Back in the olden days, the Near North neighborhood was just another unnamed, undeveloped Chicago area. That is, until Potter Palmer got his hands on it (yes, the Palmer of Palmer House Hilton fame). Palmer bought some land near the lakeshore in 1882. Back then, the area was covered in ponds, grass and greenery, but Palmer changed all of that. He built himself a cute little mansion on what would later be known as Lake Shore Drive and one of Chicago’s most heavily-trafficked roadways.

Other wealthy folks followed suit with mansions of their own, putting this neighborhood in the category of elegance and luxury since its inception. Within a decade, the value of the land in this area had increased by 400 percent, and soon some of Chicago’s wealthiest citizens, like the McCormicks and the Wrigleys, were moving from their Prairie Avenue homes (on the south side) to new digs near the center of the city.

Fast-forward a hundred years and the vibe in the Near North neighborhood has largely remained the same. Sure, there are more shops, trendier restaurants and hipper bars, but it is still home to many wealthy Chicagoans, and though it’s located right near the heart of the city, there is enough grass, trees and flowers (mostly on the residential side streets) to make you feel like you’re at least slightly in touch with nature.

While the area has the occasional art gallery, this neighborhood is more about the hustle and bustle of shopping and dining. So if you are a foodie, a fashionista, or if you just like to be in the middle of things, Near North is definitely your neighborhood.