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[title]Green with envy? Not so much. With urban options for fishing, birding, deer spotting, trail hikes, wetlands and prairie, Chicago hardly resembles a concrete jungle. These impressive pockets of nature keep city families in the green.
McCormick Bird Sanctuary in Burnham Park
Chicago’s lakefront is already a hotbed for spotting migrating birds, but the Chicago Park District has made it even more hospitable with four bird sanctuaries, including this six-acre site in Burnham Park. Developed in 2003 to cover the roof of McCormick Place’s parking garage, the nature area draws travel-weary birds with a prairie, woodland and shrubs, plus a freshwater stone birdbath. A wood-chip walk and interpretive signs help kids spot different species. East of 2301 S Lake Shore Dr (312-742-7529, explorechicago.org)
Wolf Lake at William W. Powers State Recreation Area
On the Illinois-Indiana border, just before the sci-fi moonscape of abandoned lakefront steel mills, sits beautiful Wolf Lake, a 160-acre rec area that draws picnicking families, hikers and fishing enthusiasts. Bring poles and let the kids try for bass, northern pike, walleye and yellow perch. 12949 S Avenue O (773-646-3270, dnr.state.il.us)
North Park Village Nature Center
Deer sightings are almost guaranteed at this 46-acre Northwest Side nature preserve that once functioned as a tuberculosis sanitarium. After hiking through woodland, wetland, prairie and savanna—and admiring Chicago’s only waterfall—be sure to stop in the education center for kid-geared interactive displays and family programming. 5801 N Pulaski Rd (312-744-5472, chicagoparkdistrict.com)
North Branch Trail at Roman Pucinski Reserve
Families can hike, bike or canoe through the Forest Preserve District of Cook County’s Northwest Side. The paved North Branch Trail starts at Devon and Caldwell avenues and follows the river 20 miles northwest into Lake County. (4019 N Narragansett Ave, 773-777-1489)