A Little Time and a Keyboard: Red Oak Nature Center
Showing posts with label Red Oak Nature Center. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Red Oak Nature Center. Show all posts

Fox River Views at Red Oak Nature Center in Batavia, Illinois

Saturday, September 29, 2018

Hiking and Birding at Red Oak Nature Center along the Fox River in Batavia, Illinois

Red Oak Nature Center in Batavia, Illinois rests along the Fox River providing trails following along the meandering river as well into the forest. Trails connect the preserve to nearby natural areas. We have always found Red Oak Nature Center to be a nice spot to see wildlife and last Sunday was no disappointment. If you look closely in the photo below, you will see a blue heron at the water's edge:

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Top Places to Snowshoe in the Chicago Suburbs

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Snowshoeing  in the Chicago suburbs where you can rent snowshoes

A snow wonderland is here in Chicago! I love snowshoeing in our preserves. Just something about the stillness while hearing the crunching under your feet is calming. Good thing we have plenty of places in the Chicago suburbs to snowshoe! Here are some ideas! **When planning a snowshoeing adventure, remember to bring your driver's license because you may have to leave it while renting. Also, call ahead to verify availability.** Snowshoeing does require between 4"-6" of snow on the trails and the required amount may vary by preserve.

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Snowshoeing in the Chicago Suburbs

Sunday, January 11, 2015



We first experienced snowshoeing a few years ago. Since then, it has either been a.) too cold or b.) not snowy enough. This year, we are hoping to break our streak and be able to snowshoe again! You do need at least 4 inches of snow on the ground to snowshoe, so hopefully we will find a free weekend day with the right amount of snow and decent weather! There are few places in the area to snowshoe so here are a few of our picks for this winter. To make it easy for you, we are listing places with rentals available. Be sure to make sure you have your Driver's License with you for renting.

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Visiting Red Oak Nature Center

Monday, August 13, 2012

This past weekend, we ventured to the Red Oak Nature Center, part of the Fox Valley Park District. The Nature Center is poised scenically along the Fox River. There are a few hiking trails to choose from--all short in length, so easy to navigate. If you are up for a longer hike, you can combine them!

When we arrived, we made a stop at the Nature Center itself. The Nature Center is free and has a bunch of interactive exhibits. We learned about trees and some of the wildlife that can be found at the preserve. There were some live wildlife exhibits--which my daughter loved! The staff was very friendly and helpful.

After leaving the Nature Center, we went to an observation deck. From there, we could view a picturesque portion of the Fox River. The deck was the perfect point for watching a number of waterfowl (and some humans fishing across the way). My husband and I could have stood there for awhile, scouting for some birds. However, my daughter was anxious to be on the way.

Next, we embarked on a trail. We tried to encourage our daughter to walk softly--however, we failed miserably. Even though I am sure that she unintentionally scared quite a bit of wildlife off, we were able to see some as well. Additionally, there were signs along the way explaining the wildlife that can be seen in the area as well as things that we can observe to recognize their presence.

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