What’s Out There Weekend

The Washington, D.C.–based Cultural Landscape Foundation comes to Chicago to present a two-day event on landscape architecture. (If you’re flummoxed by the organization’s name, cultural landscapes is an academic term that signifies designed and natural landscapes, the activities that take place there and the people who use them.) The event includes complimentary landscape expert–led tours of 25 sites that many natives and design nuts may be familiar with (think Grant Park and the Garfield Park Conservatory). But there are a few worth rethinking, including these two. Sign up for tours at tclf.org/event/wotw-chicago.

Lake Point Tower + Milton Lee Olive Park tour
Docents discuss the 70-story lakefront condo and the nearby park designed by Daniel Urban Kiley. Named after the first African-American Congressional Medal of Honor recipient of the Vietnam War, the park, which was built in 1968 around the same time as the skyscraper, sits west of Navy Pier and the world’s largest water purification plant. 500 N Lake Shore Dr. Sat 11, 2–4pm; Sun 12, 10am–noon; free.

North Shore tour
The grounds of the House of the Four Winds, a focus of this four-hour tour, were constructed by landscape architect and author Rose Standish Nichols. Located on a private Lake Forest estate, the picturesque formal gardens are surrounded by waterfalls, stone sculptures and herbs. Other stops include Fort Sheridan, Market Square and the Lake Forest Cemetery. R.S.V.P. required. Meet by the tower, Fort Sheridan, 210 Leonard Wood St, Highland Park. Sun 12, 1–5pm. Free.