Botanic Garden
WHERE: 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, Illinois – about 20 miles north of Chicago
WHEN: Open year-round. Allow at least 35 minutes for tours.
WHAT: Nature
Chicago’s Botanic Garden is over 385 acres of natural beauty – perfectly maintained so that from opening to sundown, all year long, this nature is always in bloom. There are twenty-six formal gardens here, plus woods, waterways, and other spacious areas that will inspire you as only nature can. The Aquatic Garden is a winding boardwalk overlooking water lilies. There’s a rose garden, a traditional Japanese garden, and beautiful sculptures and waterfalls throughout to enhance the plant life. You’ll see an English meadow, a prairie dotted with wildflowers, and even a model railroad with houses built to scale. The Botanic Garden evolves daily as nature tends to do, especially with each of Chicago’s changing seasons. So any day that you tour this beautiful landscape, you’re getting a completely unique experience. Here are some of the other highlights of this tour:
- PHOTOGRAPHY
If you like photography, you’ll definitely want to bring a camera on this trip. You’re welcome to take casual photos (or video) of theses stunning scenes.
- SCULPTURE
You’ll find amazing sculptures throughout our gardens, so keep your eye out for mermaids, charming pumpkins, and birds taking flight. These were gifts to the Botanic Gardens and add brilliant artistic depth to their surroundings.
- TRAM TOURS
The Botanic Gardens offers two 35-minute tram tours, one around the perimeter and one through all the sights and colors of the brilliant gardens on the main island. Tickets are just five dollars, and it’s a great way to get the whole big, beautiful picture!
