Top Rated Parks to Visit in Medinah

"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"

"The northeast corner of Grant Park has been turned into a GIANT playground. (Seriously – it’s giant!) The lakefront recreation center also features a climbing wall and a skating ribbon."

"At 280 acres, Big Marsh certainly lives up to its name, but this far southeast side public park—opened in 2016 in the Calumet Area Reserve—is still a relative secret to most locals. The park includes 45 acres of recreation areas designed specifically for mountain and BMX biking and casual trail riding. The rest (234 acres) is a nature preserve great for hiking and bird-watching."

"Whether you want to relax with a nature walk or go on an adventurous hike, this park is a great place to check out. Forty-five acres of the park are dedicated to more intense endeavors, such as hiking, adventure courses and off-course biking. The other 235 acres is devoted to more passive activities like bird-watching and nature walking."

"Known simply as the Midway, this mile-long natural stretch on the South Side connects the east end's Washington Park to Jackson Park on the west. Once the site of amusements during the 1893 Columbian World's Exposition (AKA World's Fair), the Midway is flanked by Hyde Park's noted gothic architecture, particularly the University of Chicago campus, and tree-lined boulevards, as well as outfitted with an ice skating rink and other facilities to keep folks visiting year-round."

"A meal out as a family can be a struggle since kids will often get bored and restless. When they do it can be tempting to overload them on screen time, but this kid friendly restaurant in Chicago offers another solution by combining dinner with a fun activity!. Unlike most bowling alleys, the food at this upscale bowling alley and bistro is easily a perfect 10 (even without the game of 10 pin!), with a menu that will please both kids and more discerning adults."

"A post shared by THE CARB CONFIDENTIAL (@thecarbconfidential). Just a 10-minute walk from Navy Pier is the fun restaurant of Pinstripes. Guests can choose between just eating at the bistro, or participating in the bowling alley or bocce ball courts."

"They seated us quickly though our server did take a while to get to us but when he did he was v..."

"Chicago locals with a taste for Polish cuisine – or for great cuisine in general – love Staropolska for its hearty Eastern European classics. The Logan Square venue is a bright spa..."

"Chicago is not without its fried chicken staples, and while we could never choose an all-time favorite, Honey Butter Fried Chicken is our latest craving. You’ll find this deliciously sweet yet savory chicken in Avondale, and whether you’re a wing family or a chicken strip family, there’s something for everyone at this kid-friendly restaurant. Have a picky eater or a vegetarian?"

"Totally Worth The Wait: 2 Piece Honey Buttered Fried Chicken ($9). It’s difficult to choose where to start with why Honey Buttered Fried Chicken is one of Chicago’s best cheap eats. From their honeycombed-shaped cornbread to their juicy, sweet, and smoky fried chicken, this place knows how to treat your tastebuds."

"Forget a Tiffany necklace, this massive stained-glass masterpiece at the Chicago Cultural Center is thought to be the largest Tiffany dome in existence."

"Now open This unique museum, dedicated to work by self-taught artists, has reopened to the public. Intuit has taken several new precautions, including directional signage, reduced touch points, and enhanced sanitation. They’ve even re-installed their exhibition Outsider Art: The Collection of Victor F. Keen to increase spacing and allow more distancing."

"Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art features a large number of artworks presenting intuitive and outsider art. They have been featuring various artworks since 1991. Their world-class exhibitions give an opportunity for the public to explore this kind of art."

"The longest-established purveyor of canelés in Chicago, Floriole Café & Bakery's Sandra Holl may also be their least traditional practitioner. Holl produces her canelés without the use of beeswax, and has even been known to tweak the time-honored vanilla-rum flavor profile. (A chocolate version, for instance, makes an appearance in the café each February.) Traditional or not, her approach works."

"Floriole is home to some of the best desserts in Chicago, and they always aim to go organic and local with their ingredients where possible. What we love about this spot, is that their menu is constantly changing according to the availability of produce. While this vibe may not be for everyone, there’s something exciting about this potluck experience."

"Restaurants Indian West Ridge. Carnivores seem to think that without meat on their plates they’d starve. But this 100 percent vegetarian South Indian spot puts an end to that theory with its famous dosa—a gigantic cumin-, potato- and onion-filled rice and lentil crêpe that comes in a dozen varieties."