Highland Park Painted Pumpkins

Openlands Lakeshore Preserve

Highwood, IL– Even the view from a North Shore mansion isn’t this spectacular. Trails of the Openlands Lakeshore Preserve bridge over and through ravines and along undeveloped bluffs of Ft. Sheridan, often opening to expansive vistas overlooking Lake Michigan. Preserving and renewing this habitat for birds and native plants is the mission for the new preserve, which opened September 10.

Guides were on hand to lead visitors [...]

Buckingham Fountain Open!

Chicago, IL–Buckingham Fountain in Chicago’s Grant Park makes its spring splash! One more reason to love this city. Did you know it’s one of the largest fountains in the world and runs from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.? Light and music shows lasting 20 minutes begin at dusk, with the last show at 10 p.m.. Buckingham Fountain [...]

Illinois Glacier

Highwood, IL–Where is Illinois like Switzerland or Alaska?  Along the icy shore of Ft. Sheridan Forest Preserve, and Openlands Lakeshore Preserve, where a shelf of icy looks like the edge of Alaska’s Glacier Bay, and deep fissures in the ice-covered sand appear to be crevasses.  If you’ve ever hiked a glacier, you will recognize its [...]

Ah, Asado Coffee

Stirring a fresh cup

Chicago, IL–It may be the best cup of coffee in Chicago.  At Asado Coffee Company at 1432 Irving Park Road, the menu is pretty simple: cup of coffee regular or iced for $3, a few espresso drinks from $2 to $4. That’s it.  Watch as the barista slowly stirs the fresh-roasted and ground beans in a drip filter, rendering that delicious [...]

Dam Good Kayaking on Skokie Lagoons

Glencoe, IL–What a treat! Record rainfall covered the Skokie Lagoons dams, making it easy to access all ponds without portaging.  I paddled from the Tower Road boat launch down to the Willow Road dam first.  Cormorants fished in their usual spot at the far south pond.  A great blue heron eyed me from his perch [...]

Beautiful Day at Lake Michigan Beach

Highwood/Highland Park, IL–Beautiful days bring out families, dogs, and outdoors lovers to Lake Michigan beaches.  Poke in the sand, check out the crawfish that have been washed up, let your dog get a sip of the cold water.   Find your own stretch of beach, your own way to relax. 

More Maple Sugar Hikes at Ryerson Woods

Exhibit inside Welcome Center. Photo by Laurie Borman

Deerfield, IL–Just had to slip in a few more photos of yesterday’s maple sugar hike at Ryerson Woods.  Tap 35 trees for 5 gallons of syrup.  That’s the pioneer spirit.

Indianapolis vs. New Orleans: It's Not As Big Easy As You Think

It’s Super Bowl weekend when the Indianapolis Colts face the New Orleans Saints in Miami.  I don’t know much about football, so I was wondering, “What if the game were decided on which city was a better destination to visit?”  Now that’s a topic I’m well versed in!  And it’s not as Big Easy as you [...]

Lake Michigan Winter Waves

Lake Michigan shore in winter. Photo by Laurie Borman

Highwood, IL–

Snowshoeing along Openlands Lakefront Preserve sounds challenging, but the plowed road makes it almost too easy.  It’s like walking in an Ansel Adams photo–everything all black and white, and there is the challenge.  I’m no Ansel Adams.  The beach is no longer a gradual sandy [...]

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