Category: Travel

Earth Day 2025 is Thursday, April 22 but many activity sites have events throughout the month that celebrate and help our Earth stay well. Many events are for all ages. BTW Earth Day was first held April 22, 1970.

In Lake County, IL

Visit the Ryerson Woods Welcome Center, 21950 N Riverwoods Rd., Riverwoods for its Spring Celebration 1 p.m..-4 p.m., Sunday, April 17. Part of the Lake County Forest Preserves, Ryerson Woods will hold nature walks, crafts, sheep herding/shearing demonstrations and games. For more information visit [email protected] or call 847-968-3321.

For a Playdate With Nature, visit the Old School Forest Preserve at Saint Mary’s Road, south of Route 176 north of Route 60 (Townline Road) in Libertyville on April 18 from 4 p.m.-5 p.m. Meet at shelter C where visitors get to hunt for tadpoles, muck in the mud (dress appropriately) and do mud painting.

Take a “Lunchtime Lake Cleanup” break  Friday, April 22. from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.. at Independence Grove just east of Milwaukee Avenue, Libertyville to help clean up the shore.

Learn about “Pond Life” from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., Friday, April 22, at Grant Woods, Route 59 and Fairfield Road, Lake Villa.After meeting at the Manroville parking lo visitors get to net and identify small water animals.

In Chicago

Visit the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures (formerly the Oriental Institute) at the University of Chicago, 1155 E. 58th St., Saturday, April 19 from 1-3 p.m. for Ancient Earth Day. Tickets are needed. Tickets can be found at  Eventbrite. Non-member child under 16 is $10.00 +$2.19 Fee. Adults $10.00 +$2.19 Fee. Adults free with paying child. Discover more about ancient plants, animals, and sustainability through family friendly talks, craft activities, and stories. You can even win a prize in our ostrich egg hunt throughout our galleries! All ages welcome! Drop in any time from 1pm – 3pm. Ticket price covers all craft materials.

Lincoln Park Conservatory is hosting an Earth Day event in conjunction with its EcoStewards Workday on April 26, from 9-11 a.m. Meet at the North Pond Nature Sanctuary. Help with field work and pick invasive weeds.

The Chicago Park District is hosting its 40th annual Earth Day Parks Cleanup on April 26 in partnership with Friends of the Parks. City residents can sign up to volunteer on the park district website to take part. Visit  chicago park dist. events-earth-day

In other suburbs

The Morton Arboretum in Lisle hosts programs throughout April to celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day, including a Food Forest Design Workshop, Forest Therapy Walks and an Arbor Day plant sale. Visit Morton Arboretum for more information.

In Cook County Forest Preserves

Participate in a two-hour cleanup at Caldwell Woods, April 22 at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Litter pick-up supplies are available to check out, and drop-ins are welcome.

On April 26 visit the Trailside Museum of Natural History in River Forest to make a bird house, take home a tree and create recycled art from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

For more ideas to celebrate visit Earth Day 2025.

The mega event in Grant Park downtown Chicago runs July 31-Aug 3

but pre-ticket sales start today, March 20, 2025 at 10 a.m.

Here is the info:

Here’s the ticket link. The guaranteed lowest-price 4-Day Tickets is open  only for one hour and is only available today.

Grab your tickets to see Olivia Rodrigo, Tyler, The Creator, Sabrina Carpenter, RÜFÜS DU SOL, Luke Combs, TWICE, A$AP Rocky, Korn, Gracie Abrams, Doechii, Dom Dolla, Cage The Elephant.

Unlike the February Full Moon in 2024 that appeared late in the month, the one in 2025 is shining now although it isn’t at full illumination until Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 7: 53 a.m. CT. Look for it tonight, Feb. 11.

Native American tribes called it the Snow Moon. They definitely had it rightfully pegged this year. On Feb. 12, 2025, the Midwest is expected to get its largest snowfall (so far) of the season with about four to seven inches.

If you noticed how bright the night was last night and happened to look out you would have seen a far off moon. The February full moon looks small. It is the year’s smallest looking full moon because it is furthest from Earth at 293-968 miles. See EarthSky for its position an a graph and  Snow Moon Is the Full Moon in February at Time and Date.

Watch for the full moon in the South Eastern sky tonight.

According to the  Old Farmers Almanac animal names were popular for the February Moon (and yes, not just when it was full but for the whole month).

The Cree called the February Moon the Bald Eagle Moon and Eagle Moon while the Cherokee named it the Hungry Moon and the Ojibwe noted it as the Bear Moon. Some Algonquin peoples said it was Groundhog Moon.

See Live Science for more information. It said to look for the moon’s companion star, Regulus, in constellation Leo.

Are you hearing the ump yell “Play Ball.”

Yes, weather has been strange so far in 2025 but spring must be on the horizon because the annual gathering of baseball teams in Florida for Grapefruit League games and in the Phoenix area for Cactus League matches start the weekend of Feb. 22.

Hopefully you can still book airline tickets to your team’s spring location.
Why go? If you haven’t tried it before you quickly find out that Spring Training games are casual.

You sit closer to the action and often can interact more with players before and after the games. It’s fun.

Getting game tickets: For Cactus League games such as the Cubs, it is easier to get tickets to watch your team play at opponents’ parks. That is not a problem because the 15 teams are located within 47 miles or less

However, if you can catch a Cub game at Sloan Park (2330 W. Rio Salado Pkwy, Mesa) it will feel like Wrigleyville West with roads called Waveland Avenue, Clark Street and Sheffield Avenue.

BTW the White Sox are playing the Cubs right off the bat, so to speak, on Feb. 22.

No matter which Cactus team you yell for there is a lot to do and see while visiting its spring baseball home. Visit Mesa, Glendale and AZ’s nearby baseball stadium towns. Check out more info at Cactus League Spring Training.

As to the Grapefruit League it’s not as much about traveling around Florida, as it is enjoying the weather while cheering your team.

From the A’s in Venice to the Washington Nationals in CACTI Park in the Palm Beach area you can relax in Florida’s sunshine while watching your favorite Grapefruit League team.

Find more information at MLB Official Information | MLB.com

Consider a trip to the Chicago area for early February

Right now some restaurants and neighborhoods are celebrating the Year of the Snake. Chinese New Year (4723) begins today, Jan,. 29, 2025. Navy Pier is turning its upstairs ballroom into a cultural celebration Feb. 1 and Chinatown is having its parade Feb. 9.

While Punxsutawney Phil will do his prediction of when Spring will come to Pennsylvania, Midwesterners should go over to Woodstock, IL for Woodchuck Willie’s insight Feb. 2 and tour the sights in the famed “Groundhog Day” movie. It was mostly filmed in Woodstock.

Chicago Restaurant Week  2025 began  the end of January but goes through Feb. 9. There are so many participating restaurants one week is just not enough to take advantage of the good meal discounts.

Some folks are combining restaurant week with shows during Chicago Theatre Week, Feb 6-16 2025. But even if the dining deals are over, the shows are still at good prices $15 or $30.