Chicago Botanic Garden

The grounds are incredible — gorgeous landscapes with so much variety. The campus is perfect for half a day of wandering, or take the outer loop for a beautiful half-hour walk. They have thoughtful programming for all ages, from live music and seasonal events to certificate courses for adults on a breadth of topics. I really fell for CBG after my oldest went to their summer camp. It was incredibly well-organized, everyone was so kind, and my daughter was so excited to share what she learned every day, from the history of ginkgo trees to the number of butterfly species she spotted in their garden. It’s a truly welcoming place, which can be hard to achieve for such a large institution.