In addition to Chicago's numerous cultural and athletic activities, there are many excellent opportunities to explore Mother Nature's bounty. From the dunes of Lake Michigan to the hills and lakes of the northwest to the prairies of the south, hikers will find a trail to their liking in this updated edition of 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Chicago. Hikes were chosen for their scenic appeal, but they were also chosen for their historic attractions. The extensive key-at-a-glance information makes it a snap to choose a hike based on length, difficulty, and scenery. Helpful lists highlight the best hikes for children, for wildlife viewing, and other categories. Whether a long-time Chicago resident or vacationer to the area, this updated guide will make choosing the right hike easy and enjoyable.

Following the success of their previous collaborations, Illinois Hiking and Backpacking Trails, Revised Edition and A Guide to Mountain Bike Trails in Illinois, Walter and George Zyznieuski offer this concise and handy resource for all outdoor enthusiasts interested in the outstanding nature centers and interpretive trails throughout Illinois. The 135 sites detailed in this illustrated guide are located in municipal and county parks, forest preserves, state parks, wildlife refuges, and the Shawnee National Forest. Sites range from the Apple River Canyon State Park in northwest Illinois to the Cache River State Natural Area in southern Illinois. This guide will assist individuals and groups in successfully planning visits to these areas by clearly identifying trails that are fairly short and well suited for families and those nature centers that provide hands-on experiences viewing wildlife and nature exhibits and participating in a nature program or activity. Also, those trails that are accessible to families with strollers, individuals with disabilities, and the elderly are identified with symbols and described throughout the book. Detailed descriptions of each center and trail are included along with directions, some maps and photographs, hours of operation, and contact information, including web sites, where available. Sixty-seven nature centers and interpretive trails are featured for northern Illinois, including Chicago Botanic Garden, Spring Valley Nature Sanctuary and Volkening Heritage Farm, The Morton Arboretum, the Chicago Portage National Historic Site, and the Black Hawk State Historic Site. For those interested in central Illinois, forty-one nature centers and trails are listed, including Kickapoo Creek Park, Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge, Valentine Park, Salt Fork River Forest Preserve, Merwin Nature Preserve, Forest Park Nature Center and Adams Wildlife Sanctuary. Twenty-seven nature centers and trails are described for southern Illinois. Among these are Lusk Creek Canyon, Giant City State Park, Cache River State Natural Area, Ferne Clyffe State Park, Rim Rock, and Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge.

Approximately 900 hiking trails in the United States take hikers along routes or past sites of historical importance and offer commemorative embroidered patches or other souvenirs of the outing. These trails allow hikers to gain a new appreciation for history and actually experience it, instead of only reading about it--and have something to show for their hike. The first comprehensive guide to those trails, this work covers routes in all fifty states and the District of Columbia as well as interstate trails. The book categorizes each as historic, meaning that it played some significant role in history; historical, meaning that it takes the hiker by or into buildings or sites that have some relationship to a significant person or event, but do not themselves figure in history; nature or scenic, because of the wildlife or scenery available along the way that can be viewed along with the historical site; or recreational, meaning that the trail was established for the long-distance hiker and history buff. Each entry also tells who the trail's sponsor is, if alternate means of transportation are allowed, location, length, route, type of terrain, what type of awards are given and any associated costs, registration requirements, and sites along the trail.

Provides more information on Nature Centers; Hiking Trails; Day & Weekend Road Trips; Kids Activities; Camping Spots; Birdwatching Hotspots; Bicycling Trails; Kayaking/Canoeing/Boating; Picnicking Spots; Fishing; Spring Wildflower Viewing; Fall Colors Viewing; Running/Exercise; Winter Activities Such as Snowshoeing, Ice Skating, Cross-Country Skiing, Sledding, and Ice Fishing; Local History; Self-Enrichment Classes and Other Opportunities; Geocaching; and other activities in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Also includes articles that provide advice on camping with kids, enjoying a successful snowshoeing adventure, and much more, as well as personal essays about gardening, enjoying nature with one's children, savoring the fall colors, and protecting the environment. Other resources include contact information for forest preserve districts, state departments of natural resources, and environmental and other nature-focused organizations.