Chicago Skyline and Buckingham Fountain
The leaders of Chicago, both past and present, have been extremely dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of the beauty of the city with parks, gardens and other green areas. The Chicago Park District manages over 220 stunning facilities throughout the city, with more than 7,300 acres of parkland, 552 parks, 33 beaches, nine museums, two world-class conservatories, 16 historic lagoons, 10 bird and wildlife gardens, and thousands of special events, sports and entertaining programs.
The most prominent of the Chicago parks is Grant Park, located along the lakefront, south of the Chicago River. Grant Park features outdoor concerts and hosts the annualTaste of Chicagoin the summer time. It is also home to Museum Campus and the Buckingham Fountain. Grant Park offers guests a variety of outdoor concerts within the park ranging between every musical genre. Enjoy the park itself as well as the Shedd Aquarium, the Chicago Art Institute, and the Field Natural History Museum. This park was originally named Lake Park, but was rename in 1901 to honor Ulysses S. Grant.
The Chicago area contains a number of botanical gardens, including the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe, Illinois which contains nearly two million plant varieties, the Osaka Garden on Chicago’s South Side, and the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois. These gardens showcase some of the most beautiful plant life the the country and offer tours around their gorgeous properties. You may even have the opportunity to have a picnic beneath the lush flora. Enjoy these wonderful gardens as well as all of the programming these venues have to offer.
Chicago’s top Lake Michigan beaches include Oak Street Beach, at the north end of the Magnificent Mile, and North Avenue Beach, up further North. Enjoy sunbathing, biking, in-line skating, volleyball or just people-watching while on the sandy shore. Oak Street Beach also has a restaurant at the South end, aptly named a "Beachstro" which serves sandwiches, salads, pastas, and other delicious entrees. Enjoy an ocean view and dig in!
Before your trip to Chicago, do a little research and plan some fun activities.Check out 200 of Chicago's Public Park Works of Art, including fountains, monuments & sculptures.Below is a list of a variety of park and garden attractions located within the Windy City. Take a look and head on over to see them in person! Each has something unique to offer.
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Lakefront Bicycle Tour
Located in Streeterville
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Bikes, Bites & Brews Tour
Located in Streeterville
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Segway Experience of Chicago Located in The Loop ActiveoffoffGrant ParkoffFamily FriendlyoffoffoffoffSights of ChicagooffScenicoffoffoff |
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North Ave Beach Located in Lincoln Park offoffoffoffoffFamily FriendlyoffoffoffoffSights of ChicagooffScenicoffoffoff |
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Wicker Park Located in Wicker Park ActiveArtsyoffoffoffFamily FriendlyHistoricoffoffoffoffoffoffoffoffoff |
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Willis Tower Located in The Loop Sights of Chicago |
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Children's Museum Located in Gold Coast ArtsyCulturalFamily FriendlyHistoricMuseumSights of Chicago |
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Chicago Museum Located in Gold Coast ArtsyCulturalFamily FriendlyHistoricMuseumSights of Chicago |
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Willis Tower Skydeck
Located in The Loop
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Contemporary Art Museum Located in Gold Coast ArtsyCulturalHistoricMuseumSights of ChicagoRomantic |
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Located in Gold Coast
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Rates Starting At $274 you pay $205* Details  |
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Located in O'Hare International Airport
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Rates Starting At $109 you pay $87* Details |
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Located in Evanston
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Rates Starting At $140* Details |
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Located in River North
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Rates Starting At $179* Details |
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Located in South Loop
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| Event Info | Price | |
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Artopia Chicago
Age Requirement: All Ages Event Type: Arts |
Located in Logan SquareDetails |
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Memorial Day Parade
Age Requirement: All Ages Event Type: Parade |
Located in The LoopDetails |
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Blues Festival
Age Requirement: All Ages Event Type: Music |
Located in Grant ParkDetails |
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NeoCon Chicago
Age Requirement: All Ages Event Type: Arts |
Located in River NorthDetails |
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Just for Laughs
Age Requirement: 18 and over Event Type: Festival |
Located in The LoopDetails |
*Terms & Conditions: Offers, promotions and rates subject to change and may vary based upon date, length of stay and other factors. Some offers do not include taxes and fees. All offers based on availability and are subject to change without notice.
Millennium Park at night Chicago IL
View all the Chicago Park District staffed parks (locations with buildings and staff). The map includes the Park District's North, Central and South region boundaries.
Includes the current Chicago Park District brochures, maps, and booklets
One of Chicago's most popular attractions, Buckingham Fountain is one of the largest in the world.
Built in 1989 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. It is is located at McClurg Court and the Chicago River.
The Chicago Botanic Gardens is host to 385 acres of natural beauty set on 9 lagoons. One of the most visited public gardens in the United States, it has 23 gardens with 1.7 million plants, open year round with a diverse array of plant shows, family activities, festivals and tours.
For more info, see the Calendar of Chicago Botanic Garden Events.
Lakefront Downtown Chicago
Established in 1922 by Joy Morton, The Morton Arboretum is a 1,700-acre outdoor museum with collections of more than 3,400 kinds of trees, shrubs, and other plants displayed in woodlands, gardens, restored tall grass prairie, and other natural areas.
Chicago Lakefront
Volleyball
Chicago Lakefront
People Watching
Oak Street Beach viewed from the Hancock Observatory in Chicago
130 Forest ave, Itasca, IL 60143
630.773.5572, email: sbnc@itasca.com
Come enjoy a hike through the expansive freshwater marsh or explore our prairie, we hope that you enjoy your visit. Journey along our 700 foot boardwalk and over two miles of trail to see a flowing brook, shady woods, flower-filled prairies, and marshes thick with cattails and reeds. Then stop in to our visitor center to view some of the creatures found in the creek and enjoy the kid friendly discovery room, packed with fun activities and crafts for all ages. Don't forget to visit the raptor aviary right outside!
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Go Chicago Card
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* Room Rates shown above reflect the average nightly rate for a 2 night stay for 2013-05-24, our visitors should verify actual rates, promotions and deals directly with the hotel as we make no guarantees regarding rates, but only provide them as a convenience.
