Things to do in Lincoln Park and Old Town

North of the Loop, Lincoln Park and Old Town trade downtown density for tree-lined streets, a free zoo, and one of the city's biggest lakefront green spaces. Lincoln Park Zoo has no admission fee and stays open year-round, while the adjoining conservatory and lakefront paths make this the easiest full day out for families. Old Town, its immediate neighbor, is known for well-preserved 19th-century rowhouses and the Second City improv stage. Both are reached from downtown via the Red or Brown Line, or buses along Clark Street or Lincoln Avenue, a 15- to 25-minute trip from the Loop.