If you’re a true Chicagoan, you know the dread of hearing “winter is coming.” Chicago winters are full of snow and windy gray days with below-freezing temperatures, which is even more reason to soak up every bit of the outdoors and fall while you can.
Now that the Halloween activities have subsided for the season, it’s time to just take in the crisp fall air and admire the falling foliage while you can, and there’s no better way to do that than to visit one of Chicago’s many parks! Here’s a list of 3 of our favorite Chicago parks to visit before wintertime:
1. Lincoln Park
With over 1,200 acres, Lincoln park is the city’s largest public park stretching over 7 miles. The park is the 2nd most visited in the U.S., only behind New York’s Central Park, and is characterized by parkland, recreational areas, beaches, nature reserves, harbors, and museums.
Spend the day spectating a variety of animals at the park’s free zoo, Lincoln Park Zoo. The zoo is open year-round and houses big cats, reptiles, penguins, gorillas, and many more species, with nearly 1,250 animals in total. If animals aren’t your speed, visit the Lincoln Park Conservatory to enjoy year-round displays of plants from various climates worldwide.
If you’re just looking to spend some time outside, you can always opt to walk, run, cycle, or rollerblade the Chicago Lakefront Trail and take in views of both the parkland and the lake. Lincoln Park truly has something for everyone!
2. Millenium Park
Know as the “front lawn” of Chicago, Millennium Park is located in the Loop neighborhood of the city and features a variety of public art displays, outdoor spaces, and venues. Its most notable feature is Cloud Gate, lovingly known as “The Bean,” which is made up of 168 steel plates that reflect and distort the city’s skyline. This park is a consistent top tourist destination not only in Chicago but also in the U.S. as a whole, bringing in over 25 million visitors annually.
If you want to immerse yourself in nature, you can walk through Lurie Garden, an award-winning masterpiece of botanical landscaping. Millenium Park’s “secret garden” is a place for rest and renewal for people and wildlife alike.
However you choose to spend your day in this iconic park, you can rest assured that you’ll be surrounded by Chicago’s beautiful nature and architecture.
3. Graceland Cemetery
Located in the north side neighborhood of Uptown, Graceland Cemetery is a historic garden cemetery established in 1860. While you may be wondering why a cemetery made a list of parks, Graceland Cemetery is known as a “rural cemetery,” meaning it is characterized by landscaped natural areas, in this case, a naturalistic reflecting lake, winding pathways, and pastoral plantings on over 120 acres.
Graceland Cemetery is also a certified arboretum, having more than 2,000 trees of 50 different species. Visitors are welcome to take a self-guided tour through the whimsical greenery. You can even visit their website to get the back story on the cemetery’s landmarks and famous burial sites. Graceland Cemetery is a natural sanctuary brimming with architectural masterpieces that you won’t want to miss!
For more information on these parks or to find additional Chicago parks visit the Chicago Parks District’s website here.
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