Local Guide
The first things to know about Chicago.
A quick read before you go deeper. Everyday life, eating out, staying social, and the planning piece worth watching. Each one links to a source.
Everyday life
Chicago Riverwalk
Free and flat, so it is an easy daily walk in the heart of downtown.
Source: Chicago Riverwalk
Eating out and guests
The Berghoff
A sit-down classic downtown that has not changed much in a century.
Source: The Berghoff
Staying social
Chicago senior services and programs
One number to start with if you want activities, meals, or help staying independent.
Source: Chicago Department of Family & Support Services, Senior Services
Worth watching
How property taxes work here
Check the senior exemptions; they can take real money off the bill.
Source: Cook County Assessor's Office
Move tools
Thinking about moving to Chicago? Run the rough math first.
Use these quick checks to test Chicago as a retirement move. They are not the full map; they help you decide what deserves a deeper look.
Tax and Medicare
Check the Chicago income picture.
Estimate how Illinois treats Social Security, pension income, IRA/401(k) withdrawals, city income tax, and Medicare premium tiers before you build the full journey.
Social Security
Not taxed
Pension
Not taxed
IRA / 401(k)
Not taxed
Mortgage
Test the payment or refi
Compare a current mortgage against a new rate, closing costs, and break-even timing.
Open mortgage checkWeather fit
Four-season planning
Chicago has real seasonal variety, so winter driving, indoor routines, and visitors need a closer check.
Avg
52°
Sun
198
Rain
105
Snow
22
Things to do
Things to do in Chicago
Parks, trails, classes, and easy outings for an ordinary week.
Chicago Riverwalk
Chicago Riverwalk
A paved 1.25-mile path along the Chicago River downtown, built out in four connected districts. It is flat and lined with cafes, boat tours, and places to sit by the water. You can walk a short stretch or the whole thing.
Why it matters
Free and flat, so it is an easy daily walk in the heart of downtown.
The Art Institute of Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago
One of the most popular things to do in the city, sitting right on Michigan Avenue next to Millennium Park. The galleries are large but well laid out, with benches and elevators throughout. Illinois residents get discounted admission and there are free days.
Why it matters
A membership pays off fast if you go more than twice a year or take family.
Lincoln Park Zoo
Lincoln Park Zoo
A free zoo on the North Side, open every single day of the year with no tickets needed. The paths are flat and paved, so it is an easy loop at your own pace. You can drop in for an hour or stay all afternoon.
Why it matters
Free and flat, so it is a simple outing close to the lakefront.
Garfield Park Conservatory
Garfield Park Conservatory
Twelve acres of gardens under glass on the West Side, one of the largest conservatories in the country. The indoor rooms stay warm and green all winter, which matters in a Chicago January. Admission is free with proof of Chicago residency.
Why it matters
A warm, green place to walk when the winter outside gets long.
Browse by activity
Mapped places near Chicago. Tap a category to open the full list with directions.
Where to eat
Where to eat
Local spots for an easy dinner or a visit from family. Rough prices included.
The Berghoff
The Berghoff
A historic German-American restaurant and bar in the Loop at 17 West Adams Street, open since 1898. The wood-paneled dining room serves schnitzel, sauerbraten, and its own house beer. It is an easy walk from the Art Institute and the trains.
Approx. price
$$
Known for
Wiener schnitzel and the house Berghoff beer
Why it matters
A sit-down classic downtown that has not changed much in a century.
Lou Mitchell's
Lou Mitchell's
A West Loop breakfast and lunch diner at 565 West Jackson Boulevard, going strong since 1923. The portions are big, the coffee is bottomless, and they hand out free doughnut holes to the line. It sits at the start of old Route 66.
Approx. price
$$
Known for
Omelets and pancakes, with free doughnut holes
Why it matters
A low-key, low-cost breakfast that has fed Chicago for a hundred years.
Gene & Georgetti
Gene & Georgetti
An Italian steakhouse in River North at 500 North Franklin Street, family-owned since 1941. It is the kind of old-school room with white tablecloths, steaks, and the famous garbage salad. Reservations help on weekends.
Approx. price
$$$
Known for
Steaks and the garbage salad
Why it matters
This is the special-occasion dinner, so it is worth booking ahead.
Pickleball and rec
Pickleball in Chicago
Where to play, drop in, and meet people. Court times, fees, and how busy it gets.
Senior help and discounts
Help and discounts for Chicago seniors
Programs, classes, free city services, seasonal help, and useful local deals.
Chicago Department of Family & Support Services, Senior Services
Chicago senior services and programs
The city's Department of Family & Support Services runs programs, meals, and caregiver help for older adults across six regional senior centers. One call connects you or a family member to what is offered. The information line is 312-744-4016.
Why it matters
One number to start with if you want activities, meals, or help staying independent.
What’s coming up
What’s coming up in Chicago
Local events worth putting on the calendar. Check the host page for dates and parking before you go.
Chicago Cultural Center
Chicago Cultural Center
A landmark building in the Loop that hosts free exhibitions, concerts, and performances all year. The famous Tiffany glass dome alone is worth the stop. Most of what happens here costs nothing to attend.
Why it matters
Free music and art downtown, so it is an easy standing plan in any season.
Chicago Farmers Markets
Summer to fall
Chicago Farmers Markets
When
The city runs outdoor markets across the neighborhoods through the warm months, selling produce, flowers, and Chicago-made goods. Daley Plaza downtown is one of the longest-running. The city page lists the full schedule and locations.
Why it matters
A free, easy outing that doubles as your produce run in season.
Worth knowing
Worth knowing about the area
City services, neighborhood updates, seasonal notes, and the everyday details that matter.
City decisions
City decisions to watch
Council agendas, hearings, and public meetings that can change access, housing, services, or costs.
Cook County Assessor's Office
How property taxes work here
The Cook County Assessor sets the assessed value on your home, and that value drives your tax bill. The office also runs homeowner exemptions, including ones for seniors that can lower what you owe. You can look up any property and apply on the assessor's site.
Why it matters
Check the senior exemptions; they can take real money off the bill.
Health and Medicare
Health and Medicare
Care, Medicare counseling, caregiver help, transportation, and the local senior support to line up.
Illinois SHIP (Medicare counseling)
Free Medicare help through Illinois SHIP
Illinois runs the Senior Health Insurance Program, which gives free, unbiased counseling on Medicare to people who are eligible and their families. Trained counselors answer questions about plans, drug coverage, and costs. You can reach them at 1-800-252-8966.
Why it matters
Free and unbiased, so it is a place to sort Medicare before you sign anything.
Upcoming events in Chicago
See all eventsDance & fitness
2 PM
Wintrust Arena · Chicago, IL
XVII Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival of North America
Wintrust Arena
Experience one of the largest and most powerful celebrations of Lithuanian culture in the world. Returning to Chicago after more than two decades, the XVII Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival of North America transforms McCormick Place into a living stage of movement, music, and identity. Over three u...
Music & concerts
5 PM
FITZGERALDS PATIO · Chicago, IL
MARGO PRICE at FITZGERALDS Outdoors
FITZGERALDS PATIO
LIVE ON FITZGERALDS PATIO:MARGO PRICE at FITZGERALDS OutdoorsFITZGERALDS OUTDOORS is the name we give large outdoor concerts with a festival style setup: a large stage with a state of the art sound system, lights, and Pavilion to protect from any inclement weather will make for an incredible outd...
Music & concerts
5:30 PM
Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island · Chicago, IL
311 and Dirty Heads: So Glad You Made It Tour
Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
Parking is NOT included within the price of a ticket. Pay to park at the entrance of the North Garage at Soldier Field, or any other lots you're being directed to, for event parking.
Music & concerts
5:30 PM
Kingston Mines - Chicago Blues Center · Chicago, IL
Mike Wheeler Blues Band/Nicholas Alexander Blues Band
Kingston Mines - Chicago Blues Center
World famous Kingston Mines features the best Blues music from 2 bands on 2 stages. Docs Kitchen offers great Catfish, Wings, Burgers, Beignets, and more! Kingston Mines has returned to general seating - no reservations. The doors & kitchen open at 5:30pm on Sunday. Tickets can be purchased at th...
Music & concerts
6:45 PM
Wrigley Field · Chicago, IL
Tyler Childers - Snipe Hunt Platinum
Wrigley Field
Ticket Delivery Delay: Please note tickets will not be delivered until the week of the event. Transfer will only be available through the MLB Ballpark App. You will be notified once tickets are available via the MLB Ballpark app to an account in the MLB Ballpark app with the email address used to...
Music & concerts
6:45 PM
Wrigley Field · Chicago, IL
Common questions
What people ask before retiring in Chicago
Short answers to the questions most people ask first. The full source trail sits in the guide above and the sources panel below.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to retire?
Plenty of people do retire here, so it is a real option worth a look. What matters is whether the home costs, the health and senior support, the things to do, and the family side all fit your life. Not just how it ranks on a list somewhere.
Source: Chicago Park DistrictWhat costs should you check before moving to Chicago?
Price the month, not the postcard. Keep separate lines for home, property taxes, insurance, utilities, getting around, health, and everyday spending. A low-tax headline can quietly hide a high insurance bill, or the other way around.
Source: City of ChicagoWhere do you find things to do in Chicago?
Start with parks and rec, the local event calendar, the visitor bureau, the senior center, and the restaurants people actually go to. The real question is whether they are close enough, and happen often enough, that you would use them all year. Not just visit once.
Source: Chicago Park DistrictWhat health and senior support matters in Chicago?
Look at Medicare counseling, the nearby hospitals, pharmacies, ways to get around, caregiver help, and one emergency contact. These can decide whether the move works, even when the rest of life looks great on paper.
Source: City of ChicagoWhat should your family ask before you move to Chicago?
Talk through driving, airport access, local services, who to call in an emergency, care backup, home upkeep, and how often someone would be needed. The point is to see the move as a real support plan, not just a nice address.
Source: City of ChicagoRetirement Life Score
A quick read on the life you would actually live.
Chicago scored across eight things that decide whether a move feels good: monthly affordability, home costs, restaurants and outings, activities, parks, health and senior support, weather, and getting around. The full numbers are below.
Chicago Retirement Life Score
80
Strong fit with tradeoffs / 75-84
Activities is the strongest daily-life fit. Home costs is the piece to verify before treating the move as settled.
A city looks livable and useful for many retirees, but one or two planning areas need a closer look.
Strongest fit: Activities & social calendar
Verify first: Home, taxes & insurance
Everyday affordability
Counts a lot77/100
How the ordinary monthly life could feel once taxes, insurance, fees, utilities, meals, and errands are in view.
What’s good: Lower-tax signals, visible discounts or free programs, ordinary-cost dining and errands, and practical transportation backup.
What to check: High housing pressure, insurance or storm costs, HOA or assessment friction, resort pricing, and thin cost evidence.
Price the month, not the postcard.
How this factor is scored
Signals checked: Lou Mitchell's · Watch: Chicago Park District
Evidence weighed: Tax, housing, insurance, senior-service, transportation, and local deal sources.
Weight in the total: High weight
Home, taxes & insurance
Counts a lot58/100
Property taxes, assessments, homeowners insurance, storm exposure, maintenance, and local housing friction.
What’s good: Clear assessor or property-appraiser sources, homestead or senior relief signals, and plain-language housing-cost context.
What to check: Coastal or wildfire exposure, insurance pressure, high home prices, amenity fees, HOA or district assessments, and missing local tax sources.
Separate the house from the lifestyle.
How this factor is scored
Signals checked: How property taxes work here · Watch: City of Chicago
Evidence weighed: County assessor, property appraiser, tax collector, insurance, emergency management, and housing sources.
Weight in the total: High weight
Restaurants & outings
80/100
Restaurants, coffee, arts, downtown meals, family visits, and low-friction places to go without over-planning.
What’s good: Specific restaurants, coffee shops, arts districts, downtown routines, visitor-hosting ideas, and source links that feel repeatable.
What to check: Only generic visitor copy, heavy seasonal crowds, hard parking, expensive dining signals, or no specific local outing ideas.
Look for repeatable evenings, not only famous spots.
How this factor is scored
Signals checked: The Berghoff · Watch: City of Chicago
Evidence weighed: Restaurant sites, tourism boards, chambers, downtown groups, event venues, and local dining guides.
Weight in the total: Supporting weight
Activities & social calendar
87/100
Events, clubs, classes, pickleball, senior programs, volunteer options, and the weekly social rhythm.
What’s good: Dated events, parks and rec classes, senior-center programming, clubs, pickleball options, volunteer leads, and repeatable weekly activities.
What to check: Undated or stale calendars, few senior-friendly programs, heat or traffic timing issues, and no clear way to register or show up.
Make sure the week has more than errands.
How this factor is scored
Signals checked: The Berghoff · Watch: City of Chicago
Evidence weighed: City calendars, recreation departments, senior centers, libraries, clubs, parks districts, and community event pages.
Weight in the total: Core weight
Parks & outdoor life
84/100
Parks, trails, beaches, gardens, preserves, water access, golf, and everyday outdoor routines.
What’s good: Specific parks, trails, beaches, gardens, water access, golf, outdoor classes, and low-friction places to be outside often.
What to check: Extreme heat, smoke, flooding, storm seasons, winter driving, crowding, parking friction, or thin park-level detail.
Check whether outdoor life works in the season you will actually live there.
How this factor is scored
Signals checked: The Art Institute of Chicago · Watch: City of Chicago
Evidence weighed: Parks departments, park districts, conservancies, recreation sources, tourism sources, and trail or beach authorities.
Weight in the total: Supporting weight
Health & support access
Counts a lot85/100
Medicare help, aging agencies, caregiver backup, transportation support, pharmacies, and local service depth.
What’s good: Area Agency on Aging, SHIP or SHINE counseling, senior services, caregiver support, transportation help, and credible health-resource depth.
What to check: Weak care-radius evidence, no benefits counseling source, unclear transportation backup, or hints that specialist access requires long drives.
Do not let a fun town hide a weak care radius.
How this factor is scored
Signals checked: The Art Institute of Chicago · Watch: City of Chicago
Evidence weighed: Area Agencies on Aging, county health and human services, senior services, Medicare counseling, transit, and hospital or clinic sources.
Weight in the total: High weight
Weather comfort
73/100
Heat, storms, flooding, smoke, winter, seasonal swings, and how much resilience planning the move demands.
What’s good: Evidence that outdoor life works in ordinary seasons, plus clear planning sources for heat, storms, winter, smoke, or emergency readiness.
What to check: Sustained heat, hurricane or flood exposure, wildfire or smoke risk, winter driving, evacuation complexity, and missing resilience sources.
Plan the hard season, not the best week.
How this factor is scored
Signals checked: Lincoln Park Zoo · Watch: City of Chicago · 52F annual average, 198 sunny days
Evidence weighed: Emergency management, weather-resilience, utility, health, parks, insurance, and local government sources.
Weight in the total: Core weight
Getting around & family visits
73/100
Driving, parking, airport access, golf-cart life, visitor logistics, medical trips, and family backup.
What’s good: Airport or transit access, shuttle or senior transportation, walkable routines, golf-cart usefulness, and simple family-visit logistics.
What to check: Traffic, parking scarcity, seasonal congestion, night-driving issues, long medical trips, or no car-light backup.
Test the drive on an ordinary Tuesday.
How this factor is scored
Signals checked: Chicago Cultural Center · Watch: City of Chicago
Evidence weighed: Transit agencies, airports, city transportation pages, senior services, tourism access pages, and guide items with location detail.
Weight in the total: Supporting weight
How we keep this current
Sources for Chicago
A mix of city pages, community calendars, senior services, council agendas, official tourism, restaurant sites, and registration pages. Every claim above links to where it came from.
See the 42 sources behind this guideEvery claim above links to where it came from.ShowHide
official / weekly
City of Chicago
Official city hub for services, ward offices, snow and parking rules, and resident information.
official / weekly
Chicago Park District
Runs the lakefront, the big parks, recreation centers, and public pickleball.
institutional / weekly
Garfield Park Conservatory
One of the largest conservatories in the country, free to walk, on the West Side.
community / weekly
The Purple Pig
Mediterranean small-plates spot on Michigan Avenue near the river.
community / weekly
Michael's Original Pizzeria & Tavern
Tavern-style thin-crust pizza on North Broadway, a neighborhood hidden gem and a personal pick from the founder of The Retirement Atlas.
official / weekly
Chicago Park District Pickleball
Public pickleball across the city, including indoor play at McFetridge Sports Center.
official / weekly
Renaissance Court Senior Center
City senior center inside the Chicago Cultural Center at 78 E. Washington.
official / weekly
Chicago Transit Authority
Trains and buses citywide, with reduced fares for riders 65 and older.
institutional / weekly
Choose Chicago
Visitor bureau calendar for festivals, music, and downtown events.
official / weekly
Cook County Assessor
Sets property values and runs the senior exemption and senior freeze.
official / weekly
Illinois SHIP, Department on Aging
Free, unbiased Medicare counseling for Illinois beneficiaries and families.
institutional / weekly
Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Academic medical center in downtown Chicago; Rush sits on the Near West Side.
community / weekly
Girl & the Goat
Stephanie Izard's West Loop small-plates spot, the anchor of Randolph Street's restaurant row.
community / weekly
Pequod's Pizza
Lincoln Park favorite for pan pizza with a caramelized cheese crust.
community / weekly
Portillo's
Chicago classic for Italian beef and char-dogs, fast and cheap, locations across the area.
institutional / weekly
Art Institute of Chicago
Major art museum on Michigan Avenue with discounted Illinois-resident admission and free days.
institutional / weekly
Millennium Park
Downtown park with Cloud Gate (the Bean), free summer concerts, and the Lurie Garden.
official / weekly
Chicago Riverwalk
A 1.25-mile walkway along the main branch of the river downtown.
community / weekly
Chicago City Pickle
Dedicated indoor pickleball with open play, lessons, and leagues at city locations.
community / weekly
SPF Chicago pickleball
Dedicated indoor pickleball club with courts and social play.
community / weekly
The Pickleball Clubhouse
Indoor pickleball club with reservable courts, clinics, and open play.
institutional / weekly
Taste of Chicago
The summer food festival in Grant Park, free to enter, with neighborhood pop-ups earlier in the season.
institutional / weekly
Chicago Blues Festival
The largest free blues festival in the world, held in Millennium Park in June.
institutional / weekly
Chicago Jazz Festival
Free jazz over Labor Day weekend at Millennium Park and the Cultural Center.
institutional / weekly
Millennium Park Summer Music Series
Free summer concerts at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, most weeknights.
official / weekly
Chicago Air and Water Show
Free August show over the lakefront near North Avenue Beach.
community / weekly
Green City Market
Chicago's largest farmers market, with a long-running Lincoln Park location plus seasonal spots.
official / weekly
Maxwell Street Market
Historic Sunday open-air market the city runs on the Near West Side, known for Mexican street food.
institutional / weekly
Navy Pier summer fireworks
Free fireworks over the lake on Wednesday and Saturday nights through the summer.
community / weekly
Christkindlmarket
German-style holiday market downtown at Daley Plaza from late November through Christmas Eve.
community / weekly
The Berghoff
Historic German-American restaurant and bar in the Loop at 17 West Adams Street, open since 1898. Official site.
community / weekly
Lou Mitchell's
West Loop breakfast and lunch diner at 565 West Jackson Boulevard, a Chicago icon since 1923. Official site.
community / weekly
Gene & Georgetti
Italian steakhouse in River North at 500 North Franklin Street, family-owned since 1941. Official site.
institutional / weekly
The Art Institute of Chicago
Top-ranked Chicago attraction next to Millennium Park, per Tripadvisor's Chicago attractions list.
community / weekly
Lincoln Park Zoo
Free zoo on the North Side, open every day of the year with no tickets needed. Official visit page.
community / weekly
Garfield Park Conservatory
Twelve acres of indoor and outdoor gardens under glass on the West Side, free with proof of Chicago residency. Official visit page.
official / weekly
Chicago Riverwalk
City-run 1.25-mile pedestrian path along the Chicago River downtown, built in four districts. Official city page.
official / weekly
Chicago Cultural Center
Landmark building in the Loop with free exhibitions, concerts, and performances year-round. Official city page.
official / weekly
Chicago Farmers Markets
City-managed outdoor markets selling seasonal produce, flowers, and Chicago-made goods across the neighborhoods. Official city page.
official / weekly
Chicago Department of Family & Support Services, Senior Services
City senior services division covering programs, meals, and caregiver support; information line at 312-744-4016. Official city page.
official / weekly
Cook County Assessor's Office
County office that sets the assessed value on each property and offers homeowner exemptions. Official site.
institutional / weekly
Illinois SHIP (Medicare counseling)
Senior Health Insurance Program offering free, unbiased Medicare counseling statewide. Illinois Department on Aging page.
Activities & recreation in Chicago
What there is to do here, with the sources.
The things people retire for, in Chicago. Each links to the full activity guide and the states that fit it.
Chicago Park District offers pickleball instruction and open court times at parks across the city, with courts at locations including Rogers Park and Oriole Park. Dedicated courts, leagues, and drop-in programs appear across the district's seasonal recreation catalog.
Chicago Park DistrictThe Chicago Department of Senior Services coordinates a wide range of city programs for older adults, accessible through chicago.gov/SeniorServices. Suburban Cook County residents are served by AgeOptions, the designated Area Agency on Aging for that region, reachable at 1-800-699-9043.
City of ChicagoThe Chicago Park District designates several lakefront fishing piers accessible with a valid Illinois fishing license and a pier pass, which can be purchased at park district locations. Lake Michigan fishing off Chicago's 14 miles of lakefront targets trout and salmon, with a separate Great Lakes salmon stamp required for those species.
Published local price
Illinois resident annual fishing license: $15.00. Senior (65-74) resident fishing license: $7.75/yr. Super Senior (75+) resident fishing license: $1.50/yr.
dnr.illinois.gov · as of 2026The Forest Preserves of Cook County maintain over 350 miles of trails across nearly 70,000 acres, including both paved and unpaved routes through woodlands, prairies, and wetlands surrounding the city. The Friends of the Forest Preserves organization publishes a regularly updated trail guide and top-hike recommendations.
Published local price
Illinois State Parks charge no entrance or day-use fee. The Illinois DNR does not charge an entrance fee to any state-owned or operated land (beaches charge $1-$2/day per person for beach-only use).
dnr.illinois.gov · as of 2026The Chicago Park District operates 10 harbors along 14 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline with space for more than 6,000 boats, and the city has four public boat launches within the harbor system. Boaters can access the lake and the Chicago River at designated sites managed by the Park District.
Published local price
Illinois boat registration renewal: Class 1 (powered, under 16 ft) $18/yr; Class 2 (16-under 26 ft) $50/yr; Class 3 (26-under 40 ft) $150/yr; Class 4 (40 ft+) $200/yr. New/transfer registration fees are higher.
Published range: $18 to $210.
dnr.illinois.gov · as of 2026The Art Institute of Chicago, located downtown adjacent to Millennium Park, is consistently rated among the top art museums in the United States for its encyclopedic collection. Lyric Opera of Chicago at the Civic Opera House presents full opera seasons alongside Joffrey Ballet performances in a shared programming model.
Art Institute of ChicagoChicago Park District Golf operates multiple courses across the city, with Chicago residents receiving discounted fees at all facilities and tee times bookable directly through cpdgolf.com. Jackson Park on the South Side offers the only 18-hole layout in the city park system, while facilities like Sydney Marovitz on the lakefront draw steady play.
Chicago Park DistrictThe Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe hosts one of the most active Master Gardener training programs in the Midwest, operated through University of Illinois Extension and offering on-site courses covering horticulture fundamentals. Cook County Extension Master Gardeners are also a separate volunteer network providing public horticultural information across the county.
Chicago Botanic GardenGolf
Golf near Chicago
Courses around Chicago worth a round, with how to book each one.
- Par
- 72
- Back tees
- 7,554 yds
- Round
- ~4h
- On foot
- Walkable
A demanding championship layout with deep bunkering and fast greens · Dick Wilson and Joe Lee, restored by Rees Jones
This is the public course that hosted the Western Open and the BMW Championship, about 40 minutes southwest in Lemont. Walking is permitted at all times, so you can take it on at your own pace.
Opened 1964 · $$$$ · Slope 153
Photo: Doc Searls (CC BY-SA 2.0)
- Par
- 72
- Back tees
- 7,123 yds
- Round
- ~4h
Windswept links built on a reclaimed lakeshore landfill · Dick Nugent
A treeless, links-style course on the South Side with manmade dunes and Chicago skyline views. The open ground and walkable terrain make it a fun change of pace just minutes from downtown.
Opened 1995 · $$$
Course profile
- Par
- 70
- Back tees
- 5,508 yds
- Round
- ~4h
- On foot
- Walkable
Historic lakefront muni lined with mature trees · Tom Bendelow
Opened in 1899, this is the oldest public course in the region, set along the lakefront on the South Side. Walking is allowed and the rates stay friendly, so it is an easy round to play often.
Opened 1899 · $ · Slope 109
- Par
- 72
- Back tees
- 7,262 yds
- Round
- ~4h
- On foot
- Walkable
Eight lakes in play across tree-lined bentgrass fairways · Dick Nugent and Ken Killian
A well-regarded county course in south suburban Oak Forest with water on many holes and quality conditioning. Push carts are available if you would rather walk than ride.
Opened 1982 · $$ · Slope 142
- Par
- 36
- Back tees
- 3,265 yds
- Round
- ~2h
Flat lakeside nine tucked between Lake Shore Drive and the lake · Edward B. Dearie
A nine-hole lakefront course right in the city, with Lake Michigan on one side and the skyline behind you. The flat, walkable ground and short loop make it an easy outing when you want a quick round.
Opened 1932 · $$ · Slope 127
Photo: Alanscottwalker (CC BY-SA 3.0)