Top Rated Parks to Visit in Lyons

"You don’t have to choose because you can do all three at Maggie Daley Park. It features Chicago’s only outdoor climbing park. There are beginner and advanced places to climb with instruction from the park staff."

"Located in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood on the southwest side of Chicago, Marquette Park is the largest park on the southwest side totaling 323 acres. In addition to two gymnasiums, an auditorium, woodshop, Martin Luther King, Jr. kiosk and multi-purpose rooms, it's also home to one of the most affordable 9-hole golf courses in the city. Residents and visitors alike can enjoy a community garden, rose garden, prairie and 500 newly planted trees."

"Chicago Lawn is home to this huge 323-acre park, featuring two gymnasiums, an auditorium, four sports fields, a nine-hole golf course, fishing area, running paths, and a community garden. Don’t miss seeing the rose garden, prairie, and lagoon. A Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. sculpture and an Art Deco Darius and Girenas Memorial are worth viewing as well."

"Polk Bros Fountain and Plaza at the entrance of Navy Pier greets children with an exciting 12,500 square foot signature fountain (during warm weather) with more than 150 programmable jets that mimic the movements of waves, schools of fish and flocks of birds. While at the park, kids will have fun posing with the vibrant “Meet Me at the ‘P’” art installation."

"Located at the entry point of the Pier, I have a love/hate relationship with this fountain. I love how happy it makes my water-obsessed toddler but I hate how long it takes me to coax him into leaving. The 12,500 square foot fountain isn’t just a regular fountain."

"The Lincoln Park Conservatory is a conservatory and botanical garden in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood. The conservatory is best known for its horticultural collections, community work, and educational programming. It is also housed in a glass house from the Victorian Era that is stunning to view on its own."

"BridgeportWhen you think of Bridgeport, the first thing that comes to mind usually isn’t nature. And this park (nicknamed “Mount Bridgeport” and formerly known as Stone Quarry) fits right in with a 27-acre site that has transformed itself from quarry to landfill to park. Cruise the crushed stone running path and peep the fishing pond and wetlands as you stroll the grass amidst preserved quarry walls at this neighborhood hidden gem."

"Palmisano Park has gone from coral reefs to quarry to landfill to park. At this park, you’ll find a fishing pond, wetlands, preserved quarry walls, walking trails and more. There is also a giant hill, perfect for gazing over the park and all of its beauty."

"27 acres of wetlands and urban fishing make Palmisano Park a fun place to visit. The park also offers a phenomenal view of Chicago. In winter, it’s a great place to go sledding."

"So come here for the pancakes, but stay for the Gallagher flashbacks. Plus the friendly staff is awesome, and will instantly make you feel like a regular. View this post on Instagram"

"Besides the inside of Trencherman topping our (hypothetical) most impressive decor list, its food is also flawless. The restaurant aspires to be a community meeting place with swanky drinks and finer bites. Their eggs florentine — offered at brunch — is a local fave."

"I really like S.K.Y. in Pilsen, so I’m not too surprised that I really like the food at Apolonia - a new mostly Mediterranean restaurant in the South Loop that’s from the same team. Like its sibling, the menu is wide-ranging with a bunch of influences. I ate everything from mussels on toast (wonderful) to truffle puff bread (also wonderful, but a little hard to tear apart and share) to larger dishes like grilled prawns with corn relish and hibiscus romesco (guess what? Wonderful again.) Also, this place has some truly delicious pastas - like the fiorentini topped with a rich pork sugo."

"West Coast native Stephen Gillanders has found a home in Chicago and his Pilsen spot, S.K.Y., has emerged as one of the best restaurants in town. The former Lettuce Entertain You chef has followed that effort with Apolonia, a radical change as Gillanders dives into European cuisine in the South Loop. The chef takes a playful approach with pastas, a giant-sized chicken Kiev, and more."

"Stephen Gillanders’s much-anticipated new restaurant near McCormick Place debuted in April and the results have been impressive. The bright and airy space centers on European-Mediterranean cuisine and hosts brunch service on weekends. Enjoy refined versions of bucatini carbonara, frittata Florentine, salade Lyonnaise, and more."