The suburbs tend to get a bad rap. Which isn’t fair, because although we love our sweet home Chicago, there are still a ton of cool places to visit when you head outside the city limits. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite reasons to hop on the Metra or get in the car and head to the suburbs.
Get in touch with your natural side. If you want to truly relish in the massive acreage of the Midwest, you’ve got a few wonderful options just a quick trip away. Head up to Glencoe and enjoy the gorgeous flora at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Or spend a day enjoying the 1,700 acres of gardens, plants and trees out in Lisle at the Morton Arboretum.
Grab a pint of some brews from the ‘burbs. Sure, we love all the wonderful local beer options in Chicago, but you’d be missing out on some excellent offerings from the likes of Two Brothers, 5 Rabbits, Penrose and many other brewers if you don't explore a bit farther out.
Enjoy a movable feast. Venture out on a culinary crawl and try some of the finest foods in the Chicagoland area. Hit up Gene & Jude’s for a classic dog with no ketchup, get your beef dipped at Johnnie’s in Elmwood Park, crunch on some fried chicken at Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket or White Fence Farm, grab a scoop at Graeter's or class it up and enjoy fine dining at the award-winning Vie. You’ve got abundant possibilities to eat well in the suburbs.
Get your game on. Sure, we’ve got some excellent arcade bars in the city, but if you want one of the biggest in the country, you’ve got to head west. Galloping Ghost boasts more than 440 games. You’re gonna need a lot of tokens to play them all. Good thing the place stays open until 2am.
Cheer for the home team. Enjoy a sport that doesn’t involve a bear, bull, pucks or a curse from a goat. The Chicago Fire and Chicago Sky both play their home games outside city limits.
Play the ponies. Head to Arlington Park and put a few dollars down on your favorite horse at this suburban track. Joke with all your friends that the stakes are high because you’ve got “a horse in this race.”
Win big money. If you prefer the roll of dice over the clomping of hooves when it comes to gambling, you’ve got a few options in the Chicagoland area. Play penny slots at Harrah’s in Joliet. Let it ride at Rivers in Des Plaines. Or head a bit farther over the border to Hammond and visit the Horseshoe. Who knows, maybe you’ll get lucky instead of breaking the bank.
Travel back in time and get medieval. Some days you just want to eat meat with your hands, drink booze and cheer while two humans joust. Thankfully, you can head to Medieval Times and enjoy just that. It sure beats Netflix and a pizza.
Flip it and reverse it. Visit Six Flags Great America on an empty stomach, ride all the roller coasters and rank your favorites, then compare your top picks with our list.
Enjoy a little slice of Japan without the long airplane ride. If you want to enjoy some of the finest Japanese food around, head to Arlington Heights and visit Mitsuwa. Besides picking up some killer deals on groceries and other Japanese wares, slurp up some of the best ramen around at Santouka, one of the meal stalls within the market.
Have a smashing tea time. When he’s not busy making music, promoting wrestling or leaving Twitter to start a car blog, you might find eccentric rocker Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins enjoying a cuppa at his tea house in Highland Park. Stop by and enjoy a brew tonight (tonight).
Get spiritually inspired. Take in beautiful, detailed architecture while finding inner peace under the dome at the Bahá'í Temple in Wilmette. It is the oldest serving Bahá'í House of Worship in the world, and the only one in the U.S. The massive white dome covered with intricate carvings is the perfect place to visit for design fans and spiritual travelers alike.
Spend the day with Mr. Wright. Create your own suburban architecture crawl and enjoy the works of an American master. You could easily spend a few days enjoying the designs of Frank Lloyd Wright by only visiting Oak Park.
If you're visiting outside Cook County, save some change. The cost of living in Chicago can be painful at times, especially with our higher taxes. If you happen to be outside the county line, stock up on some of the vices that cost a bit extra to enjoy within city limits.