The options for things to do in Chicago are as endless as the number of places where you can grab an Italian beef sandwich. And, this overabundance of activities holds especially true of Lincoln Park, one of the city’s most popular and affluent neighborhoods. Located near both Lake Michigan and the Loop, Lincoln Park allows its residents to experience the best of the urban scenery and greenery that Chicago offers. So, whether your ideal day involves basking among butterflies, or boogying to some blues music, you can bet there’s something for you here. Grab that “L” pass, and check out our list below for the perfect Lincoln Park itinerary.
Related: The Best Places to Go Ice Skating in Chicago
Fun Things to Do in Lincoln Park, Chicago
Lincoln Park Events & Attractions
Lincoln Park
Address: 3100 North Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60614
Cost: $
You can’t stop by the Lincoln Park neighborhood without visiting its namesake. Clocking in at over 1,200 acres, Lincoln Park is the biggest in all of Chicago and features some of the city’s most popular attractions, including the Lakefront Trail, an 18-mile path for bikers and hikers of all ages that runs along Lake Michigan. We especially love the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, where you can experience forty different kinds of exotic butterflies fluttering around you. Likewise, you can’t miss the Lincoln Park Conservatory, a Victorian-style glass hothouse that contains thousands of plants to wow your eyes and awe your senses. Plus, the next (and probably the most popular) destination on our list also resides in the park.
Lincoln Park Zoo
Address: 2400 North Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL 60614
Cost: $
One of the country’s oldest zoos, the Lincoln Park Zoo, will take you on a wild adventure through the tropics, oceans, and desert without requiring you to leave the Chicagoland area. Since it first opened in 1868, the zoo has offered free admission for anyone who wishes to discover more about the birds, mammals, and reptiles that inhabit our planet. And, today, the 35-acre park houses more than 200 unique species of animals, including sea lions, zebras, gorillas, and sloths. For fans of the viral sensation Moo Deng, you’ll want to stop by the Regenstein African Journey exhibit, which features its own state-side pygmy hippos.
Chicago History Museum
Address: 1601 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614
Cost: $
If you crave a deeper dive into Chicago culture beyond just swallowing some deep-dish pizza, check out the Chicago History Museum. The fascinating exhibits here cover topics that range from the indigenous people who originally lived in the area, to the role the city’s citizens played in the women’s suffrage movement, to archival photographs from Martin Luther King Jr.’s many trips to Chi-Town. However, the must-see display, “The City on Fire: Chicago,” explores the events that unfolded during The Great Chicago Fire of 1871, presenting first-hand accounts from survivors, art made about the event, and even wreckage left behind from the devastation.
Shopping in Lincoln Park
Armitage Avenue
Address: Various locations around Armitage Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614
Cost: $$
For anyone who gets their cardio in by shopping, both you and your credit card can get a workout on the bustling street of Lincoln Park’s Armitage Avenue. The unique boutiques here carry every necessity and trinket you can imagine, such as custom leather bags from Laudi Vidni, designer threads from Art Effect Boutique, and soft, cashmere sweaters from Jenni Kayne. All that shopping will work up an appetite — luckily, the restaurant options along Armitage Avenue, such as hamburger hot-spot Butcher & The Burger, match the quality of the retail shops. If a juicy sale and a juicy burger are not enticing enough already, Armitage Avenue’s reputation as Chicago’s unofficial “wine district” guarantees a great nightcap to a great day.
Nightlife in Lincoln Park
Kingston Mines
Address: 2548 North Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60614
Cost: $$
The heart of Chicago’s legendary blues music scene is, without doubt, Lincoln Park’s Kingston Mines. Founded in 1968, it is the largest and oldest continuously operating blues club within the city, and the names that have graced its two stages, which include Magic Slim, Sugar Blue, Billy Branch, and Junior Wells, speak to the prominence of its reputation. Although it may attract the big names of the genre, the bar feels casual, homey, and no frills, making it the type of place where all music lovers can gather without any fear of pretentious attitudes. And, with friendly bartenders, a food menu full of comfort-food classics, and a closing time of 4 AM, you can groove to the sounds of the band until the wee hours of the morning.
For more places to spend your evenings in Lincoln Park, try hitting up the neighborhood’s best bars.
Where to Eat in Lincoln Park
Whether you spent the day walking down Lakefront Trail or Armitage Avenue, taking in history at the Chicago History Museum or tunes at Kingston Mines, you’re bound to get hungry for more than just good fun in Lincoln Park. Fortunately, options as varied as Greek delicacies, Middle Eastern feasts, and Chicago-style pizza wait just around the corner, not to mention a cocktail or two to wash it all down. Check out our list of the best Lincoln Park restaurants for more information on the best bites and sips in the neighborhood.
Where to Live in Lincoln Park
Does Lincoln Park sound like more than just a place to spend a wonderful weekend? You can make it your home with the help of AptAmigo’s wonderful agents. Get started by checking out the best apartments in the area.
