Chicago is without a doubt one of the most action-packed and biggest cities in the entire United States of America. If you are a new resident of the city, the place can definitely be a tad overwhelming. However, there is an almost endless supply of things to do and check out, so what should you do in the Windy City to have some fun?
Well, with the weather getting warmer around the country (including in the Windy City), the idea of heading out to spend a day in the park is becoming a more and more attractive option for people. Going for a walk, having a picnic, riding your bike, playing sports, or just relaxing are just some of the many things you can spend a day in the park doing.
However, in a city the size of Chicago, there are dozens and dozens of parks to choose from. Long-time residents might know which ones to check out, but people who just moved there or are visiting might not. Thankfully, RentHop is here to help you out! In this article, we have compiled a list of five of the best and biggest parks in Chicago to check out on a nice day.
1. Millennium Park
Despite being one of the newer parks in Chicago, Millennium Park has taken the city by storm. The park only opened up in 2004 and is only about 25 acres, but is one of the most popular multifunctional parks in the country. The park offers a few acres of outdoor green space throughout the area which can be used for picnics, walks and just relaxing, but there is so much more to the park as well.
The park features a reflective pool, a pavilion for concerts, a theatre, gardens, The Bean, and more. The architecture that can be seen throughout this park is quite impressive and there is often a ton of art to check out as well. While this park is technically a section of the larger Grant Park, the fact that it is one of the most popular and busy tourist destinations in all of Chicago definitely warrants a spot on this list.
2. Lincoln Park
Lincoln Park is by far the biggest park in all of Chicago. This giant park stretches for seven miles and is well over 1,000 square feet. Named after former President Abraham Lincoln, this park features nature reserves, beaches, harbors, and more. Anything you could imagine doing in a park, you can likely do it here in Lincoln Park. As a result, more than 20 million people visit the park every year, making it among the most popular in the country.
The park is home to an almost endless supply of things to do, there is one feature that is the most popular by a mile, and that is the Lincoln Park Zoo. That’s right, this park even has a zoo. The zoo is one of the oldest in the country and is also one of the few admission-free zoos left in the country. The zoo features over 1000 animals from over 200 species.
3. Jackson Park
Jackson park is a South Side park that was named after former President Andrew Jackson, and spans 500 acres. Simply put, it is one of the most serene and relaxing places to spend an afternoon in the city. The park is full of large trees and foot bridges, as well as dozens of variety of birds. In addition to that, the park has a golf course, a number of impressive statues, lagoons and more.
While the park is full of great things to do and see (as mentioned in the last paragraph), the crown jewel of Jackson Park is definitely the “Garden of the Phoenix”. This quiet and hidden little refuge will make you feel like you have been transported right into Japan. This area of the park features a Phoenix temple, a teahouse, a koi pond, a peaceful garden full of various plants and flowers, waterfalls, and shrubs.
4. Grant Park
Grant Park is often referred to as Chicago’s front yard, which is a fitting moniker. Grant Park has been around since the founding of the city and was renamed after former President Ulysses S. Grant. The park is well over 300 acres in size and has a ton of amenities to check out. The park is home to miles and miles of biking and walking trails, a large open green space often used for events, sports fields, tons of trees, a dog park, gardens, and much more.
On top of the actual park itself, there are also numerous other attractions within the confines of this area. Grant Park is home to the Buckingham Fountain, Art Institute of Chicago, Congress Plaza, the Music Shell, and much more. This park is also the location of a variety of the best music festivals out there including Lollapalooza, Chicago Jazz Festival and more, which bring in hundreds of thousands of visitors to Chicago every year.
5. Oz Park
Oz Park is without a doubt one of the most creative and unique parks in the entire city of Chicago. As you could probably guess, the park is named after the Wizard of Oz. The creator of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz (author L. Frank Baum) was a former resident of the neighborhood where this park sits. To honor them, the park was named after his masterpiece in 1976. The park features a number of statues of famous characters from the Wizard of Oz, which have been crafted at various times in the past few decades.
In addition to the variety of cool statues to check out, there are many other things that make the park worth a visit. The park has tennis courts, basketball courts, a biking trail tons of green space for picnics, kid playground, and more. There are also a number of public events that take place at the park, many of which are great for children. These include movie nights in the summer, an annual Pumpkin Patch event in which children choose and decorate pumpkins, a chalk festival, etc.
