Lincoln Park Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool

The Lily Pool is so peaceful. I’ll bring anyone here who hasn’t seen it. There are turtles in the pool if you look closely and benches around for you to just sit and relax. If you have a minute and are nearby stroll over here for some relaxation in Nature. Just a very lovely place to visit

A wonderful oasis in Chicago, and it almost didn’t exist. There really is some cool history behind beautiful park, ending with the architect, Caldwell, having to cash in his $ 5000 life just to buy the plants to make this place a reality.
A true hidden gem, most people don’t know this place exists or a too busy visiting Lincoln Park to stop by. It’s a perfect place to unwind or just take a stroll around.

If you live in a beautiful suburb or the countryside, there is nothing too unique about this place. What makes it unique is that it’s in the middle of Chicago, the third largest metro area in the US with a population of almost 10 million people.
In that context, it’s a very nice stop to go for a short walk, sit down and relax a little, etc.

A gem in Lincoln Park. Quiet, serene and the docents giving tours are a plus. I went for a stroll there last Sunday and met a docent. I loved the information I learned. Don’t miss a glimpse of this spot.

A beautiful and completely FREE attraction along the Lake Michigan shoreline.
The Lily Pool makes for a peaceful entrance into the Lincoln Park Zoo, also free.
Nice job, Chicago!

Came here after visiting the zoo. I loved it. It’s small but quaint and offers a lot of little seating areas. It’s one of those small hidden gem places in the middle of a busy city. I had it in my to do list while visiting the city and would love to go back one day!

The most peaceful spot in all of Lincoln Park!

It was a calming place in the midst of the city life! It is beautiful and calming

My now fiancé proposed to me at this absolutely stunning location. It was beautiful, serene, and full of nature. We had visited it one other time prior, when it was not in season. It was still nice to walk around and explore the rock formations, but the best time to go is obviously summer! For our proposal, his friends were in the foliage snapping pictures. They turned out absolutely beautiful!

great place to be
hear the birds
some squearls
lots green
some duks
mosquitos
bring you pic nic
clean stay and leave
dont leave don’t trow garbage pleaseeeee !!!
great for yoga to :)
free entrance
love it
give lot of peace
thanks

I am surprised by the high ratings, because when I showed up, I had high expectations, and I was not impressed. I went on a Saturday in late August. Just Lily, no fish or anything. I’d say maybe it’s nice to come here and just sit around, chill, have a quiet date with a significant other? Which there are people here sitting in very public paths showing a lot of PDA… Come on now! I also saw people taking family photo here. Not as scenic as I thought, have definitely seen better lily ponds. But, now I can say I checked off my list.

Such a gorgeous setting in the city. Our photographer decided to take me and my then fiancé (now hubs) here for engagement photos and it was the perfect complement to the downtown shots we had taken earlier. Beautiful for many reasons, but the lilypads, water and setting are calming and create such a peaceful oasis and escape from the city.

A wonderful sanctuary in the city. When the trees are in full bloom, you can’t even see any buildings from inside. Highly recommended to anyone who needs a break from the daily hustle and hustle of Chicago.

So peaceful and beautiful. Loved it hear. A perfect place for some quiet time. Saw lots of couples having picnics.
Very well kept.

A beautiful, peaceful place to take a stroll! If you visit remember this is not a picnic area!

Zen in the midst of the city! They just opened last week for the season. We usually always walk through here to get into the zoo on our walks and it’s soooo quiet and calm.
There are usually some picture takers but it’s generally not crowded at all ever. Now that the weather is nicer, we’ll be bringing our thermos of coffee and some pastries to have breakfast there.

I found this spot a few years ago and was taken by it. I recently visited again and it still retains it’s charm.
I consider the lily pool somewhat of a hidden Chicago treasure as I’m not sure how widely known it is. It’s such a nice, relaxing spot and considering it’s just off of a main street, it’s amazingly quiet.
You can wander around the pool and investigate all of the nooks and crannies and be totally alone.
This is a lovely spot to hide out for a while reading, relaxing, strolling…

This is one of the most beautiful places on earth! Well, at least the parts of earth that I roam. My sister and her fiancé were having professional engagement photos done. She was looking for some unique areas in Chicago and mentioned this to a buddy of ours that literally lives across the street. He came up with this gem as the first stop!
If you aren’t looking for it, you could literally wander right past the entrance without another thought. You would be missing out on the beauty and tranquility though. There are signs, so if you are nearby just keep your eyes peeled and you will find it.
Here’s the thing… you literally ate transported to an oasis. Upon walking in, I was sure that there was zero chance that we were still in Chicago. We didn’t teleport anywhere as we were indeed still in the Windy City. It was gorgeous! People taking a leisurely walk through. People sitting on the rocks enjoying nature. Then there we were… taking lots of pictures. Quietly so as to not disturb others.
It was a magical spot and I am only sharing the 411 with my closest Unilocal-​y friends. Grab a book. Take a stroll. Enjoy!

The Lilly Pool is a hidden gem that should not be missed.
The Lilly pool is hidden between the Lincoln Park Conservatory and the Peggy Norbert Nature Museum. This serene area is for anyone who needs a break from the hassle of the city.
The paths are very well laid out. There are plenty of areas that you can sit and relax. If you are lucky, you’ll see some turtles. Later in the summer, you can enjoy the Lilly pond flowers.
I look forward to return to the pond later in the summer.

Call me Wilma, because this place would put Fred Flintstone in the mood for romance.
While I am a sucker for parks (they garner the lion’s share of my five star reviews), this one was a hot mess when we were there in the fall. There is a difference between ‘natural’ and ‘left to rot’ and it was not a pretty sight during our visit. I’m sure part of my reaction is due to the stark contrast between the immaculately maintained Lincoln Park Conservatory and this outdoor wildlife sanctuary. Sort of opposite ends of the park spectrum, but you should definitely visit both.
Oh, the possibilities. The structures are called ‘prairie style’ architecture, but for me it was a cross between a 70s James Bond villain’s lair and a caveman’s palace. I can see why it puts so many other reviewers in the mood for romance.
The large slabs of horizontal stone were striking. The pond was full of lillies and we saw turtles and fish. I’d love to visit during the lushness of the summer. At the moment, some weeding is in order.
Oh and strike the first, I’d rather be Betty.