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Travel
All-Day Bike Rides
Believe it or not, the Chicago area is crisscrossed with scenic, Wisconsin-worthy bike routes that are free of cars and relatively flat—making them suitable for even the casual rider on a comfort bike. Get the Chicagoland Bicycle Map from the Active Transportation Alliance (activetrans.org) to plan out the rides here, which all begin near an el or Metra stop; as long as it’s not rush hour, you’re generally welcome to tote your wheels on the train.
nearest train station
route
notable scenery
1 TINLEY CREEK FOREST PRESERVE
23.5-mile loop
Tinley Park–80th Avenue Metra stop (about three miles away)
A winding asphalt trail through the Tinley Creek Forest Preserve
Gorgeous spring wildflowers and fall color in the Yankee Woods and St. Mihiel areas (south of the entrance on Central Avenue near 159th Street)
2 LAKEFRONT TO WOLF LAKE
about 30 miles
McCormick Place Metra stop or the Cermak-Chinatown stop on the Red Line
Lakefront trail from McCormick Place south to the William W. Powers State Recreation Area on the Indiana state line
The secluded nature sanctuary at the South Shore Cultural Center and the surprisingly pristine Wolf Lake
3 NORTHWEST SIDE TO THE CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN
40 miles
Edgebrook Metra stop
The North Branch Bicycle Trail at Caldwell and Devon avenues to the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe
Woodlands along the Chicago River and the chain of Skokie Lagoons
4 MAYWOOD TO THE FOX RIVER IN GENEVA
56 miles
Maywood Metra stop or Forest Park stop on the Blue Line
Illinois Prairie Path (follow the Elgin Branch, then the Geneva Spur)
Rare virgin prairie along the Geneva Spur
5 MONTROSE HARBOR TO KENOSHA
90 miles
Ravenswood Metra stop
Chicago Lakefront Bike Path, Evanston Bikeways, Green Bay Trail, and Robert McClory Bike Path north to Kenosha County Trail
Stunning homes in Kenilworth and open prairie closer to Wisconsin
* * *
Little-Known Campsites
drive from Chicago
know before you go
flush toilets
pit toilets
showers
running water
laundry facilities
electricity
WISCONSIN RIDGE CAMPGROUND
13081 State Park Ln., Bagley, Wisconsin; 608-996-2261, dnr.state.wi.us
4 hours, 30 minutes
Perched on a bluff near the confluence of the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers in Wyalusing State Park, this 54-site campground has a fishing pier and boat launch nearby for easy canoeing (rentals available). The park also offers hiking and mountain biking trails, bird watching, and stargazing. Don’t miss the park’s American Indian burial mounds.
There’s no swimming at Wyalusing State Park, but there’s a county-operated beach about two miles from the park. Reservations at wiparks.net
PECATONICA RIVER FOREST PRESERVE
7260 Judd Rd. and 14260 Brick School Rd., Pecatonica; 815-877-6100, wcfpd.org
2 hours
Pecatonica’s campground offers 49 sites from which to choose—some private, others in the open, all with electricity. Take a stroll along the trails and admire the wildflowers, or head over to the 130-year-old limestone barn that now serves as an environmental education center.
Take your own canoes. The campground doesn’t offer rentals and there isn’t an outfitter nearby. No reservations.
MALLARD BEND CAMPGROUND
2838 N. 4351 Rd., Sheridan; 815-496-2496, mallardbend.com
90 minutes
Situated along the 28-mile Historic Fox Valley Canoe Trail on the Fox River, Mallard Bend has it all: Rent a canoe or kayak from a nearby outfitter, swim in a spring-fed lake (no fish!), or soak in the heated in-ground pool.
Saturday nights the campground hosts events for the campers—horseshoe tournaments, bingo, movies, and DJs. Reservations suggested.
TURKEY RUN STATE PARK
8121 E. Park Rd., Marshall, Indiana; 765-597-2635, in.gov/dnr/parklake/2964.htm
3 hours
You can hike the deep sandstone ravines and explore the old-growth forests, then fish and canoe in Sugar Creek. There’s also horseback riding and hayrides. The campground has more than 200 sites, all with electricity. Turkey Run is in Parke County, the so-called Covered Bridge Capital of the World.
Even if you want to go for just a weekend, make reservations.The campground does fill up. Reservations at camp.in.gov
PIGEON RIVER FISH AND WILDLIFE AREA
8310 E. 300 N, Mongo, Indiana; 260-367-2164, in.gov/dnr/fishwild/3086.htm
2 hours, 45 minutes
The campgrounds at Pigeon River are primitive—none of the 44 sites offer electricity—and the activities boil down to hunting, fishing, shooting a gun at the rifle range, and archery. Many people go to see the waterfowl or sightsee in Shipshewana, Indiana’s Amish Country.
The perfect tranquil getaway for adults, this may not be great for kids during the spring and fall hunting seasons. No reservations.
* * *
Ways To Fly
FLYING LESSONS
Palwaukee Flyers
1040 S. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling; 800-901-0730, palwaukeeflyers.com
The introductory “total immersion” flight is an hour-and-a-half lesson—about 30 to 40 minutes in the air—with a certified flight instructor. You get to taxi the plane, talk to the control tower, and actually fly the thing.
Lessons start at $119.95.
SKYDIVING
Chicagoland Skydiving Center
12637 U.S. Route 30 West, Hinckley; 815-286-9200, skydivecsc.com
The center, in operation for 30 years with a perfect safety record to date, boasts the highest skydive in the Midwest at 18,000 feet—but the 14,500-foot drop is the most popular. One-time tandem jumps also available.
Single jumps start at $200; Freefall University starts at $2,399.
HANG-GLIDING
Hangglide Chicago
3236 N. 700 East, Clifton, Indiana; 219-746-1480, hangglidechicago.com
Hangglide Chicago hooks you up with local pilots and certified instructors based on your skills and goals. Even beginners can get towed by plane 2,500 feet in the air before being released for a 20-minute glide.
Discovery flights start at $155; 16 lessons, $1,600.
WINDSURFING
Windward Sports
3317 N. Clark St.; 773-472-6868, windwardsports.com
Three beaches in the area are designated for windsurfing: Wolf Lake, Montrose, and Greenwood in Evanston. Jackie Butzen, the owner of Windward Sports, is a certified instructor and trainer with 30 years of experience.
Lessons start at $65; rental equipment is $10 extra.
KITES
Chicago Kite
5445 N. Harlem Ave.; 773-467-1428, chicagokite.com
Who says kites are just for kids? Next time you’re headed out to O’Hare, take a quick detour to Chicago Kite, which carries more than 1,000 kites in stock at all times and can custom-order to fit your needs.
Kites range from $14.99 for a single line to $1,000 for advanced models.
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