9 Must Visit Chicago Nature Spots
I absolutely love city living - I love the hustle and bustle of downtown, the gorgeous architecture, and restaurants and coffee shops on every corner. But sometimes, it’s nice to be in nature (sometimes). I love my nature to be controlled, which makes nature areas in a city the perfect spot for me! Here are some of my favorite Chicago nature spots.
Lincoln Park
Lincoln Park is probably the most iconic nature spot in the city. There are huge lawns of grass, a pond, a tunnel connecting the park to Gold Coast, a skyway going to the lake, and a free zoo. It’s a great spot to hit up the farmer’s market on a Saturday, or to go to after work and get in some good oxygen.
Columbus Park Refectory
Columbus Park Refectory in Austin is a great nature area to visit! There’s a pond and a small nature trail through some woods. It’s on a golf course, so there’s plenty of parking and seclusion. They also have a cool event building which is great for photos.
This is also a great spot for photos - shameless plug for my photography business, Makenzey Mae Photography. lol
Montrose Bird Sanctuary
The Montrose Bird Sanctuary is a top tier Chicago nature spot! There’s free parking, a boat marina, access to the lake front, a bird sanctuary, and a beach on the other side of it. There’s a lot to see and do here, and it’s a great place to admire the city but feel like you’re removed a bit.
Sayre Park
Sayre Park is a very small but charming nature area near our house. We love walking through the trail during our evening walks, and we take Mother’s Day pictures there every year. It’s particularly beautiful in late summer and fall!
Washington Square Park
Washington Square Park may not totally count as a Chicago nature spot, but I love walking through it when I run errands on my lunch break downtown. A beautiful fountain surrounded by flowers centers the park, and there are pathways to each of the four corners leading out. A lot of people come to sit on the benches, or they bring their dogs to run around. It’s a great place to people watch and pet a friendly dog. There’s also a beautiful shot of the Hancock Tower - it feels really cool to be there and also in the heart of the city.
Garfield Park Conservatory
Garfield Park Conservatory is the most popular conservatory in Chicago. It’s free (donation encouraged), and has a lot of different areas for different types of plants. Once you enter, there’s a huge ceiling over a pond - it’s just really beautiful and totally worth a visit, especially in the winter months!
Chicago Botanic Gardens
The Chicago Botanic Garden is technically not in Chicago, but it’s north of the city in Cook County. We had a family pass one year, and we really enjoyed going! There are so many different garden areas, as well as a Japanese garden, and a few different ponds. They also have an English garden that makes you feel like you’re in a period drama. We love going and miss having our pass! The pass also got you into other participating gardens around the county for free, like the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.
Oak Street Beach
Beaches definitely count as nature, and my favorite beach to go to is Oak Street Beach. It sits right off of Lake Shore Drive and Michigan Ave, and right under the Chicago skyline. There aren’t very many beaches that are in the heart of a city’s downtown. The beach is right along Lake Shore Drive, and has walking paths that connect to Navy Pier, Michigan Avenue, and North Avenue Beach. The water is nice, the beach is spacious, and it’s absolutely iconic.
Another shameless plug, but these pictures are a great example! haha
Labagh Woods
A nice wooded area off the beaten path is Labagh Woods. I took some family pictures here a few years ago and it was such a lovely spot for a hike and some photos! There’s a parking lot, restrooms, fields, and trails.
Until next time - may your weekend be full of creativity and style.
