Chicago’s western suburbs offer activities that are palatable to families, shoppers, sporting buffs and romantic couples. Think about your group and the type of entertainment that is appropriate before researching specific plans. You should also familiarize yourself with the basic transportation network and layout of the area in order to save time getting around.
Chicago’s western suburbs offer family-friendly activities at architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s home and studio in Oak Park and at the Brookfield Zoo. The Brookfield Zoo features a children’s zoo that allows for interaction with farm animals.
Look for year-round events at the county fairgrounds in Wheaton and Geneva, such as dog shows, flea markets and model train shows. If you need an indoor option, consider a family outing to one of the many movie theaters within the region. The AMC Yorktown is centrally located at the Yorktown Shopping Center in Lombard.
The western suburbs offer shopping experiences for every taste. Find shopping malls in North Riverside, Oak Brook, Charlestown and Aurora. The North Riverside mall carries a large selection of urban wear. The shopping center in Oak Brook is an outdoor mall that is particularly enjoyable in the summer months.
Woodfield Mall, in the northwest suburb of Schaumburg, describes itself as “Illinois’s No. 1 tourist attraction.” It offers nearly 300 stores and restaurants. Try downtown Naperville and Aurora if you are looking for boutique shopping and collectibles.
If you want outdoor activity, plan on visiting the Fox River Valley, the focal point for recreation in the western suburbs. The Fox River is surrounded by golf courses, parks, hiking trails and riverboat gambling facilities between Elgin and Oswego.
According to Windy City Fishing, the Fox River features “over 100 public access points for fishing,” and is populated by largemouth bass, northern pike and flathead catfish.
For spectator sports, consider the racetracks and motor speedways located in Cicero and Melrose Park. The area high schools also offer a variety of sporting events. Rivalry games between East and West Aurora high schools are always highly anticipated.
If fine dining appeals to you, downtown Aurora and Naperville offer many options. Both cities also provide romantic walkways along the Fox and DuPage rivers, respectively. The Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles accommodates couples with honeymoon suites, spas and live theater.
Singles should enjoy the franchise restaurants and bars along Route 59 in Naperville. However, few nightclubs are found in the suburbs.
Interstate 290 (the Eisenhower Expressway) connects the western suburbs with downtown Chicago. Other major roadways are Interstate 88 (Reagan Tollway) and Interstate 294 (Tri-State Tollway). The three roadways converge at the “Hillside Strangler” interchange. I-290 continues onto Schaumburg and I-88 extends towards Naperville and Aurora. I-294 is a belt that bypasses Chicago’s city limits and provides access to O’Hare International Airport from the western suburbs.
All of the major roads are heavily congested and prone to construction at all times. If you are approaching from the city, consider taking Metra commuter rail into the area.
