We are very fortunate people. We live in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood. For the last 40 years in the same building. With a view of Lincoln Park and Lake Michigan. Every day, weather permitting, we take walks through Lincoln Park. It covers 1,208 acres from North Avenue on the south to Ardmore Street on the north, near the terminus of Du Sable Lake Shore Drive, along Lake Michigan, on Chicago's North Side. It is the city's largest public park and is the second most visited city park in the United States, behind Central Park in New York City. It includes two museums, a zoo, parkland, recreational areas, a nature preserve, bird refuges, beaches, a golf course and harbors. In the spring and summer, it hosts one of the largest farmers' markets in the city, on Wednesday and Saturday. Most popular destinations are Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago History Museum, Lincoln Park Conservatory, Peggy Notebaert Nature Preserve, Alfred Caldwell Lily Pond, Waveland Avenue Golf Course and North Avenue Beach, where you can enjoy the most spectacular view of downtown Chicago's skyline. My wife and I love to walk past the Abraham Lincoln statue behind the Chicago History Museum, view the birds that call the Lincoln Park pond their home and visit the Lincoln Park Zoo, making sure to see the daily show at the seals' aquarium. On the way back, we always walk past the magnificent Ulysses S. Grant statue. The park is a popular gathering place for dog lovers. And there are plenty of benches for retirees like us to enjoy the scenery.

Walked this around 9am on a Thursday morning in Mid-may. The weather was excellent and the park was full of kids and teachers for what looked like a field day of sorts. Ball fields and playgrounds, water features, statues and other expected park things were abound. They have walking paths and maps to help you know where to go. It was certainly safe in the middle of the day, but this was the first and only park that I noticed visible homeless encampments.

Great park to visit in the city. Built or named to honor one great American president . There is a zoo in the premises but animals seem to be missing. Maybe it is because of the heat. Also didn’t get to see the garden or conservatory. Just a reminder , be prepared to walk . It is not comfortable doing that with the sunny atmosphere and high humidity prevailing during this month . Photo ops yes , there is plenty of them .

Lincoln Park, which stretches from North Avenue to Diversey Parkway along DuSable Lake Shore Drive and Lake Michigan, is the largest public park in Chicago. And my wife and I have the luxury of living next to it and having an opportunity to walk through it whenever we choose, weather permitting. There is so much to see and do. Can you squeeze it all in? In one day? Start with the Chicago History Museum at the corner of North Clark Street and North Avenue. See the iconic Abraham Lincoln standing statue behind the museum. Walk under the LaSalle Street overpass and observe the Benjamin Franklin statue, then walk north on the promenade to the South Pond, where birds and turtles abound. Visit the Lincoln Park Zoo, the second oldest zoo in the United States that dates to 1868. See the seals, tigers, lions, snakes, gorillas, monkeys, flamingos, swans, rhinos, giraffes, polar bears. Marvel at the magnificent equestrian statue of Ulysses S. Grant that overlooks the South Pond. See the ducks and kayakers and other boating enthusiasts in the lagoon that separates the park from traffic on the expressway. Watch a soccer match on the pitch or a baseball game. Finally, stop at North Avenue Beach. Watch a volleyball game. Sit on the concrete wall on the south end and enjoy a spectacular postcard view of Chicago's beautiful skyline. Or you might find an opponent for a game of chess or checkers. Trust me. I've been there. New York City's Central Park isn't in the same league with Chicago's Lincoln Park.

My family and I walked through Lincoln Park. There was a lot of free street parking without any major restrictions. We enjoyed the views of Chicago’s skyscrapers, and this park was well manicured with its plants, its paths, and its fountains. There was even a restaurant within this park. We could also see great views of Lake Michigan. We felt uneasy when we walked through this park at night, and it was empty after sundown occurred.