City: Chicago, IL

Category: Tours & Attractions

Telephone: (847) 835-5440

Address: 1000 Lake Cook Rd.

Description: A quick drive up north and right off the highway takes you to this picturesque bounty of blooms. The history of these gardens dates back to 1890 and includes records of a chrysanthemum show hosted at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. The official gardens didn’t take root until 1972, but they have since been nurtured into 24 diverse display gardens and four natural areas that extend across 385 acres that encompass fruit and vegetable gardens, greenhouses, nine islands, and several lakes. Spring and summer are obviously the busiest seasons with a seemingly endless array of color and texture. From early May through Oct, the 7,500-square-foot Model Railroad Garden is an added attraction; the intricately designed, all-natural miniature railroad pays homage to the great landmarks of America like the White House and Statue of Liberty, and some right here at home like Wrigley Field. You might think winter would deter visitors, but it’s actually a surprisingly beautiful time to visit, as the gardens become an amazing celebration of the season with 750,000 lights twinkling amid the hushed quiet. From Thanksgiving through the beginning of the New Year, winter also brings indoor holiday displays, including the festive and spectacular Wonderland Express, an indoor model railroad where garden-size trains traverse a magical scene of more than 80 Chicago landmarks, created from natural materials (a short film shows the incredible work that goes into making it). Admission is technically free, but there is a parking fee (members receive parking included in their dues) of $20 for cars and $25 for vans; on Tuesday, senior citizens may park for $7. On Sunday, from spring through early fall, a trolley runs from the nearby Glencoe Metra station and is $2 roundtrip per person. There are also bicycle trails through the gardens and plenty of racks to lock up and then linger among the greenery. Open daily 8 a.m. to sunset.