Keep an eye out for white-tail deer as well as wading birds, song birds and migrating birds as you hike the 14 miles of trails that wind through this large park, which has a great nature center next door. Bring a picnic for a lakeside lunch, or paddle out onto the glassy waters of Lake Galena and hook a bass, walleye, catfish, bluegill or carp. Don’t be surprised to see a number of sailboats and some wind-surfers too!

The bird blind near the nature center’s solar building offers quiet observation of cardinals, woodpeckers, finches, titmice, sparrows and many other colorful species. If it’s early enough, you might even catch a bluebird.