Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary

Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary is one of Chicago's best-kept family nature secrets — a free, urban wildlife encounter that happens to be one of the most significant migratory bird stopovers on the entire western Lake Michigan shoreline. With 1,490 Google reviews at 4.8 stars, the birding community knows this spot well. Visiting families are often surprised to find it at all.

Located in Uptown at the end of Montrose Avenue where it meets the lakefront, the sanctuary occupies a small peninsula with a dense shrub area known as the Magic Hedge. During spring migration (late April through May) and fall migration (September through October), the combination of dense cover and proximity to water creates a landing zone for thousands of migratory birds. Species that birders travel hours to see — rare warblers, raptors, shorebirds — appear here reliably during peak migration.

For families with children who have any interest in animals or nature, this offers something that organized zoo visits can't: actual wildlife discovery. Birds are wild, their behavior is unpredictable, and finding a species you've never seen before (with help from the free Merlin Bird ID app from Cornell) creates genuine excitement.

The experience requires some calibration for younger kids. Toddlers and children under 5 won't engage with birding in the same way older children do. Ages 5 and up — particularly kids who already love animals — respond very positively. Download Merlin before you go and show kids how to identify birds by ear or by sight; it gamifies the experience in a way that holds attention.

Free parking at Montrose Harbor is typically available nearby. Montrose Beach is directly adjacent for extending the morning with beach time.