Chicago is a great city which is home to many world-class attractions, however, the suburbs are also home to plenty of must see attractions as well, most notably the Brookfield Zoo. As one of the top zoos in the country, it's well worth a trip outside of the city. Fortunately, there are many more attractions which will make your drive more worthwhile.
Take a look at my list of 10 fun Chicago suburb attractions and try to incorporate one or 2 into your next Chicago vacation.
Brookfield Zoo is one of the best zoos in the country. There are plenty of great exhibits including an underground Polar Bear viewing area, an indoor primate habitat called Tropic World, and a fantastic dolphin show. The zoo also holds an annual Holiday Magic Zoo Lights show where the entire zoo is decorated in over a million lights.
Check out this location at:
8400 W 31st St
Brookfield, IL 60513
Hollywood Palms is a unique dinner & movie theater concept in Naperville, the sister cinema of the original Hollywood Blvd. Dinner & Movie Cinema in Woodbridge. Like Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood Palms also features frequent celebrity events and movie marathons.
One of the most fun events I attended was a meet and greet with Corey Feldman and a screening of 4 of his best movies: Stand by Me, The Goonies, License to Drive, and The Lost Boys. What a fun and nostalgic event for kids of the 80's!
The theater features lush landscaping including real palm trees and a waterfall. There is also unique movie memorabilia, themed auditoriums, and a creative themed restaurant menu. A full food and drink menu is available and served to you in your seat.
Check out this location at:
352 Illinois 59
Naperville, IL 60540
Enjoy some old-fashioned arcade games and carnival inspired ticket redemption games at Dave & Busters. A variety of great specials are offered including 1/2 priced games on Wednesdays and a special weekday arcade power hour for just ten bucks.
Overall, it's a great place to let loose and feel like a kid again. Some locations offer special 21+ hours so you can enjoy the space without a bunch of noisy kids.
Check out this location at:
49 Orland Park Place
Orland Park, IL 60462
Many of the suburban forests throughout Chicagoland are home to numerous walking trails and paths. I like taking nature walks at the Little Red School House which is located in the Palos/Sag Valley Forest Preserve. This preserve offers a number of relaxing nature trails, perfect for beginners or those looking for a more peaceful day out.
Check out this location at:
9800 Willow Springs Rd
Willow Springs, IL 60480
Little Red School House offers a few nice nature trails as well as a great interpretive center where you can learn more about the small mammals and plants which call the preserve home.
Check out this location at:
9800 Willow Springs Rd
Willow Springs, IL 60480
Holiday Magic is held each December at Brookfield Zoo. This festive event includes a million lights, carolers, ice carving demonstrations, holiday music, and more. This is easily one of the best Christmas light displays in Chicago. I try to back at least every few years.
Check out this location at:
8400 W 31st St
Brookfield, IL 60513
Oakbrook is one of my favorite Illinois malls. I love the fact that it is outdoors unlike most of the other malls in the area. This mall is a great place to visit anytime of the year. Summertime is a great time to plan your visit as the weather is perfect for an outdoor stroll and the nice landscaping and fountains make for a truly attractive setting. The winter months are great too because they all go all out on decor, creating the perfect festive holiday shopping ambiance.
Check out this location at:
100 Oakbrook Center
Oak Brook, IL 60523
Naperville is home to a great downtown area complete with plenty of fantastic local restaurants, bars, and shops. One of my favorite Italian restaurants (in the Chicago area) is La Sorella di Francesco. I highly recommend trying out this fantastic restaurant! Not only is the food great, but the ambiance is perfect for a dinner date or celebratory occassion!
Check out this location at:
Washington & Chicago Ave
Naperville, IL 60567
Bengtson's truly is one of the best pumpkin patches– I haven’t been to another that has remotely compared to Bengtson’s. Held every fall in the suburb of Homer Glen, this pumpkin patch is worth going out of your way. Numerous festive attractions are included for one price including hayrides, pig races, festive displays, a petting zoo, corn maze, a haunted fun barn and more. Seasonal treats, a Halloween shop, and plenty of fun photo opps add to the fall ambiance.
Check out this location at:
13341 W 151st St
Homer Glen, IL 60491
This enormous mall in Schaumburg is the place for anyone looking to do some intense shopping! Being one of the largest shopping malls in the US, you will never run out of stores to visit. One of the great things about this mall is the location – there are plenty of other stores and activities in the immediate area to keep you busy all day long, thus making it worth the drive.
Check out this location at:
5 Woodfield Mall
Schaumburg, IL 60173
