Things to do in Evanston
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Top 10 attractions in Evanston
Grant Park
Grant Park covers approx. 319 acres and is a core cultural landmark in Chicago. In the center of the park is the Clarence F. Buckingham Memorial Fountain, completed in 1927. Its design was inspired by the fountains at the Palace of Versailles but on a grander scale, and after dark, its lights and water jets create a stunning display. The park connects cultural facilities such as Millennium Park and The Art Institute of Chicago. To the south stands the cast-iron sculpture group "Agora" by Polish artist Magdalena Abakanowicz—featuring numerous headless figures scattered across the lawn, it is a signature public art installation in the park. The park is also the main venue for many large annual events in Chicago. Strolling along the lakeshore path, you will see the vast waters ofLake Michiganon one side and the magnificent silhouette of the Chicago skyline on the other, making it a daily destination shared by locals and tourists alike for jogging, picnicking, or just taking a walk.Chicago · 20km from Evanston
Navy Pier
Located on the shore of Lake Michigan, Navy Pier has a history of nearly 100 years and is an iconic attraction in Chicago. Navy Pier is very large, it is U-shaped, with plazas and shops in the middle, and a walkway on the side, walking along the walkway, you can enjoy the view of Lake Michigan. At the end of the pier is the confluence of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. There is a plaza on which stands a large iron anchor, which was given to the Navy Pier by the cruiser Chicago as a memorial. 1. There is a sightseeing cruise at the entrance to the south side of the pier. You can buy a ticket here to get on the boat and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Lake Michigan on the boat. At night, there are many open-air bars and cafés along the promenade of the marina. When you are tired of playing, you can find a place to sit and enjoy the beautiful view of Lake Michigan, sip a cup of coffee or beer, and even look up at the brightly lit Ferris wheel in the night. 2. Surrounding attractions The large playground by the lake, covering an area of 50 hectares, has everything from parks, shops to restaurants and attractions. You can board the Ferris wheel for a panoramic view, or go for a merry-go-round, sky swing, mini golf, and more. The pier also has the Chicago Children's Museum (ChicagoChildren'sMuseum), Chicago Shakespeare Theater (ChicagoShakespeareTheater) and IMAX Theater. 3. Fireworks show From the end of May to the beginning of September, every Wednesday and Saturday, fireworks will be set off here to commemorate the people who once joined the army.Chicago · 18.6km from Evanston
Magnificent Mile
Magnificent Mileis located in downtown Chicago, Illinois, United States, and is one of the representative commercial districts on the northern section of Michigan Avenue. It extends north from the DuSable Bridge over the Chicago River to Oak Street, featuring a collection of large shopping centers, boutique shops, hotels, restaurants, and numerous historic buildings, serving as an important window into Chicago's city image. Strolling through this district, you can experience the unique charm created by the blend of modern urban commercial vitality and century-old architectural styles. The Wrigley Building, with its white clock tower, features an elegant exterior inspired by the Spanish Renaissance style, while the Gothic-style Tribune Tower appears solemn and imposing, with its walls embedded with important architectural fragments from around the world, each full of historical stories. Together, these two buildings form the iconic entrance view of the Magnificent Mile.Chicago · 17.7km from Evanston
Millennium Park
Millennium Park is located in the Loop area of downtown Chicago, United States, and is a large urban park that integrates natural views, public art, and modern architectural design. Upon entering the park, one of the eye-catching views is the mirror sculpture Cloud Gate, designed by artist Anish Kapoor. This massive stainless steel sculpture resembles a bean, and its highly polished surface acts like a giant mirror, reflecting the surrounding skyscrapers, blue sky, clouds, and visitors. Another interactive view in the park is the Crown Fountain, designed by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa. This view consists of two glass brick towers approx. 15 m tall, with large screens on the exterior of the towers that continuously display the faces of Chicago residents, showcasing the diverse and friendly side of the city's inhabitants. Especially in the warmer seasons, the fountain area becomes a joyful space for children to play in the water and for citizens to relax, adding a lively atmosphere to the park.Chicago · 19.1km from Evanston
Northwestern University
Northwestern University (abbreviated as NU) was founded in 1851 and has a history of more than 100 years. It is one of the well-known institutions of higher learning in the United States and is also a top ten university. This private institution is located in Evanston, Illinois, near Chicago. Northwestern University ranked 25th in the 2016 U.S. News Global University Rankings and 25th in the 2016 Times Global University Rankings. It is a college that students are eager to apply for. 1. Evanston Main Library The university has a total of 11 libraries, of which the main library on the Evanston campus is very large, with a total collection of more than 4.6 million books, a total of more than 40,000 magazines and magazines. Periodicals, students can check the location of materials through computerized library equipment. And the university also provides students with various services in life, such as law, psychological counseling, and has a "saferide" night transportation service for all students. 2. A variety of cultural activities Northwestern University has many traditional activities, such as several traditional customs during football games. When the opponent controls the ball, the students make their hands in the shape of claws and meow like a wild cat. Every winter, the school holds a marathon fund-raising welfare event. There are also students sticking out their windows or shouting with all their might on the campus at 9:00 am on the Sunday before the end of their term. Every spring, on the weekend after Memorial Day, concerts are performed on the lake-filled campus area.Evanston · 1.5km from downtown
Lincoln Park Zoo
Lincoln Park Zoo is located on the south side of Lincoln Park and was established in 1868. All visits are free due to social sponsorship. Some 1,200 animals currently call it home, with monitor lizards, Galapagos sea turtles, bald weasels, fruit bats and spiders being particularly noticeable. Plus, the zoo is a world leader in gorilla farming, and if you're lucky, you can see chimps drawing on advertising boards with crayons. The zoo is divided into two parts, one is Pritzker Family Children's Zoo; the other is FarmintheZoo, where cows, horses and other animals can often be seen in this small zoo farm , children can also feed these animals directly here. There are geese, mallards, swans, wood mallards and many unknown birds in the pond to the north. There is also a Regenstein Africa tour venue, which is a combination of outdoor and indoor environments where elephants, giraffes, rhinos, and other large mammals live. And the large glass-sealed box lets you come face-to-face with swimming pygmy hippos and rocky reefs full of Madagascar cockroaches. There is also a sea lion pond at the center of the zoo, which is home to harbor seals, seals, grey seals and California sea lions. There is also a small reptile house. Of course, in addition to animals, there are also other facilities such as the Tropical Plant Museum, and a small pier where you can take a swan boat.Chicago · 14.6km from Evanston
Lincoln Park
Lincoln Park is located in the north of downtown Chicago, on the shore of Lake Michigan, and covers a very large area. The park consists of turquoise vast grasslands, rolling beaches, natural nature reserves, vast harbours and diverse recreational facilities. The Lincoln Park is more famous than the Zoo and the Garden of Lincoln Park.Chicago · 15.4km from Evanston
Montrose Beach
Unless you visit Montrose Beach, you won't believe there is such a spectacular sandy beach in the American Midwest. In fact, Montrose Beach is not close to the sea. It is actually a 26-mile (42-kilometer) stretch of lakeside sand on Lake Michigan. The beach is located in Chicago's Lincoln Park, just a stone's throw from the city center. Come here and you'll see an amazing variety of wildlife, including hordes of snow owls and North American purple swallows. In addition to watching wild waterfowl, Montrose Beach is a great place for people to fly kites and surf.Chicago · 9.8km from Evanston
Baháʼí House of Worship
In Wilmette, Illinois, on the shores of Lake Michigan in the northern suburbs of Chicago, USA, there is a beautiful religious building, the Baha'i House of Worship. Even in Chicago, famous for its architecture, this highly symbolic historic building is a must-see. It was conceived and designed by French-Canadian designer Louise Bourgeois after 8 years of hard work. The House of Worship is a meeting place for Bahá'í followers of prayer and contemplation, similar to a Christian church. The first House of Worship was built in the Russian city of Ashgabat (now the capital of the Republic of Turkmenistan), completed in 1908, and later demolished in 1962 due to severe damage in an earthquake. At present, there are 7 Bahá'í Houses of Worship in the world, and the other 6 are located in Uganda, Australia, Germany, Panama, Samoa, and India, and are located in different continents. All houses of worship have one feature in common: a nine-sided hall (with a gate on each side, representing the possibility of joining the Bahá'í Faith from all directions), with a majestic dome and surrounded by gardens. All Baha'i Houses of Worship are open to adherents of all religions, and there are no sermons, ceremonies or priests inside.Wilmette · 3.1km from Evanston
Cloud Gate
Cloud Gate, designed by Anish Kapoor, is located in Millennium Park and is often referred to as the "Silver Bean" because of its resemblance to a bean. It is a very popular photography location for tourists in Chicago. Cloud Gate is inspired by flowing mercury, its mirror-like surface can reflect the beautiful city skyline of Chicago, and the bottom of the streamlined arch known as the "belly button" can add more reflective surfaces, which tourists like A place to take selfies. When walking into the middle of the statue, the whole space presents a distorted feeling, which will make people have the illusion of solid turning into liquid, and this design also enhances its interesting experience. If you want to photograph a different cloud gate, you can come here at sunrise, and you will have the opportunity to photograph the red beans under the rising sun. Or come here at night, the lights on the square are lit up, shining on the cloud gate, and colorful beans will appear.Chicago · 19km from Evanston
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Free things to do in Evanston
Grant Park
Chicago · 20km from EvanstonNavy Pier
Chicago · 18.6km from EvanstonMagnificent Mile
Chicago · 17.7km from EvanstonMillennium Park
Chicago · 19.1km from EvanstonNorthwestern University
Evanston · 1.5km from downtownLincoln Park Zoo
Chicago · 14.6km from EvanstonLincoln Park
Chicago · 15.4km from EvanstonMontrose Beach
Chicago · 9.8km from EvanstonBaháʼí House of Worship
Wilmette · 3.1km from EvanstonCloud Gate
Chicago · 19km from Evanston
What travellers say about Evanston
YoYo_1I8Q7O5O1 June 2026
5.0
Grant Park was quite spacious. Buckingham Fountain sprayed water high into the air, and children ran around the pool, not caring that their pants were getting wet. Many people lay on the lawn, some sunbathing, some doing somersaults. Under that big tree, someone was playing guitar, the tune languidly playing. In the distance, you could see the rows of large columns of the museum. I sat on a bench and ate an apple, pigeons swarming around waiting for the crumbs to fall. A cool breeze blew by, making me want to stay put.
Grant Park
?
16 October 2014
4.0
Magnificent Mile
Michigan Avenue crosses the Chicago River and passes through landmarks such as the Water Tower, the Art Institute of Chicago, and Millennium Park. It ends at the John Hancock Center in the north and is a famous commercial street.
Magnificent Mile
Sane7147 October 2022
5.0
Nice area to walk around, many things to look at, and the big silver jelly bean lol.. The city just gorgeous as well.. Must return one day
Millennium Park
小思文9 December 2021
4.0
Northwestern University is a city university in Chicago and a place where many international students study. This school is also an open environment that can be entered from different entrances. The teaching buildings inside are widely distributed and you can take a walk and visit them.
Northwestern University
Alaine086 July 2023
4.0
Zoo during winter, what were we thinking?! 😂 Not so much to see during the season, nevertheless, i had a good time spending time with my friend and exploring that part of Chicago 😁
Lincoln Park Zoo
667***777 January 2020
5.0
Lincoln Zoo is very large and the areas are clearly divided. There are mammals, primates, reptiles, and an African area. There is also an area for children to play. Although there are not many animal species, there are still many knowledge points. Because of the large area, it does not seem particularly crowded.
Bus No. 151 goes to the door, and there are a lot of parking spaces. There are only two restaurants and snacks. The supporting facilities are not enough.
Lincoln Park
M515shunyi161813 April 2022
5.0
The environment of this beach is very clean and the sand is relatively soft
Montrose Beach
sculptor18 November 2022
4.0
巴哈伊教灵曦堂是在美国伊利诺伊州威尔梅特的一座巴哈伊神庙， 它是有史以来建造的第二座巴哈伊灵曦堂，也是现存最古老的巴哈伊教堂。巴哈伊教灵曦堂是向公众开放，并用作任何信仰人士的灵修场所。
Baháʼí House of Worship
Sabrina.Anna.MM12 January 2022
5.0
I’m not sure the meaning of it but it’s cooler than I anticipated. get there before 10 am and you should be able to get photos with no or very few people in it
Cloud Gate
