GoChicago.com - The Official Chicago & Illinois Tourist Office Website

Chicago’s motto, Urbs in Horto — the City in a Garden — is a way of life and the city provides a wealth of outdoor opportunities. Architect Daniel Burnham and landscape designer Fredric Law Olmsted are remembered as the men who envisioned a city complete with lakefront parks for citizens’ enjoyment.

Chicago is bordered on the east by Lake Michigan, the world’s fifth largest body of fresh water. The lakeshore is lined with 26 miles of clean beaches, parks, with bike paths, and hiking trails, plus several harbours where you can join a dinner cruise or a boat tour. One of the best places to enjoy the lake is from Navy Pier, where you will find outdoor dining, shopping, live music, and special events throughout the year.

Millennium Park, since opening in 2004, has quickly become Chicago’s crown jewel, offering a world-class pavilion for outdoor concerts along with engaging sculptures and fountains mere steps from Chicago’s skyline.

	Navy Pier
	Parks
	Professional Sport

Navy Pier - There is always something happening at Chicago's lakefront playground. Offering more than 50 acres of parks, gardens, retail shops, restaurants and attractions for all ages. Visit the IMAX® cinema, Chicago Children's Museum, Chicago Shakespeare Theater and the Skyline Stage where outdoor concerts are held throughout the summer.

Chicago Beaches - Miles of sandy beaches offer panoramic views of beautiful Lake Michigan and Chicago's legendary skyline. The Chicago beaches are free and open for swimming from Memorial Day (late May) to Labor Day (early September).

Millennium Park - Twenty-four lush acres in the heart of downtown, offering everything from interactive public art to al fresco dining and classical music. The centerpiece of the park is the Frank Gehry-designed Jay Pritzker Pavilion, a stunning outdoor concert venue with a billowing headdress of stainless steel ribbons and an overhead trellis of crisscrossing steel pipes.

Lincoln Park - Among 1,200 sprawling acres of greenery you’ll find bike paths, tennis courts, beaches, the Lincoln Park Conservatory Gardens, a lagoon complete with paddleboat rentals, and much more.

Lincoln Park Zoo - The world’s largest free zoo. Visit the Regenstein African Journey with its elephants, giraffes, rhinos and other native African wildlife. The new Regenstein Center for Africa Apes is an extraordinary home for apes and chimpanzees unlike any other in the country. Feed farm animals at the petting zoo, and enjoy a magical ride on the carousel.

Chicago Cubs - The beloved baseball team of northside Chicago plays at historic Wrigley Field. The ivy covered walls and hand-operated scoreboard make this a truly special spot to catch nine innings of America’s favourite pastime.

Chicago White Sox - Southsiders watch their baseball team play at U.S. Cellular Field, a grandly renovated modern stadium with loads of extra fan entertainment and a wide variety of ballpark cuisine.

Chicago Bears - Catch an American football game at the newly renovated Soldier Field, just south of the city’s Museum Campus.

Chicago Bulls - During winter and early spring, the world-famous Bulls play basketball at the United Center on the city’s near west side.

Chicago Blackhawks - Take in a hockey game with the Blackhawks, who also play at the United Center during the winter hockey season.

Chicago Fire - This Spring 2006, The Chicago Fire will be playing in their new, world-class soccer venue, Toyota Park.