The 606
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Dividing Chicago's Logan Square and Humboldt Park neighborhoods, The 606 is a former industrial rail line that's been transformed into a nature trail and a public space. In addition to being an excellent place to enjoy the outdoors, the 2.7-mile-long park hosts an assortment of events and shows for visitors to experience.
Recent travelers loved that The 606 has a variety of access points, which means visitors can explore the trendy western Chicago neighborhoods that the park borders. Physically active reviewers also suggest travelers complete a run, walk or bike ride along the length of the trail. (Divvy, Chicago's bike-share program, has a station near the park.)
The park is open year-round from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. and is free to access. During the winter, the Chicago Park District will remove snow to keep the center of the trail clear until the area's first significant snowfall (ranging from 3 to 6 inches). At that point, the snow will be left to promote winter activities like snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
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#1 Grant Park and Buckingham Fountain
Often referred to as "Chicago's front yard," Grant Park is a 319-acre swath of green space that starts at the eastern edge of the Loop and stretches down to the northern fringes of the Near South Side. First-time visitors should plan on spending a fair amount of time in Grant Park: This is where you'll find several of Chicago's most popular things to do, including The Field Museum, the Art Institute of Chicago and Shedd Aquarium. (Millennium Park also rubs elbows with the northwest corner of Grant Park.) Baseball diamonds, flower gardens, walking paths and wide-open grassy terrain are available as well.
At the heart of Grant Park is Buckingham Fountain. One of the largest fountains in the world, this tiered water feature boasts 133 jets that shoot water as high as 150 feet into the air during 20-minute choreographed displays (which take place every hour on the hour between 9 a.m. and 10:35 p.m. from April to October). At night, the fountain's performance is accompanied by lights and music.
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