Location: Chicago
Top Things to do in Chicago
What to do and see in Chicago, Illinois (IL): The Best Bodies of Water
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. Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 64 reviews
Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States
Image a lily pond designed by Alfred Caldwell and influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright, Jens Jensen and Marlin Perkins. Then visit Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool in Chicago. Located at 125 West Fullerton Parkway, between North Cannon Drive and North Stockton Drive, in Lincoln Park, next to the Lincoln Park Conservatory, north of Lincoln Park Zoo, the three-acre plot with lily pond and gardens is a picturesque oasis and an important example of Prairie School landscape architecture. Originally built in 1889, the hour-glass shaped pond had fallen into ruin by the 1930s and landscape architect Alfred Caldwell was hired to completely redesign this area of Lincoln Park in 1936-1938. He began by planting thousands of plants transported from Sauk County, Wisconsin. From 1926 to 1931, Caldwell worked for landscape artist Jens Jensen, whose influence is evident in the Sun Opening, the curving walkways, the meandering, stepping-stone limestone paths and circular benches. Frank Lloyd Wright's influence is seen in the Fullerton Parkway Gate. In the early 1950s, Lincoln Park Zoo director Marlin Perkins transformed the Lily Pool into a water exhibit featuring exotic birds and water fowl. The Lily Pool was designated a Chicago Landmark in 2002 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places and a National Historic Landmark in 2006. It is open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. from mid-April to mid-November with free docent tours available to the public on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
2. 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! )
3. South Pond
4. Bubbly Creek
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
