1. The Parnell Tower Trail – Plymouth
CAROLE NICKSIN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND PUBLISHER
It’s a beautiful wooded area, and the 3.5-mile trail goes up and down in elevation, so you get a bit of a workout. And if you have energy left at the end, you can climb the tower and get a magnificent view. W7876 County Highway U, Plymouth
2. County Grounds Park – Wauwatosa
CHRIS DROSNER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR
I feel like this is my answer for a lot of these questions, but it’s County Grounds Park in Wauwatosa. The sum of the network of trails is nice, easy hike through rolling prairie and forested ravine dotted with ruins from the former county mental asylum complex. Go on weekend mornings if you want to meet a bunch of great doggos.
MELISA MACKEVICIUS, MEDIA EXECUTIVE
I really enjoy the County Grounds Park and Forest Exploration Center (right next to each other). At County Grounds you’ll get lots of open-air hiking, and you’ll get woodlands at the Forest Exploration Center. There’s great hiking year-round, but the fall colors are phenomenal! North Swan Boulevard and Discovery Parkway, Wauwatosa
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
3. Grant Park – South Milwaukee
BIANCA CABRAL, EDITORIAL DESIGN
Grant Park is a go-to spot for my family and me. When it’s not too cold, we’ll end our outing with a stop at the playground by the beach where the kids can unleash their never-ending energy, while my husband and I relax and enjoy the stunning lake. 100 E. Hawthorne Ave., South Milwaukee
4. Lion’s Den Gorge Nature Preserve – Grafton
LISA BAKER, MEDIA EXECUTIVE
I head to Lion’s Den in Grafton. It offers quaint bridges, serene wooded areas and spectacular views of Lake Michigan. Take the stairs down to the lake and enjoy this undeveloped stretch of waterfront. Time well spent!
ABBY YEMM, MEDIA EXECUTIVE
I’m with Lisa. The spectacular bluffs and miles of blue Lake Michigan water feels kind of magical at Lion’s Den. It’s our Mother’s Day tradition and a great place to take out of town guests. It’s so nicely maintained and can be a soothing solo adventure too. 511 High Bluff Dr., Grafton
5. Bender Park Hiking Trail – Oak Creek
SOPHIE YUFA, EDITORIAL DESIGNER
I adore the Bender Park Hiking Trail in Oak Creek for its gorgeous scenery. Anywhere by the lake, really! 4503 E. Ryan Road. Oak Creek
6. Lake Park – Milwaukee
ARCHER PARQUETTE, MANAGING EDITOR
Back in 2022, I wrote this feature for the magazine about Frederick Law Olmsted, the legendary landscape architect who designed this gem on Milwaukee’s lakeshore (along with a few lesser-known parks such as, say, Central Park in New York City or the U.S. Capitol Grounds in Washington D.C.). Writing that story gave me an excuse to wander around this beautiful park for hours in the middle of a workday, and I quickly learned to love it. Lake Park is an expertly designed experience of the natural in the midst of the urban. Walking down into the wooded areas, it feels as though you’ve entirely escaped the city surrounding you. 3233 E. Kenwood Blvd.
