Grab your kayak. You will want to get out on the water early if you plan on beating the weekend crowds coming down from Chicago. The Fox River delivers. Paddlers come here specifically to tackle the gentle currents, while anglers spend hours casting for smallmouth bass and massive channel catfish along the shaded banks. If you look up near the treeline around late afternoon, you might even catch a pair of bald eagles hunting over the water.

Landlubbers get plenty of options too, especially along the dirt trails that cut through high oak bluffs. Bring sturdy boots. The paths get pretty sloppy after a heavy spring rain, but that actually keeps the tourists away from the best river views. Autumn is even better. So, whether you want to log five miles on foot or just sit by the water with a cheap folding chair, this place gives you a solid break from concrete highways.