Lincoln Park

Don't misunderstand me. I love Lincoln Park I think it is a fantastic area. There are unique boutiques and top not restaurants on nearly every street. But it is becoming too trendy, too popular, and far to expensive for someone like me.

One of the best children's hospitals in the nation is located here as is one of the few remaining free zoo's.

Lincoln Park Zoo and its carousel are huge draws for my children while North Pond leaves me drooling.

There is something for everyone there

Lincoln Park is one of the more popular areas in Chicago, especially amongst younger people interested in good nightlife.

To get the cons out of the way first, Lincoln Park is expensive. It isn't the most expensive part of the city, but it ranks up there. It also has some decent shopping, but I personally don't feel that's one of the neighborhood's strengths.

With the negatives out of the way, let me say that Lincoln Park is one of the safest areas of the city. I suppose the high cost means that it's an upper class area, which doesn't bring much crime.

Walking the streets of Lincoln Park is a great way to spend the day. There's a great youthful feeling, due mostly to nearby Depaul, which works great for men, being a 25 year old guy. Hot summer days with girls in shorts is a great day.

There are some excellent restaurants and nightclubs here too. In fact, I'd say that Lincoln Park's greatest strength is the nightlife. You can always find a good time.

I will also say that the area isn't just for the young, single crowd. There are more and more families moving into the area. I think the safety really plays a big role in people wanting to raise a family here.

Overall, without question, Lincoln Park is one of the best neighborhoods in Chicago. The price may be a bit high, but it is certainly worth it for those who can afford it.

EDITED: So I recently spent a weekend dog sitting for a friend with an amazing condo in Lincoln Park, and I wanted to give just a few updated thoughts. First, it's still an awesome place, and still expensive, so I have no intention of living there anytime soon, since it'd make me go bankrupt, but it is super nice, and there's plenty to do. Pequod's Pizza (one of the best pizza places in the city) is there, and there's Toast, a breakfast place that's incredible, so the two of those are exceptional for sure. And the place is super safe, as I said before. I was walking the two dogs at night, and I never felt even the slightest bit unsafe. There are gyms around, plenty of bars, and it's a nice area, so I'd definitely recommend it.

It's close to downtown too, and the zoo is a great bit of fun, both in the summer with the animals and in the winter with the zoo lights and ice skating. Very cool place indeed.

Boundaries: North – Diversey Parkway (2800N), South – North Avenue (1600N), East – Lake Michigan, West – Halsted Street.

My favorite part of Lincoln Park is its anchor – the actual Lincoln Park. I was surprised to find out recently that it used to be a graveyard back in Chicago’s very early days! But it does explain the presence of the Couch Mausoleum at the south end of the park. (The family refused to allow it to be moved!)

This park is one of the largest in Chicago and includes one of the few remaining FREE zoos in the country. Aside from being my favorite zoo, it is surrounded by picturesque lagoons and ponds. The Lincoln Park Conservatory is less than half a block from the zoo entrance. And just a bit further east is the fabulous Lakefront with its famous North Avenue Beach at the south end, Belmont Harbor in the middle and Diversey Harbor at the north end.

The rest of the park includes huge, long stretches of rolling hills, trees, walking paths and bike trails. To this die-hard city-dweller, it’s a bit of the country in the heart of the city. The western edge of the park of the park is where the urban jungle begins! While most of it is older high-rise apartments and condos, there are still quite a lot of older, vintage multi-unit brownstones. This neighborhood is chock-full of restaurants and nightlife, and numerous boutiques to serve every fashionista’s taste in clothing and accessories.