Lincoln Park
Sunday’s weather was sunny and cool - a perfect day for a long walk. So we decided to visit the Lincoln Park Conservatory, two miles north of our apartment. We started by walking on the Lakefront Trail. It was VERY windy, with waves cresting the seawall and crashing onto the paved pathway. With the sandy beaches, Lake Michigan looked a lot like the Atlantic Ocean. Fortunately, when we walked across the bridge over Lakeshore Drive and reached Lincoln Park, it was no longer windy. Lincoln Park is Chicago’s largest park, and it was lovely to have the whole afternoon free to wander through it.
We hadn’t intended to visit the Lincoln Park Zoo, but it was free, and on the way to the conservatory. So we meandered through the zoo. Some animals were hard to spot: the sloth was asleep in its hammock, and the lioness was napping behind the rocks. But the flamingos were awake and in great form, and the caiman (cousin to the alligator) grinned and posed for us. It was fun!
The Lincoln Park Conservatory was fantastic. There were ferns, orchids, and tropical plants galore. There were exotic plants I had never seen before, and magnificent versions of plants that were familiar (we are from Florida, after all). Imagine your favorite houseplants, growing huge and wild and free. I was in heaven! I took a lot of photos and put them in a separate gallery.
After exploring the conservatory, we walked south along the western edge of Lincoln Park, waving to the statue of Abraham Lincoln as we left the park and headed home. Gold Coast, the neighborhood immediately south of the park, was beautiful, with quiet, shady streets and ornate buildings. It was also historic - along with some Gilded Age mansions, there was an alley paved with wood blocks, dating back to 1909! That peaceful stroll was the perfect way to end our lovely afternoon in Lincoln Park.
