Grant Park and Buckingham Fountain
Grant Park is frequently referred to as "Chicago's front yard." It has 319 acres of green space that begins at the eastern tip of Chicago's Loop and extends down to the northern edge of the Near South Side. Grant Park is a popular destination for Chicagoans. It is recommended that first-time visitors spend at least a few hours at Grant Park, which is home to several of Chicago's most prominent tourist attractions, including The Field Museum, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Shedd Aquarium. In addition, Millennium Park shares a boundary with the northwest corner of Grant Park. Additionally, there are baseball diamonds, flower gardens, strolling routes, and large expanses of grassy ground to choose from.
Buckingham Fountain, located in the middle of Grant Park, is a must-see. This tiered water feature, which is one of the largest in the world, includes 133 jets that blast water as high as 150 feet into the air during 20-minute coordinated presentations (which take place every hour on the hour between 9 a.m. and 10:35 p.m. from April to October). The fountain's performance is enhanced by lights and music throughout the evening hours.
Even while some recent visitors complained that there was little to do in this park, many others praised the carefully manicured grounds and spectacular views of downtown Chicago that Grant Park offers. Preparing for your visit to Grant Park requires checking the Chicago Park District's website for event listings, as some festivals and concerts – such as Lollapalooza and Taste of Chicago – that are held here can cause crowds to surge and certain sections to become limited.
If you are near Chicago Grant Park is open to the public from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week. The park and Buckingham Fountain are both free to enter, although some attractions within the park have specified hours and may demand an admission price. Some of the park's events and festivals are also subject to additional fees. Restrooms, quick-service restaurants, a playground, and a skate park are all available on-site, and in the winter, visitors can skate on the ice rink at the park, which is heated. It is possible to get to Grant Park via a number of different L train stations, including Monroe, Adams/Wabash, Jackson, and Roosevelt - all lines, with the exception of the Yellow and Blue lines, serve one or more neighboring stations. There are a couple parking facilities and a limited amount of street parking accessible within walking distance. Grant Park is also a popular stop on many of the city's greatest Segway tours and walking tours, as well as on many of the best Chicago sightseeing excursions.