Michelle’s guidebook
Outdoors
Nice park for kids within walking distance of our house (around 15 min one-way). Has a large playground area and a gazebo, perfect for picnics.
Hoosier Grove Park
700 Irving Park RoadNice park for kids within walking distance of our house (around 15 min one-way). Has a large playground area and a gazebo, perfect for picnics.
Our favorite nearby park. Can be reached on foot in about 25 min from our house. Great playground area (with shade!) and paved trail system, perfect for a nice stroll.
Little Creek Park
30 White Fence TrailOur favorite nearby park. Can be reached on foot in about 25 min from our house. Great playground area (with shade!) and paved trail system, perfect for a nice stroll.
Nice park that is about 2 miles from our house. Has a playground, and in the summer, a splash pad area for kids (free!)
Sunny Hill Park
1480 West Irving Park RoadNice park that is about 2 miles from our house. Has a playground, and in the summer, a splash pad area for kids (free!)
Nice park with crushed gravel prairie trail. Also has a great visitors center with small live animals on display (snakes, spiders, etc). Free!
Bartlett Nature Center
2054 W Stearns RdNice park with crushed gravel prairie trail. Also has a great visitors center with small live animals on display (snakes, spiders, etc). Free!
If you want a great day trip option in the area to spend time outdoors, I recommend this place, as it has beautiful scenery and perfect for picnics. Note: The national lakeshore part of Indiana Dunes is free--the state park portion is not. Also note: it is in Eastern time zone and traffic coming back from here is often slow.
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Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
If you want a great day trip option in the area to spend time outdoors, I recommend this place, as it has beautiful scenery and perfect for picnics. Note: The national lakeshore part of Indiana Dunes is free--the state park portion is not. Also note: it is in Eastern time zone and traffic coming back from here is often slow.
Extensive trail system, some of which is paved, very close to our house. We have walked and biked quite a bit of this.
Arthur L. Janura Forest Preserve
Illinois 58Extensive trail system, some of which is paved, very close to our house. We have walked and biked quite a bit of this.
One of the coolest playgrounds in the area, nice little visitors' center, and nature trails.
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Spring Valley Nature Center & Heritage Farm
1111 E Schaumburg RdOne of the coolest playgrounds in the area, nice little visitors' center, and nature trails.
Food
This place has wonderful chocolates, plus a café area. I highly recommend their hot chocolate--it is exquisite!!
Anna Shea Chocolates
100 W Higgins RdThis place has wonderful chocolates, plus a café area. I highly recommend their hot chocolate--it is exquisite!!
Awesome local Italian place, great atmosphere, too. Notes: no kids menu available. No dress code, but you will feel out of place if you go in super casual clothes (i.e. sweatpants/sweatshirt/t-shirt & jeans).
Incontro A Tavola
100 W Higgins RdAwesome local Italian place, great atmosphere, too. Notes: no kids menu available. No dress code, but you will feel out of place if you go in super casual clothes (i.e. sweatpants/sweatshirt/t-shirt & jeans).
Georgio's Chicago Pizzeria & Pub
100 W Higgins RdOur favorite local place to get Chicago style deep dish pizza!
Our favorite local Thai place. Small, casual restaurant, also great for take-out, very generous portions.
Dan Thai
2251 W Schaumburg RdOur favorite local Thai place. Small, casual restaurant, also great for take-out, very generous portions.
If you are going to be visiting downtown Chicago, I recommend this place if you like French food. It is my very favorite French restaurant downtown (and I have been to most of them). Great atmosphere, and you can get street parking for around $4-5. They also have a valet for $7, but I've never needed it so far.
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Chez Joel Bistro Francais
1119 W Taylor StIf you are going to be visiting downtown Chicago, I recommend this place if you like French food. It is my very favorite French restaurant downtown (and I have been to most of them). Great atmosphere, and you can get street parking for around $4-5. They also have a valet for $7, but I've never needed it so far.
Sightseeing
If you like visiting historical, off-the-beaten path places, this is a nice one to check out. It's not very big, but very interesting if you want to learn about part of Chicago's history. Free!
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Pullman National Monument
11141 S Cottage Grove AveIf you like visiting historical, off-the-beaten path places, this is a nice one to check out. It's not very big, but very interesting if you want to learn about part of Chicago's history. Free!
If you even remotely like cars, you will enjoy this place. It is HUGE and amazing, well worth the entry fee! There are cars from all eras and a really cool section with cars and vehicles from movies! Recommend to EVERYONE.
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볼로 자동차 박물관
27582 Volo Village RdIf you even remotely like cars, you will enjoy this place. It is HUGE and amazing, well worth the entry fee! There are cars from all eras and a really cool section with cars and vehicles from movies! Recommend to EVERYONE.
Entertainment
This is a great venue for concerts! If you are looking for something to do, look this place up on the web and see if there happens to be a show going on (highly likely--they have shows all the time). Parking is available on the street and nearby lots for free. We have attended several concerts here, never disappointed!
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Arcada Theatre
105 E Main StThis is a great venue for concerts! If you are looking for something to do, look this place up on the web and see if there happens to be a show going on (highly likely--they have shows all the time). Parking is available on the street and nearby lots for free. We have attended several concerts here, never disappointed!
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Metra/train to city
We do not live near the train station, so you will need a ride to get there (nearest is Bartlett Metra, around 4mi/6km). The cost is $7.25 ONE WAY to reach downtown Chicago, and the trains run about once an hour. It takes about an hour to ride from Bartlett to downtown.
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Parking in Chicago
While I am not an expert on this by any means, please feel free to ask me for advice about parking downtown. I highly recommend using a parking app to reserve a space in advance--this gives you the best rate by far. If you are willing to walk just a bit, you can often get parking for less than $10.