Hiking Options in and around Chicago

Based in Chicago, Jason Finney has served RJ O’Brien and Associates as a credit analyst since 2018. When he is not providing the company with credit analysis support, Jason Finney enjoys staying physically active by hiking.

The city of Chicago provides hiking enthusiasts with a number of trails to choose from, both inside and outside the city limits. When it comes to hiking in the city, the Lakefront Trail is a local favorite. While the paved, mostly flat trail has been rated easy for hikers, it stretches nearly 18 miles, providing hikers with a healthy workout. That said, hikers should feel comfortable taking on smaller portions of the trail as it weaves through various downtown hot spots, scenic beaches, and other attractions. Additional hiking trails within the city limits include The 606 and the Lincoln Park Trail.

For those willing to travel, the Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve provides 11 miles of hiking trails just 25 miles outside the city. As the name implies, the location features multiple waterfalls, as well as a bluff providing views of Sawmill Creek. While the forested hiking trails are quiet during the winter months, the preserve welcomes cross-country skiers. After completing the Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve, traveling hikers may be interested in taking on Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie or Kankakee River State Park.

3 New History Books to Read in 2021

Jason Finney is a Chicago-based credit analyst at RJ O’Brien and Associates, where he has worked since 2018. In his free time, Jason Finney enjoys reading and learning about history.

History buffs know that there are few things more satisfying than a story that is both well-told and true. Here are some history books to look forward to in 2021

Nuclear Folly: A History of the Cuban Missile Crisis by Serhii Plokhy

This book studies the relationships between John F. Kennedy, Fidel Castro, and Nikita Krushchev as the Cold War was reaching its peak. Plokhy draws on White House tapes and formerly classified KGB documents to pull together an authoritative recounting of these fraught relationships.

The Bomber Mafia by Malcolm Gladwell

Weaponized aircraft was originally conceptualized to upset the enemy without causing too much bloodshed. However, WWII’s atomic bomb attack resulted in the deaths of thousands. Gladwell examines the morality of warfare and tracks how technology can be rerouted.

Lincoln in Private by Ronald C. White

Abraham Lincoln was a meticulous notetaker, and now, for the first time, his thoughts and ideas are compiled into one single volume. White also examines 12 of Lincoln’s most significant pieces of writing and gives readers a more intimate understanding of one of the most influential figures in US history.