travel

...since the subtitle of this book is "132 Family-Friendly and Accessible Nature Sites in Illinois." What the Zyznieuskis have done is compiled information about these wild areas with total disregard for differences in site administration. Thus, the book includes state parks, county forest preserve centers, and sites owned by private organizations. No other source I'm familiar with has done that for the Prairie State. Even spots like the Chicago Botanic Gardens, the Brookfield Zoo, and the Cahokia Mounds are listed here. Each entry includes a general description, a list of programs and events, regulations, hours, directions, contact information (formal address, phone number, and often web site), and begins with the highlights and what makes the place special. I've been to 18 of the 132 -- I've got some traveling to do, I guess -- and can verify that the details seem to be correct, as far as I know. I'm giving the book just four stars for two reasons: (a) the authors didn't include any sites managed by the McHenry County Conservation District and (b) the b&w photos are muddy at times and not necessarily indicative of the uniqueness of the sites. (A photo of a trail sign next to a path could probably be taken anywhere.) Still, this volume is a wonderful guidebook for any Illinoisan to own. Let's hope its publicity will help Prairie Staters to understand that Nature *is* alive and well here, and they don't have to go to Wisconsin or Michigan to see it. Now, how can we get the authors to do the same research for all the other states in the Union??? [This reviewer was an Illinois resident when these comments were written.]