Chicagoland

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Chicagoland is a region of Illinois surrounding and including Chicago. It can be considered to extend east along the shore of Lake Michigan as far as Harbor Country in Michigan, as these areas provide industrial support and recreational opportunities to Chicago.

[edit] Cities

The major cities of the region are, well, Chicago — period. None of the outlying cities remotely approach the size of this mammoth metropolis. However, there are some other noteworthy destinations.

[edit] Cook County

  • Blue Island Located on S. Western Ave in between 119th St and 135th St. Accessible by the Rock Island and Electric Metra lines, visitors can do some antique shopping in its antique shops around Western & Vermont. Many Hispanic businesses in the area also provide Mexican imports as well as a variety of Mexican food. Great pizza at Beggars Pizza (127th & Western) and great international fare at Blue Oasis Cafe (12947 Western Ave).
  • Chicago Heights
  • Des Plaines
    • McDonald's #1 Store Museum, 400 N. Lee Street (17 miles northwest of downtown), (847) 297-5022 [1] - Open Memorial Day-Labor Day. This museum is a recreation of the first McDonald's restaurant. The original restaurant was demolished in 1984. You'll know you have seen it when you get to an old fashioned-looking McDonald's restaurant with a sign saying that they sell hamburgers for 15 cents. Free admission.
    • Scenic Lake Opeka, along Touhy Ave near O'Hare Airport.
  • Evanston is the first city north of Chicago along the lake. It is home to Northwestern University [2] and a wealth of great shopping, restaurants, and lakefront areas. Evanston is accessible by Metra, PACE and the CTA's Purple Line.
  • Glencoe
    • Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe (25 miles north of downtown) [3] - Daily 8AM-sunset, except Christmas Day (25 Dec). Amazingly beautiful, and completely diverse. The 385-acre park, research, and art facilities are open year-round for your visiting pleasure. Admission is 100% free. Only fee charged is for parking, $10 per vehicle.
  • Glenview is home of Kohl's Children's Museum and extensive nature preserves. It is accessible by PACE, Metra and the Edens Expwy (I-94).
  • Morton Grove Accessible by the above bike path, Metra and the Edens Expwy (I-94). The Village is bisected by the Cook County Forest Preserves [4] and the North Branch Bike Path [5]. Other recreational opportunities include Chick Evans Golf Course and several riding stables as well as XC skiing in Harms Woods and Linne Woods.
  • Oak Park is essentially an outdoor museum dedicated to notable architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Only about 10 miles west of downtown Chicago, Oak Park is easily accessible by the CTA Blue Line, Green Line or Metra Train.
  • Park Ridge
    • Park Ridge Music Concerts, a bunch of free Friday night concerts during the summer. Held in front of city hall. Always start at 8PM.
    • The Pickwick is one of the true grand movie palaces remaining in the Chicagoland area. Make sure you have a ticket for the show on the main screen, though, not the shoebox mini-plex around the corner.
  • Skokie has restaurants and shopping galore. It is accessible by the CTA Yellow Line, aka "The Skokie Swift", and the Edens Expwy (I-94).
  • Wilmette is home to the Baha'i Temple, a cultural and architectural wonder. Wilmette is accessible by Metra and the CTA Purple line.

[edit] DuPage County

  • Glen Ellyn features a quaint downtown shopping district and an abundance of exceptional dining establishments.
  • Lisle has the splendid Morton Arboretum.
  • Naperville not only has some of the finest dining in the Chicago suburbs, but also boasts a lengthy and scenic riverwalk through the downtown area.
  • Oak Brook Oak Brook Mall, an outdoor mall featuring many upscale retailers and restaurants
  • Woodridge

[edit] Lake County

  • Highland Park
    • Ravinia Music Festival - Usually just called "Ravinia". A summer-long festival featuring music of all types. The summer home of the Chicago Symphony. Other orchestras (like the Ravinia Festival Orchestra) play there as well as various pop and jazz performers. You can choose to sit in the pavilion (which costs a bit more), or bring a blanket and chairs and sit on the large lawn. Chairs are also available for rental at the park. It has a few places to buy food and drinks (including wine and beer), however, prices are a bit steep and food (and alcohol) may be brought into the park. Certain classical concerts are free for college students with a college ID. If you go, definitely buy some Ravinia ice cream (not the Dove stuff). If you sit in the Pavilion you get a special program. If you sit on the lawn, you'll have to go and find one of the green newspaper dispensers—-they hold the lawn programs. Ravinia often hosts family-friendly concerts but for more sophisticated shows, you should either leave the kids at the hotel or make sure that they will be well behaved. Very easy to get to via Metra North Line; Ravinia has its own stop, which only operates on days with performances. Costs $3.90 each way on weekdays and $5.00 roundtrip on weekends from Ogilvie Transportation Center.
  • Lake Forest Go to Lake Forest Beach down Deerpath Rd. This is probably the most beautiful beach in the North Shore. Also, check out the beautiful homes/mansions.Lake Forest College, a premier liberal arts college, also has a beautiful campus. Lake Forest is one of the wealthiest areas in the United States.
  • Long Grove
    • Old Long Grove - When someone says they've been to Long Grove they are usually talking about this. Old Long Grove is a historical street with a whole bunch of moderately expensive, yet very interesting, stores and restaurants located in the northwest suburbs. Different festivals go on there during the year. Definitely visit the Long Grove confectionery as it's a great place to buy candy. It's best known for its chocolate-covered strawberries.
  • Vernon Hills One of the largest malls in Chicago, Hawthorn Mall, Showplace/Rivertree Theatres, and Chipotle are the attractions for many people in Vernon Hills.

[edit] Will County

  • Joliet features a casino, the state's most notorious prison, and the terrific Chicagoland Speedway.

[edit] Kankakee County

[edit] Other destinations

[edit] Understand

  • The Chicago Tribune [6] ("The Trib") is the Chicago area's biggest daily, and publishes a suburban edition.
  • The Daily Herald [7] is a large daily newspaper aimed primarily at the suburbs.
  • The Northwest Herald.

[edit] Talk

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

[edit] Get around

[edit][add listing] See

[edit][add listing] Do

The Forest Preserve District of Cook County [8] is responsible for the numerous open spaces ("forest preserves") around the county. These preserves range from heavily used parks with extensive roads and well-developed picnic areas, to relatively isolated expanses of land that are only really accessible on foot (or cross-country skis in Winter).

[edit][add listing] Eat

  • Beggars Pizza, Various locations [9] - Great southside pizza.
  • Blue Oasis Cafe, 12947 Western Avenue, 708-293-1505 - Mexican food with an international twist.

[edit][add listing] Drink

[edit][add listing] Sleep

  • Hyatt Place Chicago/Lombard/Oakbrook , 2340 South Fountain Square Drive, +1 630 932-6501 [10] - Adjacent to Oakbrook and 20 miles west of downtown Chicago.
  • AmeriSuites Chicago/Arlington Heights, 2111 South Arlington Heights Road, +1 847 956-1400 [11] - Experience the Windy City while enjoying the coziness of our suburban charm.
  • AmeriSuites Chicago/Hoffman Estates, 2750 Greenspoint Parkway, +1 847 839-1800 [12] - Located just off Interstate 90 and 30 miles from downtown Chicago.
  • AmeriSuites Chicago/Itasca, 1150 Arlington Heights Road, +1 630 875-1400 [13] - Only 15 minutes west of O`Hare International Airport and 30 minutes from downtown Chicago.
  • AmeriSuites Chicago/Schaumburg, 1851 McConnor Parkway, +1 847 330-1060 [14] - Located in the heart of Woodfield, only 13 miles from O`Hare International Airport and 25 miles from downtown Chicago.
  • AmeriSuites Chicago/Vernon Hills, 450 N. Milwaukee Avenue ,+1 847 918-1400 [15] - Nestled in a beautiful park, the AmeriSuites Vernon Hills is a first-class hotel located in scenic Lake County just north of Chicago and O`Hare International Airport.
  • Wyndham Schaumburg, 800 National Parkway, +1 847 605-9222 [16] - Only 30 minutes from downtown business centers--and the gateway to Schaumburg's prime destinations, including cultural events at the Prairie Center for the Arts, stylish shopping at Woodfield Mall and the exciting nightlife of Schaumburg Town Square.
  • Chicago Marriott Oak Brook, 1401 West 22nd Street, Oak Brook, Illinois 60523, ☎ 1-630-573-8555 (fax: 1-630-573-1026), [17]. Check in: 4:00PM; Check out: 1:00PM. $200-$300.  edit
  • Hawthorn Chicago/Schaumburg Hotel, 1251 E. American Lane in Schaumburg, +1 847 706-9007 [18] - Renovated lobby.
  • Hawthorn Chicago/Vernon Hills Hotel, 975 North Lakeview Parkway in Vernon Hills, +1 847 367-8031 [19] - Enjoy all the amenities of home and experience consistency, quality and comfort when you stay with Hawthorn Suites. Hotel features suites, full or efficiency kitchens, exercise facilities, video cassette players and on-site guest laundry and valet service.
  • Hawthorn Chicago/Wadsworth Hotel, 4555 W. Yorkhouse Road in Wadsworth, +1 847 360-0550 or +1 847 360-1199 [20] - Complimentary hot breakfast buffet. For business travelers: oversized work area, dual phone lines and data port, voice mail and daily complimentary newspaper.
  • NIU Conference Center Located in Chicagoland's northwestern suburbs, NIU Outreach Centers provide the perfect venue for productive meetings.
  • Pheasant Run Resort & Spa Golf, Theater, Shopping, Spa, Restaurants...the Midwest's largest entertainment resort. 800.4.PHEASANT (474-3272)
  • Eaglewood Resort & Spa, [21] reservations: 877-285-6150 has 295 guest rooms and suites that feature amenities including polished woods, over-sized work station, and high speed Internet access.
  • Doubletree Hotel Chicago - Arlington Heights, 75 W. Algonquin Road, Arlington Heights (Just off the I-90 (Northwest Tollway) between Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and Schaumburg.), ☎ +1 847 364-7600, [22]. Check in: 3:00 PM; Check out: 12:00 PM. A full-service Doubletree Hotel in Northwest Chicago's Greater Woodfield area. edit

[edit] Get out

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