Chicago Parks (Peoria, Bloomington, Lincoln: camping, title, money)

[linicx]

I see Chicago parks mentioned from time to tiem. I'm courious if any of the folks who like parks have ever visited any of the parks downstate?

I like parks. I like big parks. I like pretty parks. And I like parks with zoos. Illinois has the two oldest zoological parks in the nation. Lincoln Park is one. The other is Miller park in Bloomington.

Peoria Park Distric manages over sixty parks. Three are over 10000 acres each. And if you happen to like boats, fishing, hunting, camping, we just opened 7,000 acres with 7,000 more to open.

And if you're brave you can sleep with the wolves in a state parkt, too.

I like Chicago; its my kind of town. I'm not trying to start a war. It's just a little note to let you know there are some pretty neat places in Illinois that are free or not very expensive not far from home. Yeah, we have farmland and flat land, but the good stuff is surrounded by some beautiful scenery and we have some other things kids like, too.

Got quesions? IM me.

[Drover]

I'm confused. Is this thread about Chicago parks or downstate parks? Because you title it as one and then primarily talk about the other.

[linicx]

A little of both. I see a lot of Chicago threads where people excape to Wisconsin to get away from the city. I probably framed the subject wrong. The point I was trying to make to shose who have kids , love to do family things outdoors, etc.. You can probably spend less money and do the same thing in central Illnois. I probably should have called it an invitation.

I truly do love Chicago and I wouldn't want it any place else in the world. I do not like the traffic but I love everything else that is good and decent about Chicago. And that's an awful big group of people and services.

[Drover]

The thing is, to the extent that a lot of what you can do in Wisconsin is based around a huge abundance of lakes, unglaciated zones and forested areas, you can't do the same things downstate as you can in Wisconsin. Oh, and Michigan too -- not all Chicagoans bug up to Wisconsin for the weekend; for those on the south end of the area, Michigan is easier to get to and provides essentially the same recreational opportunities. I realize these things exist in downstate Illinois, but only in very small smatterings compared to the Northwoods. Finally, Michigan and Wisconsin already have very well established tourist industries and institutions waiting for us. Fact is, they simply roll out the red carpet for tourists in a way that downstate doesn't.

[linicx]

If you have not looked here lately, your observations might be somewhat slanted..

[Drover]

I go downstate all the time. It's just not the same. That's why we head north instead of south.