Places to Explore

Zion · Lake County, Illinois

Illinois Beach State Park

One of Brian’s favorite Illinois places, with sandy shoreline, the Dead River Trail, remarkable wildflowers, and wildlife encounters across the seasons.

Near Barrington, Illinois

Baker’s Lake &
Younghusband Prairie

An island rookery, Ospreys on a nesting platform, and prairie life beyond the water. Explore photographs from my past visits and learn what makes this place worth a closer look.

Rookery · Ospreys · Pelicans · Prairie

Northwestern Cook County, Illinois

Beverly Lake Trails

Woodland paths, open meadows, and small discoveries along the way. Explore a selection of photographs from my past visits, with wildflowers, butterflies, birds, and the landscape around them.

Woodland · Wildflowers · Birds · Butterflies

Elgin, Illinois

Bluff Spring Fen

Discover spring-fed wetlands, native prairie flowers, and the decades of care that helped restore this special landscape.

Des Plaines, Illinois

Big Bend Lake

Herons, cormorants, and small shoreline discoveries beside a lake connected to the Des Plaines River.

Bull Valley, Illinois

Boone Creek Conservation Area

Follow open meadow paths, look closer at summer flowers, and discover a landscape that protects the headwaters of Boone Creek.

Braidwood Dunes and Savanna Nature Preserve

Wildflowers, prickly pear cactus, birds, and reptiles in a sandy Illinois landscape.

Braidwood · Will County, Illinois

Cary, Illinois

Sands E. Main Street Prairie

Follow grassy paths through a rare prairie landscape and look closer at Leadplant, Pale Purple Coneflower, and summer wildlife.

Near Havana, Illinois

Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge

Birds among leafy branches, quiet woodland paths, and small discoveries at an Illinois River refuge.

Chesterton, Indiana

Indiana Dunes State Park

Sandy climbs, wooded trails, and wide-open lake views. Explore Brian’s photographs of the shoreline, dune overlooks, and lakeshore wildlife.

Near Medaryville, Indiana

Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area

Autumn skies filled with Sandhill Cranes. Explore Brian’s photographs and plan a migration visit with viewing tips, accessible parking information, and links to current crane counts.

Sleepy Hollow, Illinois

Jelke Creek Bird Sanctuary

Explore restored prairie and wetlands through Brian’s photographs of winding trails, reflective ponds, birds, butterflies, and flowers.

Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana

Cowles Bog

Follow woodland paths and wetland edges toward the dunes and Lake Michigan, with crane families, wildflowers, and small discoveries along the way.

Will County, Illinois

Des Plaines Dolomite Prairies

Discover broad prairie views, delicate flowers, and visiting butterflies at Des Plaines Dolomite Prairies Land and Water Reserve.

Barrington area · Cook County, Illinois

Crabtree Nature Center

A look back at one of my favorite places to photograph, from prairie gentians and woodland paths to herons, turtles, and muskrats along the water.

Richmond · McHenry County, Illinois

Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve

Look across a diverse wetland landscape and discover summer flowers, white flowering vines, and wildlife near the Illinois–Wisconsin border.

Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge

Waterbirds, nesting Cliff Swallows, and seasonal wetland views from the Emiquon area, including the neighboring preserve.

Colchester, Illinois

Argyle Lake State Park

Look closer at Woodland Stonecrop, spring wildflowers, woodland birds, and small discoveries from past visits to Argyle Lake.

Walworth County, Wisconsin

Clover Valley Fen

Explore open wetland views, orange Michigan Lilies, and small summer flowers in a spring-fed Wisconsin fen.

St. Charles, Illinois

Ferson Creek Fen Nature Preserve

Follow boardwalk views through the wetlands and discover summer flowers, an Osprey, and smaller wildlife along the Fox River.

Ringwood · McHenry County, Illinois

Glacial Park

Explore rolling prairie, oak savannas, and wetland views, with winter coyotes, Sandhill Cranes, wildflowers, and tiny discoveries along the trails.

Grundy County · Near Morris, Illinois

Goose Lake Prairie

Explore wide prairie skies, changing wildflowers, and wildlife encounters—from prairie birds and Monarchs to turtles and a White-tailed Deer family.

Hebron · McHenry County, Illinois

Hebron Trail

Follow a former railroad corridor from Seaman Road toward Goose Lake, with shaded trail views, Yellow-headed Blackbirds, wildflowers, and small discoveries.

Schererville · Lake County, Indiana

Hoosier Prairie

Discover Azure Bluets, Violet Wood Sorrel, Cinnamon Fern, and other plants from one visit to this diverse prairie and savanna preserve.

Dodge & Fond du Lac counties, Wisconsin

Horicon National Wildlife Refuge

Explore broad marsh views, Red-winged Blackbirds, Purple Martins, flowers, and a Painted Turtle from Brian’s one visit.

Southeastern Wisconsin

Ice Age Trail

Discover Wisconsin’s glacial story through the segments Brian has photographed. Start with Blue Spring Lake’s woodland paths, orchids, and small wildlife.