Chicago Off The Beaten Path Tips by Toughluck

Willowbrook (Forest Preserve of Dupage County) Suburban delights Review

Willowbrook Park, a unit of the Forest Preserves of DuPage County is a wonderful oasis in this urban area. The rehabilitation center houses numerous animals

For more pictures see my marsh, and rehab center.

Phone: (630) 942-6200

Morton Arboretum Suburban delights Review

The Arboretum is a wonderful place, and I've only been there in early spring. Only a few of the spring wildflowers were making a show, trees were still bear. But a walk in the woods, a stroll around the lake, all were wonderful. The variety of life (plant life) is great. See my Lisle page, and my Morton Arboretum, Woods - east side and Labrynth - west side

Phone: 630-963-0074

Website: http://www.mortonarb.org/

Thrill Rides at Great American Amusement Park Beaches and Parks Review

Great America is the areas largest amusement park. You'll find a variety of roller coasters, go karts, thrill rides, musicals, shows, food, games and fun. Located north of Chicago, it offers a full day of family fun.

Porter, Indiana, a distant suburb of Chicago Suburban delights Review

Train watching to Swedish historic community, Porter offers a variety of interest after a day of swimming and dune climbing. If you're not the picniking type, Porter has a variety of restaurants to meet you taste buds delight.

Porter Junction is the cross roads of six track lines. Here, you can watch trains passing through on an average of 1 every 6 minutes. At times, you'll find them waiting on each side of the junction, pending another train that has the right of way. Amtrak, Canadian National, Norfolk Southern, Burlington Northern & Santa Fe, and a dozen other names will pass by in a matter of an hour.

Augsburg Lutheren Church continues a tradition of Swedish memories and families in northern Indiana. The Hundren year old 'Skola', school and early cemetery area still here, as are the burial markers for the earliest families in the community.

Visit my Porter page for details and other things to do.

Beyond the suburban ring (Beverly Shores) Suburban delights Review

Need a day away from the maddening crowds? Beverly Shores is a bedroom community for Chicago, well beyond the rush and furry of the city. Busy during the day, evening brings a quiet, solitude to the lake front. Here, you'll find small groups sitting in the sand, or splashing in the water, taking in the last hours of daylight. There will be lots of people along the beach, but plenty of space away from each other to relax and watch the sunset. This is a great sunset beach. On the right nights, you'll watch the sun set through the towers of downtown Chicago, over 20 miles (32 k) away, across the water.

Visit my Beverly Shores page for details and more things to do. Historic homes, floated across the lake from the 1933 Chicago Worlds Fair, restored wetlands, historic Lustron homes, and much more.

Visit the Indiana suburbs (Chesterton) Suburban delights Review

Described as the 'Center of the Dunes' or the Gateway to the Dunes; Chesterton, Indiana is the commecial center for the dune region. Unlike the sprawling suburbs west and north of Chicago, Chesterton is actually a small town. You'll find quaint shops and restaurants towards the historic downtown, and a modern shopping area just of the Interstate. It's a great place for picking up beach supplies or for finding something different for the kids after a busy day at the beach or climbing dunes.

For details, check out my VT page on Chesterton, Indiana.

Indiana Dunes State Park Beaches and Parks Review

Nestled in the middle of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is the Indiana Dunes State Park. With wide, sandy beach and miles of rolling dunes, you'll find a compact area of sand, water, wind, trails, and wetlands. They have over 20 miles (32 k) of trails, wandering through the nature preserve and several miles of beach front. The bathhouse and campground offer amenities for those less advernturous, while the 10 mile Beach front trail, traverses the entire park.

Website: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/c8ddd/befd1/

Do the Dunes Beaches and Parks Review

The southern shore of Lake Michigan is known for it's high dunes. Stretching from south Chicago, around through Indiana to the Michigan (state of Michigan) border, these dunes are some of the easiest to access. Sandy beaches spread out along the dunes offering wonderful places to spend a leisurely day. Visit my VT page for the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Check out my other Chicago tips for Off the Beaten Path for more to do in the Indiana suburbs of Chicago.

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, offers more than just sand and water:
- Bailly Homestead from 1834
-Chellberg Farm from 1880's
-Indiana Dunes Visitor Center (Porter, Indiana)
-Trails, [Succession Trail, Cowles Bog Trail, Inland Marsh Trail, Little Calumet River Trail, Miller Woods Trail, Ly-co-Ki-we Horse and Hiking Trail, Dune Ridge Trail]
-Dunes [West Beach, Mt Baldy]
and much, much more.

Phone: 219-926-7561 ext 227

Website: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/c8ddd/22ab23/