50 Hikes with Kids Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio

I received a free copy of, 50 Hikes with Kids Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, by Shawn Dewar; Wendy Gordon, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I have actually been to one of these places, Little Red School, way back in grammar school, on a field trip. This is a great book for families and kids to see what is in their state to explore. this is a very informative book.

Children and adults need lots of outside time, and when planning what to do with a family on vacation on a budget, hiking comes to mind as a great way to take care of each of those needs. Hiking has many benefits including physical health benefits and reducing stress; hiking can also serve as a time when families can grow closer together. In their book 50 Hikes with Kids Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, Sharon Dewar and Wendy Gorton write about hikes that are all under three miles, which is helpful for hiking with children. Dewar and Gorton share about scavenger hunts that can be done while hiking, and they describe the hikes in the book as easy to moderate trail levels so that families can decide whether the hike will be appropriate for their skill level. Throughout the book, there are many pictures of hiking trails and nature's surprises that one can find along the way. There are handy charts that explain the closest major city to the hiking trail, which can be helpful when planning the rest of the vacation. Dewar and Gorton share important information about bugs, such as ticks, to be alert for, and they give tips on how to create a nature journal for what one sees on the hike. In the book is also a list of helpful websites that are related to hiking. 50 Hikes with Kids Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio is a great resource for families looking for ways to get out in nature in the Midwest. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.