Wolf's Crossing playground and splash pad are a big hit with the kiddos in the summer months. It is…read moreusually pretty crowded because it is such a fun place. But it's free fun and kids always make new friends to play with. Highly recommended for those days you can't think of anything to do with the kids, and screens are becoming a problem.

IT TAKES A VILLAGE…read more Raising children is hard, but Wolf's Crossing Community Park makes life a bit easier. Located on the Naperville / Oswego border where 95th St dead-ends into Wolf's Crossing Rd, this public park incorporates 33 acres of carefully planned and meticulously maintained space. It's the perfect answer when asked by your kid for the umpteenth time "wHaT aRe wE dOoOiNg ToDaY?" This complex features a playground, splash pad, covered pavilion, basketball courts, sand volleyball, tennis/pickleball courts, a lookout point with sledding hill and a ninja warrior obstacle course. It connects to various biking trails and there's onsite public bathrooms with plenty of parking. The ~100ft zipline is a standout feature and draws a considerable line on busier days. Watching kids nearly get yeeted off into the bushes makes for great theater! I assume the weight limit is 200lbs so next time I'ma have a go at it (get outta my way, kids!) The only thing missing is concessions, as the lone pop machine near the restrooms didn't appear to work. I think there's enough people here on a routine basis to warrant building a snack shop! I'd love to serve nachos and root beer to hungry peeps, as long as I got paid $25/hr. * TL;DR * This idyllic, multi-faceted rec area is fully deserving of its perfect rating. Wolf's Crossing Community Park was built with young children and special accommodations in mind, easily accessible to all ages & abilities. The fam spent several hours here (granted, most of them were confined to the splash pad) and we barely scratched the surface. I can't wait to beast through that legit obstacle course some day when I remember to wear close-toed shoes. Ain't no way my clumsy ass is making it through there in flip flops. WCCP has tons of what we in the gaming realm refer to as "replayability", essentially, is there enough stuff to do on repeat visits? You bet there is! See for yourself, check them out before summer's gone!

For those of you that are touched by the creatures this world still has to offer and for those of…read moreyou who choose to teach your kids that there is something mystical about how creatures find their way in this world, then this is a place to be had. The Heron Rookery is a true must see. But, I learned just in time you have to hit it (for its full effect) at very particular times. This year, on last years recommendation of my Yelp friend Robert, I hit this place within the time frame of the breeding season of these beautiful birds. And, having done so, the visitor centers guides made sure I didn't miss a thing. Although there are a variety of small wetlands in the burbs that play home to groups of migratory herons and egrets, this place, I was told is considered major league. The nesting islands are well protected, the peeps get the privacy and security they need and we, the general public, get acre on acre of peace and the opportunity to visualize what is unmistakeably innate. If you go, try to get in "this window" and join one of their interpretive hikes. It's beautiful, no matter the weather and the experience itself will put everything else in your life in complete perspective. The preserve, I found, has additional hours too ... you can even enjoy sunset ... and there are other venues in the preserve that are a little less restrictive. Make the time, take the trip, and the herons will take care of the rest. Awesome.

Great walking trails and wildlife viewing. Most of the walking paths are paved and well…read moremaintained. Plenty of parking and there is ample spots for fishing and bird watching. The paths are really close to the road, which is very noisy at peak traffic periods in the afternoons and weekends. Bring your noise cancelling ear buds or headphones if you are walking in those busy areas. Overall, there's a lot to love about this preserve. Check it out for yourself!

Hidden Lakes has been a staple in my Bolingbrook life for as long as I could remember. In middle…read moreschool, my sister's friend had a birthday party here. In high school, my friends and I would hang out here (my mom jokingly asked if we'd do anything... bad... here, and the truth is, we really just sat around and talked because the nature aspect was welcoming for a group of friends who just wanted to goof around), and when I lived in New York a few years ago, all I could think about when I was overwhelmed by city life was the fact that I barely appreciated living near a nature reserve like Hidden Lakes. This hidden, peaceful area of Bolingbrook is one of my favorite places on Earth, both for sentimental reasons and for its gorgeous greenery. I've had picnics here, as well as dates and walks with my dog. It's also connected to Whalon Lake, which is technically in Naperville, so walking over to that area is a nice extra activity. As teens, we'd walk around a fence to get to the Whalon Lake side, but in the last few years a connecting bridge has been added between the two "lakes." There's a restroom and an information center, and plenty of spots for fishing. I will say, though, that there is also a LOT of goose poop, and a lot of geese around, too. That part is pretty gross, but I suppose that's part of nature and can't really be prevented. I just wanted to put it out there! Hidden Lakes is tucked away on the side of the road at Boughton and Schmidt, but I highly recommend turning off the main road every once in awhile and getting lost in nature. I promise it's worth it.

I took my daughter there for a new fishing spot. The park district ranger was so helpful and…read moreinformative. They are very kid-friendly and thoughtful. The area is well-maintained.

This is my favorite park in the area to take my children too. This is a great playground for…read moretoddlers up to teenagers. The playground is clean and the grounds are always kept clean. There is a lot of open grass space, as well as bench seating. There is also a pond that you can sit near and watch the birds and ducks play in. We will pretty much live here in the spring and summer. Hours of fun!

This park I like it because this park has a volleyball field is a good park to take your kids and…read moreyour families to play volleyball or play games on the grass has a nice pond by it and a walking path to run, walk & ride your bicycle well recommend.

Great Lake to kayak, bike, walk or jog. The path connects to paths in Naperville and Bolingbrook.read more

Some of the clearest waters you'll see in Illinois. So much fun to kayak in and around the lake. It…read moregets up to 100 feet deep! That and the clarity can give you some really pretty views inside the lake. Not the best for fishing which is kinda a bummer. Roomer has it there's some good walleye here though. Overall such a beautiful lake and do recommend. mildly busy and there are kayak rentals available if you don't have your own

Very nice park with wonderful views of lake. Went for a walk around the park yesterday. Great way…read moreto get your steps in. So very pleasant and peaceful. Stopped and sat by lake to simply take in the moment. Perfect place to bring the kids.

Beautiful little quasi urban lake and park with houses butting the north side of the lake. Maybe 4…read moreto 5 acres, 10 feet deep at the deepest, playground, picnic tables, well maintained. I kinda wish they would cut the undergrowth at the lake's edge but that's just me. We caught (and released) a lot of panfish and someone caught a nice large mouth

Take a hike! See some waterfalls! Temper your expectations regarding the latter. This isn't Niagara…read moreFalls we're talking about, but once you reach the falls, it's a nice respite from all the noise in the world. Depending on the season and time of year you visit, you can walk across this small waterway, trek through some woods, hear pleasing bird calls, but be sure to wear some good shoes. The path is dog-friendly and I see dogs enjoying the water more than the owners. So what are you waiting for?

Well maintained. Not too crowded…read more Challenging enough on a bike for me. Beautiful and well maintained trails that are well marked. Love it. If you're out of shape this place can whip you back into shape if you let it.

Great area! My experiences with Frontier Park have been for two different occasions:…read more 1) This was where I parked my car my sophomore year of high school (2004), because the school lot was reserved for upper class man. There's a convenient path to walk from the lot to the school. 2) I was here for the Naperville Winter Ale fest and they were able to partner with the school for parking which was great. The park area is a really good size with a decent parking lot as well. The ale fest took place in the parking lot and there was tons of room for over 200 vendors, tents, food trucks, a fire pit and more. Frontier is set back behind the school and businesses over on 95th & 59, which is great because there on convenient businesses near by, but not on top of the park. There are all the amenities a good park should have: - Playground - Basketball - Softball - Backstop - Bocce Ball - Multi Purpose Field - Trails - Picnic Shelter - Parking - Restrooms - Skate Park I highly suggest it!

This is a nice clean facility with basic amenities. Although fishing is questionable, as to being…read moreallowed, there are many people enjoying doing it. The park is very large and has the usual playground equipment as well as a sledding hill, picnic tables and soccer field.

This is Four seasons Park in Shorewood, little lake to fish, tennis courts, basketball hoops, big…read morehill great for sledding or just walking up for exercise

I've been heading to Dellwood for close to 6 years now, and I always look forward to digging…read morethrough the crazy big disc selection and seeing everyone working that day. I still bag molds that Sean (the owner) recommended back when I showed up to the shop for my first time back when I was learning. Early on I used to order discs online, but stopped years ago because being able to pick out a stamp and weight you like is a much better experience overall. It's also nice to support a local business. The shop also puts on a ton of really awesome events throughout the year that bring out a great community. If you get a chance, I highly recommend showing up to at least one of them. I feel lucky to have the opportunity to be able to regularly hit the shop and get a round in at The Canyons. Forever my favorite shop, and I'll forever plaster by bag and truck with stickers and patches.

A pretty big park is in Lockport and has lots of room for various activities and fun. Dellwood Park…read morehas athletic fields for baseball and more. It also has areas for recreation. Has a disc golf course. There's fun here for any season. First looking at this park it doesn't seem as big. It actually is pretty deceiving as it goes back a long ways from the road. The entrance road twists around various athletic fields and parking lots taking you through. Best thing here apparently is the disc golf. It's often the reason people come here. The Canyons is what it's called, and people are always here tossing frisbees and having a good time. It seems difficult. This isn't for beginner or casual players. A lot of opportunities to have fun. It's best known for disc golf. There's facilities for other types of sports too.