A Few of the Best Kept Secrets in Oak Forest for Families

Being a stay at home mom to 3 children, makes a mother do crazy things. We have gone to every park in Oak Forest at one time or another. Along the way, we have found some really cool little places off the beaten path. And I am going to reveal all my secrets with you, the Oak Forest Patch readers.

NO NAME LAKE

No Name Lake is the name that my family gave this pond hidden among a block of houses off of Victoria Drive in Oak Forest. It is a little pond which you have to enter through a little grass easement between 2 houses. You would never know it is there, if you didn't know it existed. It is not big at all and there is not a lot to do but my kids would love to go there because it is a secret. We would go and skip rocks and feed the ducks. We would bring the dogs and they would swim while we would throw sticks for them. You can fish on this little pond, but I don't think it is great for catching much of anything but to practice casting which is what my son and husband would do sometimes. It is quiet and no one is ever there. Just the fact it is a secret, would make it a fun outing. Keep in mind that this pond is public, but you are right behind people's houses. Please be respectful. I got the feeling that if we were loud or obnoxious, it might be a problem.

THE MAGIC FOREST

The Magic Forest is the name that my family gave this hidden and kind of hard to get to forest. Of course Oak Forest is surrounded by forests, so you are probably asking, what makes this forest any different. It is different because it is beautiful. The path brings you to a little off shoot of the Midlothian Creek which is set deep into the land. At first the creek is accessible down a small grade and you can take off your shoes and walk in it. A bit down the path and the little creek becomes a gorge with cliffs and rocky walls. It is no Grand Canyon but to a 6 year old, it sure does feel like it. The path becomes very thin in some places but it is clear and easy to follow. We would do adventure days where we would pretend we were lost in the woods and looking for civilization. We would bring our dog and let her run between the tall trees and over fallen trunks. We would name big rocks and other landmarks and we drew a map for future reference. In all the times we went there, we saw other people only twice. It is quiet and you most likely will have the whole forest to yourself. Please know that this is true nature. We have seen deer, rabbits, bugs and snakes. You can go deep into the woods, so make sure you have a charged cell phone in case something happens. I always went with another adult, just in case. We have spent countless hours in the Magic Forest. We are passing on this secret to you.

The Magic Forest can be found by following a path which starts at the Midlothian Reservoir Forest Preserve. You can find the parking lot on 167th Street, just west of Cicero. If you park in that lot, look between the two ponds. There is a path. Follow it. Please see below for the map to the entrance to the Magic Forest. Please note that this a good hike. It takes about 20 minutes give or take just to get to the entrance. So please plan accordingly.

EL MORRO PARK

Okay, this really isn't a secret because it is published in the Oak Forest Park district brochure which comes out twice a year, but it's charm is the secret. El Morro Park is located on Victoria Drive and Arroyo Drive. The wonderful thing about this park is you can literally spend a whole afternoon there and the kids will never be bored.

There is a park with slides, swings and things for climbing. There is a little miniature golf course which is perfect for the little ones. It is not very big, but big enough to teach your kids how to put and have some fun. It is free for kids 5 and under and it is $3 for kids over 5. They are not strict about playing the holes more than once. My kids would sometimes play again just for fun. There is a concession stand with an indoor eating area with 2 picnic tables. They serve slushies, candy, pop, pizza and more. You could actually buy lunch there if you didn't pack one. Prices are very affordable. $20 should more than cover a family of 4. If you did pack a lunch, there are picnic tables under a shelter right next to the park. You can bring a mom friend, eat lunch and still watch the kids at the park.

There is another entirely covered picnic area. The park does rent out this area for parties so it might be taken if you come on a weekend. There is also a little concrete walking path. It is not very big but big enough to ride their bikes around. Behind all of this, is the sledding hill. In the winter, the neighborhood kids clamor to the hill which is just the right size for kids. In the summer, if is just a big green space with a hill in the middle of it. My kids would love to run up it and roll down it. We would bring a Frisbee and do our best to catch it. They would play tag on the hill and just sit up on top to look at the clouds. We had the pleasure of living right around the corner from this park while the kids were growing up and believe me, I took full advantage of it and I hope you do too.

GINGERWOOD POOL

Did you know we have a public pool right here in Oak Forest. It is hidden in the Gingerwood subdivision off of 167th Street. You would miss it if you were not looking for it. It sits between 2 houses right in the neighborhood. We belonged to the Gingerwood Pool for about 4 summers and we loved it. It is small, the perfect size for a family with kids. It is kidney bean shaped with a shallow end and a deep end. The deep end is about 6 feet (don't quote me on this) deep enough to jump in. At first glance you might think the pool is too small, in reality it is just the right size. This is where all 3 of my kids learned to swim and dive.

They have a deck with chaise chairs for mom to lay out and picnic tables for lunch. You can bring you own food and they even have barbecues. My kids would run into friends of theirs from school all the time and it was more than likely that I would run into a mom from the neighborhood. It was more like swimming at a friend's house than a public pool.They also have a big party at the end of every season which you can buy passes to. It was a fun day with activities, food and contests.

Last time I was there, it was $7 per person for the day. This price pales in comparison to the Orland Park Pool which runs $20 per person now. You can also buy a season pass for the family. A family of up to 5, costs $175. It is well worth it if you use it. Go to here for more information.

So these are the best kept secrets that I am sharing today. I hope you try all of them. And have fun my fellow Oak Foresters!