Best Nature and Parks (RV, National, Dog, etc) in Wicker Park

"Situated next to Millennium Park, Maggie Daley Park sits on over 20 acres next to the waterfront in downtown Chicago. The park's most popular kids' attraction is a mini-golf course, which has a series of the city's most iconic buildings and landmarks at each hole. The Play Garden is a big hit with younger kids, where they can play pirate on a huge land-bound ship complete with rope bridges and plenty of room to imagine."

"Located in the Loop, the recently revamped kid-focused Maggie Daley Park features Chicago’s only outdoor climbing park, a path-like “skating ribbon” in the winter, tennis courts, and picnic spots. Don’t miss the 3-acre play garden. You’ll have to drag kids under 12 off of the imaginative equipment, including an enchanted forest, wave lawn, and an array of slides."

"On the other side of the bridge sits Maggie Daley Park, a spectacular green space with massive rock climbing walls, mini golf, picnic groves, and an amazing play garden for children. STOP 3: THESE BUILDINGS TAKE UP WHOLE BLOCKS"

"Visitors to this hidden gem will enjoy oak savanna, a forest, wetland and prairie all in one area. There are three trails from which to choose and explore: main loop, wetland and woodland and while you can take as long as you'd like, it's possible to do them all within an hour if you're in a hurry (although hopefully you're not because you want to stop at the lily pond, gaze at the free roaming deer and catch a turtle or finches as you take in the fresh air and scenery). Early Spring, locals from all over the city come by for the annual Maple Tree Tapping Festival where kids can enjoy free activities and see demonstrations on the Maple syrup process."

"North ParkYou could do worse than strolling through this 46-acre nature preserve with trails that wind through woodland, wetland, prairie, and savannah. You could also do worse than just chilling at the birding area and spotting rare specimens with your well-practiced/made-up bird calls."

"The Wooden Pavilion at the Lincoln Park Zoo’s South Pond is a fantastic way to frame Chicago’s skyline around the John Hancock Center. Additionally the structure itself is fun to photograph and a fun spot for portraits. South Pond on Google Maps"

"This newer delicious hotspot comes from the same owners as Maple and Ash. Located in Wicker Park, Etta is known for its mediterranean-leaning menu with lots of tasty wood-fired options like pizza and the “bubbling shrimp.” The large second floor terrace offers the same menu and warm breezes above North Avenue."

"Roman-style cuisine with terrifically varied meatballs A relative newcomer to the Italian dining scene, this Andersonville restaurant has become something of a mecca for meatballs. While the Roman-style, hand-rolled pastas and wood-fired pizzas here are simply delicious, people keep coming back for the balls, or "polpette" on the menu. Get yourself an Italian-inspired craft cocktail and dive into whatever meatballs strike your fancy: braised beef cheek, veal sweetbread, spicy pork belly, chicken and pistachio, and lamb merguez-style sliders."

"According to Eater, one of the best places for Italian cuisine fans to dine is at Bar Roma. Although this is a bright and modern restaurant, it is set within a historic building that is more than a century old. The specialty at Bar Roma is polpette, and this dish is available in beef, pork, chicken, and ‘impossible meat’ varieties."

"Pelago, located in the Gold Coast neighborhood, is Mauro Mafrici’s answer to fine dining Italian food. They focus on simple, genuine cuisine with fresh seasonal ingredients from It..."

"Located in the luxurious Raffaello Hotel in the heart of the city, Pelago is a hidden gem. It puts a modern twist on traditional Northern and Southern Italian pasta and seafood dis..."

"On Chicago's Gold Coast is Pelago: a modern Italian restaurant that is stylish and upscale. Pelago serves a delicious lunch of contemporary takes on Italian classics, like minestro..."

"Brookfield, IL—25 minutes from The Loop Opened in 1934, this 216-acre park is home to more than 2,300 animals of 450 species. In 2021, the zoo welcomed a pair of new lions, brothers Brutus and Titus, who are easily visible near the north side of the zoo. The Dinos Everywhere exhibit features more than 40 animatronic dinosaurs, showing kids what these giants may have been like millions of years ago."

"Free admission at the Brookfield Zoo for all active, reservist, and retired members of the military with ID. Admission is also free for children age 2 and under."

"Lincoln Park Zoo is a renowned 35-acre zoo in Lincoln Park and a hotspot for tourists. It’s the zoo’s pavilion, designed to provide shelter for open-air on-site classes, that offers such a fantastically picturesque snap. With the design drawing inspiration from the appearance of a tortoise’s shell, the stunning curved wooden pavilion elegantly frames the Chicago skyline."

"Located in the heart of Chicago's Lincoln Park, this zoo offers free, family-friendly entertainment year-round including the festive Zoolights around the holidays (reservations are required for all visits though). The sprawling grounds are seamlessly woven into the park’s landscape, balancing open, natural spaces and numerous animal exhibits. If you skip the pricey concessions (but maybe spring for a paddle boat ride), Lincoln Park Zoo is a great option to keep all ages occupied while staying on a budget."

"In a city full of skyscrapers, animal lovers can go wild at the Lincoln Park Zoo. This free oasis features lions, tigers, and gorillas in an immersive setting ranging from savannahs to rainforests. The juxtaposition of modern marvels like Willis Tower with wildlife habitats makes the experience that much more engaging."

"If you think something is the best, someone else is likely to have an objection. This rule does not apply to the apple fritter ($3.19) at Old Fashioned Donuts, though. Anyone who eats this agrees: It’s the best ever."

"Probably the softest donut I have ever had and they have endless donut combinations!!. I could not recommend going here more !!"

"Before the pandemic, the confectionary company was open 24 hours a day for late-nighters to grab a sugary nightcap before heading home. However, due to the circumstances Dat Donut has had to reduce their hours to keep things safe — which just means you’ll have to stay up until 5:30 in the morning to end your night on the best decision you’ll make all day."

"You can find fried dough here 24 hours a day, and when you try these pillowy pastries, you’ll find a good reason to come back at all hours of the day and night. If it’s your first time, go for a box of the original glazed yeast donuts, which basically melt in your mouth."

"My husband bought me with some donuts from there and they were huge and delicious!. The people there are oh so nice!"