Parks, beaches and places to go around Chicago

This list covers 96 public places in 45 towns around Chicago: parks, beaches, boat ramps, trails, dog parks, libraries, pools, museums, farmers markets, rainy-day spots and courts. Every row links to the place's official site and shows the day it was last checked.

Hours and fees change during the year, so they are left off this page. The official site has the current ones.

Map of Illinois with Cook County, DuPage County, Lake County, Will County, Kane County, McHenry County, Kendall County, DeKalb County and Grundy County highlighted, with 96 small dots marking the places listed below.Cook CountyDuPage CountyLake CountyWill CountyKane CountyMcHenry CountyKendall CountyDeKalb CountyGrundy CountyBlackwell Forest PreserveBusse Woods (Ned Brown Preserve)Cantigny ParkChannahon State ParkChicago Botanic GardenColumbus ParkCrabtree Nature CenterDanada Forest PreserveDeer Grove Forest PreserveDouglass ParkFabyan Forest PreserveFullersburg Woods Nature Education CenterGarfield ParkGlacial Park Conservation AreaGoose Lake Prairie State Natural AreaHerrick Lake Forest PreserveHoover Forest PreserveHumboldt ParkIndependence Grove Forest PreserveLakewood Forest PreserveLeRoy Oakes Forest PreserveLincoln ParkMarengo Ridge Conservation AreaMarquette ParkMillennium ParkMoraine Hills State ParkPhillips ParkRollins Savanna Forest PreserveSpringbrook Prairie Forest PreserveSwallow Cliff WoodsThe Hollows Conservation AreaThe Morton ArboretumVan Patten Woods Forest PreserveVeteran Acres ParkWashington ParkWaterfall Glen Forest Preserve57th Street BeachCentennial BeachIllinois Beach State ParkMontrose BeachNorth Avenue BeachOak Street BeachOhio Street BeachRainbow BeachBusse Lake Boating CenterHeidecke Lake Boat LaunchNorth Point MarinaPottawatomie ParkSkokie Lagoons, Tower Road LaunchWilliam G. Stratton State ParkBloomingdale Trail (The 606)Great Western Trail, Sycamore TrailheadI and M Canal State TrailChurchill Field Dog Friendly AreaMontrose Beach Dog Friendly AreaPrairie Wolf Off-Leash Dog AreaWhalon Lake Dog ParkWiggly Field at Noethling ParkArlington Heights Memorial LibraryDeKalb Public LibraryDes Plaines Public LibraryEvanston Public LibraryGail Borden Public LibraryHarold Washington Library CenterJoliet Public LibraryOak Park Public LibrarySantori Public Library of AuroraSchaumburg Township District LibrarySkokie Public LibrarySulzer Regional LibraryWaukegan Public LibraryWoodson Regional LibraryPelican Harbor Aquatic ParkRidgeland Common Recreation ComplexAdler PlanetariumArt Institute of ChicagoElgin History MuseumField MuseumFrank Lloyd Wright Home and StudioIllinois Holocaust Museum and Education CenterIsle a la Cache MuseumJoliet Area Historical MuseumKohl Children's MuseumLizzadro Museum of Lapidary ArtMuseum of Science and IndustryNaper SettlementShedd AquariumGreen City Market, Lincoln ParkOak Park Farmers' MarketBroadway Armory ParkChicago Cultural CenterGarfield Park ConservatoryLincoln Park ConservatoryOak Park ConservatoryMaggie Daley Park Tennis CourtsMcFetridge Sports Center
  • Parks
  • Beaches
  • Boat ramps
  • Trails
  • Dog parks
  • Libraries
  • Pools
  • Museums
  • Farmers markets
  • Rainy-day spots
  • Courts
Cook County, DuPage County, Lake County, Will County, Kane County, McHenry County, Kendall County, DeKalb County and Grundy County, Illinois. Map drawn from U.S. Census Bureau county boundaries (public domain).

All 96 places

Parks

  • Park · Warrenville

    Blackwell Forest Preserve

    The preserve on Butterfield Road carries a campground, a lake and an off-leash dog area reached from Mack Road.

    Outdoors

    • Fishing
    • Off-leash area
    • Kayak launch

    Butterfield Rd, Warrenville, IL 60555

    Official site · Checked

  • Park · Elk Grove Village

    Busse Woods (Ned Brown Preserve)

    The main loop at this 3,700 acre preserve runs close to eight miles, mostly flat and paved, with about half of it shaded.

    Outdoors

    • Paved path
    • Shade
    • Boat launch

    E Higgins Rd and Arlington Heights Rd, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007

    Official site · Checked

  • Park · Wheaton

    Cantigny Park

    The park on Winfield Road holds formal gardens, a military museum and the McCormick house on the old estate grounds.

    Outdoors

    • Restrooms
    • Parking

    1S151 Winfield Rd, Wheaton, IL 60189

    Official site · Checked

  • Park · Channahon

    Channahon State Park

    The park on Story Street is one of the main access points for the I and M Canal State Trail.

    Outdoors

    • Restrooms
    • Parking

    25302 W Story St, Channahon, IL 60410

    Official site · Checked

  • Park · Glencoe

    Chicago Botanic Garden

    The garden is on Lake Cook Road in Glencoe at the northern edge of Cook County.

    Outdoors

    1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL 60022

    Official site · Checked

  • Park · Chicago

    Columbus Park

    Jens Jensen designed this 144 acre park on the far West Side, and it is named one of the 150 Great Places in Illinois.

    Outdoors

    500 S Central Ave, Chicago, IL 60644

    Official site · Checked

  • Park · Barrington

    Crabtree Nature Center

    The nature center on Stover Road is one of six staffed nature centers in the Cook County preserve system.

    Outdoors

    • Restrooms
    • Parking

    3 Stover Rd, Barrington, IL 60010

    Official site · Checked

  • Park · Wheaton

    Danada Forest Preserve

    The preserve holds an equestrian center on the former Danada estate and connects to Herrick Lake by a regional trail.

    Outdoors

    • Parking

    3S580 Naperville Rd, Wheaton, IL 60189

    Official site · Checked

  • Park · Palatine

    Deer Grove Forest Preserve

    At about 1,800 acres Deer Grove carries four miles of paved trail and ten more miles of unpaved trail.

    Outdoors

    • Paved path
    • Parking

    W Dundee Rd, Palatine, IL 60067

    Official site · Checked

  • Park · Chicago

    Douglass Park

    The 162 acre park in North Lawndale is named for Anna and Frederick Douglass and carries a cultural center and golf course.

    Outdoors

    • golf course

    1401 S Sacramento Dr, Chicago, IL 60623

    Official site · Checked

  • Park · Geneva

    Fabyan Forest Preserve

    The preserve straddles the Fox River on Route 31 and holds the Fabyan Villa, a Japanese garden and a Dutch windmill.

    Outdoors

    • Parking

    1925 S Batavia Ave, Geneva, IL 60134

    Official site · Checked

  • Park · Oak Brook

    Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center

    The nature education center on Spring Road is the starting point for the trail loops through the preserve.

    Outdoors

    • Restrooms
    • Parking

    3609 Spring Rd, Oak Brook, IL 60523

    Official site · Checked

  • Park · Chicago

    Garfield Park

    The 184 acre West Side park was laid out by the West Park Commissioners and carries its own conservatory on the grounds.

    Outdoors

    300 N Central Park Ave, Chicago, IL 60624

    Official site · Checked

  • Park · Ringwood

    Glacial Park Conservation Area

    The entrance is at Route 31 and Harts Road, and the conservation area takes its name from the glacial kames inside it.

    Outdoors

    • Parking
    • Restrooms

    6705 IL Route 31, Ringwood, IL 60072

    Official site · Checked

  • Park · Morris

    Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area

    The state natural area on Jugtown Road protects prairie and marsh northeast of Morris.

    Outdoors

    • Parking
    • Restrooms

    5010 N Jugtown Rd, Morris, IL 60450

    Official site · Checked

  • Park · Wheaton

    Herrick Lake Forest Preserve

    A regional trail links this preserve to Danada, so the two can be walked or ridden as a single route.

    Outdoors

    • Fishing
    • Parking

    Butterfield Rd, Wheaton, IL 60189

    Official site · Checked

  • Park · Yorkville

    Hoover Forest Preserve

    The Kendall County Forest Preserve District runs this preserve on Fox Road outside Yorkville.

    Outdoors

    • Parking

    11285 Fox Rd, Yorkville, IL 60560

    Official site · Checked

  • Park · Chicago

    Humboldt Park

    The West Side park totals about 197 acres and holds historic lagoons, a boat house and the only inland beach in Chicago.

    Outdoors

    • beach
    • boat house
    • gymnasium
    • fitness center

    1400 N Sacramento Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

    Official site · Checked

  • Park · Libertyville

    Independence Grove Forest Preserve

    The preserve on Buckley Road is built around a lake, with a paved loop trail and a visitors center on the shore.

    Outdoors

    • Paved path
    • Restrooms
    • Fishing
    • Kayak launch

    16400 W Buckley Rd, Libertyville, IL 60048

    Official site · Checked

  • Park · Wauconda

    Lakewood Forest Preserve

    The main entrance is on Route 176 just west of Fairfield Road, and the museum and rental shelters are near it.

    Outdoors

    • Picnic shelter
    • Parking

    27277 Forest Preserve Rd, Wauconda, IL 60084

    Official site · Checked

  • Park · St. Charles

    LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve

    The Kane County preserve on Dean Street is the eastern end of the western section of the Great Western Trail.

    Outdoors

    • Parking

    37W584 Dean St, St. Charles, IL 60175

    Official site · Checked

  • Park · Chicago

    Lincoln Park

    At about 1,188 acres this is the largest park the Chicago Park District runs, stretching north along the lakefront.

    Outdoors

    • Paved path

    2045 N Lincoln Park West, Chicago, IL 60614

    Official site · Checked

  • Park · Marengo

    Marengo Ridge Conservation Area

    The conservation area runs along a glacial ridge on Route 23 north of Marengo and has a campground on site.

    Outdoors

    • Parking
    • Shade

    2411 N IL Route 23, Marengo, IL 60152

    Official site · Checked

  • Park · Chicago

    Marquette Park

    The largest park on the southwest side runs to about 300 acres in Chicago Lawn and holds a nine hole golf course.

    Outdoors

    • golf course

    6700 S Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60629

    Official site · Checked

  • Park · Chicago

    Millennium Park

    The 24.5 acre park is the northwest corner of Grant Park and is run by the city Department of Cultural Affairs.

    Outdoors

    • Restrooms
    • Paved path
    • Accessible

    201 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601

    Official site · Checked

  • Park · McHenry

    Moraine Hills State Park

    The state park on River Road is beside the Fox River and takes in McHenry Dam on the same site.

    Outdoors

    • Parking
    • Restrooms
    • Fishing

    1510 S River Rd, McHenry, IL 60051

    Official site · Checked

  • Park · Aurora

    Phillips Park

    The Aurora city park on Ray Moses Drive holds a free zoo, a visitors center, a golf course and a sunken garden.

    Outdoors

    • Parking
    • golf course

    1000 Ray Moses Dr, Aurora, IL 60505

    Official site · Checked

  • Park · Grayslake

    Rollins Savanna Forest Preserve

    The preserve on Washington Street in Grayslake is an Illinois Nature Preserve with a loop trail across open grassland.

    Outdoors

    • Parking
    • Restrooms

    20160 W Washington St, Grayslake, IL 60030

    Official site · Checked

  • Park · Naperville

    Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve

    The grassland preserve at 83rd Street and Book Road is an Illinois Nature Preserve and carries an off-leash dog area.

    Outdoors

    • Off-leash area
    • Parking

    83rd St and Book Rd, Naperville, IL 60564

    Official site · Checked

  • Park · Palos Hills

    Swallow Cliff Woods

    A bluff about 100 feet high rises here, with 125 limestone stairs running up the face of it.

    Outdoors

    • Parking

    11918 S La Grange Rd, Palos Hills, IL 60464

    Official site · Checked

  • Park · Cary

    The Hollows Conservation Area

    Lake Atwood is inside this conservation area, and access to the water was rebuilt in 2025 to reach more visitors.

    Outdoors

    • Fishing
    • Parking
    • Accessible

    3804 US Highway 14, Cary, IL 60013

    Official site · Checked

  • Park · Lisle

    The Morton Arboretum

    The arboretum covers both sides of Route 53 in Lisle, with walking trails laid through its tree collections.

    Outdoors

    • Restrooms
    • Parking

    4100 IL-53, Lisle, IL 60532

    Official site · Checked

  • Park · Wadsworth

    Van Patten Woods Forest Preserve

    The Des Plaines River Trail runs through this preserve on Route 173, close to the Wisconsin state line.

    Outdoors

    • Fishing
    • Kayak launch
    • Parking

    15838 W Rte 173, Wadsworth, IL 60083

    Official site · Checked

  • Park · Crystal Lake

    Veteran Acres Park

    The park district site on Walkup Road holds a nature center and trails running through woods and restored prairie.

    Outdoors

    • Parking
    • Playground

    431 N Walkup Rd, Crystal Lake, IL 60012

    Official site · Checked

  • Park · Chicago

    Washington Park

    Olmsted and Vaux laid out this 372 acre South Side park in 1871, along with Jackson Park and the Midway Plaisance between them.

    Outdoors

    5531 S Martin Luther King Dr, Chicago, IL 60637

    Official site · Checked

  • Park · Darien

    Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve

    The 2,503 acre preserve holds the Rocky Glen waterfall, a bluff overlook above Sawmill Creek and a long loop trail.

    Outdoors

    • Parking

    Cass Ave and Northgate Rd, Darien, IL 60561

    Official site · Checked

Beaches

  • Beach · Chicago

    57th Street Beach

    The beach is inside Jackson Park, and surfing is allowed here and at Montrose during the posted season.

    Outdoors

    • Restrooms

    5700 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60637

    Official site · Checked

  • Beach · Naperville

    Centennial Beach

    The Naperville Park District swims this former quarry on Jackson Avenue as a beach rather than a rectangular pool.

    Outdoors

    • Restrooms

    500 W Jackson Ave, Naperville, IL 60540

    Official site · Checked

  • Beach · Zion

    Illinois Beach State Park

    The state park covers 4,160 acres and holds over six miles of Lake Michigan shoreline in northern Lake County.

    Outdoors

    • Restrooms
    • Parking
    • Fishing

    1 Lake Front Dr, Zion, IL 60099

    Official site · Checked

  • Beach · Chicago

    Montrose Beach

    This is the longest of the Chicago beaches, with a beach house and a separate dog friendly area along its north edge.

    Outdoors

    • Restrooms
    • Wi-Fi
    • Dogs allowed

    4400 N Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60613

    Official site · Checked

  • Beach · Chicago

    North Avenue Beach

    The beach house is built in the shape of a ship and holds restrooms, lockers and a restaurant looking over the lake.

    Outdoors

    • Restrooms
    • lockers

    1600 N Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60613

    Official site · Checked

  • Beach · Chicago

    Oak Street Beach

    This beach is at the north end of the Magnificent Mile and has the largest sanctioned swimming area of the city beaches.

    Outdoors

    • Restrooms

    1000 N Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60611

    Official site · Checked

  • Beach · Chicago

    Ohio Street Beach

    The unusual north facing orientation makes this Streeterville beach a training site for open water swimming.

    Outdoors

    600 N Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60611

    Official site · Checked

  • Beach · Chicago

    Rainbow Beach

    Rainbow Beach and Park totals about 142 acres in South Chicago and carries courts, ball diamonds and a community garden.

    Outdoors

    • gymnasium
    • fitness center
    • community garden

    3111 E 77th St, Chicago, IL 60649

    Official site · Checked

Boat ramps

  • Boat ramp · Elk Grove Village

    Busse Lake Boating Center

    The launch for Busse Lake is reached off East Higgins Road near the north pool of the reservoir.

    Outdoors

    • Boat launch
    • Kayak launch
    • Parking

    E Higgins Rd, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007

    Official site · Checked

  • Boat ramp · Morris

    Heidecke Lake Boat Launch

    The launch is a three lane concrete ramp on the south side of the lake off Jugtown Road, with docks and paved parking.

    Outdoors

    • Boat launch
    • Parking
    • Fishing

    5010 N Jugtown Rd, Morris, IL 60450

    Official site · Checked

  • Boat ramp · Winthrop Harbor

    North Point Marina

    The state runs this Lake Michigan marina at Winthrop Harbor, the northernmost harbor on the Illinois shore.

    Outdoors

    • Boat launch
    • Restrooms
    • Parking

    701 N Point Dr, Winthrop Harbor, IL 60096

    Official site · Checked

  • Boat ramp · St. Charles

    Pottawatomie Park

    The park district launches canoes and pedal boats here on the east bank of the Fox River in St. Charles.

    Outdoors

    • Boat launch
    • Kayak launch
    • Parking

    8 North Ave, St. Charles, IL 60174

    Official site · Checked

  • Boat ramp · Winnetka

    Skokie Lagoons, Tower Road Launch

    The Tower Road entrance has an accessible trailered launch for canoes, kayaks, rowboats and boats with electric motors.

    Outdoors

    • Boat launch
    • Kayak launch
    • Accessible
    • Parking

    1760 Tower Rd, Winnetka, IL 60093

    Official site · Checked

  • Boat ramp · Morris

    William G. Stratton State Park

    The state park on Ottawa Street in Morris exists mainly as a boat access point on the Illinois River.

    Outdoors

    • Boat launch
    • Parking

    401 Ottawa St, Morris, IL 60450

    Official site · Checked

Trails

  • Trail · Chicago

    Bloomingdale Trail (The 606)

    The 606 runs about three miles along an elevated former rail line across the northwest side, with ramps down to street parks.

    Outdoors

    • Paved path
    • Accessible

    1600-3700 W Bloomingdale Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

    Official site · Checked

  • Trail · Sycamore

    Great Western Trail, Sycamore Trailhead

    From this trailhead the route runs four miles through DeKalb County and fourteen more into Kane County.

    Outdoors

    • Parking

    955 E State St, Sycamore, IL 60178

    Official site · Checked

  • Trail · Channahon

    I and M Canal State Trail

    The trail follows the old canal towpath for about 61 miles from Channahon west to LaSalle.

    Outdoors

    • Parking

    25302 W Story St, Channahon, IL 60410

    Official site · Checked

Dog parks

  • Dog park · Chicago

    Churchill Field Dog Friendly Area

    The fenced dog area is inside Churchill Field Park in Bucktown, east of Damen Avenue beside the rail line.

    Outdoors

    • Off-leash area
    • Dogs allowed

    1825 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

    Official site · Checked

  • Dog park · Chicago

    Montrose Beach Dog Friendly Area

    The dog friendly stretch runs along the north edge of Montrose Beach and is the only dog beach on the city lakefront.

    Outdoors

    • Off-leash area
    • Dogs allowed

    601 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60613

    Official site · Checked

  • Dog park · Lake Forest

    Prairie Wolf Off-Leash Dog Area

    The Lake County Forest Preserves run this fenced off-leash dog area on Waukegan Road at Prairie Wolf.

    Outdoors

    • Off-leash area
    • Dogs allowed
    • Parking

    1917 S Waukegan Rd, Lake Forest, IL 60045

    Official site · Checked

  • Dog park · Naperville

    Whalon Lake Dog Park

    The Will County preserve at Royce and Lisson roads carries a fenced off-leash dog area beside the lake.

    Outdoors

    • Off-leash area
    • Dogs allowed
    • Parking

    1480 Royce Rd, Naperville, IL 60565

    Official site · Checked

  • Dog park · Chicago

    Wiggly Field at Noethling Park

    This was the first official dog play area in Chicago, inside Grace Noethling Park at Sheffield and Schubert.

    Outdoors

    • Off-leash area
    • Dogs allowed

    2645 N Sheffield Ave, Chicago, IL 60614

    Official site · Checked

Libraries

  • Library · Arlington Heights

    Arlington Heights Memorial Library

    The library stands on Dunton Avenue just north of downtown Arlington Heights.

    Indoors

    • meeting rooms

    500 N Dunton Ave, Arlington Heights, IL 60004

    Official site · Checked

  • Library · DeKalb

    DeKalb Public Library

    The library on Oak Street is built around the historic Haish Memorial Library building.

    Indoors

    • meeting rooms

    309 Oak St, DeKalb, IL 60115

    Official site · Checked

  • Library · Des Plaines

    Des Plaines Public Library

    The library stands on Ellinwood Street in downtown Des Plaines, close to the Metra station.

    Indoors

    • meeting rooms

    1501 Ellinwood St, Des Plaines, IL 60016

    Official site · Checked

  • Library · Evanston

    Evanston Public Library

    The main library stands on Orrington Avenue in downtown Evanston.

    Indoors

    • meeting rooms

    1703 Orrington Ave, Evanston, IL 60201

    Official site · Checked

  • Library · Elgin

    Gail Borden Public Library

    The main library stands on Grove Avenue in downtown Elgin, and the district also runs a branch in South Elgin.

    Indoors

    • meeting rooms

    270 N Grove Ave, Elgin, IL 60120

    Official site · Checked

  • Library · Chicago

    Harold Washington Library Center

    This is the central library of the Chicago Public Library system, standing on State Street in the South Loop.

    Indoors

    • meeting rooms

    400 S State St, Chicago, IL 60605

    Official site · Checked

  • Library · Joliet

    Joliet Public Library

    The main library stands on Ottawa Street in downtown Joliet, the same street as the area historical museum.

    Indoors

    • meeting rooms

    150 N Ottawa St, Joliet, IL 60432

    Official site · Checked

  • Library · Oak Park

    Oak Park Public Library

    The main library stands on Lake Street in downtown Oak Park.

    Indoors

    • meeting rooms

    834 Lake St, Oak Park, IL 60301

    Official site · Checked

  • Library · Aurora

    Santori Public Library of Aurora

    The main Aurora library stands on River Street in the downtown, overlooking the Fox River.

    Indoors

    • meeting rooms

    101 S River St, Aurora, IL 60506

    Official site · Checked

  • Library · Schaumburg

    Schaumburg Township District Library

    The district library on Roselle Road serves Schaumburg Township and runs a branch in Hoffman Estates.

    Indoors

    • meeting rooms

    130 S Roselle Rd, Schaumburg, IL 60193

    Official site · Checked

  • Library · Skokie

    Skokie Public Library

    The library is on Oakton Street in central Skokie and serves the whole village from one building.

    Indoors

    • meeting rooms

    5215 Oakton St, Skokie, IL 60077

    Official site · Checked

  • Library · Chicago

    Sulzer Regional Library

    The North Side regional library stands on Lincoln Avenue in Lincoln Square.

    Indoors

    • meeting rooms

    4455 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60625

    Official site · Checked

  • Library · Waukegan

    Waukegan Public Library

    The library stands on County Street in downtown Waukegan, a short walk from the county courthouse.

    Indoors

    • meeting rooms

    128 N County St, Waukegan, IL 60085

    Official site · Checked

  • Library · Chicago

    Woodson Regional Library

    This regional library serves the South Side from Washington Heights and is one of the system regional branches.

    Indoors

    • meeting rooms

    9525 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60628

    Official site · Checked

Pools

  • Pool · Bolingbrook

    Pelican Harbor Aquatic Park

    The Bolingbrook Park District runs this aquatic park on Lindsey Lane with both indoor and outdoor pools.

    Indoors

    • Restrooms
    • Showers

    200 S Lindsey Ln, Bolingbrook, IL 60440

    Official site · Checked

  • Pool · Oak Park

    Ridgeland Common Recreation Complex

    The Park District of Oak Park runs this complex on Lake Street, with an outdoor pool and an ice arena on the same site.

    Outdoors

    • Restrooms

    415 Lake St, Oak Park, IL 60302

    Official site · Checked

Museums

  • Museum · Chicago

    Adler Planetarium

    The planetarium is at the east end of the Museum Campus on a peninsula reaching out into Lake Michigan.

    Indoors

    1300 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605

    Official site · Checked

  • Museum · Chicago

    Art Institute of Chicago

    The museum building stands inside Grant Park where Michigan Avenue meets Adams Street in the Loop.

    Indoors

    111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603

    Official site · Checked

  • Museum · Elgin

    Elgin History Museum

    The Elgin Area Historical Society runs this museum on Park Street near the downtown.

    Indoors

    360 Park St, Elgin, IL 60120

    Official site · Checked

  • Museum · Chicago

    Field Museum

    The natural history museum anchors the west end of the Museum Campus, beside the Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium.

    Indoors

    1400 S DuSable Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605

    Official site · Checked

  • Museum · Oak Park

    Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio

    The home and the studio beside it stand on Chicago Avenue in Oak Park, and the Wright Trust runs tours of both.

    Indoors

    951 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302

    Official site · Checked

  • Museum · Skokie

    Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center

    The museum and its education center share one building on Woods Drive in Skokie.

    Indoors

    9603 Woods Dr, Skokie, IL 60077

    Official site · Checked

  • Museum · Romeoville

    Isle a la Cache Museum

    The museum is on an island in the Des Plaines River and covers the fur trade era of the Illinois country.

    Indoors

    • Parking

    501 E Romeo Rd, Romeoville, IL 60446

    Official site · Checked

  • Museum · Joliet

    Joliet Area Historical Museum

    The museum on Ottawa Street also serves as the Route 66 welcome center for the Joliet area.

    Indoors

    204 N Ottawa St, Joliet, IL 60432

    Official site · Checked

  • Museum · Glenview

    Kohl Children's Museum

    The children's museum stands on Patriot Boulevard in Glenview on the north side of Cook County.

    Indoors

    2100 Patriot Blvd, Glenview, IL 60026

    Official site · Checked

  • Museum · Oak Brook

    Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art

    The museum on Kensington Road collects lapidary art, meaning stone and gem material that has been carved and polished.

    Indoors

    1220 Kensington Rd, Oak Brook, IL 60523

    Official site · Checked

  • Museum · Chicago

    Museum of Science and Industry

    The museum stands at 57th Street on the South Side lakefront, across from 57th Street Beach in Jackson Park.

    Indoors

    5700 S DuSable Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60637

    Official site · Checked

  • Museum · Naperville

    Naper Settlement

    The outdoor history museum is on Webster Street south of downtown Naperville, laid out as a village of period buildings.

    Outdoors

    523 S Webster St, Naperville, IL 60540

    Official site · Checked

  • Museum · Chicago

    Shedd Aquarium

    The aquarium is one of the three lakefront institutions grouped on the Museum Campus beside Grant Park.

    Indoors

    1200 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605

    Official site · Checked

Farmers markets

  • Farmers market · Chicago

    Green City Market, Lincoln Park

    The market sets up along Clark Street at the south end of Lincoln Park and moves to an indoor site in winter.

    Outdoors

    1817 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614

    Official site · Checked

  • Farmers market · Oak Park

    Oak Park Farmers' Market

    The market sets up in the Pilgrim Congregational Church parking lot on Lake Street and runs Saturdays through October.

    Outdoors

    460 Lake St, Oak Park, IL 60302

    Official site · Checked

Rainy-day spots

  • Rainy-day spot · Chicago

    Broadway Armory Park

    At about 2.33 acres this is the largest indoor recreation building the Chicago Park District runs, in Edgewater.

    Indoors

    • gymnasium
    • fitness center

    5917 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60660

    Official site · Checked

  • Rainy-day spot · Chicago

    Chicago Cultural Center

    The city Department of Cultural Affairs runs this landmark building in the Loop as a public arts venue.

    Indoors

    78 E Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602

    Official site · Checked

  • Rainy-day spot · Chicago

    Garfield Park Conservatory

    The glasshouse stands inside Garfield Park on the West Side and shares the park entrance on Central Park Avenue.

    Indoors

    300 N Central Park Ave, Chicago, IL 60624

    Official site · Checked

  • Rainy-day spot · Chicago

    Lincoln Park Conservatory

    The Chicago Park District runs this glasshouse on Stockton Drive inside Lincoln Park.

    Indoors

    2391 N Stockton Dr, Chicago, IL 60614

    Official site · Checked

  • Rainy-day spot · Oak Park

    Oak Park Conservatory

    The village conservatory is on Garfield Street on the south side of Oak Park.

    Indoors

    615 Garfield St, Oak Park, IL 60304

    Official site · Checked

Courts

  • Courts · Chicago

    Maggie Daley Park Tennis Courts

    Maggie Daley Park holds ten public tennis courts on the lakefront side of Grant Park.

    Outdoors

    • Lights

    337 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601

    Official site · Checked

  • Courts · Chicago

    McFetridge Sports Center

    The Chicago Park District center in California Park carries indoor tennis courts and an indoor ice rink under one roof.

    Indoors

    • Restrooms

    3843 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60618

    Official site · Checked

This directory was last checked as a whole on September 21, 2026.

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Jeff Moran, NMLS #483943, licensed to originate in Illinois through C2 Financial Corporation.