This community in Chicago’s northern suburbs has changed its name a few times since the first European inhabitants arrived in the early 19th century. The current name comes from the Archbishop of Chicago, George Mundelein, who set up the University of Saint Mary of the Lake Tour just after World War I. The campus for …
This village on the affluent North Shore grew up as a stopover on the way from Chicago to Milwaukee. In the early 20th century Northbrook, then Shermerville, was known for its five saloons, which had a rowdy reputation in contrast with the leafy suburb that greets you today. The acclaimed filmmaker John Hughes moved to …
Just west of Waukegan on the North Shore, Gurnee is well known across Chicagoland for its outstanding visitor attractions. The biggest of these is Six Flags Great America, one of the most visited amusement parks in the country, full of record-breaking roller coasters and sitting right beside Hurricane Harbor water park. Also vast, Gurnee Mills …
The second most populous city in Lake County is right on the lakeshore, south of Waukegan, and is known for its military heritage. North Chicago is home to the sprawling Naval Station Great Lakes, which today serves as the United States Navy’s only boot camp. One reason for civilians to head onto the base is …
The fast-growing village of Oswego, about 45 miles west of downtown Chicago, has doubled in size since 2000. Oswego is on the idyllic banks of the Fox River, and has several beautiful waterfront parks where you can relax, launch a canoe or kayak or follow the long-distance Fox River Trail. As the village has grown, …
For much of its life, this city in Chicago’s Southland has been associated with heavy industry. From 1917 Chicago Heights was the home of the Thrall Car Manufacturing Company, producing railroad freight cars, while the Inland Steel Company was founded here in 1893 . Although the population has contracted since the city’s peak in the …
Resting in the scenic Fox River Valley, Algonquin is a wealthy village of just over 30,000 people. The river is a defining feature of the townscape, with wooded banks sloping gently down to riverside parks and little piers for boats. Algonquin is packed with shopping and dining, which can be intimate and independent in the …
Part of the Twin Cities in McLean County, Illinois, the town of Normal is the smaller, northern neighbor to Bloomington. Normal is home to the main campus of Illinois State University, founded in 1857, and the oldest public university in Illinois. There are plenty of reasons to head to the campus, to check out an …
This village, 22 miles west of the Chicago Loop owes its memorable name to its founder, Pierce Downer. He was a farmer, who settled these lands as long ago as 1832. Noted for its livability and its friendly residents, Downers Grove is well connected to the Windy City by road and rail, but has plenty …
Just beyond Chicago’s limits and only 10 miles west of the Chicago Loop, Oak Park is an elegant suburb celebrated for its architectural heritage. Between 1888 and the 1910s, Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959) left a lasting legacy in Oak Park, first working for the Adler & Sullivan firm and then as an independent practitioner. Today …