Summer ’12: Must-see destinations in the Southland

testtwo

ChristinMolenstrOak Lawn walks her dog Chloe Lake Katherine Palos Heights. | DonnVickroy~Sun-Times Media

Christina Molenstra, of Oak Lawn, walks her dog, Chloe, at Lake Katherine in Palos Heights. | Donna Vickroy~Sun-Times Media

Katie Parker (left) 15 Bailey Andjulis 16 both OrlPark enjoy scoop cake batter ice cream Plush Horse Palos Park.

Katie Parker (left), 15, and Bailey Andjulis, 16, both of Orland Park, enjoy a scoop of cake batter ice cream at the Plush Horse in Palos Park. | Donna Vickroy~Sun-Times Media

Lynn Larry Mineau Homer Glen escort their 2-year-old grandsBryce Polzdown trails Little Red Schoolhouse Willow Springs. | DonnVickroy~Sun-Times

Lynn and Larry Mineau, of Homer Glen, escort their 2-year-old grandson, Bryce Polzin, down the trails at the Little Red Schoolhouse in Willow Springs. | Donna Vickroy~Sun-Times Media

The herb garden Lake Katherine Palos Heights. | DonnVickroy~Sun-Times Media

The herb garden at Lake Katherine in Palos Heights. | Donna Vickroy~Sun-Times Media

While waiting for fish bite Crestwood residents Dick Derks (center) AlvBulaJohn Bulaplay game bags Saganashke Slough. | DonnVickroy~Sun-Times

While waiting for fish to bite, Crestwood residents Dick Derks (center), Alvin Bulaon and John Bulaon play a game of bags at Saganashke Slough. | Donna Vickroy~Sun-Times Media

The original Little Red Schoolhouse built 1886 stands next new visitors center Willow Springs nature center. | DonnVickroy~Sun-Times

The original Little Red Schoolhouse, built in 1886, stands next to a new visitors center at the Willow Springs nature center. | Donna Vickroy~Sun-Times Media

Anthony Kizlauskas Darien recently brought his new kayak out Tampier Lake near Palos Heights. | DonnVickroy~Sun-Times Media

Anthony Kizlauskas, of Darien, recently brought his new kayak out to Tampier Lake near Palos Heights. | Donna Vickroy~Sun-Times Media

Karli LizanOak Lawn takes go-kart for spwith her 5-year-old daughter DanikHaunted Trails Burbank. | DonnVickroy~Sun-Times Media

Karli Lizana, of Oak Lawn, takes a go-kart for a spin with her 5-year-old daughter, Danika, at Haunted Trails in Burbank. | Donna Vickroy~Sun-Times Media

Tubs hand-dipped ice cream Plush Horse Palos Park. | DonnVickroy~Sun-Times Media

Tubs of hand-dipped ice cream at Plush Horse in Palos Park. | Donna Vickroy~Sun-Times Media

Old Plank Road Trail

New York has its Statue of Liberty. London has Big Ben. And Rome has, well, just about everything. But an area doesn’t have to be a tourist mecca to offer people a good time. The Southland is a prime example that you don’t have to …