Travel Inspirations

A Day on the Farm
Although the Southland region surrounds the city of Chicago, there’s also ample amounts of greenery and open space in the outlying suburbs. It’s the best of both worlds. All the amenities of the city are in our backyard, but so are several farms where you can do ...

Aquatic Attractions
Those lazy days of summer are always better poolside. Cool down at some of the Chicago Southland’s aquatic attractions. Take a dip, poke your toes in the water, frolic at a splash pad or zip down a drop slide. The water is flowing and the choice is yours.  Cent...

Attention Nature Lovers!
“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” –Albert Einstein   The natural beauty of the Midwest is often overlooked. There may not be oceans or mountains, but in the absence of high peaks and massive seas, if you lo...

Ball Fore Mini-Golf
You might be able to drive a golf ball 300 yards, but can you navigate the colorful, yet challenging terrain at the Ball Fore Miniature Golf Course in Chicago Ridge? This course hosted the U.S. ProMiniGolf Association’s U.S. Open Championship that attracted top interna...

Biking in the Chicago Southland
The Chicago area has long been a cyclist-friendly area, and its miles of paved trails continue to grow. The Southland Century Loop has been in the works for years and will eventually connect several shorter routes to create a 100-plus-mile loop through the south and southwes...

Birding Hot Spots
The southern part of the city of Chicago and its south and southwest suburbs provides a beautiful landscape that attracts a variety of wildlife. Birding is a popular pastime in the Chicago Southland in this biologically significant treasure with tens of thousands of acres of...

Bring Your Bike!
Explore hundreds of miles of riding trails in the Chicago Southland If you’ve got a couple hours and the energy to pedal a few miles, we’ve got some fun for you. Seeing the Chicago Southland via bicycle gives you a different perspective and a way to view the are...

Bushels of Fall Fun
As the temperatures drop and cool, crisp air lures us out, the Chicago Southland gears up for bushels of fall fun. You’ll find pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere, including at some wonderfully fun fall attractions that the family will enjoy. Bengston’s Pumpkin Farm...

Chicago Southland Photo Ops
If you’re always on the lookout for a great photo backdrop, here are a few spots to keep in mind for a little family photo shoot or just a super-cool selfie while on the road. 1. Lake Katherine Nature Center, Palos Heights Of course, any garden is going to offer ...

Disc Golf
There are over 125 holes of disc golf spread throughout the Chicago Southland, most for free. From small nine-hole courses to the 20-hole Seargent Means Park course in Olympia Fields, there are courses for every level in the region. 50 Acre Park 9100 South Cal...

Ecotourism: Get Back to Nature!
There are many options to learn about the nature and the ecosystem of the Chicago Southland. From tours to environmental learning centers and trails to explore, the region offers a variety of opportunities for your family. Environmental Learning Centers The Center...

Fish Out of Water
While thousands of people have lived without love, nobody has lived without water. If water is your happy place to clear your mind, swim or fish, then these are the hot spots in the Chicago Southland where you’ll be able to simply chill. Centennial Park in Orland Pa...

Get Out!
There’s so much of the outdoors to enjoy in the Chicago Southland. Southland Century Loop Work continues on the Southland Century Trail, which, when complete, will create a 100-mile loop around Chicagoland. Within that loop are several separate trails that have b...

Gone Fishing
Catch the big one at these Southland Spots! There are lakes, ponds and streams throughout the Chicago Southland to grab a pole and cast a line. Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Walleye and Catfish are a few of the species that reside in the area wa...

Harvest Happenings and Farm Fun
It’s very easy to get wrapped up in all the hustle and bustle that happens in our everyday lives. We encourage you to take a step back, slow down and truly enjoy the beauty of the region. From farms that are filled with family history to annual festivals that have grow...

I Like Big Marsh and I Cannot Lie
Do you believe in the power of play? Big Marsh Bike Park is a playground for cycling. This is a new legacy of outdoor recreation and open space stewardship making it Chicago’s first eco-recreation park. The coordinators of Big Marsh have taken it from a slag field to a...

In Tents Escapes (Camping in the Chicago Southland)
Sleeping under the stars is something everyone should experience at least once – and in the Chicago Southland, you can have that experience at several forest preserve sites.   FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF COOK COUNTY The Forest Preserve District of Cook Co...

Leave No Child Inside
It’s time to put the video games down and take the kids outside to experience childhood the way you remember it…in the great outdoors. Start the day off exploring nature at Sand Ridge Nature Center in South Holland. Fans of dragonflies and butterflies are treate...

Magnificent Murals
Art is all around us if we know where to look. In the Chicago Southland, there’s a plethora of indoor and outdoor art for viewing that includes interpretive murals created by talented artists. Lincoln Highway Murals The Illinois Lincoln Highway, America's Fir...

Outdoor Bliss
Grab your binoculars and camera and get ready to explore the beauty within Chicago Southland.   Bird Watching BURNHAM PRAIRIE NATURE PRESERVE 2866 East 142nd Street, Burnham The most common species spotted at Burnham Prairie, according to EBird.org, are the ...

Picnic Places
A little al fresco dining on a blanket in a beautiful setting is a lovely way to spend an afternoon. In the Chicago Southland, there’s an abundance of great outdoor spots to enjoy some time with someone special. So, grab your picnic basket, make some sandwiches or grab...

Places for Pickleheads
Did you know pickleball has been around since 1965? It’s the fastest-growing sport in the United States, with participation increasing almost 160% since COVID-19 first made its appearance. Because of its tremendous growth, don’t be surprised if the following list...

Ride the Cal-Sag Trail!
The vast recreation and forest preserve areas available in the Chicago Southland are filled with opportunities for adventure, hiking and exploration. One of the newest additions to this list is the Calumet-Sagnashkee Trail, or Cal-Sag Trail. The trail is a key connector of 1...

Set Your Eyes to the Dark Sky of Homer Glen
The International Dark Sky Places (IDSP) conservation program recognizes excellent stewardship of the night sky. The IDSP program was founded in 2001 to encourage communities, parks and protected areas around the world to protect dark skies through responsible lighting polic...

Shakespeare Garden
For more than a decade, the theater department at Moraine Valley Community College has performed free outdoor summer Shakespeare plays. When the series was moved onto the Gateway, which was designed for outdoor music and theater productions, Dr. Craig Rosen, professor of the...

Spend a Day at the Fair
One of the events that is often on a summer bucket list is a trip to a county fair. The Will County Fair in Peotone takes place each year in August and is full of all the traditional fun you’d expect. It’s five days of entertainment, food, beer garden, tractor pu...

The Great Outdoors
The Chicago Southland is the place to be for outdoor enthusiasts. Whether your thing is bicycling, hiking, fishing, horseback riding or simply exploring the landscape, you’ll find miles of trails and acres of space to connect with nature. With an extensive trail sys...

The Wildflower Farm
Searching to see, smell and experience true beauty? The Wildflower Farm, a locally owned boutique flower farm in Monee, offers one of the most colorfully unique experiences in the Chicago Southland. Enjoy the u-pick flower farm where you can purchase six different u-pick ...

Top 5 Trails
Shake off the city and BREATH! Chicago Southland is becoming the place where outdoor physical activity lives in North Eastern Illinois. If you’re looking for a place to explore, hike or ride a bike/horse, we’ve got you covered. There are over 40,000 acres of fore...