Explore Chicago » Outdoors

Lincoln Park Zoo

Situated just off Lake Michigan, the Lincoln Park zoo is home to a huge array of animals, including hippos, kangaroos, alligators, and gorillas. There are both indoor and outdoor exhibits, and a wide array of shows, lectures, and demonstrations running daily. We recommend visiting towards the end of the day, when the crowds will be smaller and the animals more active!

Shedd Aquarium

The Shedd Aquarium sits on the Museum Campus, between the Field Museum and Adler Planetarium. While the exterior grounds offer amazing views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline, inside you can find more than 1,500 species of fish, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds. Check out the jellyfish, sea otters, hammerhead sharks, penguins, whales, sea turtles, seahorses, and poison dart frogs, or catch a dolphin show!

Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan is one of the Great Lakes. It is the 5th largest lake in the world, with an area of 58,000 square kilometers/22,000 square miles.

It is large enough to have beaches, significant tides, and islands - from the shore you may as well be looking at an ocean! The wind coming off the lake is what gives Chicago the nickname "the Windy City", and the lake is an integral part of the city and its history.

Today, the lakeshore is studded with beaches, parks, the Museum Campus, and Navy Pier. While the water is choppy and (sometimes) frozen in the winter, it should be a great place for an afternoon swim in June!

Grant Park

Lying between the Chicago's downtown skyscrapers and Lake Michigan, this park is popular for picnics and waterfront walks. The Buckingham Fountain, Cloud Gate sculpture, and outdoor concerts are popular attractions. The park also adjoins the Museum Campus, home to the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and Adler Planetarium.