5 nature outings in Chicago

Some 80 acres of dense canopy cover lend the combination of wetlands, savannas and meadows a genuinely rural feeling, and plenty of resident wildlife – from deer and mink to a range of birds and waterfowl – call it home. These woods mark the southern anchor of the North Branch Trail, a popular spot for biking.

Located within a uniquely protected woodland neighborhood called North Park Village, this roomy 46-acre area boasts miniature samples of Midwestern terrain: prairielands, an oak savannah, and wetlands. The coolest part is the park within a park called Walking Stick Woods: a 12-acre subdivision crossed with trails and natural play spaces set up for kids.

Often lost in the shadows of its more famous neighboring parks (Grant and Jackson), Burnham Park is a gloriously long stretch of green acreage with unparalleled views of Lake Michigan. Rolling green hills, modern bicycle bridges, a popular skate park and a massive bird and butterfly sanctuary are just a handful of the features that attract locals year-round.

Chicago isn’t exactly a diving mecca, but there are a handful of spots near the city to snorkel and scuba dive. The closest to shore is the shipwreck of the Silver Spray, which sank without fatalities in the summer of 1914 after hitting a shallow underwater rock terrain. Rusted in about 10-foot-deep water, it’s easily accessible for exploration.

Fields of wildflowers, preserved prairie and a large fish pond make this North Side park a popular spot with locals of all ages. Its 21 acres are situated on the northwest side of massive Rosehill Cemetery – plenty of room for a web of paved walking paths, leafy trails, and even a little village of fairy houses.