Location: Downtown / The Loop
Top Things to do in Downtown / The Loop
Things to do in Chicago, Illinois (IL): The Best Nature & Parks
The windy city is a cornucopia of modern art, fine dining, cutting edge comedy, and die-hard sports fans. Snap a photo of your reflection in the silver Cloud Gate sculpture at Millennium Park before heading to Grant Park to get hit with the refreshing spray of Buckingham Fountain. There are dozens of museums and theater companies in Chicago, so a cultural experience is never hard to find. You’re sure to laugh your head off at the Second City Theater, the professional launch pad of many famous comedians.
Restaurants in Chicago
1. North Garden
2. Lake Shore East Park
3. Grant Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 909 reviews
Dedicated in 1844, this park covers 319 acres along Lake Michigan and is home to the Shedd Aquarium, the Adler Planetarium, the Field Museum and the Art Institute.
Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States
People are looking for things to do during the Coronavirus pandemic. Some friends claim they are bored. They have nothing to do. Are they kidding? For Chicagoans, it is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy all of the attractions that the city has to offer. When was the last time you visited Grant Park? There is so much to do, you can't see it all in one or even two days. It's like taking a three-day vacation at home. Bordered by Randolph Street on the north, Roosevelt Road on the south, Michigan Avenue on the west and Lake Michigan on the east, the 319-acre urban park is popularly referred to as "Chicago's front yard." Founded in 1844, it has grown in size by extending into the lake with debris from the Great Chicago Fire in 1871 and landfill. Originally known as Lake Park, it was renamed in 1901 to honor Ulysses S. Grant. Among the features are Millennium Park, Maggie Daley Park, Art Institute of Chicago, Buckingham Fountain, Petrillo Music Shell, Field Museum, Adler Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium, Crown Fountain, Cloud Gate (aka The Bean), Lurie Garden, Congress Plaza, Court of the Presidents, Chicago Lakefront Trail, Hutchinson Field, Monroe Harbor, Skate Plaza, even an 18,000-square-foot, off-leash dog park. In addition, there are 16 softball/baseball fields and 12 tennis courts. Don't forget the public art, magnificent sculptures such as the Abraham Lincoln Monument, the large equestrian statue of Civil War general and Illinois-born John A. Logan and the Agora, a series of 106 headless, armless sculptures designed by Polish artist Magdalena Abakanowicz. Grant Park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.
4. Millennium Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 24,640 reviews
Three square blocks of open lakefront complete with a Ferris Wheel, outdoor music pavillion and ice skating rink; expected to become one of the city's most popular sites.
Reviewed By 314LH - Chicago, United States
Cloud Gate (the bean to locals) is a 12-ft high stainless steel sculpture chosen in competition as the winning design (by Brit Anish Kapoor), inspired by liquid mercury. Begun in 2004, finished in 2006, it's become a Chicago icon that provides unique photo opportunities. Enjoy great views of downtown (and the skating rink in winter) from its platform, stroll the area to view regularly-changing public art exhibits, the Pritzker Pavilion, Lurie Garden, and fabulous Frank Gehry designed BP bridge.
5. Maggie Daley Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,311 reviews
Reviewed By Rubydoo5 - Enumclaw, United States
This park is conveniently stuated between Milleneum Park.and Lake Michigan and is a little jewel of the city. Amazing ice skating rink provides lots of smiles and laughter, even if just sitting on a bench and watching the festivities. Provides easy access to Cloudgate and the Lake shore trail as well as downtown Chicago.
6. Lurie Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 118 reviews
Reviewed By Neta_Avivi - Tel Aviv, Israel
Lurie Garden is a large garden located at Millennium Park in the Loop area of Chicago. It is a beautiful garden filled with greenery, flowers and trees. It provides a wonderful opportunity to take a break from this busy city and enjoy the tranquility of nature in the center of the Chicago.
7. Chicago River
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,954 reviews
Reviewed By lats12345 - Chicago, United States
There are MANY amazing ways to visit the River, but I love to hear the history and tales of the City while enjoying the buildings, parks, the locks by boat! Plan an architectural tour that will share the history of the city as you go through, admiring the rich architectural genius, the City's expansion post Chicago Fire, and plans for it's future. Both the NORTH AND SOUTH branch are very interesting and GROWING. It was about 10 years since I last did a tour, and the riverfront has changed SOOOO much in that short time, and plans to modify more are constantly underway. This is the FASTEST, most peaceful way to see MOST of the city in about 1.5 hour tour. (BTW I've taken both Wendella and Arch Foundation Tours this past summer and BOTH are amazing. Wendella allows you to move your date, however, which is very helpful if it's planning to rain! )
8. Grant Skate Park
9. Columbia College Garden
10. Daley Bicentennial Plaza
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 52 reviews
Reviewed By 646lorit - Dawsonville, United States
All year long, the Daley Plaza is a great place to watch people and get fresh air. In November, we visited the Christkindlmarket which fills the plaza with vendors selling holiday food and crafts. Given that it was opening weekend and probably some of the best weather the market will have all season, it was expectedly crowded, but the air was buzzing with holiday cheer. From German potato pancakes with salmon and herbed sour cream to savory Samosa pies from India, our group found plenty to eat, and We enjoyed it all. We even brought home a hand carved dragon to remind us of our visit to the Christmas market in Chicago.
