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Chicago Attractions & ActivitiesParks
Looking for some peace and quiet? An idyllic spot to relax and unwind? You've made it to the right category. Here, we list some of the most beautiful and functional parks in the city. Many provide jogging and cycling trails, picnic sites, and large, open areas for throwing a Frisbee or walking your dog.
Address: 1 S 151 Winfield Rd, Wheaton, IL 60187
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25 miles west of Chicago, you'll find this majestic, 500-acre public park. Colonel Robert R. McCormick left the land to be used "for the recreation, instruction and welfare of the people of the state of Illinois," and he would beam with pride to see how his wish has been fulfilled. On the grounds of the park are the...
Address: 500 S Central Ave, Chicago, IL 60644
Leave the bustle of the city behind when you enter this 135-acre park. Designed by Danish landscape architect Jens Jensen, Columbus Park was created anew from a large parcel of farmland. Today, thanks to Jensen's vision, visitors can enjoy the serenity of peaceful waterfalls, expansive lawns, and an impressive field...
Address: 100 N Central Park Ave, Chicago, IL 60624
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Traditional street lamps, a historic bandstand, and a gold-domed, Baroque-style field house set the tone of Garfield Park. Over 130 years old, the park offers 185-acres of playing fields, walking paths, and picnic areas. Both visitors and locals alike enjoy the park, which was designed by William Le Baron Jenney and...
Address: 337 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601
From ice-skating in the winter to viewing blooming roses in the summer, Grant Park offers a variety of relaxing activities. You can stroll through Versailles-type rose gardens, take part in a pick-up volleyball game, or admire the lakefront views offered by the 300-acre park. Highlights include free concerts during...
Address: 6401 S Stony Island Ave, Chicago, IL 60637
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After a hectic day, why not spend time in the serenity of a classic Japanese garden? Chicago's Jackson Park offers one of the best. Osako Garden features a teahouse and several rock gardens. Originally opened in 1893, the park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who included reflecting pools and perennial gardens...
Address: 808 N Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60611
If location is everything, then Lake Shore Park is the best of everything. Nestled between Lake Michigan and the Museum of Contemporary Art, visitors keep this park in constant motion. You can enjoy a leisurely stroll, watch a soccer game, or hit the outdoor track. Convenient public restrooms.
Address: 2045 N Lincoln Park W, Chicago, IL 60614
Don't let this park's origins as a municipal burial ground keep you away. Since its inception, the parcel named for the 16th US president has offered enormous greenways highlighted by boulevards and promenades designed for leisurely rides and strolls. Lincoln Park also offers scenic ponds and walking paths, graced by...
Address: 205 E Randolph Dr, Chicago, IL 60601
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One of Chicago's top attractions, Millennium Park is a 24.5-acre park that features an ice-skating rink, outdoor theaters, and attractive tree-lined promenades. Thousands of people gather here each day to take in the park's beauty over lunch or to enjoy its many fascinating sights, among them the dynamic "Crown...
Address: 1603 N Lake Shore Dr, Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL 60610
One of the metro area's most popular parks, North Avenue Beach is at its prime during the warmer months, when hordes of families, exercise nuts, and tourists flood here to do everything from sunbathe and play beach volleyball to roller-blade and cycle along the shoreline. Across the street is Lincoln Park Zoo.
Address: 1000 N Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60611
Oak Street Beach, one of Chicago's most popular sites, is always busy. The park entertains a constant flow of locals and visitors, all eager to jog, run, cycle, skate, or swim. The beach, located at Oak Street and Michigan Avenue, offers deep-water plunges, and swimmers enjoy exercising in sight of Chicago's famous...
