Top Places to Snowshoe in the Chicago Suburbs

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.

Read More

Hiking at Spring Valley Nature Center

Spring Valley Nature Center provides us with a natural respite tucked away in suburban Schaumburg. The variety of ecosystems present means that the preserve is quite dynamic and always changing. We love to visit throughout the year to observe these changes!

Read More

Snowshoeing in the Chicago Suburbs

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.

Read More

Celebrating Spring with a Prairie Burn {Spring Valley}

A few weeks ago, we attended a prescribed prairie burn at Spring Valley in Schaumburg. Normally, the thought of a fire storming through the open prairie may be a frightening thing for those in its path. However, an event like the one at Spring Valley really gave us a rare glimpse of natural forces that help to keep our prairies vibrant and full of life.

Read More

A day at Spring Valley Nature Center and Volkening Heritage Farm

We were able to capitalize on the nice weather Sunday and visit the Spring Valley Nature Center and Volkening Heritage Farm in Schaumburg. This area is one of our havens that we enjoy throughout the year. It isn't too far from us, so it is easy to stop by for a hike. This weekend happened to be the Springtime on the Farm event, so we had some added fun.

The Nature Center has recently had some updates. There are a few new places for kids to explore alongside some old favorites. There is a play area and a tree where kids can peek through windows and learn about trees as well as the wildlife that need them. The greenhouse portion is always a favorite because kids love to look for turtles. Take a little peek at the fun:

 

 

It is not too far of a walk from the Nature Center to the Volkening Heritage Farm. Before you leave the Nature Center, there is a silo that you can climb to get a pretty view of the preserve. However, the stairs are narrow, so be careful. The view is impressive! Here is the view we had:

On the way to the farm, you pass through the prairie and wind past a pond. You never know what kind of wildlife you may see and there are signs to help you out! We have seen scores of birds, an otter, frogs, ducks and turtles.

The farm is fun when there is an event. For the spring event, my daughter helped wash clothes and beat a rug. She also played some kids' games from the 1890's and had fun watching the farm animals. There were all sorts of demonstrations going on including a milking demonstration. Such a fun way to learn about history!

 

We always have an enjoyable time at Spring Valley. We love to take a hike and visit familiar spots while noting changes. Plus, the Nature Center is close to much of the shopping in Schaumburg, so we can combine our hikes with errands.

 

Spring Valley Nature Center and Volkening Heritage Farm have a number of events throughout the year. The events are minimal cost while visiting to hike is free! Be sure to check their website to see when the farm is open. The area is fun to walk through during any time of the year. Spring Valley Nature Center is located at 1111 East Schaumburg Road in Schaumburg.

 

**Disclosure: No compensation was received for this post. All opinions are 100% my own.

Read More