Why You Should Visit Lincoln Park, chicago

One of Chicago's ritziest neighborhoods is the fashionable and financially-well off
Lincoln Park
. Swarming with fancy boutiques and World renowned restaurants, Lincoln Park is a bear trap for tourist dollars, but also one of the loveliest neighborhoods in the city, with little-known spots that give the visitor or the local a perspective of
Chicago
not ordinarily seen.

Lincoln Park
Zoo

A free zoo? Yes indeed. Right in the middle of
Chicago
's 5 dollars for a coffee district lies the city's zoo that is free to the public. The Lincoln Park Zoo (Armitage and Lincoln Park West) is a sprawling affair near the waterfront with loads of cool animals. This is a great destination for families and tourists, in part because of its close proximity to

North
Avenue
Beach

.

North Avenue Beach is one of the most populated beaches in Chicago with rows of volleyball nets, a restaurant on top of a boat-building (you will see what I mean), and a roller-hockey rink. The beach is still close to downtown, but gets little tourist travel due to
Oak
Street
Beach
and

Ohio
Street
Beach

being located within the downtown area. The views of Chicago's skyline from

North
Avenue
Beach

are amazing. It's a wonderful place to sit and relax and enjoy the sun while it's out (which, in
Chicago
, is only a few months out of the year).

Lincoln Park

High School

If someone told me to go visit a high school on my vacation, I'd tell them to take a hike. School and relaxation do not ordinarily mix, but, Lincoln Park High (located Armitage and Howe) is no ordinary high school. It was built around 1914 and proudly displays gigantic Greek-style columns. The main building is immense and beautiful and, within the grounds, is one of the rarest commodities in
Chicago
: a hill. It's a tiny hill, I'm not going to lie, but, in a city that has no topography except skyscrapers, I appreciate it. And, during select times of the year (when the foliage of trees is not in the way) it affords a rather spectacular view of the city. Directly connected to Lincoln Park High is Oz Park-a wonderful spot for a picnic, softball game, or a place to take the dog.

Armitage Avenue

The heart of
Lincoln Park
is moored to

Armitage Avenue
. The shops and restaurants all gravitate to this pedestrian thoroughfare and the eL Stop (Chicago's public transportation system is referred to as "the eL" due to the fact that most train lines are elevated above street level) is right in the middle of all the action (Armitage and Sheffield). Charlie Trotters-one of the most famous restaurants in the World-is located at Armitage and Halstad, as are many bars and smaller eateries, chocolate shops, and high-end boutiques.

Lincoln Park
is a great place to people watch. And, on any given weekend,

Armitage Avenue
fills up with local Lincoln Parkies and bused-in tourists buzzing about the various shops and restaurants with enormous bags weighing down their arms. Aside from
Michigan Avenue
-downtown's major street and shop location-Lincoln Park has the most concentrated venue for shopping in
Chicago
. So, if you don't like busy streets, perhaps check out
Lincoln Park
on a weekday. But, if you're like me, and love watching people flit around excited about some deal they found or a chocolate shop (people will literally grind to a halt upon sighting Ethel's Chocolate at Armitage and Halstad) jutting into their path, Lincoln Park might be an excellent way to spend a weekend-relaxing in a coffee shop or bar, thankful that you're not out there, among the teeming hordes. Ah, vacation!