Growing up in Illinois afforded me many opportunities for outdoor recreation and enjoyment. While we lived in Rockford for many years, I was excited to settle in Lansing because of the forests to the southwest of the city. One of my favorite places to hike has always been Brownell Woods. It’s easy to access from the south on Glenwood Lansing Rd or from the north on 186th St. Walking out to North Creek helps me feel grounded and clear my mind of any clutter from my daily life. Even though I’m happier after getting out of the hectic city life in downtown Chicago, I still have a stressful job here in Lansing. It’s just a much better place to live if you want peace when you get home from work. I also have an awesome HVAC supplier here in Lansing that gives me great rates on quality service. Whenever I have my HVAC technician over doing repairs for a few hours I will take my dog for a walk through Brownell Woods since I live fairly close on Stony Island Ave. Since my air conditioner needed to be replaced, I spent an afternoon sitting along the banks of North Creek with a book and a picnic. There were nearly as many people out walking their pets that day like there usually are, which made for one pleasant afternoon. The weather in Lansing gets somewhat warm in the summer, peaking in the mid 80s while sometimes dropping into the low 60s in the evening hours. This is much better than the 100 degree weather that some people experience in other regions in Illinois during the hottest periods of the summer.