Welcome to Day Trips from Chicago
Making the Most of Your Time
A trip to Chicago shouldn't start and end within the city limits—after all, there's a lot worth seeing and doing in the suburbs. Spend at least half a day in historic Oak Park to learn about famous residents Ernest Hemingway and Frank Lloyd Wright. A second day devoted to points farther west can take you to the Brookfield Zoo or the Morton Arboretum. Chicago's picturesque North Shore won't disappoint either: enjoy a collegial day wandering Northwestern University's campus and downtown Evanston or take in a concert at Ravinia Park in Highland Park and the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe.
Quick Bites
Edzo's Burger Shop. Northwestern students and suits line up here for burgers (ground in-house), nine kinds of french fries (try the ones with truffle salt and Parmesan), and spicy Mexican-chocolate shakes. 1571 Sherman Ave., Evanston, Illinois, 60201. 847/864–3396; www.edzos.com. Closed Mon..
Petersen's Ice Cream. This old-fashioned parlor has been serving sundaes, shakes, malts, and cones of homemade ice cream for more than 90 years. 1100 Chicago Ave., Oak Park, Illinois, 60302. www.petersenicecream.com. Closed Jan. and Feb..
Walker Bros. Pancake House. Be prepared to stand in line for the mouthwatering apple cinnamon pancake, a massive disk loaded with apples, or the German pancake, a puffy oven-baked circle topped with powdered sugar. There are several branches, but the original Wilmette restaurant is where scenes from the 1980 movie Ordinary People were shot. 153 Green Bay Rd., Wilmette, Illinois, 60091. 847/251–6000; www.walkerbros.net.
Top Reasons to Go
Expand your cultural knowledge: Take part in a tea ceremony or try your hand at calligraphy during weekend programs at the Mallott Japanese Garden inside the Chicago Botanic Garden.
See the animals: Get a fish-eye view of polar bears swimming underwater from the belowground viewing area at the Brookfield Zoo's Great Bear Wilderness Habitat.
Get to know Frank Lloyd Wright: Take a trip back to 1909, the last year the famed architect lived and worked in his Oak Park home and studio.
Enjoy a picnic: Pack up a candelabra and some foie gras—or just a blanket and some bug spray—and head to the Ravinia Festival for a night of music under the summer stars.
Visit the Bahá'i Temple: Stroll the beautifully landscaped gardens, or watch the sunset from the peaceful grounds of this majestic temple in Wilmette.
Getting Here
Via the El, take the Purple Line to Evanston and Wilmette, the Green Line to Oak Park, and the Yellow Line to Skokie. Many suburbs can also be reached by the Metra commuter rail system (www.metrarail.com).
