#discoverillinois

10 Very Best Places in Illinois To Visit Dreaming of exploring Illinois? Look no further. Here are the 10 Very Best Places to visit that will inspire your wanderlust and leave you in awe.

Chicago, Illinois Embrace the vibrant energy of Chicago, Illinois and let it fuel your adventurous spirit.

Saturday hike. #hiddensprings #discoverillinois https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm1icqtrI9s/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Saturday run. #discoverillinois (at Allerton Park and Retreat Center) https://www.instagram.com/p/CZC7qWaP_AA/?utm_medium=tumblr

Lovely run tonight at #HomerLake. One of my favorites to come and revisit. I found a new trial tonight -it was about a 1.9 mile loop. It had nice trail/exit signs so I didn’t get lost. Beautiful sunset to end my run. #discoverillinois #trailrunning (at Homer Lake) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWg8GDtLfyx/?utm_medium=tumblr

This week I was listening to Jenna Kutcher on the Goal Digger podcast. Something she said stopped me right in my tracks. To paraphrase, she said “the opposite of play is depression.” 🤔 She was explaining how being a working mother has reminded her of this and emphasized how important it is for us to play with our children but also to make time to make time have “fun” ourselves. 😎 My post-baby life has been anything but an easy adjustment for me. I had a few big trials looming on the other side of my much too short maternity leave and it’s been extremely hard for me find a new balance with my workload, teaching at the University of Illinois and Vermont law schools, and being a mother not to mention making time for my own health. I’m not entirely clear what a “vacation” will look like anymore now that I have a little one. In a week where my workload feels oppressive, I honored a much needed staycation day and went to Starved Rock. I tried to go here once before on Month 7 of pregnancy but there was too much ice on the ground that day so we left early. Loved just taking a timeout for myself and just doing something that I wanted to do, just for me. #starvedrockstatepark #discoverillinois (at Starved Rock State Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWMAWGLFhKs/?utm_medium=tumblr

What a lovely day for a 5K at Meadowbrook Park at the Rattlesnake Master Run. I ran this park in graduate school and had no idea that it had a lovely trail run through the middle of the park. It also had a 10k race. I want to have this loop be part of my regular tuning spots. #discoverillinois (at Meadowbrook Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CV-6hCQrM1S/?utm_medium=tumblr

Beautiful walk-run at Busey Woods today. The wooden walkway was a bit slippery so not the best place for a run today but what a beautiful place in Urbana to get some frag air and fall colors. And I managed not to get lost today -bonus! #discoverillinois #buseywoods (at Busey Woods) https://www.instagram.com/p/CVsi7ThLQSz/?utm_medium=tumblr