Best Free Attractions Near Chicago

You won't need to choose between sustenance and amusement when you are planning your next day trip. With a plethora of outdoor and indoor locations to choose from, you are sure to experience the best in free entertainment. From museums to sculpture parks, there are many educational and entertaining events to consider for your outing. Take a look at some of the best free attractions you can visit near Chicago.

The Baha'i House Of Worship
100 Linden Ave.
Wilmette, IL 60091
(847) 853-2300
www.bahai.us

Open daily from 6 a.m. to 10p.m., the Bahá'í House of Worship is perfect for prayer and meditation. You may also be intrigued by the splendid architectural design. The architect, French Canadian Louis Bourgeois, aimed to construct a "universal temple to Truth as a gathering place for all humanity". This house of worship is 1 of 7 in the world, making it a particularly unique location to experience. Stroll outdoors through the nine gardens, each featuring fragrant and colorful flora that are planted "to convey the beauty of unity in diversity."

The gorgeous campus of Northwestern University can be enjoyed by students and public alike. The Mary & Leigh Block Museum of Art is home to a permanent collection of approximately 5,000 prints, photographs and drawings, and features exhibits by international and emerging artists. The museum also hosts fascinating lectures and classic and contemporary films for viewing. Consider requesting a docent-led tour for your visit if you are a group of 5 or more. Tours are available every weekend. 

Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park
McCormick Blvd., between Dempster St. and Touhy Ave.
Skokie, IL 60076
(847) 679-4265
sculpturepark.org

Downtown Chicago has its share of impressive public sculpture, but if you travel just 30 minutes outside of the city you will discover a rare sculpture haven.   At the Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park you will be able to experience a walk or bike ride among nature, with views of intricately welded steel, bronze, granite, copper, glass and wood. The free admission attraction features more than 60 sculptures by local, national and international artists, spanning for two-miles. Families with children may want to participate in the annual "Art in the Park" event, where children are able to express their creativity through art. Visit the website for more details on park events.

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Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is a beautiful space that spans over the 15 miles of Lake Michigan. Entering West Beach or the campground will cost you, but there are plenty of other free sites and activities to engage nature lovers. Map out a path on any of the 45 miles of hiking trails and sand dunes. Get lost in nature and you may have the opportunity to witness migrating birds amid the wetlands, bogs and fens. Take a bike ride through prairies of wildflowers and babbling brooks. The Visitors Center offers artist-in-residence exhibits and extensive information about dunes geography.

Just short drive or train ride away, Kenosha, Wisconsin offers a lot for a little. Here, you can take a free tour at the Jelly Belly Candy Company, then work off the samples by strolling the Kenosha Sculpture Walk along the harbor. Visit the Kenosha Public Museum for an opportunity to learn about natural science and fine arts. You may also want to climb the lighthouse at the Southport Light Station Museum, open seasonally. Kids will love the Dinosaur Discovery Museum, the only Museum that explores the link between modern birds and carnivorous dinosaurs. Kenosha is also home to Wisconsin's oldest Harley-Davidson dealership, Uke's Harley-Davidson, which houses an on-site museum. After engaging in the many free events and sites, be sure to visit Frank's Diner, "a registered historical landmark, and the oldest continuously operating lunch car diner in the country". Bring cash as credit cards are not an accepted tender.

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Jacky Runice has been a columnist with the Daily Herald Chicago since grunge music and flannel was the new black. Her fingers and gray matter have been busy as travel editor of Reunions Magazine; penning a column that was syndicated around the nation via Tribune Media Services. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.