08/31/25 - Last day of August absolutely spectacular weather the last two week. At 9:30am it's 68…read moredegrees, sunny w/ very low humidity . Get out and enjoy the last days of summer & Fall. So far productive done over 11,000 steps & it's only 12:00

This is one of my favourite trail for cycling in Chicago. It is long, you can get to Skokie…read moreLagoons, botanical garden and even farther to the north. Miles and miles of fun. Usually not crowded. I like it during the summertime.

Linne Woods was a well needed breath of fresh air for me the morning I conducted my run at this…read morepark. I am no stranger to it because it sits near an agency that I work for, so I am off-and-on in the area. And not that long ago one of my direct care clients celebrated his birthday at this park which gave me the chance to feel the vibe of it. My solo visit to Linne Woods came after having no interest in running the ever so congested Chicago Lakefront Trail. At the time, it was marathon training season with many runners out training for their fall and even winter marathons. And not to mention other individuals out on the trail whether it be biking, walking, skating, or even at the beaches which I just did not have the tolerance for at the time. In comparison to Chicago Lakefront Trail, Linne Woods appeared very peaceful which was exactly the vibe I had yearned for. It appears to be the ideal place to conduct large gatherings, or even picnics; and its large field is perfect for a number of recreational activities you can partake in. The area is a well-maintained space, consisting of picnic tables with shelter and benches within, and there are even restrooms within if it becomes your pit stop while on the trail or during whichever activity you are engaging in. And not to mention, there are waste and recycling bins throughout this area. Linne Woods is also accessible to the ever so lovely and maintained paved and unpaved North Branch Trail where it is easy to feel that sense of being engulfed in with nature and the beauty of it! I could not help but enjoy the beautiful sounds of birds chirping, the chipmunks or squirrels running either across my run route, or through the litter of dry leaves. It also kept me in the moment whether it be startled because of the noise, or the visual of those cute critters which put a smile on my face. Along with sounds of wildlife, I cannot ever forget the close encounter I had with deer as I embarked on my run route on this Chicagoland trail which took me up to Skokie Lagoons. Overall, I had a very pleasant experience at Linne Woods, as indicated in this review and would definitely return. It has become my preferred spot where I can enjoy my long runs in peace, as well as nature. ~Gonna run 'til I don't jiggle. ~ Thomas G

A wonderful site for outdoor strolling and enjoying nature. Had some very close and counters with…read moredeer which was truly amazing. My girlfriend loves animals and she couldn't have been happier that day. There are many trails to choose from or you can just walk on the road as well. You can even make your own path through the woods if you are adventurous! There are also picnic tables trash cans and bathrooms if you just want to enjoy a picnic.

Wonderful romantic fall walk in the park. Beautiful trees. Nice path. Spots for picnics. This took…read moreme back to my days in Cincinnati and I really enjoyed it. It's nice to be able to get away from the busy city. Best part... it's free :-)

Love this forest preserve! Last time I was there I saw three baby deer. Awwwww…read more Good walking trail though it doesn't connect in an easy way...you'll need to stop and turn back in the same path you just walked. It's a lovely path though! There are nice spots for feeding the ducks, cute areas for picnics and an overabundance of parking!

This is a piece of nature heaven at Cicero and Foster. For an idea of how beautiful just look at…read morethe photos. You'll probably see deer as people like to feed them. Don't do that, they are smart and can find their own food. Also the fpdcc volunteers at this location are some of the nicest people. They treat volunteers like rock stars, (which they are) are organized and have snacks.

Short loop with a riverbank trail and tree shade. Good for a quick walk. Can get muddy during rainy…read moredays. Easy to park.

Easy parking in front of the museum. Light trail but doesn't go in a loop or you can but have to…read morecross the street and then walk on some unpaved brush. Or one can just back track.

This popular spot is usually a little busy for my tastes, but catch it at a quiet time and you can…read moreenjoy a placid hike down easy paths. There's a broad, charming bridge where kids (or adults) can throw sticks into the water on one side and watch them float to the other side. There are multiple dirt trails into the woods off the paved path that's frequently teeming with bicyclists. And there's a gravel path where people often walk dogs. Note that there are multiple entrances to Harms Woods. I like the northern one, but so do a lot of other people, apparently.

Better alternative to the crowded trail along the lake. It has plenty of beauty of its own to see…read more North Shore Channel Trail goes from the Ravenswood neighborhood to Evanston, a long ways. Has lots of nature to come across. There's a few parks along it and other fun things. A lot less crowded on this trail and it's still got pretty good views along it. It's about 7 miles from the beginning to end, so that's a good way to work out. This begins at the intersection of Francisco and Lawrence in Ravenswood. First it goes north through River Park. There's trails on both sides of the channel most of the time. It goes all the way to Green Bay Road and McCormick Boulevard in Evanston. The trail is made of variously of asphalt, gravel, and crushed limestone. Has to be one of the less appreciated trails around here. It's not as popular as the one by the lake to be sure. There's plenty of parks along the way so these make for good places to stop for bicyclists, runners, or whoever.

How did I not know a paved, uncongested bike trail ran along the river from Lawrence to Golf where…read moreit turns to fine gravel and continues on... I don't know apparently to Wisconsin? OK, that might not be true but it at least hits Wilmette. Regardless, it's an absolutely wonderful surprise. You can pick it up on the north side of Lawrence between Sacramento and California. It takes you along the east side of the channel, through parks and under cross streets until almost Devon. There you jog northwest on Lincoln to re pick it up on the west side. You follow McCormick through Lincolnwood and Skokie with trees and sculpture and happily few people to keep you company. It's a great little ride. Maybe 10-12 miles round trip with all the twists and turns. I also love that I've seen none of the super serious jackwads with their full body spandex and forward triathlon bars going 35 miles an hour and looking at you like you're in the way if you ride casually. There are a few other cyclists and walkers. At the lots along McCormick folks clearly park and walk to the many benches to eat lunch on nice days. But even on a beautiful weekday in the low 80's with little wind I was alone with my thoughts and camera most of the time. There are port-a-potties at one of the lots near the midway point but once across Lincoln there aren't water fountains like there are in the city parks. If you really need hydration you can always jump off the path, back into real life just a few hundred yards away, and grab something to drink. Make sure you to remember to press the pedestrian button at intersections once out of the city or you'll never get across. Also even though it's a lot of fun don't accelerate through the downhill blind turns as you hit the under passes. There are lots of strollers and moms with kids in tow. Save those collisions for the d-bags on lakefront path.

I passed through this lovely park on a walk through Evanston. It has amazing beachfront views,…read moreespecially in the mornings. I noticed all the grass and trees looked lush and well maintained.

The views here are incredible, it feels like you are in a different place in the world and not 5…read moreminutes drive from busy Chicago!

Sometime ago I took notice of Community Park. It was recommended that I take my client here for…read morewalks on the track, switching up our typical scenery, plus because of it having softer pavement. During the evening of being introduced to Community Park I spotted quite a few runners and walkers on the track which built that interest to stop in in the future post finishing my work shift. During my initial run here I noticed that the track has a slight square shape to it different from any other, yet still accurate in distance and consisting of the rubberized artificial surface like any other. It is open as a community park, yet utilized and marked 'Bulldogs' referring to the Old Orchard Jr High School Bulldogs. And depending on what time of day you choose to utilize the track & field on the weekdays you may encounter the junior high school students conducting physical education class. Off to the side, there is even a tiny playground allowing you to keep an eye on your children as they play on the equipment. As for parking, there is access to parking along Kenton Ave which may be limited at select times of the day. But if it is then there is also access within the neighborhood. For me, the Community Park track is a relief because it allows me to get my run in after finishing my work shift because if I wait later I tend to procrastinate and maybe say forget it depending how fatigued I am from work. Even though Skokie is already a pleasant city, I most definitely recommend Community Park if you prefer a somewhat secluded area that will allow you to run, walk, play soccer or flag football. Thomas G