20 Lake County Locations Showcasing Autumn's Kaleidoscope 2024
By: Jonathan Jones 09/27/2024
Trees bright and green turn yellow-brown. Autumn caught 'em, see all them leaves must fall down," - Andre 3000 of Outkast. Start making your appointments with nature with these 20 festive fall photo ops in Lake County.
When the leaves change yellow and orange, it is the viewing party of a lifetime traveling on the best fall hike and bike trails in Lake County. We all can’t get out to New England to see their legendary foliage (and frankly, we don’t need to), but Lake County’s trees pack a kaleidoscopic punch of their own.
Fall photo ops are great for a holiday card, an engagement picture, a birth announcement or just capturing a few memories for the scrapbook. Let's take a look at 20 Lake County locations showcasing autumn's kaleidscope.
The historic park in the City of Progress is known for their environmental learning stations representing a forest ecosystem, plus playgrounds and spray area for the kiddies. There is also an exercise trail in the Waukegan park. The Waukegan Park District area has lush trees and sprawling fields and has a cascade of wonderful colors during the autumn season for your festive fall photo.
"I came along, I wrote a song for you. And all the things you do, and it was all yellow." Man's best friend is posing for the perfect photo op. The Chain O' Lakes has a slew of locations where you can shoot autumn pictures.
This scenic 1,135-acre preserve offers a wide range of outdoor recreation and education opportunities centered around a 115-acre lake reclaimed from a gravel quarry. Visitors can experience birding, fishing and boating, a Marina with boat and bike rentals, a native garden and nearly seven miles of trails. The red, yellow, brown and green pyrotechnic nature explosion is a sight to see and snap a shot. Besides the obvious beauty of Independence Grove, you and your partner and crime can take back a few brews at the Beer Garden. This space features selections from the beloved Lake County Libation Trail. Perfect timing for the Spooks and Spirits Check-in Challenge, as the Beer Garden at Independence Grove is an included location in the initative.
The Deerfield location offers a stunning display of autumn colors. With its diverse landscape, including woodlands, prairies, and wetlands, visitors can experience a breathtaking array of tints.
During the autumn, the Vernon Hills park is especially stunning, with its leaves changing color and creating a vibrant atmosphere. There's also a small waterfall in the arboretum. Check that out as you go exploring during Halloween season.
Right by scenic Lake Michigan, the greens start to change yellow, orange, red and gold. A snap of autumn with the backdrop of the drink provides all of the seasonal feels you need.
The Grayslake spaceis known for its beautiful fall foliage, particularly the exceptional display of aspen trees. These arbors are known for their bright yellow leaves, which create a stunning contrast against the green and brown shades.
The farm favorite features hayrides, pony rides, camel rides, kiddie rides, an exotic petting zoo, a parakeet exhibit, a corn maze and pig races (the sprinting porkies only gallop on the weekends). Not to mention you can get a sweet pic of that big ole pumpkin you've picked.
Oak-hickory forests, tallgrass prairie, oak savanna and natural wetlands are an oasis for native plants and animals at this 97-acre preserve. Document your fall expedition with a selfie at the Highland Park area.
Ryerson Conservation Area and the Brushwood Center take fall very seriously. Not only can you snap a magnificent fall photo op in the Lake County forest preserve, but you can also peruse the grounds on their Halloween Hikes (October 25-26) and get the daylights spooked out of you. Check back in the winter for their annual maple syrup hikes in February.
Get lost in a maize of maze or a bouquet of blossoms as Richardson Adventure Farm kicks off its season with its “World’s Largest Corn Maze” and Sunflower Festival. The Spring Grove grounds’ acclaimed labyrinth spans 33 acres of land and has 11 miles of trails. This year’s theme celebrates the agricultural, construction and tech company prowess of John Deere. The Land of Lincoln-based corporation design highlights the farm’s roots (utilizing their products), tractor patterns, a hammer and anvil, John Deere himself, and more. This life-sized puzzle will have visitors exclaim, “Nothing Runs Like Deere” – you can also navigate your way through the company’s motto etched in the maze. Between the sunflowers, the corn maze, the pumpkins and the color palette from the trees, your picture perfect moment is all in one place.
Once upon a time, this defunct post was one of the United States Army named after Civil War Cavalry General Philip Sheridan. The fort located in Highland Park, Highwood and Lake Forest has been closed since 1993 but is a beautiful backdrop to your gram. From the autumn trees to the Lake Michigan scenery, this National Register of Historic Places and U.S. National Historic Landmark is a photo-op gem.
Your fall feels and spooky season vibes will come back from the dead during the autumnal equinox at Antioch's sawmill. Relish in the rich history of Antioch at the Hiram Buttrick Sawmill Tour. During the tour, visitors will learn about the economic importance of sawmills in the 1800s and will tour the replica facility. Constructed in 1976, the sawmill was built 500 feet downstream of the original site and made of abandoned sawmill material. During the construction of the replica, builders salvaged existing pilings from the original structure. Snap a pic outside of the venue, as the trees are something special to see.
Nestled along the picturesque Chain O'Lakes, this authentic Mexican restaurant offers a stunning backdrop for photography enthusiasts. Guests can relish the scenic beauty of the area while savoring delicious dishes like Enchiladas, Chimichangas, and sizzling fajitas. Whether you're enjoying a mesmerizing sunset over the lake or capturing the vibrant ambiance of the patio under the awning, it's an ideal spot to capture the beauty of nature and indulge in delightful cuisine.
The Lake Zurich forest preserve offers an exploration of 2.5 miles of gravel trails for hiking, biking, and in the wintertime, cross-country skiing. Let's not forget the explosions of red, yellow and orange palettes that make the preserve literally illuminate during the fall season. See nature in action as 116 birds call this area home, including six state endangered bird species, black tern, black-crowned heron, yellow-crowned heron, red-shouldered hawks and more.
A portion of this Lake County trail originally was a section of the North Shore Bike Path. The Robert McClory Trail starts in Kenosha and runs south through Highland Park. This path takes you east, parallel to Lake Michigan (but not along the lake). Enjoy grand views of amber and auburn colored trees and escape through rural, quaint Lake County towns on this 25-mile path.
The Historic Downtown Long Grove brewing company features a beautiful bar and tasting room area, a large outside deck and gazebo, event space and production areas for fermenting, bottling and cold storage. The Lake County Libation Trail partner has an expansive arbor barricade surrounding the building exceptional for a polaroid or 75.
It's a symphony of colors at the Lake County Forest Preserve District location and everyone's invited. The picturesque Wauconda destination that transforms into a breathtaking canvas of color during the fall season. With its diverse landscape, including woodlands, prairies, and wetlands, visitors can experience a variety of fall foliage displays.
Explore the mesmerizing transformation of foliage at the Chicago Botanic Garden, where a diverse collection of plants mirrors the global shift in leaf colors. Encompassing 385 acres, this enchanting garden sprawls across nine islands surrounded by serene lakes. Amidst this natural oasis, 28 distinct gardens offer an ideal backdrop to capture the essence of the autumnal equinox.
For more information where to find Lake County's autumn kaleidoscope, continue here. To have a ghoulishly spooky time in the land of lakes, click here.
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