Top Things to do in
Top Hotels in Chicago Southland
- 1. DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Chicago - Alsip
- 2. Wingate by Wyndham Tinley Park
- 3. Red Roof Inn Chicago - Lansing
- 4. Homewood Suites by Hilton Orland Park
- 5. Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Tinley Park, IL
- 6. Hampton Inn Chicago/Tinley Park
- 7. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Chicago Tinley Park
- 8. Hilton Chicago/Oak Lawn
- 9. Gateway Inn
- 10. Hilton Garden Inn Chicago/Tinley Park
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What to do and see in , Chicago Southland: The Best Nature & Parks
Discover the best top things to do in , United States including Bremen Grove Dog Park, Chicago Portage National Historic Site, Hickory Creek Preserve, Lake Katherine Nature Center, Forest View Farms, Swallow Cliff Stairs, Hidden Pond Woods, Commissioners Park, Worth Waterfalls, Orland Park Nature Center.
Restaurants in Chicago Southland
1. Bremen Grove Dog Park
2. Chicago Portage National Historic Site
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States
Chicago owes its very existence as one of the world's great cities to the location of the Chicago Portage National Historic Site in Lyons, Illinois. The birthplace of Chicago, it is located in Portage Woods Forest Preserve, at 4800 East Harlem Avenue, north of I-55, and the Ottawa Trail Woods Forest Preserve, north of Portage Woods, on the west side of Harlem Avenue between 47th Street and Joliet Road, it links the Chicago River to the Des Plaines River, linking the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River. The 91-acre site, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966, contains a parking area, a memorial statue to French explorers Pere Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet, who discovered the portage in 1673, interpretative signs and trails. Visitors can engage in hiking and canoeing and take a guided walk sponsored by the Friends of the Chicago Portage. To historians, this is sacred ground, Chicago's version of Plymouth Rock, the only place where you can stand on the same ground walked upon by the explorers, early settlers and creators of Chicago. Long used by Native Americans, the portage was revealed to Marquette and Jolliet by their Native American guides. It crossed what was known as Mud Lake, a swampy area that has since been obliterated. It extended from the west end of the South Branch of the Chicago River to the Des Plaines River at the present National Historic Site, offering an easy connection between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.
3. Hickory Creek Preserve
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 5 reviews
Reviewed By JeanneM196 - New Lenox, United States
I walk or bike here often. The two parking lots are set back from the road, so you hear no traffic. There are two picnic pavilions. The furthest one has a great view of the open prairie. The paved trail is well maintained. It meandered through the prairie and into the woods to Hickory Creek and eventually to the Township offices on Rt. 30. It's beautiful in any season.
4. Lake Katherine Nature Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 152 reviews
Reviewed By Toyota1994 - Chicago, United States
Visited Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens in Palos Heights the first weekend of August. It appears to be a very popular park. No admission fee is required, and no parking fees either. The park includes woodlands, prairie, wetlands, gardens and a large manmade lake with a pumped waterfall. The waterfall serves in aerating the water. The waterfall is in stages and has a trail by its side; the trail is well shaded by trees. The lake is the centerpiece of the park, and a mile long wood chip covered walking trail surrounds the lake. The trees on the southside of the trail are labeled. The lake edges are vegetated with a variety of flowering plants and the whole scenery is lovely. When we visited in July, kayak / canoe rentals were in heavy use on the lake. On the east side of the park is the Buzz N’ Bloom Prairie comprising of a variety of prairie plants including compass plant (flowers rotate to face the sun) as well as a variety of birds and insects. The parking lot also serves as a trailhead for the Cal-Sag Trail. Could not visit the Nature center which was closed due to the pandemic, but saw a wedding group taking pictures with the beautiful lake in the background. Lake Katherine is a wonderful place for one and all. Do not miss viewing the Worth Falls after a short walk from the Buzz N’ Bloom Prairie on the Cal-Sag Trail.
5. Forest View Farms
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 17 reviews
Forest View Farms offers a variety of horse-related activities that include boarding, lessons, summer camp, trail rides, pony rides, hayrides, horse-drawn vehicles, group events, birthday parties, petting zoo and our famous haunted hay rides. The farm's Equestrian Center caters to both English and Western styles of riding and provides lessons and training for both. We offer many facilities to our boarders and guests including a heated barn and a heated indoor arena for year-round riding. We have two outdoor arenas and several areas for turnout. The farm is contiguous to the Cook County Forest Preserve that provides our boarders and trail-riders with direct access to miles of beautiful and pristine forest preserve trails. We offer breeding, specializing in white stallions, and horse and pony sales. In the summer visit our petting zoo, featuring traditional farm animals.
Reviewed By ElisaL0928
We wanted to write a review because this place was so wonderful. My daughter did two weeks of camp here and absolutely loved it. She is so excited to go back again next year. She learned so much and now all she talks about is horses ???? All the staff members were very nice and easy to work with. And she absolutely loved the trail rides! We had an amazing experience and would be happy to return.
6. Swallow Cliff Stairs
7. Hidden Pond Woods
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1 reviews
8. Commissioners Park
9. Worth Waterfalls
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By Toyota1994 - Chicago, United States
Visited the Harry “Bus” Yourell Waterfall Park (simply called Worth Waterfalls) on a weekend in August, and the parking lot was packed. The waterfalls are located a short walk from the parking area (the parking lot needs improvement). The falls and the ponds are part of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District’s SEPA Station #4. The man-made waterfalls and the pools are a spectacular place to visit and have a picnic. The District has cleverly created a wonderful recreational opportunity while also serving the main function of oxygenating the waters. The walking paths provide easy close access to view the cascading waterfalls. The park is an inviting place for picnics. The scenery and surroundings provides opportunities for memorable photographs. There is a secluded paved trail on the backside of the pumping station running alongside the canal and the golf course. We saw very few people on this ¾ mile trail and enjoyed the walk under the shade of the trees. Worth Waterfalls Park is a gem of a place for family enjoyment. The waterfalls are amazing in spite of being man-made. In addition, the nearby Lake Katherine is worth exploring after a short drive.
