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Arts
Auditorium Theater
Located at Wabash and Congress.
- From the Brown, Orange, Pink and Purple Line Express elevated lines, exit at Library/State-Van Buren. Walk one block east on Van Buren and one block south on Wabash.
- From the Red and Blue Line subways, exit at Jackson. Walk one to two blocks east on Jackson and two blocks south on Wabash.
- From the Green Line elevated, exit at Adams/Wabash and walk three blocks south on Wabash.
- Also served by buses 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 14, 126, 146 and 147. Weekday rush periods only - buses 1, 26, and 28.
Take me there (via Google Maps)
Briar Street Theater
Located at Halsted and Briar.
- From the Red, Brown and Purple Line Express lines, exit at Belmont. Walk two blocks east on Belmont and a half a block south on Halsted.
- Also served by buses 8, 22, 77, and 156.
Take me there (via Google Maps)
Cadillac Palace Theater
Located on Randolph between LaSalle and Wells.
- From the Brown, Orange and Purple Line Express elevated lines, exit at Washington/Wells and walk one block north on Wells. From the Pink or Green Line elevated, exit at Clark/Lake. Walk one block south on Clark and one and a half blocks west on Randolph.
- From the Red and Blue Line subways, exit at Lake Red Line station or Washington Blue Line station and walk one block north to Randolph and two and a half to three and a half blocks west. Also reachable by bus 156 (weekdays only).
- Weekday rush periods only: buses 37, 134, 135 and 136.
Take me there (via Google Maps)
Chicago Theatre
Located on State, between Randolph and Lake.
- From the Red Line subway, exit at Lake. From the Brown, Green, Pink, Orange and Purple Line Express elevated lines, exit at State/Lake.
- From the Blue Line subway, exit at Washington and walk one block east on Washington and one and a half blocks north on State.
- Also served by buses 6, 10*, 29, 36, 62 and 146. Weekday rush periods only: buses 2 and 148.
(*#10 operates daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day)
Take me there (via Google Maps)
Civic Opera House
Located on Wacker, between Madison and Washington.
- From the Brown, Orange, Pink and Purple Line Express elevated lines, exit at Washington/Wells. Walk two blocks west on Washington.
- Also served by buses 14, 20, 56, 60, 124 and 157.
Take me there (via Google Maps)
Goodman Theater
Located on Dearborn, between Randolph and Lake.
- From the Brown, Green, Orange, Pink and Purple Line Express elevated lines, exit at State/Lake and walk one block west on Lake. From the Red Line subway, exit at Lake and walk one block west on Lake.
- From the Blue Line subway, exit at Washington and walk one block north on Dearborn.
- Also served by buses 6, 10*, 24, 29, 56, 60, 62 and 146.
(*#10 operates daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day)
Take me there (via Google Maps)
Harris Music and Dance Theater
Located at Michigan and Randolph.
- From the Red and Blue Line subways, exit at Lake Red Line station or Washington Blue Line station. Walk one block north to Randolph and three or four blocks east.
- From the Green, Orange, Brown, Pink and Purple Line Express elevated lines, exit at Washington/Wabash and walk two blocks east on Randolph.
- Also served by buses 3, 4, 6, 60, 124,147, 151 and 157. Weekday rush periods only - buses 26,143 and 148.
Take me there (via Google Maps)
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Located in Millennium Park, east of Downtown.
- From the Red and Blue Line subways, exit at Lake Red Line station or Washington Blue Line station and walk two to three blocks east to Millennium Park.
- From the Green, Orange, Brown, Pink and Purple Line Express elevated lines, exit at Washington/Wabash and walk one block east to Millennium Park.
- Also served by buses 3, 4, 6, 14, 29, 56, 60, 124, 147, 151 and 157. Weekday rush periods only - buses 26 and 148.
Take me there (via Google Maps)
Nederlander Theatre
Located on Randolph, between State and Dearborn.
- From the Brown, Green, Orange, Pink and Purple Line Express elevated lines, exit at Washington/Wabash and walk one and a half blocks west on Randolph.
- From the Red Line subway, exit at Lake toward State and Randolph and a half a block west.
- From the Blue Line subway, exit at Washington and walk one block north to Randolph and a half a block east.
- Also served by buses 6, 10*, 22, 24, 29, 36, 62 and 146. Weekday rush periods only - buses 2 and 148.
(*#10 operates daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day)
Take me there (via Google Maps)
Reskin Theater
Located at Wabash and Balbo.
- From the Red Line subway, exit at Harrison. Walk one block south on State and one block east on Balbo.
- From the Green and Orange elevated lines, exit at Roosevelt and walk 4 blocks north on Wabash.
- Also served by buses 3, 4, 6, 10*, 14, 29, 62 and 146. Weekday rush periods only - buses 2, 26 and 28.
(*#10 operates daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day)
Take me there (via Google Maps)
Steppenwolf Theatre
Located on Halsted, one block north of North Avenue.
- From the Red Line subway, exit at North/Clybourn. Walk one block north on Halsted.
- Also served by buses 8, and 72.
Take me there (via Google Maps)
Symphony Center
Located on Michigan, between Jackson and Adams.
- From the Red and Blue Line subways, exit at Jackson. Walk one or two blocks east on Jackson and a half block north on Michigan.
- From Brown, Green, Orange, Pink and Purple Line Express elevated lines, exit at Adams/Wabash. Walk one block east on Adams and a half a block south on Michigan. Also served by buses 3, 4, 6, 7, 14, 126, and 147.
- Weekday rush periods only - Buses 1, 26, and 28. Weekends and holidays (mid-May through Labor Day) - bus 130 from Ogilvie Transportation Center and Union Station.
Take me there (via Google Maps)
Areas & attractions
360 Chicago
(John Hancock Observatory)
Located at Michigan and Delaware.
- From the Red Line subway, exit at the Chicago station and walk three blocks east to Michigan and two blocks north.
- Also served by buses 10*, 66,146, 147 and 151. Weekday rush periods only - buses 125, 143 and 148.
(*#10 operates daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day)
Take me there (via Google Maps)
Chinatown
Located south of Downtown, around Cermak/Wentworth or Wentworth/Archer.
- From the Red Line, exit at Cermak-Chinatown.
- From the Green line, exit at Cermak-McCormick Place and walk 1/4 mile west along Cermak to Wentworth.
- Also served by buses 18, 21, 24 and 62.
See map (via Google)
Harold Washington Library Center
Located on State Street, between Van Buren and Congress.
- From the Red Line subway, exit at Jackson and walk one block south on State. From the Blue Line subway, exit at Jackson and walk one block south to Van Buren and a half a block east to the library.
- From the Brown, Orange, Pink and Purple Line Express elevated lines, exit at Harold Washington Library-State/Van Buren.
- From the Green Line elevated, exit at Adams/Wabash and walk two blocks south on Wabash and one block west on Van Buren.
- Also served by buses 6, 10*, 29, 36, 62, 146 and 147. Weekday rush periods only - buses 2 and 148.
(*#10 operates daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day)
Take me there (via Google Maps)
Greektown
Located west of Downtown along Halsted, between Madison and Van Buren.
- From the Blue Line subway, exit at UIC-Halsted, turn north, and you'll be walking through Greektown.
- Also served by buses 8, 20 and 126.
See map (via Google)
Hyde Park neighborhood
Located in central part of South Side of Chicago along lakefront, near Jackson Park and Washington Park.
- Served by buses 2, 6, 28 from downtown or55 which connects to nearby Red and Green Lines at Garfield.
See map (via Google)
Little Italy neighborhood
Located southwest of Downtown, along Taylor between Morgan and Ashland.
- From the Blue Line, exit at Racine and walk five blocks south.
- Also served by buses 7, 8, 9, 12 and 60. Weekday rush periods only - bus 37.
See map (via Google)
Little Village neighborhood
Located along 26th Street, between California and Kostner.
- Served by Pink Line and buses 52, 53, 60, 82 and 94.
See map (via Google)
Lincoln Square neighborhood
Located along Lincoln Avenue between Montrose and Lawrence.
- From the Brown Line, exit at Western. Also served by buses 11, 49, 49B, 78 and 81.
See map (via Google)
McCormick Place & Arie Crown Theater
Major convention and event center located on south lakefront at Cermak/Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
- From the Green Line, exit at the Cermak-McCormick Place station and walk two blocks east to enter complex via west building or take #21 Cermak bus heading east.
- From the Red Line, exit at the Cermak-Chinatown station and walk 1/2 mile east ortransfer to#21 Cermak bus heading east.
- McCormick Place is also directly served by CTAbuses 1, 3, 4 and 21.
Take me there (via Google Maps)
Pritzker Pavillion at Millennium Park
Located east of Downtown.
- From the Green, Orange, Brown, Pink and Purple Line Express elevated lines, exit at Washington/Wabash and walk two blocks east.
- From the Red and Blue Line subways, exit at Monroe or Washington and walk two or three blocks east.
- Also served by buses 3, 4, 6, 14, 20, 56, 60, 124, 151, and 157. Weekday rush periods only - buses 26 and 148.
Take me there (via Google Maps)
Navy Pier
Located at the east end of Grand Avenue.
- From the Red Line, exit at Grand for #29 or #65 eastbound bus services to Navy Pier or at Chicago for eastbound #66 to Navy Pier.
- From the Blue Line, exit at Grand for #65 east to Navy Pier or at Chicago for #66 east to Navy Pier.
- From the Brown Line (or Purple Line Express), exit at Chicago for a #66 bus east to Navy Pier.
- From the Red and Blue Line subways, you can also exit at Lake and board an eastbound bus 124 on Washington.
- From the Orange, Pink and Green elevated lines, exit at Washington/Wabash and board an eastbound bus 124 on Washington.
- Served directly by buses 29, 65 and 66 at most hours. Weekday rush periods only - buses 2, 120 and 121.
Take me there (via Google Maps)
Pilsen neighborhood
Located southwest of Downtown along 18th Street, between Halsted and Western.
- From the Pink Line (54/Cermak-Loop service), exit at 18th. Also served by buses 8, 9, 18, 21, 50 and 60.
See map (via Google)
Willis Tower/Skydeck Chicago
(formerly Sears Tower)
Located at Jackson and Wacker.
- From the Brown, Orange, Pink and Purple Line Express elevated lines, exit at Quincy and walk one block west.
- Also served by buses 7, 126, 151 and 156. Weekday rush periods only - Buses 1, 28, 134, 135 and 136. Weekends and holidays (mid-May through Labor Day) - bus 130.
Take me there (via Google Maps)
Beaches
Some of Chicago's most popular Lake Michigan beaches are listed here, but be sure to visit the Chicago Park District for more! Note that some beaches require getting from one side of Lake Shore Drive to the other—always use only designated crossings, bridges or passages to get across Lake Shore Drive.
Montrose beach
Located along the lakefront between approximately northeast of Montrose Harbor north to Lawrence, with pedestrian access from Lawrence, Wilson or Montrose Avenues
- Served by buses 78 (during summer, with service direct to beach), 81 and 146
Take me there (via Google Maps)
Oak Street beach
Located at Oak Street and Lake Michigan near the Gold Coast/Streeterville neighborhoods
- From the Red Line, exit at Clark/Division and walk east along E. Division Street until reaching Lakefront Trail, then walk south until you reach the beach, or, exit at Chicago and walk north to Oak Street and east to northeast corner of Michigan/Oak (use underpasses to beach)
- Also served by buses 3, 10, 66, 76, 146, 147, 151 and 157 (weekdays only)
Take me there (via Google Maps)
North Avenue beach
Located at North Ave and Lake Michigan
- Served by buses 22, 36, 72, 73, 151 and 156
Take me there (via Google Maps)
Foster beach
Located on Foster Avenue and Lake Michigan, in Lincoln Park
- From the Red Line, exit at Bryn Mawr and walk about 15 minutes east to lake and then south to Beach.
- Also served by buses 92, 146, 147 and 151
Take me there (via Google Maps)
Hollywood/Ardmore/Kathy Osterman beaches
Located in the northernmost tip of Lincoln Park
- From the Red Line, exit at Bryn Mawr and walk east until reaching Lakefront Trail, then walk north until reaching the beach
- Also served by buses 84, 147 and 151
Take me there (via Google Maps)
Loyola beach
Located in East Rogers Park community
- From the Red Line, exit at Morse or Loyola and walk east until reaching the beach
- Also served by buses 96 (weekdays only), 147 and 155
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57th Street beach
Located in Jackson Park, on 57th St. and Lake Michigan
- Served by buses 6, 10 and 55 (at the Museum of Science & Industry)
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12th Street beach
Located on Northerly Island on 12th Street at Lake Michigan, adjacent to the Adler Planetarium
- Served by buses 130 and 146
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Rainbow beach
Located in the South Chicago neighborhood
- Served by buses 6, 71, 75 and 79
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Calumet Park beach
Located within Calumet Park, between E 98th St and E 102 St, just east of S. Crilly Dr.
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Ohio Street beach (near Navy Pier)
Located just north of Jane Addams Memorial Park between E Ontario and E Ohio St
- From Red Line, exit at Grand and walk east until reaching the water (approx. 20 minute walk)
- Also served by buses 29, 65, 66 and 124
Take me there (via Google Maps)
Concerts
Allstate Arena
Located on Mannheim Road in Rosemont.
- From the Blue Line (O’Hare branch), exit at Rosemont and board PACE bus 221.
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Aragon Ballroom
Located at 1106 W. Lawrence.
- From the Red Line, exit at Wilson and walk 2 blocks north to Lawrence, then 1/2 block east.
- Also served by buses 36, 81 and 151.
Take me there (via Google Maps)
Harold Washington Cultural Center
Located in Bronzeville at 47th/King Drive.
- From the Green Line, exit at 47th.
- Also served by buses 1, 3, and 47.
Take me there (via Google Maps)
House of Blues
Located at 329 N. Dearborn.
- From the Blue Line subway, and the Green, Orange, Brown, Pink and Purple Line Express elevated lines, exit at Clark/Lake and walk one block east on Lake and one and a half blocks north on Dearborn.
- From the Red Line subway, exit at Lake and walk one block west on Lake and one and a half blocks north on Dearborn.
- Served by buses 22, 24, 29, 36 and 62.
Take me there (via Google Maps)
Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
Located at 1300 S Linn White Dr.
- From the Red Line subway, or the Green and Orange elevated lines, exit at Roosevelt. Board bus 146 east to the Museum Campus.
- Also served by bus 146, accessible from the Orange, Brown and Purple Line Express elevated lines at Library-State/Van Buren. Weekends and holidays (mid-May through Labor Day) - bus 130 from Ogilvie Transportation Center and Union Station.
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Metro
Located at 3730 N. Clark.
- From the Red Line, exit at Addison. Walk one and a half blocks west on Addison and one and a half blocks north on Clark.
- Also served by bus 22.
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The Riviera
Located at 4746 N. Racine.
- From the Red Line, exit at Wilson and walk two blocks north to Lawrence and one block west on Lawrence to Racine.
- Also served by buses 36 and 81.
Take me there (via Google Maps)
United Center
Located at 1901 W. Madison.
- From the Green and Pink Lines, exit at Ashland and walk two blocks south and two blocks west to United Center.
- From the Orange, Green, Pink, Brown and Purple Express lines, exit at Washington/Wabash and board bus 20 west on Madison.
- From the Red Line subway, exit at Lake and walk one block south to Madison and board bus 20 west.
- From the Blue Line, exit at Medical Center and use the Damen Avenue exit. Walk two blocks north.
- Also served by bus 50.
- For Bulls and Blackhawks games, bus 19 takes you there as well.
Take me there (via Google Maps)
The Vic
Located at 3145 N. Sheffield.
- From the Brown, Red and Purple Line Express lines, exit at Belmont. Walk a half a block west.
- Also served by bus 77.
Take me there (via Google Maps)
Museums
Art Institute of Chicago
Located on Michigan and Adams.
- From the Green, Orange, Brown and Purple Line Express elevated lines, exit at Adams/Wabash and walk one block east on Adams.
- From the Red and Blue Line subways, exit at Jackson. Walk two or three blocks east on Jackson and a half a block north on Michigan. Also served by buses 3, 4, 6, 7, 14, 147, and 151.
- Weekday rush periods only - buses 1, 26, 28 and 148. Weekends and holidays (mid-May through Labor Day) - bus 130 from Ogilvie Transportation Center and Union Station.
Take me there (via Google Maps)
DuSable Museum
Located at 740 E. 56th Place.
- From the Red and Green lines, exit at Garfield and board bus 55 east to Cottage Grove. Walk one and a half blocks south on Cottage Grove.
- Also served by bus 4. Weekday rush periods only - bus 2.
Take me there (via Google Maps)
Museum Campus:
Field Museum of Natural History
Adler Planetarium
Shedd Aquarium & Oceanarium
Located east of Lake Shore Drive on McFetridge.
- From the Red Line subway, or the Green and Orange elevated lines, exit at Roosevelt. Board bus 146 east to the Museum Campus.
- Also served by bus 146, accessible from the Orange, Brown and Purple Line Express elevated lines at Library-State/Van Buren. Weekends and holidays (mid-May through Labor Day) - bus 130 from Ogilvie Transportation Center and Union Station.
Take me there (via Google Maps)
Museum of Contemporary Art
Located at Mies van der Rohe and Chicago.
- From the Red and Blue Line subways, or the Brown and Purple Line Express elevated lines, exit at the Chicago station and board bus 66 east.
- Also served by buses 3, 10* and 157.
(*#10 operates daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day)
Take me there (via Google Maps)
Museum of Science and Industry
Located at Lake Shore Drive and 57th Street.
- From the Red and Green lines, exit at Garfield. Board bus 55 east to the museum.
- Also served by bus 15, as well as buses 6 and 10 (daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day)from Downtown. Weekday rush periods only - bus 28.
Take me there (via Google Maps)
National Museum of Mexican Art
Located at 1852 W. 19th Street.
- From the Pink Line, exit at 18th and walk a half a block west to Wood and two blocks south to 19th Street and then a half a block west to the museum.
- Also served by buses 18 and 50.
Take me there (via Google Maps)
Polish Museum of America
Located at 984 N. Milwaukee.
- From the Blue Line (O’Hare branch), exit at Division and walk four blocks southeast on Milwaukee to the museum. Also served by buses 9 and 56.
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Parks
Chicago's a city full of exciting park destinations and activities, from miles of lakefront with continuous paths, public park spaces and numerous beaches and marinas to neighborhood parks both big and small full of programs, amenities, features and space to relax, eat and get in some outdoor fun.
Information below on individual park amenities is summarized from information published by the Chicago Park District or Forest Preserve District of Cook County on their websites. Follow links to full information from either for more complete details on park amenities, history, programs and more!
Note: Since many parks listed here are very large parks, the "Take me there (via Google Maps)" link is set to take you to a central or key location in many of these parks. You may need to adjust your trip plan to better suit where in the park you'd like to go.
Calumet Park
Large park on Chicago's southeast side on Chicago's lakefront, near an international shipping port and the State Line with Indiana (just in the water at the end of the park).
The park features two gymnasiums, a fitness center, Lake Shore Model Train exhibit, gymnastic center, sewing and upholstery studios, a beach, waterfront seating areas, boat launch, an artificial soccer turf, picnic groves, playground, softball, football, soccer fields and multi-purpose rooms. (Get full details via Chicago Park District)
The park is located on Chicago's lakefront at 9801 S. Avenue G, with entry from approximately E 95th Street and South Ewing Avenue. From the 30 South Chicago, exit at 95th or 98th on Ewing and walk approximately 1/4 to 1/2 mile east to park.
Take me there (via Google Maps)
Dan Ryan Woods
A large forest preserve on Chicago's South Side, featuring playfields, a popular winter sledding hill, picnic groves, paved trails and more. (Learn more from the Forest Preserve District of Cook County and also see information about permitting/reserving regarding events and picnics.)
The preserve also contains a unique and historic system limestone aqueducts, built to assist in drainage here as the preserve sits atop an ancient geological feature known as Blue Island.
The central parts of the preserve are located along S Western Ave from W 83rd to W 87th Sts., with sections stretching north, west, south and southeast.
Getting there:
- Served by CTA buses 48, 87 and 95. (You can also take the 49 Western to 79th and transfer to Pace suburban bus route 349 for service that continues south on S Western Ave. See Pace schedule for details.).
Take me there (via Google Maps)
Douglass Park
Large park on Chicago's West Side, featuring a lagoon system, golf, formal gardens and much more.
The park fieldhouse includes gymnasiums, an auditorium, a computer lab, a fitness center, a kitchen, a grand ballroom and meeting rooms, while outdoor areas include tennis courts, a game day football stadium, an outdoor pool, water spray features, basketball courts, an artificial turf soccer field, a pavilion, baseball fields and a small golf putting range. (Get full details via Chicago Park District)
The park is located at 1401 S. Sacramento Dr. between Roosevelt and 19th, from Albany to California.
- From the Pink Line, exit at California or Kedzie.
- Also served by buses 12, 18, 52, 94 and 157.
Take me there (via Google Maps)
Garfield Park (includes Garfield Park Conservatory)
Large park on Chicago's West Side, featuring a lagoon system, large lawns and sporting areas, a historic, towering, golden-domed field house and event building and the famed Garfield Park Conservatory.
The field house hosts a gymnasium, auditorium, dance studio, fitness center, boxing center, grand ballroom and meeting rooms and outdoor areas include swimming pool, baseball fields, athletic fields for football or soccer, a fishing lagoon, tennis courts, floral gardens and playgrounds. Visitors can come to enjoy baseball, basketball or tennis, dance, music and arts classes with partnership organizations including the Najwa Dance Troupe and the Chicago West Music Center, as well as after-school programs and a summer day camp. (Get full details via Chicago Park District)
Located at 100 N. Central Park Avenue in Chicago, near Lake St and Central Park Drive/Avenue. (The park was originally called Central Park before being renamed to honor US President James A. Garfield.)span>
- From the Green Line, exit at Conservatory-Central Park Drive, which is located in the north-central part of this large park, just south of the Garfield Park Conservatory.
- Also served by buses 7, 20, 82 and 126. The west end of the park is 1/4 mile east of route 53 and part of the east end just 1/4 mile west of route 52.
Take me there (park center via Google Maps)
Take me there (Conservatory via Google Maps)
Grant Park
Large park at the foot of the city skyline, often thought of as "Chicago's Front Lawn", containing multiple important and historic distinct spaces, areas and features (and inside of which live prominent features and destinations such as Buckingham Fountain, Hutchinson Field, Queen's Landing, Millennium Park and Maggie Daley Park), home to annual festivals like Lollapalooza, Taste of Chicago and some of the city's most prominent themed music fests. The park Art Institute of Chicago and its new modern wing, the Museum Campus (with the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium & Oceanarium, the Adler Planetarium). Soldier Field and its surrounding parkland sit at the south end of Grant Park. (Get full details via Chicago Park District)
The park is Located east of downtown Loop and southward to approximately Roosevelt from Michigan on Chicago's Lakefront, plus the Museum Campus on its southeast corner.
- From the Green, Orange, Brown, Pink and Purple Line Express elevated lines, exit at Adams/Wabash and walk two blocks east on Adams.
- From the Red and Blue Line subways, exit at Jackson and walk three or four blocks east on Jackson.
- Also served by buses 3, 4, 6, 7, 10*, 14, 126, 146, 147, and 151. Weekday rush periods only - buses 1, 26 and 28. Weekends and holidays (mid-May through Labor Day) - bus 130 from Ogilvie Transportation Center and Union Station.
(*#10 operates daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day)
Take me there (via Google Maps)
Humboldt Park
Large park linked to the Boulevard system, between the Humboldt Park, Logan Square and West Town communities, located at at 1440 N. Humboldt Boulevard.
219 acre park, home to a large, historic fieldhouse with a fitness center, two gymnasiums and meeting rooms. The park also has an inland beach, historic lagoons and a boat house. Recreational facilities include an artificial turf soccer field, a junior soccer field, baseball fields, tennis courts and a replica of the Chicago Cubs stadium known as “Little Cubs Field."
Park also houses The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture, the only museum in the nation that is completely dedicated to the history of Puerto Rican arts and culture.
The park is host to the Latin Jazz Festival and the Puerto Rican Festival each year, as well as Shakespeare in the Park, Movies in the Park and other special events. After school programs are offered throughout the school year. In summer, youth can attend the a six-week day camp or a specialty camp. (Get full details via Chicago Park District)
- Served directly by bus routes #52 Kedzie/California, #70 Division and #72 North. Also served by nearby bus routes #66 Chicago and #94 South California (2 blocks south at Kedzie/Chicago) and #82 Kimball-Homan (2 blocks west at Homan).
Take me there (via Google Maps)
Jackson Park
Large, historic park on Chicago's South Side, once home to the Chicago Columbian Exposition (World's Fair) of 1893) with connections to the Lakefront Trail, the Midway Plaisance to Washington Park and which contains the Museum of Science and Industry, the Museum Shores Yacht Club and a driving range.
The park features a gymnasium, three multi-purpose rooms, and fitness center indoors, and outdoors includes Wooded Island (with flower, vegetable gardens and the Japanese-styled Garden of the Phoenix), three harbors, 63rd St. Beach, basketball/tennis courts, multi-purpose fields, golf course and an artificial turf field.
(Get full details via Chicago Park District)
Getting there:
- Served by bus routes 2, N5, 6, 10, J14, 15, 26, 28, 55, 59, 63, 67.
- Some of these routes operate during special times/seasons/hours so check schedules for details.
Take me there (via Google Maps)
Lakefront trail
An 18-mile path along Chicago's lakefront for cycling, running, walking and other exercise, through a system of parks including Lincoln Park, Grant Park, Burnham Park and Jackson Park. Continuous path runs from Ardmore Avenue (5800N) in Chicago's Edgewater community to 71st Street (7100S) in Chicago's South Shore community.
- Served by many 'L' lines and bus routes; see Maps for information.
Take me there (via Google Maps; this link is to a central point; search for more precise areas to get transit directions to specific park areas/features)
Lincoln Park
A major North Side park on Chicago's Lakefront, running from 500N to 5700N Lake Shore Drive.
This historic, Fredrick Law Olmsted-designed park contains miles of lakefront trail for walking, exercise and cycling, multiple beaches, five playgrounds, event and performance spaces, sculptures and art installations and more.
The area nearest the Lincoln Park neighborhood contains the Lincoln Park Zoo, Lincoln Park Conservatory, Theatre on the Lake, a rowing canal, the Chicago History Museum, the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool, the North Pond Nature Sanctuary, an Archery Range, Montrose, North Avenue, and Oak Street beaches (among miles of features along the lakefront), numerous playing fields, a very prominent statue of General Grant as well as, a famous statue of Abraham Lincoln and many other statues.
(Get full details via Chicago Park District)
Further north, the park contains various marinas, harbors, a golf course, a driving range, nature preserves and a bird sanctuary.
- The park is reachable by a variety of north Lake Shore Drive (both Inner and Outer Drive) bus routes, bus route #151 Sheridan and many east-west bus routes between Bryn Mawr and North Avenue. See Maps for more info.
Take me there (via Google Maps; tip: this link is to the zoo, toward the southern part of the park; browse map or search for more precise destination spots to get transit directions to specific park areas/features that you're interested in)
Logan Square (proper)
Located at the intersection of Milwaukee Avenue, Kedzie Avenue/Boulevard, Wrightwood Avenue and Logan Boulevard in the Logan Square neighborhood.
A large, public green space with trees and lawn areas, centered by the Illinois Centennial Monument and significant point on the Chicago boulevard system.
- Take the Blue Line to the Logan Square station and exit toward the main Logan Square entrance. Cross south at crosswalks to reach the Square.
- Also served by bus routes #56 Milwaukee, #76 Diversey and #82 Kimball-Homan.
Take me there (via Google Maps)
Marquette Park
Located at W Marquette Rd (6700S) and S Kedzie Ave (3200W).
323 acre park with gymnasiums, an auditorium, woodshop, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. sculpture, and multi-purpose rooms. Features include community garden, rose garden, prairie, four multi-purpose fields, an artificial turf field, 9 hole golf course, lagoon, driving range, basketball and tennis courts, two playgrounds, baseball fields, spray pool, and more. (Get full details via Chicago Park District)
- Take #67 67th-69th-71st to Kedzie, #52A South Kedzie to Marquette Rd or #94 South California to Marquette Rd
Take me there (via Google Maps)
Millennium Park & Maggie Daley Park
At northwest corner of Grant Park, Millennium Park and the adjacent Maggie Daley Park are located just east of the north half of the Loop.
A modern landmark park located between the Chicago skyline along Michigan Avenue and the lakefront, this park has a variety of significant amenities and a direct bridge connection to the modern wing of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Millennium Park, west of Columbus Drive features include the Pritzker Pavillion (a concert and performance space that hosts a variety of concerts and shows and home to the Grant Park Music Festival) with Frank Gehry-designed structure, the famous Cloud Gate sculpture by Anish Kapoor (often referred to as "The Bean" by locals), an interactive fountain space, the Ann Lurie Garden, promenade, restaurant and a winter ice skating rink. Maggie Daley Park, connected via the Frank Gehry-designed BP Bridge, contains massive playground spaces, climbing walls, tennis courts, the Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Survivor's garden, an 18-hole miniature golf cource and, in winter, an innovative ice skating ribbon.
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Getting there:
- From the Green, Orange, Brown, Pink and Purple Line Express elevated lines, exit at Washington/Wabash and walk two blocks east.
- From the Red and Blue Line subways, exit at Monroe or Washington and walk two or three blocks east.
- Also served by buses #3, #4, #6, #14, #20, #56, #60, #124, #151 and #157. Weekday rush periods only - buses #26 and #148.
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North Branch trail
A series of linked paths for walking, running and cycling starting at Foster/Kostner, generally following the North Branch of the Chicago River northward to the Skokie Lagoons.
"The trail winds along the North Branch of the Chicago River and the Skokie Lagoons, providing access to various picnic groves, golf courses and also the Chicago Botanic Garden. The north end of the trail connects to the Green Bay Trail." -Forest Preserves of Cook County
- Take bus route #92 Foster to the start of the trail at Kostner (4400W).
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Prairie Path
Historic rails-to-trails path, for bike rides as well as walking and running, located west of Chicago on former right-of-way of the Chicago, Aurora & Elgin (CA&E) interurban railway—an electric railway that ran from downtown, over part of the 'L' system, and out west with branches to Aurora, Elgin and other suburbs, towns and cities.
- Take the Blue Line to Forest Park, exit station to north and walk/ride west on Van Buren through long parking lot, on path between cemetery land, over bike/pedestrian bridge, west past courthouse and to continuous path start at 1st Av and Maybrook. (It's approximately 1 mile along these paths to reach start of path from Blue Line.)
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Union Park
Host to numerous music festivals and events, including Pitchfork Festival and North Coast Music Festival, is located southeast of Ashland Ave (1600W) and Lake St (200N).
The fieldhouse hosts a gymnasium, fitness center, locker rooms, a theater room with a stage and meeting rooms and the park has tennis courts, baseball fields, a swimming pool, a playground, an athletic field for football or soccer, and basketball courts. (Get full details via Chicago Park District.)
- Take Green or Pink Lines to Ashland. (Note this is the Ashland station on the Lake branch of the Green Line, not the Ashland/63rd station.)
- Also served by bus routes #9 Ashland, #X9 Ashland Express and #20 Madison and is also just a couple blocks north of #126 Jackson service.
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Warren Park
Located at 6601 N. Western Ave.
Large park with ice rink, outdoor walking/jogging/biking paths, a 9 hole golf course and sports fields/courts, preschool, tumbling, baseball, basketball and soccer programs. Preschool programs and tumbling classes. (Get full details via Chicago Park District)
- Served by bus routes #49B North Western and #155 Devon (2 blocks south of park at Western).
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Washington Park
Large park on Chicago's South Side bordering the Washington Park and Hyde Park communities with many amenities, including the DuSable Museum of African American History, located at 5531 S. King Dr. Park is connected by park space to Jackson Park via the Midway Plaisance at 59th Street.
The park features gymnasiums, a photography lab, dance studio, racquetball court, fitness center, game room, and multi-purpose room as well as a nature areas, a Harvest Garden, arboretum, lagoon, aquatic center, playgrounds, basketball/tennis courts and other sports fields.
The park also features the renonwed Fountain of Time sculpture, the Ashaki Black History Month Celebration and other holiday-themed events. (Get full details via Chicago Park District)
- Take any Green Line train to Garfield and walk 1 1/2 blocks east, or to stations along East 63rd Street on the East 63rd branch at King Drive or Cottage Grove and walk 3 blocks north.
- The park is also served by bus routes #3 King Drive, #4 Cottage Grove, #15 Jeffery Local, #55 Garfield and #59 59th-61st (also route 63, 3 blocks south of park).
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Shopping
State Street Shopping
Located along downtown State Street.
- From the Red Line subway, exit at Lake, Monroe or Jackson.
- From the Blue Line subway, exit at Washington, Monroe or Jackson, and walk one block east to State Street.
- From the Orange, Green, Pink, Brown and Purple Line Express elevated lines, exit at State/Lake, Washington/Wabash, Adams/Wabash or Harold Washington Library-State/Van Buren.
- Also served by buses 6, 7, 10*, 14, 20, 29, 36, 56, 60, 62, 124, 126, 146, 147, 151 and 157. Weekday rush periods - buses 1, 2, 28 and 148.
(*#10 operates daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day)
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Ford City Mall
Located at 75th Street and Cicero.
- Served by buses 54B and 79.
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Harlem/Irving Plaza
Located at Harlem and Irving Park.
- Served by buses 78, 80, and 90.
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Lincolnwood Town Center
Located at McCormick and Touhy in Lincolnwood.
- Served by bus 96 (weekdays only).
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Magnificent Mile & Water Tower
Located along Michigan Avenue between Chicago Avenue and the Chicago River.
- From the Red Line subway, exit at the Chicago station and walk three blocks east.
- From the Blue Line subway, Brown Line and Purple Line Express elevated lines, exit at the Chicago station and board a 66 bus east.
- Also served by buses 3, 10*, 29, 65, 66, 146, 147, 151, and 157. Weekday rush periods only - 2, 26, 120, 121, 125, 143 and 148.
(*#10 operates daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day)
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Water Tower Place
Located at Pearson and Michigan.
- From the Red Line subway, exit at the Chicago station. Walk three blocks east on Chicago and one block north on Michigan.
- From the Blue Line subway, Brown Line and Purple Line Express elevated lines, exit at the Chicago station. Board a 66 bus east and exit at Michigan Avenue. Walk a half a block north.
- Also served by buses 10*, 146, 147, 151 and 157. Weekday rush periods - buses 125, 143 and 148.
(*#10 operates daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day)
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Westfield Old Orchard
Located at Golf Road and Skokie Blvd. in Skokie, IL
- Served by buses 54A and 97.
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Sports
SeeTake CTA to the Game for additional details.
Guaranteed Rate Field
for White Sox baseball
Located at 35th Street and Wentworth Ave, Chicago, IL
- From the Red Line, exit at Sox-35th. Walk one block west.
- From the Green Line, exit at 35th-Bronzeville-IIT.
- Walk two and a half blocks west. Also served by buses 24, 35 and 39.
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Ryan Field
for Northwestern sports
Located at Central Street and Ashland Avenue in Evanston, IL
- From the Purple Line, exit at Central and walk 2 blocks west.
- During hours when Purple Line Express (rush hours only) do not operate, to reach Purple Line local trains through Evanston, take a Red Line train to Howard and change for a Purple Line train to Linden.
- Also served by CTA #201 Central/Ridge buses.
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Soldier Field
for Bears football
Located at 16th Street and Lake Shore Dr., Chicago, IL
- From the Red Line subway, Orange and Green elevated lines, exit at Roosevelt. Board bus146 east.
- Also served by bus 146, accessible from the Orange, Purple, and Brown Line elevated at Library-State/Van Buren.
- On Chicago Bears game days, you can board bus 128, the Soldier Field Express, from Ogilvie Transportation Center and Union Station.
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United Center
for Blackhawks hockey & Bulls basketball
Located at 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago, IL
- From the Green and Pink Lines, exit at Ashland and walk two blocks south and two blocks west to United Center.
- From the Orange, Green, Pink, Brown and Purple Express lines, exit at Washington/Wabash and board bus 20 west on Madison.
- From the Red Line subway, exit at Lake and walk one block south to Madison and board bus 20 west.
- From the Blue Line, exit at Medical Center and use the Damen Avenue exit. Walk two blocks north.
- Also served by bus 50.
- For Bulls and Blackhawks games, bus 19 takes you there as well.
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Wintrust Arena
for DePaul Basketball
Located at 200 E. Cermak Rd., Chicago, IL
- From the Green Line, exit at Cermak-McCormick Place
- Walk two and a half blocks east. Also served by buses 3, 4, and 21. 1 on weekday rush hours only.
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Wrigley Field
for Cubs baseball
Located at 1060 W. Addison St, Chicago, IL.
- From the Red Line, exit at Addison. Walk one half block west. Southbound Purple Line Express trains also stop at Addison before Cubs weekday night games.
- Also served by buses 8, 22 and 152.
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Transportation
Chicago-O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
- Take the Blue Line to O'Hare. It's about 45 minutes from downtown.
- See Airport Travel for more details.
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Chicago-Midway International Airport (MDW)
- Take the Orange Line south to Midway. It's about 30 minutes from the Loop.
- Also served by buses 54B, 55N, 59, 62H, 63 and 63W via Midway Orange Line station. Weekday rush periods only - buses 55A and 165.
- See Airport Travel for more details.
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LaSalle Street Station
Metra Rock Island District trains
Located at Van Buren and LaSalle.
- From the Brown, Pink, Orange and Purple Line Express elevated lines, exit at LaSalle/Van Buren and walk a half a block south.
- From the Red Line subway, exit at Jackson. Walk one block south to Van Buren and three blocks west to LaSalle.
- From the Blue Line subway, exit at LaSalle.
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Ogilvie Transportation Center
Metra Union Pacific lines trains
Located at Madison and Canal.
- From the Green Line elevated, exit at Clinton and walk three blocks south.
- From the Brown, Orange and Purple Line Express elevated lines, exit at Washington/Wells. Walk one block south to Madison and board any westbound bus on Madison.
- From the Red and Blue Line subways, exit at Lake Red Line station or Washington Blue Line station. Walk one block south and board any westbound bus on Madison.
- Also served by buses 14, 20, 56, 60, 124 and 157. Weekday rush periods only - bus 120. Weekends and holidays (mid-May through Labor Day) - bus 130.
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Millennium Station
Metra Electric District and NICTD South Shore trains
Located at Randolph and Michigan.
- From the Red and Blue Line subways, exit at Washington. Walk two to three blocks east to Michigan.
- From the Green, Orange, Brown and Purple Line Express elevated lines, exit at Washington/Wabash and walk one block east.
- Also served by buses 3, 4, 124, 147, 151 and 157. Weekday rush periods only - buses 26, 143 and 148.
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Union Station
Amtrak and Metra BNSF Railway, Milwaukee District, North Central, Southwest and Heritage Corridor trains
Located on Canal, between Jackson and Adams.
- From the Blue Line subway, exit at Clinton and walk two blocks north.
- From the Orange, Pink, Brown and Purple Line Express elevated lines, exit at Quincy and walk three blocks west on either Jackson or Adams.
- Also served by buses 7, 60, 124, 125, 126, 151, 156 and 157. Weekday rush periods only - 1, 28, 121 and 125. Weekends and holidays (mid-May through Labor Day) - bus 130.
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Van Buren Street Station
Metra Electric District and NICTD South Shore trains
Located at Van Buren and Michigan.
- From the Red and Blue Line subways, exit at Jackson and walk one block south to Van Buren and two or three blocks east to Michigan.
- From the Brown, Orange, Pink and Purple Line Express elevated lines, exit at Library-State/Van Buren. Walk two blocks east on Van Buren to Michigan.
- From the Green Line elevated, exit at Adams/Wabash. Walk one block east to Michigan and two blocks south to Van Buren.
- Also served by buses 3, 4, 6, 7, 14, 126 and 147. Weekday rush periods only - 1, 26 and28. Weekends and holidays (mid-May through Labor Day) - bus 130.
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Greyhound Bus Terminal (Downtown)
Located at Harrison and Jefferson.
- From the Blue Line subway, exit at Clinton. Walk one block south on Clinton and one block west on Harrison.
- Also accessible by buses 7, 60, 125, 156 and 157.
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Greyhound Bus Terminal (Skokie)
Located at 5001 Dempster.
- From the Yellow Line (Skokie Swift), exit at Dempster-Skokie.
- Also served by bus 97.
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Greyhound Bus Terminal (95th Street)
Located at 14 West 95th.
- From the Red Line, exit at 95th/Dan Ryan.
- Also served by buses N5, N9, 34, 95E, 95W, 103, 106, 108, 111, 112 and 119. Weekday rush periods only - bus 100.
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