So during the summer I (as well as many other folks from what I can tell) like to take my bike downtown and bike along the lake front. I did this twice this year; once from Lincoln Park to the convention center and back and another from the convention center to Hyde Park and back, where I got off and explored the neighborhood a little.
So here we go. I start off at Lincoln Park Zoo. One of the last remaining
free zoos in the country.
I'm gonna throw in some critters here, just cuz I took so much.
(That's a little cheetah guy napping in a bucket)
Monkeys!
After the zoo I make my way over to the Lincoln Park Conservatory.
If I had come a little later in the year, all this dirt would be full of flowers.
I like palm trees.
Exiting the conservatory, I see this to my right:
At that point I get on my bike and begin my trek south.
My last shot of Lincoln Park
North Avenu Beach
Looking back
and forward
Lake Point Tower
Museum Campus - Field history Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and Adler Planetarium
Soldier Field
The first time I had gone, I skipped Northerly Island and just went straight to the convention center. However the second time around (yesterday) I took the loop around it.
Skyline from the tip of this "island" (its really more of a penninsula, but whatever)
Northerly Island used to be home of Meigs Field, Chicago's downtown airport. However after 9/11 Mayor Daley, without telling anybody, had a crew rip up the runway in the middle of the night. Now all that remains of this airport is a garage and the control tower.
The convention center, McCormick Place. This is the point I turned back the first time.
I continue south for about 7 miles until I get my first glimpse of the Museum of Science and Industry.
Across from the front entrance to the museum.
The back, viewed from Jackson Park
As many of you probably know, this museum is the only remaining structure from the 1893 Worlds Fair's "White City". Personally, it is my favorite museum in the city.
Now I head west to the University of Chicago. This is the most impressive church I have ever seen: The Rockefeller Memorial Chapel. It was built to purposely be the most dominant building on campus.
Now I decide to walk around campus.
From there I go to Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House for a tour, just a short walk a way.
Here we are. They didn't allow photos of the interior, unfortunatly. But they were rehabbing it to its former glory so I guess any pictures wouldn't be worth much anyway.
After the tour I take another short walk around the block to see a sampling of some of the neighborhood's beautiful homes.
There were lots of churches in the area.
And from there I get back on my bike and head home.
If you are ever in Chicago, I would highly recommend renting a bike and taking a ride along the lake. It really is a nice ride.