Aurora - Western Suburbs
Aurora has a rich history of entertainment. Throughout the years, the area has supported more than 20 theaters and playhouses. Notable remaining venues include the Paramount Theatre, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the Riverfront Playhouse. Aurora hosts the Midwest Literary Festival each September. The Fox Valley Mall is a popular place with shoppers.
Chicago Midway Airport (MDW)
Midway is the Windy City’s second-largest airport. This area eight miles south of The Loop is also home to the third-largest Chinatown in the U.S., as well as to a large Irish-American community, including current mayor Richard M. Daley, Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House, on the University of Chicago's campus in Hyde Park, is open for tours.
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
O'Hare is one of the world’s busiest airports. Its neighbor, Rosemont, is also a hub of activity. Big-name entertainers and sporting events headline at the Allstate Arena, while conferences and trade shows convene at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. Downtown Chicago is just a train ride away on the CTA Blue Line (the L), which runs 24 hours a day from the airport to the Loop.
Lincoln Park
Trendy Lincoln Park is home to boutiques, movie theaters, stores, restaurants, coffee shops, bars, and clubs. The 1,200-acre park of the same name is also here, including the admission-free Lincoln Park Zoo within its grounds. St. Vincent de Paul and St. Josaphat’s ─ two architecturally significant Polish cathedrals ─ lend the neighborhood a touch of Old World charm.
Lombard - Oak Brook
Otherwise known as the Lilac Village, Lombard has hosted a Lilac Festival every May since 1930. “Little Orphan Annie House,” built in the Italianate architectural style, serves as a museum to the Harold Gray character created there. Oak Brook boasts the Oak Brook Sports Core, which features polo fields, a golf course, swimming and tennis facilities.
Magnificent Mile - River North
Magnificent Mile, a part of Michigan Avenue from the Chicago River to Oak Street, appeals to tourists because of its flashy department stores and fancy restaurants. Several of the Windy City’s architectural wonders are here, including the John Hancock Center and the Old Chicago Water Tower. Just north of the Chicago River, River North is home to the city’s shopping, design, and gallery districts.
North Suburbs
The Cook and Lake county cities of Northbrook, Palatine, Vernon Hills, Glenview, and Lincolnshire are among Chicago’s most affluent suburbs. Vernon Hills is home to the popular Westfield Hawthorn shopping center and Zanies Comedy Club. Scenes from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Breakfast Club, Weird Science, and Ice Harvest were filmed in Northbrook.
Schaumburg - Northwest
Schaumburg’s Woodfield Mall is the largest mall in the Chicagoland area. The suburb also boasts two nationally-known comedy clubs: The Improv, which hosts nationally-known performers, and the Chicago Comedy Club, which draws its talent entirely from the audience. The McDonald’s #1 Store Museum is in Des Plaines. It is a re-creation of the first-ever McDonald’s, which opened in 1955.
Skokie - Evanston
Home to one of the most diverse populations in the Chicago area, Skokie hosts a Festival of Cultures every May. A sculpture park in town features 70 different works of art. Just north of the park is a statue to Mahatma Gandhi. The campus of Northwestern University occupies much of Evanston. This tree-lined suburb also claims to be the birthplace of the ice cream sundae.
The Loop - Downtown
Locals call downtown Chicago “The Loop.” The famous Marshall Field’s, now a Macy’s, is on State Street. Cultural attractions include the Art Institute of Chicago, the Lyric Opera, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Grant and Millennium parks are along the lakefront. Visitors can enjoy complimentary concerts (summer only) and the annual, two-week “Taste of Chicago” in June at Grant Park.
Waukegan - Gurnee
Waukegan, eight miles south of the Wisconsin border, hosts the historic Genesee Theatre, stopping point for touring Broadway shows, comedians, and musical acts. Directly on the border, Gurnee is home to the theme park Six Flags Great America and to the popular indoor outlet mall Gurnee Mills.
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