Attractions & Activities/Gardens

Chicago Botanic Garden

1000 Lake Cook Rd Glencoe, IL 60022 847-835-5440

Description: GLENCOE. Located in a suburb 25 miles from the city, these gardens are well worth the drive. See recreated prairies, Japanese gardens, and giant topiaries, along with more than 20 other gardens. An added attraction is the Bee Line, a glass case that features over 10,000 pollinating bees. Managed by the Chicago Horticultural Society, this 400-acre preserve is also home to lagoons, waterways, and various botanical environments.

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Cuneo Museum and Gardens

1350 N Milwaukee Ave Vernon Hills, IL 60061 847-362-3042

Description: VERNON HILLS. Most recently home to printing magnate John F. Cuneo's family, this regal structure boasts a wealth of elaborate details, including a skylit ceiling (over 25 feet high) and a central courtyard. Eighteen rooms of the Italianate home are open to the public and feature ironwork accents, painted frescoes, a gilt-wood piano, and 17th-century tapestries. The gardens occupy 75 acres and are home to peacocks, fountains, and formal plantings. A conservatory and woodlands also provide a glimpse of the estate's riches.

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Garfield Park

100 N Central Park Ave Chicago, IL 60624 312-746-5092

Description: WEST SIDE. Traditional street lamps, a historic bandstand, and a gold-domed, Baroque-style field house set the tone of Garfield Park. Over 130 years old, the park offers 185-acres of playing fields, walking paths, and picnic areas. Both visitors and locals alike enjoy the park, which was designed by William Le Baron Jenney and renamed following the assassination of President Garfield. The park's conservatory also offers lovely indoor and outdoor gardens. A great stop if you're looking for a quick jog, walk, or a casual bike ride.

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Garfield Park Conservatory

300 N Central Park Ave Chicago, IL 60624 312-746-5100

Description: WEST SIDE. A serene, tranquil setting is the trademark of one of the world's largest indoor gardens. The conservatory, built in 1908, displays plants in natural settings, and its five permanent collections are sheltered in plant houses that recreate appropriate climates from around the world. The conservatory also boasts outdoor gardens, a children's garden, a gift shop, and refreshment center. Special events, including kids' activities, are a regular feature.

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Lincoln Park Conservatory

2400 N Stockton Dr Chicago, IL 60614 312-742-7736

Description: LINCOLN PARK. Located northeast of the Lincoln Zoo, the conservatory is a haven of flora and fauna. The plant life ranges from seasonal flowers to a fifty-foot rubber tree that dates back one hundred years. Don't forget to visit the French gardens and lush lawn outside the conservatory's glass dome.

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Morton Arboretum

4100 Illinois Rte 53 Lisle, IL 60532 630-968-0074

Description: LISLE. Located just a short distance from Chicago, this fabulous "Tree Museum" features 3000 varieties of trees, shrubs, and vines. Its 1700 acres include Illinois Tree Trails, sugar maples, a Crabtree orchard, a delightful prairie that blooms in summer and fall, 13 miles of trails, and 11 miles of road viewing. Founded by Joy Morton (of Morton Salt fame) in 1922, the Arboretum continues to delight guests with seasonal events, the Sterling Morton Library, and the Ginkgo gift and coffee shop.

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Oak Park Conservatory

615 Garfield St Oak Park, IL 60304 708-386-4700

Description: OAK PARK. Founded in 1914 by community leaders who hoped to beautify Oak Park, this conservatory's 8,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor greenery includes botanical specimens from around the world. Among its created venues are Tropic House, Fern House, Desert House, and Herb, Prairie, and Gazebo Gardens. In addition to special seasonal events, weekly plant and garden workshops and clinics are sponsored. Tours for groups of 10 or more are available by reservation.

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