see for yourself! Many people also fish here, but during certain times, the lake has green algae, so I wouldn't recommend being that close to the water if there are signs out.

Great park and very relaxing time!!! Would recommend for…read moreanyone looking for a great place to unwind!

We looked at this park for accessibility for mobility challenged people. Know before you go! Here…read moreis what we found: - Four handicap accessible parking spots - No handicap accessible restrooms or water fountains - Terrain is wood chips - About 700 feet from main attraction to parking - Two parks to get into park and no play ramps - One handicap accessible swing Nice Park!!!

My niece and her husband had their wedding reception here a few days ago. The weather was rainy and…read morecool, but as someone visiting from hot and sticky Texas, I gladly welcomed it. An outdoor pavilion surrounded by the forest was where the celebration was held. It easily accommodated all the guests. Because private events here use outside caterers, we were treated to an amazing buffet style dinner that included salad, chicken, steak, salmon, potatoes and vegetables. All were abundant and delicious. The exterior of one of the historic buildings served as the spot for the open bar. I went inside the property and was transported back in time to mid-19th century Illinois. Parts of the building resembled a hotel off the beaten path in Mexico. I confess that I didn't do much research on The Grove beforehand. It appears to be a place where you could get in a quiet weekend walk. Simply put, a must visit for anyone seeking to escape the hurly burly of Chicago proper. Fair warning, however. It's easy to get lost looking for The Grove so be sure to keep an eye out for the sign indicating it while traveling down Milwaukee Avenue.

The nature center is a great place to see some animals and other exhibits. The forest is much…read morebigger than it looks from the street and has nice flat paths. We saw several deer and chipmunks. Great place to go for a hike.

A little tricky to find, but is now one of my favorite spots to walk in the area - Buffalo Creek is…read moreenormous and stealthily bordering busy Lake Cook Rd on the south. The easiest way I found to get into the parking lot is by going North on Arlington Heights Rd past Lake Cook Rd onto Checker Rd and then taking a left right away. My GPS originally directed my onto the south side of the area. Once inside, you'll find an expensive space full of plants, creeks, bridges, and more. There's plenty of space to walk, bike, skit (on benches, picnic tables, etc.), fish, and more. At the entrance, there are toilets though there are many possible options for shorter and longer walks so it's not super difficult to get back to the parking lot should you need to cut your route short. This walk is one of the more picturesque walks to take around sunset time if you want a beautiful and relaxing view during your entire stroll.

Buffalo Creek Forest Preserve offers a nice place for a relaxing 1.9 mile hike. There is an option…read moreto go farther by following the various offshoot paths. Parking is very limited off of Old Hicks Road but there are not many people going onto the path so you should be fine. There is a varied turf combination of paved and gravel. The path is pretty even, smooth, well kept and good for all ages We saw what seemed to be a grasshopper migration (9/21/25). We stopped counting after 25! However we did count 7 furry caterpillars crossing the path. There were many species of prairie willow, berry trees, cat tails and a few wild mushrooms too. Lake County is offering a hiking challenge over the next couple months and it's a fun way to see all that Lake County Forest Preserves has to offer!

I love this park because it's an all in one! There's a decent sized splash pad, a park, a ninja…read morecourse, baseball field, and there's a trail around the pond. There's also a bathroom. You do have to get there early if you want some shade and a place to sit. It's a park that rarely is empty especially in the summer time! I like that if you have kids in different age groups, there's something for everyone! Also like that it's not run down and it's clean!

Broad experiences. Astro turf!! Clean restrooms and friendly participants in the park experience!!…read more Highly recommend, mostly, safe!!

I honestly did not know what to expect when we came here with my two young grandkids. Admission was…read more$3 per kid because we are not Schaumburg residents. My understanding was we were allowed to stay for one hour, and it was well worth the nominal admission fee! It had all the best components of a park, with lots of attention being focused on exploration and discovery. I did not see any swings, but there was plenty to climb on and signs posted everywhere encouraging the parents to not be helicopter parents... to let their child explore and try to problems solve on their own. There was a man-made creek running through one edge of the park and half the children were in bathing suits and had shovels and buckets with them. My grandkids declared it the best park they've ever visited! The playground is attached to a large piece of land that has tons of walking paths and picnic areas along with nice bathrooms and an educational nature center! It would be very easy to spend the better part of a day here!

A kid's dream playground and totally worth the small entrance fee. This nature-themed play space…read moreis huge, creative, and packed with fun. Because it's so popular, they use timed entries to give more families a chance to enjoy it without crowding. It's located inside the Spring Valley Nature Center, so after playtime, you can wander the trails or explore more of the natural area. A great combo of fun + learning + nature. Perfect for an afternoon with littles

A must visit for wonderful bird watching. Bring binoculars! Parking lot off of northwest highway &…read morehillside ave to see the heron rookery and the Dundee entrance for osprey nest & grass walking trails.

I came here to see the osprey…read more Baker's Lake is west of Route 14. There is an entrance on the north off of Hillside and an entrance on the south off of Dundee. I used the entrance on the south as this is where to post is located with the osprey. This area is literally a road with a few parking spots at the end of it. There are no identifiable paths or walkways. There is a break in the tall grass on the east side of where you can park. This rounds around the right and brings you back directly to where the perch is located. The osprey was there when I visited but he didn't do much. Not sure if it was because it was drizzling, he was tired, or he didn't like my presence. Either way it was still pretty cool. The north end probably has a better view of the lake and the "bird island" that this lake holds. It is a truly phenomenal sight. If you like birds, Baker's lake is home to thousands of water friendly birds.