As you travel south and east from Chicago’s downtown, the region’s industrial and transportation history come into the foreground. Broad swaths of open land in the area appealed to early industrialists, as did the Calumet River and Lake Calumet (the largest body of water within the Chicago city limits), offering access to freight and transportation.

Moving closer toward the Indiana state border, it’s sometimes difficult to remember that you’re still within the Chicago city limits, as green space and reclaimed industrial sites offer fishing, boating, and unique recreation options.