We're in Chicago for 10 days in May. Plan so far is few days in Chiacgo and then a short MR to PTY. We still have 4-5 days at the end.

Any suggestions for other places to go within 100 miles or so - we are looking for somewhere where we can do some light hiking. Good places for photography also interesting

Starved Rock State Park is about 75 miles away and is good for a day trip. It will be somewhat crowded if the weather's nice.

I know there is a lot of outdoor activity in the hilly part of northern Illinois, near the town of Galena, but I'm not sure what, save that a friend's boyfriend goes fishing there a lot.

The Wisconsin Dells are about a 2-3 hour drive and I remember lots of hiking there (as well as fun water parks) when I was a kid. I don't know what it looks like now, but the website is wisdells.com.

Also, the Indiana Dunes State Park and the Warren Dunes State Park (in Michigan) are good day hiking and camping options.

Oh, Allerton Park in Central Illinois is owned by the University of Illinois and used to belong to a Mr. Allerton. It's quite large and quite pretty on a spring day, with sculpture gardens and flower gardens, nature trails and the like. It's a bit farther though - closer to 150 miles. See http://www.allerton.uiuc.edu/ and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Allerton_Park.

If you're looking for cities, it's worth checking out Milwaukee (about a 90 minute drive from Chicago), and perhaps exploring a bit to find some small, quaintly Midwestern towns off the highway.

You can easily find hiking right in the Chicago area. In fact, IMHO, Chicago may be have a lot of the best hiking around.

For example, hike along the lake front from Loop through lovely parks all the way North to Peterson or so. And, you can take the L or bus back. Or, try hiking/walking around Evanston, say, along the lake from the Northwestern campus North to Wilmette (Bahai Temple is a winner to visit). You could hike to Highland Park along the lake and go to Walker Brothers Pancake House in downtown HP for brunch.

Or, try the Chicago Botanical Gardens on the North Shore. You could easily spend a day walking around there.

Another possibility. Go to Oak Park and hike the Frank Lloyd Wright houses area. Really nice. Or try Hyde Park/University of Chicago area--I do understand the Obama house block is closed off, but the entire area is very nice. Go out on the "Point" into the Lake.

Otherwise, Starved Rock State Park is nice, even if not in Chicago.

All good calls - I just thought the OP wanted to get out of the big city for a bit.

I agree with previous posts regarding Starved Rock. Very scenic, great hiking back into the canyons. Even if it is crowded at the main rock, I have found most people don't venture too deep on the trails. If you are into mountain biking, Palos Forest Preserves (about 30 minutes southwest of the Loop) provides good technical riding. Southern Wisconsin offers Kettle Moraine which has lots of hiking and biking trails.

I'm not sure how familiar you are with Chicago, but you can easily fill a few days with museums if the weather doesn't cooperate.

If you go to Hyde Park, there's also a FL Wright house there, the Robie House, considered one of his top 5. I agree about Promontory Point, which bulges out into the lake at about 55th Steet and has excellent views of downtown.

Also a nice park for walking south of the Museum of Science and Industry, on the site where the 1893 Columbian Exposition was held.

You could even walk along the lake edge itself for quite a ways.

And three of his least known houses, the "bootleg houses" at 49th and Kenwood, about 5 blocks from Obama's house.

They were called the bootleg houses because he worked for Louis Sullivans firm at the time, and those were moonlighting/side jobs (which violated company policy and led to his leaving or being kicked out of the firm).
BTW, across the street from Obama's house is KAM Isiah Israel Temple, designed by Sullivans partner Adler; Adler's father was the rabbi at the time. It's a beautiful moorish/romanesque building with a minaret. Unfortunately it wouldn't be easy to wander around it rubbernecking, what with all the secret service and CPD (chgo police) hanging around that corner.

If you get tired of walking around, a Segway tour of Grant Park/Lakefront/Museum Campus/Northerly Island is great fun!

Yes, there a lot of really nice parks in the Chicago area. If you're looking for a less urban area, I second the rec for the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.

agreed^
Starved Rock: http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt...TARVE/PARK.HTM

a very nice "fallback" park if Starved Rock is crowded is nearby Matthiessen State Park:
http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt...1/mttindex.htm

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Madison i sabout the same distance and is also really a pretty neat town.

no it is not

How about Matteson?

I drive there every week ... it's about 1:45 from ORD with no traffic issues.

If a rainy day and want the outlet mall experience - Gurnee Mills (north)
also on a sunny day (across the street - Six Flags, but check their opening days in May).