Hyde Park

Hyde Park is something of a haul from downtown and the usual tourist haunts in Chicago, but it's worth the extra effort. Best known as the home of the University of Chicago, the neighborhood only began to see significant growth in the late 19th century, when the university opened in 1892 and the Columbian World's Exposition attracted an international influx a year later. Today the neighborhood is considered a vibrant, eclectic part of the city. Locals like the pretty tree-lined streets, proximity to the lake, and slightly-off-the-beaten path vibe.