Grant ParkSpanning 319 acres of lakefront property, Chicago's “front yard” serves as a gateway to Lake Michigan and the home base for many behemoth summer festivals, including Taste of Chicago and Lollapalooza.
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In addition to serving residents, a number of these parks also double as tourist destinations, most notably Lincoln Park, Chicago's largest park, visited by over 20 million people each year, is one of the most visited parks in the United States.
Millennium Park is a portion of the 319-acre (129.1 ha) Grant Park, known as the front lawn of downtown Chicago, and has four major artistic highlights: the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Cloud Gate, the Crown Fountain, and the Lurie Garden.
Chicago is an urban outdoor playground with 26 miles of lakefront, 25 beaches, miles of green space, and hundreds of parks — all connected by an 18 mile lakefront path. That adds up to a slice of outdoor heaven for bikers, runners, boaters, sunbathers, culture lovers, and nature enthusiasts.
Chicago is an extremely walkable city, from our downtown to our vibrant neighborhoods. Explore this map of pedestrian-friendly streets for the best areas to explore by foot.
Anyone planning a summer trip to Chicago may be wondering, “does Chicago have a beach?” Actually, there are several! Chicago is home to 24 beaches along Lake Michigan, providing plenty of opportunities to step away from the city hustle and stretch out on the sand when the beaches are open.
Hyde Park is home to the world-famous Museum of Science and Industry and the Frank Lloyd Wright Robie House, as well as many ethnic restaurants, family parks, bookstores, coffee shops, and more.
The largest park in the world contained within a metropolitan area and the largest urban park in the U.S. is Chugach State Park in Anchorage, Alaska. It is the largest city park in America by far, spanning 495,199.2 acres.
Only Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices (PFDs) are permitted. Person-children wearing PFDs should have adult present. No smoking. No alcohol.
Thanks to public transit, walkable sidewalks, bike lanes and easy access to car sharing, you can get around Chicago pretty well without actually owning a car. However, you may need to use one for a longer trip outside of the city.
Public transportation. It's hard to find an American city that feels livable without a car, but Chicago is a rare exception. In fact, Chicago's public transportation system is considered the 6th best in the country.