Our guinea pig, Peanut, died yesterday evening after a short illness. He was a fun and cute guinea pig that we had for 5+ years. He was a gentle pig, with a dash of the occasional frat boy. Rest in peace, Peanut. You can read my celebration of his life at tinyurl.com/3kdm6tjn
#guineapigs
5 books that I wrote for teens received a great review from School Library Journal. Here's a portion of the review: "A valuable resource for students seeking educational alternatives to traditional college pathways." Perfect for those who don't want a four-year degree. Available in libraries.
Tekakwitha Woods Forest Preserve: Enjoy Peaceful Trails, Beautiful Views of the Fox River, and Excellent Birding
This beautiful spot was named in honor of Kateri Tekakwitha, a 17th century Native American from the Mohawk tribe. You can learn more about her and the preserve at tinyurl.com/mvcy7auw
New story at my blog: 5 Things to Do at Casper Bluff Land & Water Reserve
This amazing spot features rolling hills, Native American mounds (including a thunderbird effigy mound), great birdwatching, 2.5 miles of trails & stunning views of the Mississippi River
tinyurl.com/86ywk5ry
#galenaillinois
The 7 Most-Popular Stories at Nature in Chicagoland last month: tinyurl.com/5tcnz783
10 Spots for Bison; Palmisano Park; Will County birdwatching; 11 miles of DuPage County trails; Little Red Schoolhouse; a quaking bog; Beer Hiking Minnesota, Wisconsin & the Upper Peninsula @fpdcc @ChicagoParks
I attended the No Kings event in Elmhurst, IL, on Saturday.
I'm grateful that I still live in a country where protest is allowed and protests and grassroots organization continue to make a difference against this terrible administration. #nokings
My article about the day: tinyurl.com/th7d7duv
Galena Gateway Park is an awesome place to hike. Solitude. Demanding trails. Beautiful views of the town. And great seasonal birdwatching. #hiking #galena
Kristen Radaich is the author of Beer Hiking Minnesota, Wisconsin, & the Upper Peninsula. Covers 42 hikes and breweries including several nature areas/breweries within a 1.5- to 2-hour drive from Chicago.
Check out my interview with her at tinyurl.com/3d3rvyft
@helvetiq.bsky.social #books #hiking
I enjoyed a great 5-mile hike today at Cap Sauers Holding Nature Preserve on this unseasonably warm March day and saw two red-headed woodpeckers, many sandhill cranes, and some minnows. No frogs and snakes yet. You can read more about this nature gem at natureinchicago.com/2018/09/19/c....
It's always an exciting time of the year when the sandhill cranes fill the sky as they head north. Photo taken from my Chicago North Side yard.
Hi Wayde. Thanks for your interest. It's a little hard to find at my site (something that I need to fix). Here's the link where you can subscribe: natureinchicago.com/blog
Thank you!
Today is the 9th anniversary of the founding of my blog, Nature in Chicagoland and I’m so happy to have written 300+ articles about woods, wetlands, prairies, lakes & other natural areas in the area. Here were the 10 most popular nature posts of the first 9 years at my blog: tinyurl.com/4w2an98b
I enjoyed a nice two-mile hike yesterday at Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center. Lots of birds, pretty views (including Longjohn Slough), and plenty of solitude on the trails.
You can read my past article about this nature gem by visiting tinyurl.com/2p29y97s
@fpdcc #hiking #illinois #nature
The 7 Most-Popular Stories at My Nature in Chicagoland Blog in February 2026
tinyurl.com/mpyjxy
16 great nature spots on Chicago’s South Side. A book about hiking/beer. A story about 3 amazing African American aviation pioneers. The wildest nature spot in Cook Cty. A Skokie nature gem. And more.
The fog was crazy this morning. Here's a few cool shots of the fog and sun battling it out for control of the morning.
I have a new article up at my blog, Nature in Chicagoland.
Co-author of Beer Hiking Chicago Discusses Great Nature and Hops Spots
Visit tinyurl.com/wafxmksa to read the interview and learn more about the book.
#books @helvetiq.bsky.social #Chicago #nature #beerlover #hiking
I've published a new article at my blog, Nature in Chicagoland:
Dan Ryan Woods: Urban Opportunities for Hiking, Biking, Picnicking, Fitness, and Winter Fun–Plus 20 Places to Hang Out in Beverly After Your Visit
You can read it at tinyurl.com/c5yu4fxk
#chicago #hiking #danryanwoods #southside
The 7 Most-Popular Stories at Nature in Chicagoland in January 2026
20+ indoor places to beat the cold. Ghosts of Chicagoland. An interview with a talented Irish author. 6 great nature spots on Chicago’s South Side. Cuba Marsh. The time I made Lin Brehmer laugh. My favorite photos of 2025...more.
I braved (and actually enjoyed) the cold and light snow and had a great morning hike at Dunning-Read Natural Area.
Swallow Cliff Woods: Exercise and Go Sledding on a 100-Foot Bluff
Check out my article to learn more about this great destination.
tinyurl.com/bdfd3zp4
A great spot to sled, snowshoe, or cross-country ski.
#swallowcliffwoods #chicagoland #sledding #forests
Taken on this day in 1976. My mom loved to write the date on most of the photos she took with her Polaroid Land Camera.
I have many great memories of backyard forts, tree houses, and other fun growing up in the Beverly neighborhood of Chicago.
#CoolPhotoFind #LovedOurTreehouse #Chicago #oldphotos
Today is the three-year anniversary of WXRT radio legend Lin Brehmer’s passing. In 2022, I wrote a story celebrating his life and the special place he and WXRT held in my life as I grew up in Chicago, as well as about the time I met him at a party. Here's the story for anyone who is interested.
I reviewed every photo I took using my phone in 2025 & selected my favorite shots & share stories. This was a fun little art project. I recommend revisiting your past photos, picking your favorites & writing down some stories of why you love the image or the moment it celebrates #photography #nature
Flags, airplanes, dogs, and other splendid sights in a Chicago snowstorm
I've posted a new story at my blog, Nature in Chicagoland, which features 300+ nature and non-nature stories.
If you’re looking for great hiking, biking, birdwatching, and wide-open spaces, than Cuba Marsh Forest Preserve in Deer Park, Illinois, is the spot for you.
@lcfpd #hiking #nature
Happy New Year!
I want to thank my “Nature in Chicagoland” readers for visiting my blog in 2025. Visit tinyurl.com/5n7zrdwf to read the 8 most-popular new articles (as selected by readers). I’m grateful to those who take the time to read my stories and correspond with me about nature in Chicagoland.
I wrote many stories about nature spots in 2025, but I also explored other topics that were near & dear to my heart. Here are the most popular non-nature stories in 2025 based on page views by my readers. Visit tinyurl.com/5em4wyjy to read the articles.
#books #family #music #baseball #guineapigs
A story today to celebrate the life and creative excellence of my friend David Fode, who was born on this day and passed away in 2022. A great artist and even better human being. We had a wonderful friendship that is greatly missed. #art #friendship
If you're looking for suggestions on what to do outdoors this weekend, check out the This Weekend section of my blog, Nature in Chicagoland, which spotlights 150+ popular and off-the-beaten path destinations to check out. Destinations are organized by county. #chicago #nature #lakemichigan #forests