Exploring the World with Pokémon Go: Independence Grove Overlook Trail
As I mentioned in my last post, I was going to spend some time at a park that the Des Plaines River Trail passes through. Said park has many different places to explore. And so I started my adventure with the Independence Grove Overlook Trail. My dad came along on this adventure as this is a park he has spent a lot of time at. And also because he is one of the reasons that I started this travel blog. Now that I am back in Chicago and closer to him, I’m trying to include him in these adventures when he has time.
The Trail
The Independence Grove Overlook Trail circles around the park. Those of you who saw my post on the last section of the Des Plaines River Trail got a preview of what I checked out today. And a lot of it was below where I walked. That is the purpose of an overlook trail after all.
Unlike the Des Plaines River Trail, the Overlook Trail lacks mile markers. And it isn’t gravel either. But what it does have in common with that trail is the good signage. There was never a point on this hike where I wondered which way to go. And sections that led to dead ends so that an explorer can look out onto Independence Grove were equally well marked.
Instead, the Overlook Trail took me past large green open areas and spots that were not off limits. None of this area is a place you will sink into if you step on it. Of course that isn’t true of the marshy areas that are around the lake at the center of Independence Grove. But that should be obvious to most people who come here. And for those who it is not as obvious, can read the signs warning them of this fact.
Back Again
The next section of the Independence Grove Overlook Trail took me back to the Des Plaines River Trail and the area where the two trails merge into one super trail. At this point I realized my mistake and had forgotten in the last post that I was going to walk the opposite direction to get a different perspective of Independence Grove. Oops.
To remedy this, I took pictures from different angles than before. Some places like the bridge that was impossible. You are not suffering from deja vu if you read my last blog post. That is the exact same bridge and I’m fairly certain the picture was taken in roughly the same spot.
Anyway with those apologies and explanations out of the way, lets focus on what was different. Instead of focusing on the green way, I spent a lot of time taking pictures of the lake at the center of Independence Grove. It looks like a great place to go out on a boat. Especially since the water is shallow and the chance of danger is minimal. It helps that unlike Florida there are not alligators and venomous snakes in the water.
Circling Back
For the last segment of the Independence Grove Overlook Trail, the path moved away from the Des Plaines River Trail and returned to focusing on the green spaces around the park. I took plenty of pictures of the lake of course. As well as several other features that one can make use of here. Its all around an amazing park and that is why I intend to spend several blog posts exploring it.
There are several trails here as well as countless places to explore. Many of them I didn’t get to look at at all, despite being on the Overlook Trail. But that is for another time. This time, let me share my impressions of this adventure. I have spent too much time digressing from it.
My dad and I had a peaceful walk where we caught up as I took pictures around the park. The weather was perfect and I’m looking forward to coming back here soon. This is one of those parks that is close enough to where I currently live, that I intend to come here again and again. Maybe not for my blog every time, but for a chance to have a peace of mind. Its quiet, calm, and pretty here. The perfect combination of traits for the perfect park.
If you are near Lake County, Illinois, make sure to check this place out. Its a special location and park that stands out, even after all the adventures I have gone on over the years.
Pokémon Go
I have spoken plenty about the Independence Grove Overlook Trail in reality. But how does it measure up in Pokémon Go? That’s a silly question. You already know the answer. Its a large park with a ton of landmarks. This is one of those places that it is worth coming to to play the game all its own. I could tell that even though I didn’t get to play too much while here.
Normally I would have gone a second lap of the trail to catch Pokémon. But since my Dad was with me, I had to make sure that his and my schedule lined up. That would have added more than an hour additional to the day which neither of us could set aside. But that is fine, because I will be coming back here again. And when I do, I’ll be sure to make the most out of what is clearly an incredible Pokémon Go experience.
Since I hiked a trail, I hatched plenty of eggs. One of those eggs was a notable find. That’s a shiny Mantyke in the above image. And it was my first one too. I have said for a while now that eventually a good prize would come out of one of those eggs. I even have evidence of the math.
Wrap Up
I took a picture with my Dad. He had a lot of fun hiking the the Independence Grove Overlook Trail with me. Obviously I did too. My discomfort in this photo stems from the fact that I’m terrible at taking pictures of myself and even worse at doing so when others involved. Maybe its time to overcome the cringe and get a selfie stick? No. I don’t want to surrender to that just yet.
Anyway, I intend to return to Independence Grove again for at least one more adventure. But I could reasonably do a couple more here. There is just so much going on at this park. Look forward to more adventures and soon.