Spring is finally here! Temperatures are rising and the snow has all but disappeared. This past winter was brutal, but we got through it. Now that it’s warmer we can finally enjoy the outdoors and not have to spend 10 minutes bundling up just to go outside. If you’re looking for local places to explore, check out these five destinations in and around Plainfield!
1. Tailwinds Distillery
Get into the spirit of warmer weather at Tailwinds Distillery. Decorated in a tiki theme, this Plainfield local is open just about every day (check Facebook or Twitter for Monday – Wednesday hours), offering a bit of the tropics here in Chicagoland. Head over there for a tour or just stop by for some cocktails featuring their rums and blue agave spirits.
2. Phillips Park Zoo
If you don’t want to drive all the way to the city for the Lincoln Park Zoo or to Brookville for the Brookville Zoo, take the short drive to Aurora for the Phillips Park Zoo! The zoo is open seven days per week and admission is free. Check out their calendar for activities, or stop by on your own to see the mammals, birds, and reptiles who call Phillips Park Zoo home.
3. Lake Renwick Preserve
Lake Renwick Preserve is a 839-acre section of the roughly 1,000-acre Lily Cache Creek preservation system. The preserve is also home to the Heron Rookery Nature preserve, which provides a safe place for nesting herons, egrets, and cormorants as well as bald eagles, American white pelicans, and hundreds of waterfowl in the winter. Access is limited on a seasonal basis, so check out their website to plan your visit.
4. Wheatland Community Park
For an even closer escape to nature residents at Enclave at 127th can take a five-minute walk to Wheatland Community Park, part of the Fox Valley Park District. The park offers volleyball, basketball, and soccer along with paved trails, a pond, a skate park, and more. Take the kids to run around on the playground or bring your pup along for a nice walk or run on the many trails.
5. Naperville Riverwalk
If you want to get outdoors but aren’t necessarily a “nature” person, the Naperville Riverwalk is perfect for you! Located along the West Branch of the DuPage River, the Riverwalk features 1.75 miles of brick paths dotted with fountains, bridges, sculpture and other artwork, not to mention the meeting and even places, recreational facilities, and celebratory memorials. Relax and stroll at your convenience while enjoying the springtime weather.
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