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Illinois, United States

Lincoln Park

Free zoo, glasshouse and lakefront for a slow Jan 1. Below: 1 sight, 1 activity and 1 outdoor spot, plus how Lincoln Park fits into a longer trip.

Plan Lincoln Park with friendsBrowse 6 places
Lincoln Park, Illinois, United States
Places
6

1 See · 1 Do · 1 Outdoors · 2 Eat · 1 Drink

Curated routes
1

Chicago New Year's Eve

Best season
Dec 30 – Jan 1

from our route notes

Warmest month
July

25°C / 77°F avg high

Coolest month
January

0°C / 32°F avg high

Wettest month
May

about 117 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for Chicago, the nearest city we track.

Things to do in Lincoln Park

6 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

The landmarks we would not skip in Lincoln Park.

  • Lincoln Park Conservatory in Lincoln ParkPhoto: Ben Schumin · CC BY-SA 2.0
    See

    Lincoln Park Conservatory

    Free 1890s glasshouse full of palms, ferns and orchids; warm and green on a grey January day.

    Tip Holiday hours vary; confirm Jan 1 opening before you walk over.

    • Lincoln Park
    • Free
    • 45 min
    • Afternoon

Do

Hands-on ways to spend time in Lincoln Park.

  • Lincoln Park Zoo in Lincoln ParkPhoto: Kenneth C. Zirkel · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Do

    Lincoln Park Zoo

    Free zoo open every day of the year, with lions, gorillas and polar bears a few minutes from the lake.

    Tip ZooLights typically runs into the first days of January; check dates if you want the evening light show.

    • Lincoln Park
    • Free
    • 2 hr
    • Midday

Outdoors

Trails, views and open space in and around Lincoln Park.

  • North Avenue Beach in Lincoln ParkPhoto: Bohao Zhao · CC BY 3.0
    Outdoors

    North Avenue Beach

    Lakefront beach and pier on the Lakefront Trail with one of the best views back to the Gold Coast skyline.

    Tip Walk out on the curved pier at the south end for the skyline; wind chill is much stronger by the water.

    • Lincoln Park
    • Free
    • 45 min
    • Late afternoon

Eat

2 places to eat, picked for groups who care about the food.

  • Eat

    R.J. Grunts

    Burger-and-brunch spot across from the zoo, open since 1971 as the first Lettuce Entertain You restaurant.

    Tip Check holiday hours; it is a natural first stop before the zoo.

    • Lincoln Park
    • $$
    • 60 min
    • Late morning
  • Eat

    Alinea

    Grant Achatz's tasting-menu restaurant on Halsted Street, open since 2005 and a once-a-year kind of NYE dinner.

    Tip Tickets are sold in advance online; NYE seatings are released months ahead.

    • Lincoln Park
    • $$$$
    • 3.5 hr
    • Dec 31

Drink

1 bar or café for coffee, a round or a nightcap.

  • Drink

    Kingston Mines

    Blues club on Halsted Street since 1968, with two stages and bands playing until the early hours.

    Tip NYE is ticketed; on Dec 30 a cover at the door gets you two stages of live blues.

    • Lincoln Park
    • $$
    • 2.5 hr
    • After 10 pm

How to fit Lincoln Park into a trip

Lincoln Park is stop 2 of 2 on our Chicago New Year's Eve route. Follow it as-is or lift Lincoln Park into your own plan.

Weather by month, based on Chicago

Our climate figures for Lincoln Park come from Chicago, about 5 km (3 mi) away. Average daily highs run from 0°C / 32°F in January to 25°C / 77°F in July. May is the wettest month, with about 117 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for Chicago. Chicago weather (covers Lincoln Park) →

Near Lincoln Park

8 other destinations from our guides within about 300 km (186 mi), measured in a straight line.

Lincoln Park questions, answered

How many days do you need in Lincoln Park?

On our Chicago New Year's Eve route it is stop 2 of 2 in a 3-day trip. Split evenly, that is about 2 days here, an estimate rather than a rule. The listed visit times for our 6 places add up to roughly 11 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Lincoln Park best known for?

Free zoo, glasshouse and lakefront for a slow Jan 1. Standouts on our list: Lincoln Park Conservatory (Free 1890s glasshouse full of palms, ferns and orchids; warm and green on a grey January day); North Avenue Beach (Lakefront beach and pier on the Lakefront Trail with one of the best views back to the Gold Coast skyline); Lincoln Park Zoo (Free zoo open every day of the year, with lions, gorillas and polar bears a few minutes from the lake).

When is the best time to visit Lincoln Park?

Our Chicago New Year's Eve route is best Dec 30 – Jan 1. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for nearby Chicago put the warmest highs in July (25°C / 77°F), the coolest in January (0°C / 32°F) and the most rain in May (about 117 mm).

What are the best things to do in Lincoln Park?

Start with Lincoln Park Zoo, Lincoln Park Conservatory and North Avenue Beach. Our guide lists 6 places in all, from 1 sight, 1 activity, 1 outdoor spot, 2 places to eat and 1 bar or café.

Where should a group eat in Lincoln Park?

Our picks: R.J. Grunts (Lincoln Park); Alinea (Lincoln Park). Check holiday hours; it is a natural first stop before the zoo (R.J. Grunts).

What is near Lincoln Park?

The closest destinations in our guides are The Loop & Chicago River (about 4 km / 3 mi), Chicago (about 5 km / 3 mi) and Indiana Dunes (about 58 km / 36 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Lincoln Park with your crew

Open the Chicago New Year's Eve route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 6 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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