Trail #4: History meets nature. Or maybe I should say that nature took over where the history ended . . . I’m not really a big history buff but this was pretty cool. Hubby and I decided to tackle the 2.5-ish mile Joliet Iron Works site and it didn’t disappoint. We stuck to the WoodsContinue reading “Woods Walk 2026: Joliet Iron Works Historic Site”
Tag Archives: nature
Woods Walk 2026: Prairie Bluff Preserve
Trail #3: Got it! If you’re looking for a smooth, paved, and fairly level trail with an occasional slightly rolling hill – this is for you. Hubby and I have been here before and decided we’d ride our bikes rather than walk. According to Will County Forest Preserve District, this is a 2.75 mile trail.Continue reading “Woods Walk 2026: Prairie Bluff Preserve”
Woods Walk 2026: Hidden Oaks Preserve
Trail #2: Check! Located in Bolingbrook, on Schmidt Road just north of Boughton, lies another hidden trail system complete with a big nature center and things for people to explore. The driveway into the preserve is made of pavers leading back into the woods and the main building. Parking was fairly easy and the niceContinue reading “Woods Walk 2026: Hidden Oaks Preserve”
Woods Walk 2026: Keepataw Preserve
Trail #1: Done! Keepataw Preserve is hidden along a winding road, past Veterans Woods, and tucked away on a hill in Lemont. The shortest of all of the trails this year, it was less than a half mile according to MapMyRun. (Unless we missed a turn somewhere . . .) It only took us aboutContinue reading “Woods Walk 2026: Keepataw Preserve”
Woods Walk – 2026
It’s here! It’s here! The Will County Forest Preserve District 2026 Woods Walk is here! Here’s the skinny: Event: 2026 Woods Walk Challenge Requirement: Complete at least 7 of 10 trails Prize: A medallion with a silhouette of a white-tailed deer. When: Tuesday, September 1 – Monday, November 30 Cost: FREE!!! Where: Trails across WillContinue reading “Woods Walk – 2026”
10-Day Burnout & Exhaustion Challenge: Day 8
At the very beginning of today’s session, Eileen Rose Miles explains that our nervous systems can’t really differentiate between what’s real and what’s imagined. Our bodies react in much the same way to a physical threat as to a mentally created one. It’s the ‘fight-or-flight’ phenomenon that hasn’t changed since the caveman days. We mayContinue reading “10-Day Burnout & Exhaustion Challenge: Day 8”
Get Lost!
. . . on the trails of Pilcher Park! Yet another hiking adventure is in the books! This time we headed out to the Joliet/Lockport area and wandered along the paths at Pilcher Park. If you’re looking for several path options, this place is for you. Here’s what we found: The Nature Center is theContinue reading “Get Lost!”
Go Take a Hike!
. . . to Hoover Forest Preserve, that is. Hubby and I are heading to The Colorado Rockies next month and we’re gearing up by doing a lot of walking and finding a few moderately challenging hikes in the area. We’re also breaking in our new footwear and I’m having fun with my new backpack.Continue reading “Go Take a Hike!”
Woods Walk #7
We did it! We froze but we did it! We squeaked in the last hike before the November 30th deadline – and the snow storm. For our last endeavor we decided on Messenger Woods in Lockport. We bundled up in our winter coats, hats, gloves, and hiking boots. I’m so glad we geared up thisContinue reading “Woods Walk #7”
Woods Walks 5 & 6
Ok, so waiting until the very last week to try to squeeze in three walks may not have been the best idea . . . Our hike through Theodore Marsh was rather bleak, gray, and windy. I can’t say that the scenery was spectacular but I can only imagine that it comes alive during theContinue reading “Woods Walks 5 & 6”
