Chicago's Botanical Gardens
While famous for having one of the most beautiful skylines in the world, Chicago also has plenty of natural beauty too. The Chicago Park District manages over 220 stunning facilities throughout the city, with more than 7300 acres of parkland, 552 parks, and 33 beaches. It is thanks in part to Chicago's past and present leaders who have been dedicated to preserving and enhancing the beauty of the city with parks, gardens and other green areas.
The most prominent Chicago park is Grant Park, located in the Loop area of Chicago. The park has been protected from commercial buildings and remains an open park with plenty of lush landscaping. Grant Park Chicago features outdoor concerts and hosts the annual Taste of Chicago. It is also home to Museum Campus and the Buckingham Fountain, one of the world's largest fountains. Grant Park also plays home to the Art Institute of Chicago which is considered to be one of the finest and most comprehensive in the world. The building houses more than 1,500 paintings and sculptures representing every significant movement in Europe and America throughout the 20th century, and also features an extensive collection of Impressionist art.
Public Parks in Chicago, IL
Millennium Park is the newest addition to the Chicago Park District's collection. Located in the northwestern section of Grant Park Chicago, Millennium Park plays host to more than 500 events each year, ranging from cultural, to musical, to artistic. Spanning 24.5- acres, the Chicago park is also considered to be one of the largest "green roofs" in the world, having been built on top of parking garages and an old railroad yard. However, what the park is most famous for is the Cloud Gate sculpture. Better known as "The Bean", the reflective steel bean-shaped sculpture has become an iconic image of Chicago. With so much to see and do, one visit to Millennium Park is not enough. Fortunately, the Chicago park is located near many top Chicago hotels, including the Fairmont Chicago at Millennium Park, the Comfort Suites Chicago, and The Palmer House Hilton hotel.
Nature and Outdoor Tours in Chicago
The Chicago area has a number of botanical gardens, including the Chicago Botanic Garden which is located in the Chicago suburb of Glencoe. With approximately 900,000 visitors each year, the Chicago Botanic Garden is one of the most popular Chicago District parks. It is made up of 23 different gardens, featuring a stunning selection of flowers and plants that are native to the Midwest. There are also 3 native habitat areas, including a woodland, prairie and river habitat, that showcase native and endangered flora of Illinois.
Another of Chicago's botanic gems is the Morton Arboretum. Located in Lisle, Illinois, the Morton Arboretum is open year-round, and boasts beautifully manicured gardens, lush lawns, and plenty of wildlife. This Chicago park is popular with both tourists and locals, and is a great place to spend an afternoon. For fitness junkies, the park's 16 miles of beautiful trails are a great place to bike, hike, or jog. One of the most popular attractions at this stunning Chicago park is the 250-year old white oak tree called the Millennium Tree.
On the south side of Chicago lies the Osaka Garden, Chicago Park District's Japanese garden. Nestled on the north end of the Wooded Island in historic Jackson Park, the Osaka Garden is considered to be a stroll garden, with landscaping that is designed to both reveal and hide features of the garden as one walks through it. Each piece of the garden offers a new view, and the garden's layout is symbolic of a mini landscape with rocks, bushes, and ponds representing mountains, trees and lakes.
Chicago Beaches
Chicago Outdoor Parks and Activities
In addition to the many Chicago parks, the Windy City also has a great selection of beaches. Chicago’s top Lake Michigan beaches include Oak Street Beach which is located at the north end of the Magnificent Mile. Featuring a beautiful stretch of golden sand, Oak Street Beach is a popular place for sunbathing, biking, in-line skating, volleyball and plenty of people-watching.
Further north, North Avenue Beach is considered to be one of Chicago's top beaches. the beach is a popular place for volleyball players, as well as morning joggers, bikers, and roller-bladers who like to use the paved boardwalk. Bikes and other sporting equipment are available to rent from the beach house, and there are also a number of concessions, shops and restrooms. Due to its popularity, it is recommended that visitors walk or take public transportation to North Avenue Beach as parking can often be difficult.
