Chicago’s Urban Parks
Experience all the year-round fun of Chicago’s urban parks. Take in free cultural events, family entertainment, film festivals, music, theater and art. Join a workout group or go on an educational walk. Attend a concert, bike to major attractions or relax on a bench and take in the city’s glorious skyline. You can do it all in the Windy City’s scenic and diverse green spaces.
Millennium Park
Millennium Park is a unique combination of an urban park and art gallery. Covering nearly 25 acres, the park’s crown jewel is the Frank Gehry Pritzker Pavilion, where you can watch outdoor movies, attend free concerts, and take selfies at The Bean, a world-famous art installation and Chicago landmark.
Grant Park
Head to Grant Park for superb skyline vistas and inspiring public art. With 319 acres of Lake Michigan lakefront, this giant park includes several others, including Millennium and Maggie Daley, three museums and the Shedd Aquarium. Crowds flock here every summer for festival season, including Lollapalooza.
Maggie Daley Park
Situated amidst skyscrapers and water, this park features an 18-hole mini golf course that doubles as Chicago in miniature, perfect for travel selfies. Families love the artsy Play Garden, huge pirate ship, massive slides and places for kids to climb, slide, swing, run and skate.
Lurie Garden
Stroll the floating boardwalk, take in the skyline views and watch butterflies from a bench in this urban garden oasis. Fifteen-foot-high hedges flank showy flower beds all year long. After you explore all the dramatic floral displays, look behind the hedges at the native plant garden, a tribute to the state’s prairie lands.
Chicago Museum Guide
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Fairmont Chicago
Cloud Gate is a public sculpture by Indian-born British artist Anish Kapoor, that is the centerpiece of Grainger Plaza at Millennium Park in the Loop community area of Chicago. Constructed between 2004 and 2006, the sculpture is nicknamed “The Bean” because of its shape, a name Kapoor later grew fond of
Walking Distance: 4 minutes
Toro, from critically acclaimed Chef Richard Sandoval, is a vibrant Latin restaurant known for seamlessly blending bold South American flavors with the innovative culinary techniques of Chef Sandoval.
Walking Distance: 1 minuteFounded in 1893 for the World’s Fair. Explore over 300,000 square feet of exhibition space.
Walking Distance: 32 minutesThe third largest department store in the world, this spectacular building is on the National Historic Register and features a Tiffany ceiling.
Walking Distance: 9 minutesA top spot for sunbathing, swimming and volleyball, right downtown.
Walking Distance: 29 minutesAn iconic Chicago beach that is great for cycling, city views, and water sports.
Walking Distance: 49 minutesOur partner sports facility features 120,000 square feet for weights, swimming, indoor climbing, basketball and more.
Walking Distance: 12 minutesChicago’s largest and oldest non-profit theater, featuring some of the city’s best-known actors.
Walking Distance: 12 minutesAn icon from 1921, this glamorous theater in the Loop hosts all the greats when they come to Chicago.
Walking Distance: 10 minutesA boundary-pushing ballet company synonymous with uncompromising excellence in traditional and modern dance.
Walking Distance: 10 minutesFamed for over 75 years, this opera house features one of the world’s best opera companies.
Walking Distance: 23 minutesChicago’s world-famous shopping district, featuring a dazzling array of upscale shops, stunning architecture and top dining and attractions.
Walking Distance: 17 minutesGet designer deals for less at this chic outlet center near O’Hare International Airport.
The third largest department store in the world, this spectacular building is on the National Historic Register and features a Tiffany ceiling.
Walking Distance: 9 minutesNordstrom is the anchor store at this four-level shopping area featuring 50 brands and 20 restaurants.
Walking Distance: 13 minutesAn anchor on the Magnificent Mile, shop over 100 stores and explore the Chicago Sports Museum and diverse dining options.
Walking Distance: 21 minutesKnown as “Chicago’s Front Yard,” this massive park includes several smaller parks and provides superb views of Chicago’s skyline and plenty of public art.
Walking Distance: 19 minutesFeaturing winter ice-skating and summer roller skating, this 20-acre park is perfect for family fun and travel selfies.
Walking Distance: 4 minutesThis combination urban park and public art gallery covers 25 acres and includes the famous Bean sculpture and Lurie Garden.
Walking Distance: 7 minutesStroll the floating boardwalk and take in stunning skyline views from this tranquil urban garden.
Walking Distance: 7 minutesThere’s always something happening at Navy Pier, one of Chicago’s top attractions for events and dining.
Walking Distance: 23 minutesDiscover the many wonders of this legendary aquarium, including sharks, dolphins and sea otters.
Walking Distance: 31 minutesWith one of the country’s biggest contemporary art collections, MCA Chicago “champions the new and unexpected.”
Walking Distance: 20 minutesChicago’s most revered and well-known art institution, famous for its 300,000 works.
Walking Distance: 9 minutes