Discover Beautiful Chicago Parks near our Magnificent Mile Hotel

Grant Park

Travel Chicago and spend some time exploring two Chicago parks nestled in the heart of downtown and within walking distance of the Silversmith Hotel & Suites, a premier option for downtown Chicago hotels near Grant Park and Millennium Park.

Originally named Lake Park, Grant Park Chicago, Illinois is a 319-acre landscaped area offering a picturesque and unique destination for outdoor activities near Lake Michigan. This area was originally a landfill consisting of debris from the Great Fire of 1871. Construction of the park began in 1917 with a layout consistent with a formal European park. Today, visitors are invited to stroll through the park to find expansive lawns, tree-shaded areas and several monuments, including a statue of Abraham Lincoln.

One of the focal points of Grant Park is the Clarence Buckingham Fountain, commissioned in 1927 by Kate Buckingham in honor of her brother Clarence. This fountain was built by Edward H. Bennett and is based on the ‘Bassin de Latome’ at the Palace of Versailles in France. This impressive fountain features a central jet of water shooting up to 150-ft and is especially marvelous at night with its computer-choreographed light and water show.

Millennium Park

In 2001, the area north of Grant Park was expanded to include the 24.5-acre Millennium Park Chicago, IL. Built on land originally controlled by the Illinois Central Railroad, this park, originally a rail yard is an ideal location for family-friendly activities.

Millennium Park features the Pritzker Pavilion, an outdoor music pavilion with a state-of-the-art sound system, accommodating up to 14,000 attendees for weekly concerts and special events. For indoor concerts and theatre performances, the Joan W. and Irving B. Harris  Theater for Music and Dance seats up to 1,500 guests for smaller events.

One of the most popular things to do in Chicago is found in Millennium Park at the Crown Fountain, which is a great place for adults and kids to cool off in the warmer months. This fountain consists of two 50-foot blocks shooting sprays of water at each end of a shallow reflecting pool. Other attractions include Cloud Gate, also known as “The Bean”, the amazing BP Bridge, the Millennium Monument and even an ice rink for the winter months.