Best Nature & Outdoors in Illinois
3 nature & outdoors in Illinois
Nature reserves, caves, springs and outdoor adventures.
Editorial oversight by James Morgan. AI-assisted, human-edited. Our editorial standards
Nature & Outdoors in Illinois: what to expect
Illinois has 3 nature & outdoors we would happily take our own kids to. Blackberry Farm is the one most families start with. Step back to the 1800s at this Aurora park-district farm, where themed events run from Laura Ingalls Wilder days to fairytale weddings. Garden of the Gods Recreation Area is the other name that comes up again and again. Hike past towering sandstone formations to the Observation Trail's sweeping Shawnee Forest views. Richardson Adventure Farm rounds out the pick of the bunch. A 28-acre corn maze, a million tulips, sunflowers, and cut-your-own Christmas trees, season by season.
None of these venues publishes a fixed family ticket price on this page, so check the official site for current admission before you set out.
The nature & outdoors on this page are spread across Aurora (1), Herod (1) and Spring Grove (1), so it is easy to pair two into one trip.
Nature Outdoor
Blackberry Farm
Aurora, Illinois
Step back to the 1800s at this Aurora park-district farm, where themed events run from Laura Ingalls Wilder days to fairytale weddings.
Nature Outdoor
Garden of the Gods Recreation Area
Herod, Illinois
Hike past towering sandstone formations to the Observation Trail's sweeping Shawnee Forest views.
Nature Outdoor
Richardson Adventure Farm
Spring Grove, Illinois
A 28-acre corn maze, a million tulips, sunflowers, and cut-your-own Christmas trees, season by season.