Chicago parks and outdoors

Enjoy the great outdoors at our parks and waterfronts.

Parks & outdoors

Guide to Chicago’s Millennium Park

Millennium Park is a can’t-miss attraction for any Chicago visit. The lakefront campus, located in the heart of downtown, is home to the iconic Cloud…

Parks & outdoors, Special events

Celebrate spring at Chicago’s best flower and garden shows

Chicago is a city with a lot of nicknames, but one of the most fitting is Urbs in Horto — Latin for “city in a…

Published on February 27, 2020 by Amy Bizzarri

Itineraries, Parks & outdoors

2 days, 2 Chicago waterfronts

The waterfront is a center of life in Chicago. It’s where discoveries are made and adventures begin. Dedicate one day each to exploring the Chicago…

Parks & outdoors

Chicago’s bird sanctuaries

Bird lovers flock to Chicago for a chance to spot hundreds of different species all around the city. Here’s a few areas for bird watching…

Parks & outdoors

Explore Chicago’s Grant Park

Grant Park is much more than a park. It’s a gathering place for the city’s biggest events, a green oasis in the heart of downtown,…

Parks & outdoors, Tours & attractions

Buckingham Fountain in Chicago’s Grant Park

Nature lovers, architecture buffs, public art aficionados — Grant Park has something for everyone. And so does Buckingham Fountain, the park’s centerpiece. Located right along…

Parks & outdoors, Sports & recreation

Chicago’s Lakefront Trail

One of Chicago’s defining features is its location on Lake Michigan, which includes 26 miles of stunning shoreline. And much of that waterfront is connected…

Parks & outdoors

Fun in the sun on Chicago’s beaches

You might know Chicago as the birthplace of the skyscraper, the home of deep dish pizza, or as one of the largest urban cities in…

Parks & outdoors

Explore the 606 elevated park and trail

An abandoned railway has been given new life on Chicago’s northwest side. The 606 is a 2.7-mile elevated park and trail that was built on…

Parks & outdoors

Chicago conservatories and indoor gardens

Welcome to Chicago’s great indoors. The city’s conservatories and winter gardens allow you to explore exotic plant life whatever the weather. Lincoln Park Conservatory Take…