When something sits in front of you every day, it can be easy to forget it’s there at all. On the Northwest Side of Chicago, we have the North Branch Trail, and I am often surprised by how few people have been on it, or ridden its entire length. Some don’t even know about it. … Read more
I’ve been fascinated by Wolf Lake since I was a teenager, but — incredibly — I never visited it until this year. The lake straddles the Illinois-Indiana border, and the tollroad to Indiana Dunes bisects it, offering tantalizing views of wildlife, nature and fishermen on the west side, and massive industry to the east. The … Read more
There’s always the North Branch Trail or the Lakefront, and sometimes the Des Plaines River Trail (when not flooded). But maybe you’ve ridden those, and you want something else. Here are some of our best suggestions for best long bike rides near Chicago, plus several loop trails of 10 miles or more located within a … Read more
Chicago winter is not for the meek. It can be difficult to find motivation to go outside, and it’s so tempting to cocoon indoors near a heat source! The cold can be penetrating, the wind unforgiving, and short daylight hours make it hard to drag yourself out. Plus, there’s nothing to do outside. Wrong! That … Read more
OK, so maybe Chicago doesn’t offer many climbing opportunities right out of your front door. Illinois is the second flattest state in the union (trailing only Florida), therefore you may have to be willing to travel a bit if you want to climb anything other than the steps of the Sears Tower (I’m a lifelong … Read more
For months, I’ve fantasized about doing a quick, minimalist solo Brompton camping trip. After all, what more perfect tool for a quick getaway than this stealthy, compact, uncluttered folding bike, with neatly fitted self-contained luggage options? What could be simpler? Pack a bag, hop a train, find a stop with good biking access to some … Read more
Camp cooking real food over a Coleman stove or open fire is an obvious choice if you are car-camping. But what do you do on minimalist, self-supported outings, when carrying large implements and cookware is out of the question? You can still easily avoid eating freeze-dried meals and packaged meal replacement bars. While these may … Read more
Who doesn’t want to escape the 9 to 5? In today’s post, I’m going to show you 8 simple strategies to fill your life with outdoor adventure you long for, even if you work a regular, forty hour job. In fact, these are the same strategies I used to go on 52 adventures in 52 … Read more
In which we present some of our favorite real food alternatives to “camp food”. I absolutely despise energy bars. While I have been enticed to try, and even slightly enjoyed, small morsels when offered as samples at trade shows, there is literally nothing I find less appetizing while on a long bike ride, hike, or … Read more
This post contains links to purchase products from our store, or our affiliate partners. Please see our full commercial disclosure. A day trip is as simple as adventure gets. With nothing more than a a few outdoor gear essentials, you can get lost in the great wilderness that lurks just outside, wherever you happen to … Read more