With An Art Museum, Gardens, Mega-Playground, And Concert Venue, This Illinois Park Is the Ultimate Family Destination
By Linze Rice|Published July 19, 2023
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Linze Rice
Author
Ope! From the rural cornfields of DeKalb County, Linze is an Illinois native and true Midwestern gal who can make a mean bonfire and whip up a perfect marshmallow salad. Since 2014, her bylines and photography have appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Magazine, Chicago Sun-Times, and Block Club Chicago/DNAinfo Chicago, Only in Your State, and more. She has interviewed Dolly Parton, written about beloved diners along historic Route 66, visited the last Rainforest Cafe in the Illinois, and reviewed luxurious English manor-inspired hotels. Whether it's writing about a local gem or world-renowned establishment, Linze brings a heartwarming and historical perspective to each story, using facts, wit, and personal experience to impress upon readers the importance of culture, food, travel, and all things local. Her favorite destinations in Illinois include Starved Rock State Park, Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood, the charming small town of Sycamore, and historic Rosehill Cemetery. When she's not writing or photographing, Linze enjoys gardening, spending time with her husband and pets, cooking, baking, and grilling, and relaxing with trashy TV.
Making positive memories with the family is one of the most important things parents and children can share together. With so many amazing outdoor activities in Illinois, including hundreds of fantastic parks, I truly believe that spending time together outside is one of the best ways to make those cherished memories. Growing up in rural DeKalb County, it was a rare treat when my mom would pack up my siblings and I and we’d hit the road to Chicago to spend an afternoon checking out a completely different world than ours. After visiting Millennium Park for the first time as a kid, I quickly realized that it was the ultimate outdoor family destination in Illinois.
Millennium Park is a 24.5-acre park located in downtown Chicago and is one of the top tourist destinations in Illinois and the Midwest, with more than 25 million visitors a year. With its number of features and exhibits, it's a favorite place for families to visit for a day packed with fun.
It's also home to the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, a massive outdoor concert venue with a great lawn that often hosts free concerts and is a popular place for picnics.
This is one of my favorite places in Chicago to see a show.
A favorite kids' activity in the park is splashing in the whimsical Crown Fountain — a huge foundtain-meets-splash-pad that features tall screens with people's faces depicting smiles, spitting water, and funny expressions.
This is always a sure way to cool off on a hot summer day!
A pedestrian bridge will then take you over to Maggie Daley Park — a 20-acre kids' wonderland with an incredible Play Garden that showcases a playground with towers, bridges, and sculptures surrounded by plants and flowers.
Back over the bridge again to Millennium Park, a peaceful boardwalk trail weaves through the Lurie Gardens, another gorgeous and serene spot to soak in some nature while surrounded by skyscrapers.
There are plenty of places to picnic throughout the park, but if you'd prefer to buy something fresh for lunch or dinner, stop by Millennium Hall food court just below The Bean!
So, do you think Millennium Park is the ultimate outdoor family destination in Illinois? What’s your favorite thing to do there? Have another great family destination in mind? Tell us in the comments! Start planning your trip by checking out the City of Chicago website, the Millennium Hall website, and the Millennium Hall Facebook page. Learn more about the gorgeous Lurie Garden here, and keep Maggie Daley Park in mind come winter, it turns into a one-of-a-kind skating rink!
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