Celebrating the many colors of the Illinois coast
One of the most beautiful aspects of our region is its seasonality.
Summer sees residents from across all of Illinois flock to Lake Michigan to enjoy swimming at our many public beaches, biking along the lakefront trails that wind down the coast, picnicking with friends and family at our forest preserves.
Lake Michigan summer gets a lot of attention (for good reason, of course). But as we transition away from those exciting months and retreat indoors, here at CMP we want to highlight what our unique coast has to offer during the quieter seasons.
This fall, CMP staff enjoyed some personal time visiting the lake to see the kaleidoscope of colors. At Promontory Point in Chicago families enjoyed the unusually warm temperatures, barbequing in the fire pits and taking one last chilly dip into the lake. Birding season took off as many migratory bird species made their stop in Chicago before continuing along the Atlantic Flyaway migratory bird route heading south for the winter. As always, fall shows us a different side of the environments we love so much and work hard to protect.
As the days grow shorter, here at CMP we challenge you to take some time to explore all that the coastal zone has to offer during these cold, snowy months. Here are some ideas for embracing the winter and enjoying time outside this year:
- Go for a walk on the North Branch Trail and look for animal tracks in the snow
- Head up to Illinois Beach State Park and take time for quiet reflection by the lake
- Rent snowshoes and make your way through the many forest preserve trails
- Grab your binoculars and search for Great Horned Owls and other winter birds at Eggers Grove
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