If you want to try something different ( and basically be transported to another world ) , visit the Lincoln Park Conservatory and its accompanying Formal Garden.
"Constructed in stages between 1890 and 1895, the Conservatory was designed both to showcase exotic plants and to grow the thousands of plants needed for use in the parks," according to its website.
The plants are exotic, indeed, and are housed in the Palm House, Fern Room, Orchid House and Conifer Garden. Plants include banana and sour orange trees and others with intriguing names like the sausage tree, the sweat plant, lobster claw and the bullhorn acacia ( which has very thick thorns ) . One of the most fascinating items there is the tropical pitcher plant, a carnivorous species that can eat anything from flies to rats, depending on its size. ( By the way, keep in mind that the place is tropicaldown to the humidityso you might want to bring a towel or mini-fan, especially during the summer. )
Free tours with docents are available. Meet a docent in the front vestibule on the hour and half-hour on Fridays ( 1-4 p.m. ) , Saturdays ( 9 a.m.-12 p.m.; 1-4 p.m. ) and Sundays ( 1-4 p.m. ) .
The formal garden is in front of the conservatory and features an astonishing array of flowers in almost every color imaginable.
Admission to the conservatory, located at 2391 N. Stockton, is free; the place is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. every day. ( It will be closed Nov. 25, Dec. 23 and Dec. 30. ) Photos by Andrew Davis