Windmill Island Gardens

5 Best Day Trips from Chicago | Condé Nast Traveler

"Want a taste of old-school Europe? Holland's Windmill Island Gardens, a 36-acre park of even-keeled fallow land, manicured gardens, and quaint recreation Dutch shops is such an escape. The main attraction at Windmill Island Gardens is its namesake, DeZwaan ("The Swan"), a windmill built in 1771 but purchased and imported from the Netherlands in 1964. The working mill still grinds flour, available for purchase in the "Little Netherlands" shops, which also sell kitschy crafts like pottery and wooden shoes. With 100,000 tulips planted annually, the gardens also participate in Holland's famed Tulip Time festival, with activities for kids and adults alike." - Jessi Roti, Joseph Hernandez