Page 136 - Chicago's North Shore Official Visitors Guide 2019

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RECREATION & WELLNESS
LOCAL

BIKE TRAILS

Chicago’s North Shore offers a variety of long bike rides which
allow active to leisurely journeys that showcase the best of the
area’s lush landscape. For a detailed Chicagoland bike map or to
rent a bike, check out the bike store on page 75. You can also walk,
jog or rollerblade on these pathways.

Going to the Garden – Pedaling the Channel
Chicago Botanic Garden Terrain: Flat
Terrain: Mostly flat, some easy hills. This ride, which begins in Evanston and ends in
A favorite bike ride of the area is the pleasant ride Lincolnwood, starts at the Evanston Ecology Center
through the woods along the North Branch Trail up at Bridge Street and McCormick Boulevard and
to the Chicago Botanic Garden. As the name follows the North Shore Channel, which today has
suggests, the path roughly parallels the North become a habitat for birds, small mammals, and
Branch of the Chicago River. The ride begins in snapping turtles. The trail continues south into
Morton Grove on Dempster Street, easily accessible Skokie, where it becomes the Skokie Northshore
from I-94 and I-294. The path is wooded and curvy Sculpture Park, an amazing showcase of diverse
with gentle hills. At the Chicago Botanic Garden, sculptures along the North Shore Channel. The path
cyclists can slow down to smell the roses — and the splits and comes back together many times over the
lilacs, geraniums and other fragrant plants. next two miles, passing about 70 large sculptures
Bicyclists can also stroll through the gardens; along the way. The Skokie Northshore Sculpture
bicycle racks are conveniently located near the Park’s website (www.sculpturepark.org) offers self-
parking lots. guided tours, a family guide, and detailed
information about each piece.
Green Bay Trail
Terrain: Flat Sheridan Road –
The Green Bay Trail begins in Wilmette and is 9 Hugging the coast of Lake Michigan
miles long, ending in Highland Park. Activities on the Terrain: Hilly
trail include: walking, biking, cross country skiing, It’s hard to imagine a more ideal road for cycling
and in-line skating. The trail is asphalt and crushed than Sheridan Road, which parallels Lake Michigan’s
stone and runs parallel to the Chicago and shoreline. The ride begins at Sheridan Road at
Northwestern rail line. The trail stays within one Linden Avenue in Wilmette in front of the Bahá’í
mile of Lake Michigan and provides ample House of Worship. At Tower Road, bikes must turn
opportunities to enjoy the many eating left and proceed to Old Green Bay Road. Riders can
establishments and beautiful homes along the way. reconnect to Sheridan Road again via Scott Avenue
and continue to make several right turns to stay on
Sheridan Road, which stair-steps whenever it gets
close to the lakeshore. There are two homes
designed by Frank Lloyd Wright along the way. The
first, at 850 Sheridan Road in Glencoe, is the
William A. Glasner House, built in 1905. The other is
the Ward W. Willits House at 1445 Sheridan in
Highland Park. Designed in 1901, this is considered
Wright’s first true Prairie-style house.

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