Garfield Park Conservatory

	Photo by Stacie Freudenberg Garfield Park Conservatory is one of the largest indoor botanical gardens in the nation.

Located 15 minutes west of downtown Chicago on the CTA Green Line, Garfield Park Conservatory is one of the largest and greatest botanical gardens in the nation. It occupies approximately 4.5 acres with show houses, cold frames and propagating houses where thousands of plants are grown each year.

Step in, take off your coat and mittens, and savor the warmth and humidity. Then wander through the palm, fern and aroid rooms and see what can grow in places that don’t have such harsh winters. You’ll feel like you’re 1,000 miles from Lake Michigan. 300 N. Central Park Ave., Chicago; (312) 746-5100.

Oak Park Conservatory

	Photo by Stacie Freudenberg Tropical plants flourish year round at the intimate Oak Park Conservatory.

This small but sincere conservatory has three show houses. You can wander through the fern room, where ponderosa lemon, triangular leaf fig, rose apple and Oregon sea grape trees grow to the ceiling. Visit the tropical room, where you can see the trees that bring us papaya, coffee and cacao. Then escape from the humidity in the desert room, where the prickly plants grow.

Get to the Oak Park Conservatory by taking the CTA Blue Line to the Oak Park Avenue stop and exiting at East Avenue. 615 Garfield St., Oak Park; (708) 386-4700.

Lincoln Park Conservatory

	Photo by Stacie Freudenberg Lincoln Park Conservatory is a warm, colorful place to thaw out during the winter.

Listen to the sound of trickling water. Feel the moist air. It’s a jungle in the city, conveniently located next to the Lincoln Park Zoo, home to some real jungle creatures.

Lincoln Park Conservatory contains a tangle of tropical trees, plants and vines, including banana, papaya and palm trees from all over the world. In the show house, you can enjoy seasonal exhibits throughout the year featuring chrysanthemums, poinsettias, azaleas and other flowers. The outdoor Shakespearean garden features 20,000 flowers and plants found in the bard’s work. 2400 N. Stockton Drive, Chicago; (312) 742-7736.