Location: South Side
Top Things to do in South Side
Top 10 Nature & Parks in South Side, Illinois (IL)
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. Palmisano Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 8 reviews
Reviewed By Toyota1994 - Chicago, United States
Palmisano Nature Park is a delight in the Bridgeport neighborhood in Chicago. The Chicago Park District has done a commendable job in transforming a quarry & landfill to a very enjoyable nature park. The Park comprises a variety of features including fishing piers, quarry pond, trails, prairie vegetation, and an exhilarating hill. The trails are a combination of boardwalks, concrete paths, a crushed stone path, grating walkways and stepped rocks. These trails provide dramatic overviews of the pond and the city. The stone monument and the fountain at each end of the park are great for pictures. One thing missing was an introductory map of the park showing trail paths. But, it is a relatively small park, so map absence is not a big concern. In sum, Palmisano Nature Park is a lovely place for a short workout visit or for a leisurely picnic.
2. Jackson Bark - Dog Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 36 reviews
Jackson Bark is a community dog park. The only dog park on the southside of Chicago and the largest 100% enclosed dog park in the city. Over 50 agility features and amenities, plus free parking, water and toys. Voted "Best of Chicago: Dog Park", Chicago Reader 2016.
Reviewed By joelp297
This was such a diamond in the Ruff! Thanks to the volunteers that keep this fun packed dog park safe, entertaining for the dogs and their humans - even had a DJ with some great music for all to enjoy. Was looking for a dog park that had structure, not the run-of-the-mill open area park. Well we found it. This dog park had fun obstacles for the dogs, safety items and lots of bags to help keep it clean. A Must Go!
3. Promontory Point
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 8 reviews
Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States
Promontory Point on Chicago's South Side has been known in recent years as the site of Barack and Michelle Obama's first kiss. But it's much more than that. Its view of Lake Michigan and Chicago's skyline may not be as scenic as the view from North Avenue Beach but it is an attractive piece of landscape. Located at 55th Street in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood, Promontory Point or The Point is a man-made peninsula jutting into Lake Michigan that was opened to the public in 1937. It was constructed from landfill and by the late 1930s was protected by a seawall or revetment that consists of limestone blocks arranged in a series of four steps leading to a promenade. The 12-acre peninsula, which contains a fieldhouse and was a popular destination for swimmers, sunbathers and windsurfers in the pre-pandemic period, can be accessed by the Lakefront Trail and a tunnel which passes under South Lake Shore Drive at the east end of 55th street, in the shadow of the Museum of Science and Industry. With its view of Navy Pier and Chicago's skyline and Lake Michigan, and the presence of stone sitting rings or fire pits that date to 1938, Promontory Point is a popular wedding and corporate event location and an area for family picnics. And first kisses.
4. Midway Plaisance
5. Jackson Park's Japanese Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 30 reviews
Reviewed By leonardk621 - Washington DC, United States
After touring the Museum of Science and Industry nearby, this picturesque walk was a delightful finish to the afternoon. First, a bit of history: All of Jackson Park was created to be the site of Chicago's famous Columbian Exhibition of 1893. The building that houses the Museum of Science & Industry was originally the only fireproof building of the Fair, since it was then the Palace of Fine Arts (housing the most famous paintings and sculptures from around the world...). Wooded Island was the site of the Japanese Exhibit...of which the Gardens & a lone, simple pavilion still exist to this day! Note: in recent years, Yoko Ono has contributed a beautiful sculpture near the entry to the garden...titled the Phoenix (also the name of the Gardens...). Note: while there are 2 bridges onto this island, the north bridge (by the Museum of Science & Industry...) is under repair, so you'll have to drive to the bridge at the south end of the island...the adjacent parking lot is off of Hayes Drive. Enjoy!
6. Jackson Park
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 20 reviews
Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States
Jackson Park was first developed in 1893 as the host site for the World's Columbian Exposition, or the Chicago World's Fair. In a six-month period, it drew millions of people to the Chicago lakefront. Today, the event is memorialized by the Statue of the Republic, a replica 1/3 the size of the original, and the Museum of Science and Industry, the only surviving "palace" in the park from the World's Fair era, and a Japanese Garden. Jackson Park, located at 6401 South Stony Island Avenue in the Woodlawn community on Chicago's South Side, covers 542.89 acres and extends into the Hyde Park and South Shore neighborhoods. Bordering on Lake Michigan, it is named after Andrew Jackson, the seventh President of the United States. The park, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, includes woodland trails, two walking trails, two basketball courts, playing fields, a beach, an 18-hole golf course and a boat harbor. It is the potential future site of the Barack Obama Presidential Center and Library. Connected to Washington Park by the University of Chicago's Midway Plaisance and to Grant Park by Burnham Park, Jackson Park is home to two dozen species of birds. The 63rd Street beach is a popular destination for sun-bathers. The golf course, which opened in 1900, was the first public golf course in the Midwest.
7. Foster Avenue Beach
8. 31st Street Harbor
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 23 reviews
Reviewed By mybigcrazylife - Watkinsville, United States
Overall good experience, beautiful view of the city that’s very clear & open. My husband & I talked to some really amazing people. Went out to the end of the pier for an awesome photo opp. Lots of security & Chicago PD here at this park. Our one complaint would be when we parked in the parking garage, it stated weekdays $8, weekends/holidays $25, cash or credit. There was zero notice to us the machines were cash only to get out of the garage, & made it quite a pain for work through that. They need to have this situation corrected. Be aware of it possibly being cash only.
