Exploring Chicago's Lincoln Park Neighborhood

Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood is just north of the city's busy downtown and home to Chicago's largest park, free zoo and several museums. Lincoln Park is one of Chicago's largest neighborhoods but you would not be able to tell that walking down the tree lined streets where neighbors, students, and tourists mingle among the many open air cafes and shops.

Long known as a playground for Chicago's yuppies Lincoln Park has become the playground for most of the city and those who come to visit. The Lincoln Park neighborhood is easy to reach from downtown on either the el or using the buses. In the summer the best way to get to Lincoln Park is with a walk, jog or bike along the pedestrian paths that follow the lakeshore all the way north.

Here are some of the places to explore in Lincoln Park

The Park

Lincoln Park is more than twice the size of New York's Central Park and a lot more accessible to residents of the city. The park runs for six miles alongside Lake Michigan and covers twelve hundred acres. In the summer the lawns are strewn with sunbathers, picnickers and families playing games.

The paths and trails are popular with joggers, bicyclists and cross country skiers. Small lakes dot the park, beginning in May you can rent paddleboats at both South and North Lake.

Lincoln Park Zoo,2200 North Cannon Drive

Chicago's free zoo is one of the city's more popular tourist attractions and the exhibits continue to expand and improve every year. Lincoln Park Zoo sits right between Lincoln Park and the lakefront beach providing a convenient location for an all day outing.

Popular with families is the petting zoo and working farm. Check the zoo's website to find out the regular milking and grooming times for the animals and make sure you catch one of the demonstrations.

Lincoln Park Conservatory,2391 North Stockton Drive

Within walking distance of the zoo is the Lincoln Park Conservatory. A haven in the winter and a great way to round out a visit to the zoo the conservatory is also free to all visitors. The glass conservatory covers three acres of beautifully maintained gardens of all types.

Connected to the conservatory and the zoo is a hidden garden and the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool. It takes only minutes to stroll through the entire garden but most sit and enjoy the peaceful trickling streams and pools.

Elks Veterans Memorial,2750 North Lakeview Avenue

The Elks veterans memorial was built in 1926 and dedicated to the memory of the Elks who had died in World War I. The memorial is filled with Elks memorabilia, impressive mural paintings and a whole lot of marble. Even though most of the residents of Chicago have never been inside for a visit everyone recognizes the massive structure from Lakeshore or the Park.

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum,2430 North Cannon Drive

The Peggy Notebaert Nature museum is one of Chicago's less known museums. In fact it is naturally hidden because of it's location within Lincoln Park. In the past several years the addition of several interactive exhibits has helped the museum grown in popularity.

Perpetual favorites for visitors are the enclosed Butterfly gardens and the Water Lab where students can simulate the system of locks that controls the Chicago River after a rainstorm.

Chicago Historical Society,1601 North Clark Street

The Chicago Historical Society is full of unique and fun exhibits with everything that is purely Chicago. I love that the museum does not get carried away with Chicago's history of the mob and our politicans.

Instead the majority of the museum is dedicated to highlighting the daily life and history of the average Chicagoan. Anyone who meant or contributed to the city in any way is honored and their lifes work or inventions are on display for the public to learn from. Every visit to Chicago should begin here.