Lake Forest Recreation Center

Goodbye city. Goodbye fancy workout clubs. Goodbye high-​end locker rooms and juice bars. Goodbye steam rooms. Goodbye outrageous monthly fees!
When we moved up here, we knew we needed a place to work out during the winter but also knew we no longer had the time to linger around a wheat grass juice bar after a serious steam. Then we get a notice about the Lake Forest Rec Center. At first, I thought there was a misprint about the price for residents. I called. Nope. It was correct? How could this be? Maybe it’s a rundown place, I thought. So I went to go check it out.
Brand new equipment. TV monitors at all of the workout machines. Full round of weights and weight machines. Clean locker room. It has all of the basics without being snooty. I’ve never had to fight for a machine and they offer a number of aerobic workout classes as well. If you’re looking for a fancy schmancy place, move along. You’re probably the person who checks your make up before you work out too.
For those of us who have a life and are extremely busy living it, the rec center is a fabulous place.

I almost don’t want to write a review because I don’t want to let out the secret. I work in Chicago every other week and needed a gym away from home. The hotel gym wasn’t cutting it and someone recommended I try the LFRC. After visiting some gyms in the area and being disappointed every time, I gave this a shot. It. Blew. Me. Away. Okay, maybe that’s a lot.
I don’t ask for much. Clean equipment? Check. Not too crowded? Done. Machines that have their own televisions? They’re all over it.
When I look at the overall «monthly» payments, this place knocked the socks off the other places in the area.
It’s friendly, close to my office, the equipment is great and it never seems too crowded.
There are other activities going on at LFRC (they look more appropriate for grade school kids and high schoolers) but I’m only interested in the fitness center.

This is the Lake Forest Recreation Center and they’re pretty much in charge of all the parks and recreational programs in Lake Forest. I simply don’t know what I would do without them. We have been signing up our kids here for over a decade now, from the summer sports camps, to tennis, and even sailing and squash this place is an absolute staple of our family. They have TONS of different programs and they’re all very reasonably priced and well instructed. Some of the summer programs are so popular that you need to go on a waiting list to get your kids in. It’s worth it though. They know what they’re doing and its a great place to send your kids. All our kids have done the Deerpath Park summer tennis camp for over 12 years now and we’re very happy with all the programs. If you’re an LF mom then this place will be crucial to your summer survival.
They also have a gym and fitness center. I’ve never been there personally but my son and all his friends go there over the summer when they’re home from school. The summer pass is a good deal and he seems very happy with them.
Overall, this place is great. They do a wonderful job and if you’re in Lake Forest this is definitely a go-​to spot.