certainly, i am not suggesting that traveling abroad [for nature] should option #1. i live around Chicago and i have been to hundreds of places in the States wi

certainly, i am not suggesting that traveling abroad [for nature] should option #1. i live around Chicago and i have been to hundreds of places in the States with thousands remaining. that being said, there are many things that simply do not exist here and are quite unique to other places, mainly a combination of flora/fauna/geology/climate. while you can find 20 forest preserves nearby, you cannot really experience the vast diversity that truly exists without traveling some significant distance.