Whether you live in the Chicago area or are here for a visit with your family, there are a few things that should always be on your to-do list. The one I strongly suggest? The Garfield Park Conservatory. This is one of the largest conservatories in the country with more than 10 acres of greenhouses, outdoor gardens, nature spaces, and play places. Not only could I not get enough of the wide variety of plants they showcased, but the kids had an absolute blast. Best of all, it is easy to get to and FREE! Read on for details on what you will see and what to expect when visiting with kids.
And while you are in Chicago be sure to check out our post on Chicago Museums, the Lincoln Park Zoo, and Things to Do with Kids at Navy Pier. And if you are planning a getaway to Chicago, see our round-up on a Chicago Weekend with Kids.
Exploring the ancient plants in the Palm House was an adventure.
What to See at the Garfield Park Conservatory
The Garfield Park Conservatory is divided into an indoor and outdoor space, both quite expansive. Inside the greenhouse, you will find balmy temperatures and various plants ranging from desert biomes to tropical rainforests. Outside there is a play garden for the kids imaginations to run wild, a garden growing food for harvest, trails to explore, a patio to eat your picnic lunch on, and benches to sit on and rest your weary feet by the lily pond.
The Palm House and Fern Room
The Palm House and Fern Room are the two biggest indoor areas in the conservatory. There is a nice path around the Palm House and two secret paths into the garden beds that your kids will enjoy traversing.
We loved the Fern Room! The ferns and humidity gave it a jungle-like feel and the hungry Koi fish in the pond will dutifully follow your children around in droves! Look carefully and you will also see turtles in the water. In the back of the room are a couple of waterfalls and two tiny streams you can cross.
I loved seeing the variety of succulents and prickly plants in the Desert House.
Desert and Aroid Houses
The Desert House was my personal favorite. I just had no idea there was such a variety of beautiful and flowering succulents in the desert! They also had some impressively large cacti. The Aroid house hosts another pond filled with Persian Lilies and gorgeous yellow glass sculptures. My kids were more interested in the beautiful Koi fish, but we all enjoyed taking a break on a nearby bench.
Sugar From the Sun
This room showcased edible plants! There were educational displays on photosynthesis and signs telling you where to look and touch. If you look up you will see bushels of bananas growing from the trees. There is a chocolate tree that our kids got a kick out of seeing. In a few pots, there were tiny pineapple plants (not edible like the big ones someone told me) and even a vanilla orchid from Mexico.
The Outdoor Garden
As remarkable as the indoor area was, my kids really loved the outdoor garden area. The kids would have stayed in the Play and Grow Garden for ages if I had let them. There was something whimsical about the garden; the kids’ imaginations just went wild playing in there. If you are a local this would be a great place to meet your friends for coffee and a chat on the weekends while your kids play. The nearby Lily Pond was big and beautiful with quite an assortment of lilies. The kids enjoyed walking over the bridge and looking at dragonflies flittering about.
The Demonstration Garden had an extraordinary bounty ready for harvest when we visited, which made for an even more exceptional experience. Behind the garden are trails to explore and the peaceful Bluestone Terrace is a perfect spot for a picnic lunch!
The Lily Pond outside is a spectacular sight with quite an array of different lilies.
Tips for Visiting the Conservatory with Kids
I brought a stroller and except for a couple of steps which I could get down and up with my stroller to get into the fern room, it was completely stroller friendly.
The only bathrooms I saw were in the lobby at the entrance, so make your kids go when you get there. There are changing stations in the bathrooms.
They have a gift shop selling souvenirs and drinks and a coffee cart offering drinks and baked goods. The park is in a residential area so I suggest packing a picnic lunch.
Events and Programs at the Garfield Park Conservatory
The Garfield Conservatory has a lot of family-friendly programs and events, most of which are FREE! On weekends there is a program called Budding Botanists that has a station set up where Nature Educators provide activities for kids of all ages to interact with. Wild Wednesdays is an outdoor evening program designed for kids ages four and up. This is a drop-in nature and science-themed program open to the community with activities such as fort building, bug hunts, and chalk art. Morning Glories is for children ages three and under and you can expect story time, a sensory bin, and a nature or science-themed lesson. Morning Glories is held on Friday mornings.
And if you are a local and have older children, be sure to check out the Urban Roots Teen Environmental Justice Program that employs high-school students at the conservatory to guide them into being, well, conservatory park guides!
Making their way around the labyrinth at Garfield Park Conservatory.
Know Before You Go:
- The Garfield Park Conservatory is FREE! They do, however, accept donations, and you need to make a timed reservation online in advance.
- The conservatory is located outside the downtown area but getting there should be a breeze. Parking was free and plentiful and there was a public transportation stop close by (take the Green Line to the Conservatory Stop).
- The conservatory has a coffee cart that sells beverages and snacks, but I would suggest packing a lunch since there isn’t anywhere in the area to buy a full meal.
- The conservatory is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. On Wednesdays, they are open late, until 8pm, and Thursday through Sunday they are open from 10am to 5pm.
- Bring sunscreen, hats, and bug spray if you plan to explore the outdoor area.
- Keep in mind that many of the rooms are hot since they are housing tropical plants—so dress accordingly.
All photos by author Lisa Warden.