Escape From the Winter Blues
A couple weeks ago one of my best friends from high school visited me in Chicago for the weekend. She’s been here quite a few times already over the past four years, so I wanted to head somewhere neither of us had been before. Since the weather has been icy and unrelenting lately and any kind of outdoor activity was pretty much out of the question, I decided to take her to the Garfield Park Conservatory on the West side of the city to spend some time in nature.
Although I worked in Garfield Park for a quarter last year, I never had the chance to check out the conservatory before this visit. It is an 184-acre urban park separated into a series of greenhouses that each feature different settings or varieties of plants, such as the Desert House and the Fern Room. Initially opening its doors in 1908, the Garfield Park Conservatory is currently one of the largest historic conservatories in the entire nation. One of the best features of the conservatory is that admission is free, encouraging equal access to the beautiful facilities.
During winter in Chicago, it is vital to be able to spend time in nature surrounded by greenery and fresh air. It can become pretty dismal when the sun does not come out for days on end, which is why it is so important that places like the Garfield Park Conservatory offer an escape from the winter gloom. If you get the chance to check it out, I highly recommend spending a few hours here to cure your cold weather blues.