Illinois’ scenic landscapes just can’t catch a break. Case in point, Illinois’ most beautiful terrain shares its name with another equally impressive wonder in Colorado. Tell a friend that you are going to Garden of the Gods and they most likely will tell you enjoy your trip to Colorado Springs. Read more…
Faraway in a forgotten fork of central Illinois, fall’s fabulous fireworks fill up the Funk. It’s almost too false to be fact. Fancy, if you will, a fantastic forest featuring white oaks framed by faultless yellow foliage. For real, the Funk should find its fame even as far as Florence. Read more…
Autumn: a cause to look back and to look up. We often look back during this season to reflect on the past year. “My, oh my, where has the summer gone?” It also seems like the cooler temperatures help us slow down and prepare for the pending winter hibernation. In Read more…
“True places are never on an app (map).” -Herman Melville Once there was a Forest Preserve. You’ve never heard of it. Plug “NE corner of No-Where County, just north of Super Unknown Town” into your GPS. You just might find it. Or take a drive. Wander north or east from Read more…
War. In 1940, war was at our door. So we built a place intended to erase our fears. It was arm or be harmed. Joliet was selected by the elected to grow ammunition for the opposition. WWII, Korea, Vietnam and on and on. Want. Then as suddenly as it began Read more…
Ladies & Gentlemen! Welcome to the very first ParkNois guest blog post for Campfire Concepts. Find out more about Cody and the creative ways he can enhance your life at: https://www.facebook.com/vivifyfashion/ Before you even get off the ferry to step onto the resort of Stout’s Island Lodge you are encompassed the beauty Read more…
You may have heard the term pocket park? Wikipedia says they also go by the name parkette, mini-park, vest-pocket park and my personal favorite, vesty park. They are defined by their smallness and creative use of urban space. They pop up in places like vacant lots and even parking spaces. Read more…
World famous parks often have lesser known neighbor parks that possess greater beauty and adventure. Maybe these neighbor parks feel a little bit prettier because less people are blocking your views? Either way, crown jewel neighbor parks exist everywhere: Yellowstone’s impressive little neighbor park to the south isn’t called the Read more…
Finding great outdoor recreation spaces in Illinois often involves a sort of mission… quest… thing. At times you stumble upon great opportunities and other times you just need to take some good advice. A few years ago, I took some good advice about visiting the Shawnee National Forest. The story Read more…
When you find yourself lucky to have found Perry Farm Park of the Bourbonnais Township Park District, you will have found one of the most fabulous local parks in Illinois. Local parks are not born great, but rather when vision is combined with proper planning, great parks develop. Where does Read more…