Excursions
For a Half Day
Oak Park Neighbourhood: Two famous residents, the architect Frank Lloyd Wright and the writer Ernest Hemingway made their home 16km (10 miles) west of the Loop in the suburb of Oak Park. The Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio Foundation, 951 Chicago Avenue (tel: (708) 848 1976; website: www.wrightplus.org), was where, between 1898 and 1908, Wright developed his new approach to architecture. The foundation offers educational programmes about his Prairie School of Architecture buildings, daily tours (usually between 1100 and 1500) of Frank Lloyd Wright structures and maps to explore the area alone. Discover aspects of the author’s life and history at the Ernest Hemingway Museum (tel: (708) 848 2222 or (877) HEMINGWAY; website: www.hemingway.org). Oak Park is reached on the CTA green line or on the METRA West Line to Oak Park station. Tourist information is available from the Oak Park Visitors Bureau, 158 North Forest Avenue (tel: (708) 524 7800; website: www.visitoakpark.com) .
The North Shore: Rent a car and discover Chicagoland’s North Shore. Take the Outer Drive north and continue down Sheridan road to Evanston. Explore the scenic lakeside campus of Northwestern University, and then drive past the lighthouse to the delicately sculptured Baha’i Temple in Wilmette. Continue on Sheridan Road past the winding roads, ravines and stately homes of Kenilworth, Glencoe and Winnetka. Turn left on Lake Cook Road to the Chicago Botanic Garden (tel: (847) 835 5440; website: www.chicago-botanic.org) and stroll along the numerous lush green paths and through the lovely English and Japanese gardens. Admission is free.
For a Whole Day
St Charles: One hour west of Chicago, past rolling hillsides and open prairie, is St Charles. Situated along the Fox River, St Charles is as much about the great outdoors as it is about shopping, eating and sightseeing. For only US$5, float four miles down the Fox River on a Paddlewheel Riverboat Cruise (tel: (630) 584 2334). Alternatively, canoes and pedal boats are available at Pottawatomie Park, 8 North Avenue. Other relaxing parks (website: www.st-charlesparks.org) include the Ferson Creek Park, on Route 31, two miles north of Main Street, and Mount St Mary Park, also on Route 31, to the west of Fox River and south of Prairie Street. The Fox River Trail, a spring and summer bike and hiking trail and a winter cross-country ski trail, borders the river.
The attractive historic town is a shopper’s paradise with antique shops, boutiques, the Charlestowne Mall, 3800 East Main Street and on the first Sunday of every month and the preceding Saturday afternoon, the Kane Flea Market, Kane County Fairgrounds, Randall Road and Route 64, with over 1,000 dealers, all hoping to catch the eye and wallet of every visitor. The Town House Books & Caf, 105 North Second Avenue, is a wonderful place for browsing books and drinking coffee.
St Charles is one hour by road on Route 64. Contact the Convention and Visitors Bureau, Suite 100, 311 North Second Street (tel: (800) 777 4373; website: www.visitstcharles.com), for further information.
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Excursions