Patrick Villacorta

Visited here in the winter to try out snowshoeing. We rented from them and also brought our own snowshoes. It was fun going on their trails and on the frozen-over ponds and lakes. We even encountered a couple of deer in their forest trail. After snowshoeing we spent time on theit toboggan run. They have large toboggans on-site and these are free to use once you are already in the park. Of course, it's always nice seeing the bison enclosure. They also have a shop, cafe and a small museum.

I'm honestly not much of an art museum fan. But I do enjoy unusual architecture and this building piqued my interest. Plus, it is free admission. There were a few exhibits/pieces that I found interesting. The location is also nice for some photos being by the river and a pedestrian bridge. I didn't stay too long so street parking was good enough for me.

Visitors should note that planetarium shows are not all at the big dome. There are one or two smaller theaters, which is where we ended up. Not a problem as it was a fun show for the kids but keep note if you wanted to experience the bigger theater. Before/after watching show, there are many interesting displays to explore especially for outer space fans. A big bonus is that just outside the museum is a great view of the Chicago skyline. Plus a lakeside stroll is always nice. Of course, be ready for the usual exorbitant Chicago parking rates if you want to park close.

A massive and impressive cathedral that combines both Eastern and Western European architectural styles. As impressive as the exterior is, the interior is on a whole other level. Just seeing pictures of the interior was enough for me to want to visit. I wasn't aware though that the designs and artwork on the walls/ceilings were mosaics and not paintings. That made it all the more impressive just thinking of all the effort it took to finish it. There are free tours that occur throughout the day and we were fortunate enough to catch one. This is recommended as you are able to go to a few places that are inaccesible if not on the tour. There is also a small museum in the basement.