Nature in Chicagoland Book

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Where are the best places to hike in Chicagoland?
What are some great family-friendly nature destinations? 
Where can I see bison, elk, and bald eagles?
What are the top spots for viewing spring wildflowers? Fall colors?

The answers to these questions and many more can be found in this exciting, guide written by Andrew Morkes, the author of the Nature in Chicagoland blog and more than 60 books about college planning and careers for College & Career Press, Vault.com, Mason Crest, and other publishing and media companies.

Nature in Chicagoland: More Than 120 Fantastic Nature Destinations That You Must Visit has something for everyone. Whether you’re a nature newbie, a longtime nature lover who’s tired of visiting the same old spots, an urbanite looking for something to do during the pandemic, or a nature-loving tourist who is planning a trip to Chicagoland, you’ll be inspired by the many opportunities for exploring nature right in our own backyard.

Destinations include forest preserves; nature centers; city, state, and national parks; beaches; tallgrass prairies; wetlands; scenic rivers; and more in Chicagoland and the nearby states of Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

Nature in Chicagoland offers easy-to-use information on the following places and activities:

• Nature Centers
• Hiking Trails
• Day and Weekend Road Trips
• Kids Activities
• Camping Spots
• Birdwatching Hotspots
• Bicycling Trails
• Kayaking/Canoeing/Boating
• Picnicking Spots
• Fishing
• Spring Wildflower Viewing
• Fall Colors Viewing
• Running/Exercise
• Winter Activities (Sledding, Ice Skating, Snowshoeing, Cross-Country Skiing, Ice Fishing)
• Historical Sites
• Self-Enrichment Classes and Other Opportunities
• Geocaching
• And More

Nature in Chicagoland also includes personal essays that provide advice on camping with kids, enjoying a successful snowshoeing adventure, kayaking, the joy of spending time in nature with one’s son, and much more. Other resources include contact information for forest preserve districts, state departments of natural resources, and environmental and other nature-focused organizations, as well as a list of nature-related books, newsletters, and journals.

This inspirational and informative book will give you a new appreciation for the rich array of natural areas to be discovered in and around Chicago. It’s the perfect gift for nature lovers or those who are interested in making their first explorations to the forests, prairies, beaches, dunes, lakes, and rivers of Chicagoland.

Media Coverage/Reviews of Nature in Chicagoland

Chicago Sun-Times: “Andrew Morkes gets the options, information and places right on where to recreate in the natural world near Chicago and beyond in his ‘Nature in Chicagoland.’”–Dale Bowman, Outdoors Writer, Chicago Sun-Times, August 22, 2021

Chicago Tribune: An informative story about the book appeared on page 6 of the August 16, 2021, edition of the Chicago Tribune.

Daily Southtown: “More than most urban dwellers… Morkes knows the hidden wild places of Chicago and surrounding areas.” –Susan DeGrane, front-page story in the Daily Southtown, August 16, 2021 (front-page story)

This Week in Birding blog: “A comprehensive and accessible work that should sit on the shelf beside other classic Chicago nature volumes.”–Bob Dolgan, Founder & Author of This Week in Birding and the director of the films Monty and Rose and The Magic Stump.

Beverly Review: The Beverly Review published an excellent, front-page story about my book and my travels.

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