Top Rated Parks to Visit in Northlake

"Named for a former first lady of the city who passed away in 2011, Maggie Daley Park is one of Grant Park’s newest treasures. Laid out by landscape architect Michael Van Valkenburgh, the park opened in the northeast corner of Grant Park 2014 and shines for its recreation and family facilities. The whimsical Play Garden, for kids up to 12, is a playground like you’ve never seen, with six different zones like the Watering Hole which has a giant breaching whale, and the Enchanted Forest where you’ll walk under upside down trees ."

"Families love Maggie Daley Park's fanciful, free playgrounds in all their enchanted-forest and pirate-themed glory. There’s also a rock-climbing wall, an 18-hole mini-golf course, a winding, in-line skating track called the Skating Ribbon (used for ice-skating in winter) and tennis courts; these features have various fees. Multiple picnic tables make the park an excellent spot to relax."

"Maggie Daley Park is THE park I take my toddler to when we have a good block of time for some serious fun. The 20-acre park really is a spectacular playground for toddlers. With plenty of green space to run around on, the best part of this park is the play garden."

"The Riverwalk is exactly what it sounds like: a pedestrian trail that stretches alongside the Chicago River. It’s 1.25 miles, so it doesn’t require a punishing amount of exercise, but it’s long enough to offer a wide range of events and activities for visitors of all types. Are you feeling peckish?"

"West Loop’s Union Park, located on 13.46 acres in the Near West community area, is the site for two of the city’s biggest music festivals: Pitchfork and North Coast Music Festival. The park has several large fields, often used for various outdoor sports. The history of Union Park is also quite remarkable—it’s the site of several political protests and demonstrations since the early 1900s, most notably the Great American Boycott and the 2006 Immigration Reform protests."

"Union Park is a 13.46-acres park created in 1853 and became well known between the 1920s and 50s for cultural and social events. Today, the park features a field house with a theater room with stage, and a building with a gym, fitness center, and locker rooms. Outside facilities include tennis courts, swimming pool, playgrounds, an athletic field, and more."

"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."

"Wright designed and built his first home in 1889, on the strength of a $5,000 loan from his then employer and mentor, seminal Chicago…"

"The Burnham Wildlife Corridor is a 100-acre area of urban wilderness running through Burnham Park. There is a bird sanctuary, a bioretention basin, nature paths, and a centennial prairie. Native prairie grasses, savanna, and woodland ecosystems create the largest natural area along the lakefront, according to the park district."

"A light-filled oasis dedicated to the sights and sounds of true India, The Indian Garden is one of the best restaurants in Chicago for enjoying an authentic Indian dining experience. Select from a diverse menu of delicious choices for vegetarian and non-vegetarian diners alike, listed by ingredients for easy ordering. The Indian Garden | 247 E."

"Mana Food Bar is a shoebox-size meatless mecca with dark booths, chunky wooden stools, and soft, lighting to complement the Korean-influenced vegetarian-friendly menu. This friendly, Wicker Park restaurant satisfies diners with a selection of globally-inspired options ranging from green curry or sesame noodles, gyoza, and bi bim bop to fresh Panzanella and brown rice mushroom sliders, which are delivered to almost every table in the house. Don’t miss the creamy polenta with sautéed mushrooms and finish off with cucumber Sakerita or homemade ice cream."

"The family-owned Il Vicinato Ristorante has welcomed Chicagoland diners since 1983 and has changed little on its menu of Italian classics since its early days. The nostalgic neighb..."

"We've tried finding a less-than-delicious dish on Tweet's massive menu and have determined such a dish does not exist. The cute, cozy, cash-only breakfast and lunch spot in Uptown truly has something for everyone. From huevos rancheros to bagels and lox to vegan-friendly faves, good luck eating your way through all of it!"

"This late-night den was a favorite of the late Anthony Bourdain who filmed several TV segments here as it’s the antithesis of many of the yuppie Old Town bars around the corner on Wells. The dive sports inappropriate paintings of Chicago history, including depictions of incarcerated ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich and is a destination for many, drawing a diverse group of patrons from all walks of life."