http://www.tedvillaire.com Hiking, Biking, and Other Outdoor Pursuits Around Chicago Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:28:51 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Located only 30 miles west of downtown Chicago, the Fox River Trail has plenty of good things going for it. As this pathway hugs the Fox River for 33 miles between Aurora on the south and Algonquin to the north, it passes more than a dozen community parks and forest ... http://www.tedvillaire.com/the-best-biking-trail-near-chicago/ See these parks before they're gone "The list of state parks scheduled to be shut down is 11 sites long. In the drive-from-Chicago area, it includes five parks: Castle Rock, Lowden, Channahon, Illini and Gebhard Woods." 30,000 names on parks petition "An online petition drive aimed at stopping the closure of nearly a ... http://www.tedvillaire.com/recent-links-park-closings-and-late-season-paddling/ Take a hike Southern Illinois' state parks in danger Area park closure will touch many lives Choosing the Best Campsite Wisconsin ranked No. 2 bicycling state in U.S.; Minnesota and Illinois make the top ten, too 'Transportation coaches' hope to embolden bike riders in suburbs Winter biking? Go for it http://www.tedvillaire.com/recent-links/ As a cyclist, what should you do if you’re in a crash with a car on Chicago streets? My friend Jim Freeman knows. He’s a personal injury lawyer whose clients are primarily Chicago cyclists and pedestrians. Recently, he answered some of my questions about steps to take after a crash, ... http://www.tedvillaire.com/when-cars-and-bikes-collide/ Chicago holds a central position on the migration route for millions of birds every spring and fall. About 250 bird species use the Mississippi Flyway, as it's called, in the spring from mid-March to early June, and in autumn from late August to late October. While passing through Chicago, migrant birds ... http://www.tedvillaire.com/bird-watching-in-chicago/