OK, yes, you haveit has Oprahs stamp of approval as one of the most charming small towns in the country, among other accoladesbut its so well-known for a reason. Clarendon Hills is an extremely well run town. . Events are in abundance in the area and surrounding areas, however, it would be tough for commuters to the city of Chicago since it is pretty far North. 676 Niche users give it an average review of 4.2 stars. Galena has a gorgeous downtown area, with some excellent restaurants, bakeries, and candy shops for you to choose from. As one of the most beautiful small towns in Illinois, you might recognize Woodstock from its appearance in movies like "Groundhog Day" and "Planes, Trains and Automobiles." Sports are improving every year. It is a beautiful town with much to do for all ages. If youre visiting in June, be sure to check out the annual Great Galena Balloon Race. Crime rates are extremely low and the educational system is way above average. Read 676 reviews. Galena. The Paramount Theatre is a local favorite for live music, and it regularly hosts free community events. A post shared by Downtown Oak Park (@downtownoakpark). (847) 634-0100. From one of America's best diners, to authentic wood-fired fig pizza and incredible candies, Goshen is a foodie's dream! Ten, Marriott Dr. Lincolnshire, IL 60069. Give us a call to learn more about local areas, discuss selling a house, or tour available homes for sale, Youtube But it's true. If you want to live in a suburb with a little bit of everything, you can't do better than Elmhurst. Featured Review: Former Resident says Overall, good. Well, according to Attraction of America's numerical list, this city has the best pizza in America (their words), the deep dish. 93 Niche users give it an average review of 4.2 stars. Most People Dont Know That This Charming Small Town Was Named After Ancient Egypt, The Best Breakfast In Illinois Is Served At This Iconic Hole-In-The-Wall Restaurant, This Friendly Town In Illinois Is The Perfect Day Trip Destination, The Red Barn Restaurant & Brewery In Illinois Sits In A Stunningly Restored Gothic Barn, Galena, Illinois Is Being Called One Of The Best Small Town Vacations In America, How This Small Illinois Town Quietly Became The Coolest Place In The Midwest, The One Illinois Town Thats So Perfectly Midwestern, Plan A Trip To Galena, One Of Illinoiss Most Charming Historic Towns. The Wabash Depot and Monticello Railway Museum is certainly a highlight of downtown. It was manufactured in the Netherlands and then shipped to Fulton in 2000. Read 10 reviews. Kohler, Co. 4. One can sometimes forget that they're in the city, and then look up and find themselves mesmerized by the architecture. Tree lined streets, diverse walks of life, public parks everywhere, huge gardens, shops and locally owned businesses for. Current Resident: I like that Vernon Hills is a tight community where most of the elementary schools are feeder schools into the middle schools which allows kids to stay in touch with their friends. The 20th century manufacturing hub of Rockford, Illinois, once known for its knitting . 2 hours 45 minutes from Chicago. Theres also rare bird watching available and an annual rattlesnake migration which isnt so much something you want to go and watch, but rather something to be fascinated by. And for history buffs, there's no shortage of points of interest in Galena, as 85 percent of the town is on the National Register of Historic Places! But even if you manage to see every home, mural, and fowl in Quincy, youre still in luck: Hannibal, MOand its treasure trove of Mark Twain attractionsis just half an hour and a hop across the Mississippi away.`. It also has a lot of entertainment options. Take one look at the menu . Almost impossible to find, Elsah is tucked away in a ravine, surrounded by thick woods. There are gift shops, boutiques, specialized stores, and traditional offerings. Located just 70 miles from downtown Chicago, New Buffalo, Michigan, is a quaint lakefront escape best known for its beaches, vineyards, shopping, and dining . Everyone here is very supportive! TRAVEL The 50 Most Beautiful Towns to Visit in Each US State. It features a carnival, live entertainment, food vendors, beer garden, and so much more. Both boast excellent reviews online, and they're in the heart of downtown Elmhurst. AHOY! The food is fantastic, the neighborhood is friendly, and the rent is really reasonable here. Another town in Illinois perfect for a day trip is Woodstock. You get quick answers from the Village when you call and the streets are always in great shape when there is a snow storm. It is a convenient location in regards to restaurants, grocery stores, coffee shops, fitness studios and so forth. There are escape rooms, movie theaters, parks, lakes, and more. Front Street downtown is quickly becoming a hot spot for new businesses in the area. City in Illinois,. Totally convenient, the transportation are plentiful: the L, Metra, Union Station, bike rentals, or better, hoof it. Events are in abundance in the area and surrounding areas, however, it would be. Current Resident: I love West Loop! Hugo's Frog Bar & Fish House - Naperville. Restaurants. #3 Best Places to Live in Illinois.. Naperville. Downtown Highwood, LF, and Lake Bluff are awesome. The first thing we noticed - right away - was the meticulous, purposeful attention to building a culture of warmth, openness, and community for all students. Its where the heart and soul of the state truly lie! Enjoy the eclectic atmosphere, fantastic coffee shops, and great local food during your visit. Stroll along the cobblestone walkways, peruse the shops, stop in for a tasting at the local winery, and shop at the boutiques. 2. Overall a great community!. You will also love the little shops and restaurants in town. Located just 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, Evanstonsits along the shores of Lake Michigan, and it's home to Northwestern University. Photograph: Neal O'Bryan. In particular, the Cold Stone Creamery makes delicious ice cream and cakes. Featured Review: Works Here says Love my school! I wouldn't change it for anything! Download The Entire Illinois Ranking Data. During the summer months, RiverEdge Parkand Millennium Plazahost locally and nationally recognized artists. A scoop of each, please!) Arlington Heights via bogdanstepniak / CC BY 3.0 As you can see from the population, Arlington Heights is one of the largest suburbs of Chicago, coming in at one of the largest 15 municipalities in all of Illinois. Whats your favorite small town around the Prairie State? The town, located off the I&M canal, has a nostalgic feel. This is Illinois OG college town: McKendree College is the oldest in the state. Real Estate listings held by brokerage firms other than Real People Realty are marked with the Broker Reciprocity logo or the Broker Reciprocity thumbnail logo (a little black house) and detailed information about them includes the names of the listing brokers. 1. Entrance Fee. Its listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was named a Preserve America Community by the White House. Shopping areas include Evanston Plaza, Sherman Plaza, the Evanston Center, and more. It's especially desirable to families. Check out the Midsummer Music Festival if youre travelling in June. 6 Niche users give it an average review of 4.2 stars. The area is gorgeous, the people are friendly, the schools are great. 56 Niche users give it an average review of 4.1 stars. Monticello is actually accredited as a National Main Street Community. The first thing we noticed - right away - was the meticulous, purposefulOur kids simply love going to school at CJDS, which is an exhilirating to witness as a parent. Trains run below ground so its very safe. According to aChicago Tribune article, Chicago's metropolitan area has experienced a steady population decline, with 11,177 residents leaving in 2016, 3,371 leaving in 2015, and 13,286 leaving in 2017. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Oakland, CA. It's a charming midwestern town with lots of outdoor attractions. It is a beautiful town with much to do for all ages. There are many animals, birds, and reptiles there for you to observe. Elmhursts most popular resident is undoubtedly Carl Sandburg, a Chicago poet who brought a lot of positive attention to the city and the state. Current Resident: We have lived here since 2015 (moved from La Grange) and are very happy here. Greenville is one of the oldest communities in Illinois, and they take their heritage seriously. I think this town is a great place to raise a family as it is a very safe community with great school systems and recreational sports and. Current Resident: Great community. Always willing to help and encourage. Hampton Inn & Suites Chicago-North Shore/Skokie is a 3 star hotel located at 5201 Old Orchard Road in Chicago. Wedding cake? There are historic locations, boutiques, art stores, and traditional shopping options. It seems Illinois has a history of attracting large groups looking for freedom of some kind. 9 Niche users give it an average review of 4.2 stars. Downtown Oak Park has many diverse shopping offerings. 22. costhedog 1 yr. ago. For most of its history, it has been a railway centre for Illinois. Learn about and locate the most historic main streets in Illinois. $96,500.0. 116 Niche users give it an average review of 4 stars. Talking about my experience, it was pretty good. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. 48 Niche users give it an average review of 4.3 stars. You can't beat a quaint suburb with a stellar downtown filled with great restaurants and entertainment. 10 Niche users give it an average review of 4.4 stars. Rural Scene Wakarusa Valley, that was painted with oils by Irene Bianucci in 1941. Featured Review: Current Resident says Great community. Facebook. This is small town at its best. Santa Cruz. 44 Niche users give it an average review of 4.3 stars. Plenty of sports, activities & clubs for students to participate in. Oak Park is a suburb of Chicago and is known for its beautiful architecture and downtown. Centennial Beach is a public aquatic park complete with sand. Neighborhoods.com does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of information or assume any liability for its use. Every year for Labor Day weekend, Buffalo Grove Days is hosted, which actually is located a block away from my house which makes it easy for me to walk and meet up with my friends or family. Featured Review: Current Resident says Id say this town is very normal, the things I love are down town long grove and the schools which are full of opportunities. Talking about my experience, it was pretty good.. Current Resident: Lots of nature, packed with families and senior citizens, large property sizes, and only about a hour away from the heart of Chicago Read 9 reviews. Purple Pig. The schools are top-notch, too. Wilmette was hailed by Business Week as the 7th best place to raise a . The perfect place to learn to ride a bike, sit on the beach right on the lake, chat on the porch with neighbors, bbq in the backyard, etc. 211 S Bench St, Galena, IL 61036, USA. David Wilson/Flickr. Downtown Oak Park, Illinois. Pete's Fresh Market is a staple of the area, as are DuPage County Historical Museum. 16. Sometimes I wish I had sidewalks although as a kid I would bike on my neighborhood roads or bike paths and then by major roads there are usually side walks or ways for getting to. Current Resident: This is a fantastic place to relocate if you want to move a little closer to Chicago. Everyone here says hello and knows one another. Early December. 42 Niche users give it an average review of 4.2 stars. Featured Review: Current Resident says I grew up here and moved back one year ago. . I want to move to a walkable, historic, four-season town and have a budget of $30,000 a year where should I retire? They also have newer infrastructure (electric, sewage, roads). Downtown is old-fashioned and unique. Location. Every year they organize a school wide science fair and the winners go to the CONCEF that is organized by Concept Schools where students showcase their knowledge, also they hold STEM-EXPO for demonstrations. Illinois gets some serious bragging rights because one of its downtown areas landed on the list in the #2 spot but was also mentioned as the absolute best in America. In the warmer months, enjoy your theater experience . You can check out the 19th century Bartlett Depot Museum at the original railroad station. Check out one of the prime lookout spots for seeing bald eagles when they spend the winter in the area. The Alcove in Evanston is one of the most renowned fine dining spots in all of Chicago. They are getting exceptional education from teachers who truly spend individual time crafting a plan (in partnership with parents) for each students success; every year, there is a "hopes and dreams" meeting with each child's teachers where you as parents can address the goals that you have for your children. 19 Niche users give it an average review of 4.5 stars. Nature wakes up from under the snow cover and reveals its fresh-faced glory to the world. Elmhurst College has a reputation as a progressive liberal arts school, and the reputation spills over into town. Nearby Starved Rock State Park may steal the spotlight from Ottawa, but its well worth trekking into town after youve finished your hike. Live in a ravine, surrounded by thick woods 4.1 stars Evanstonsits the., you ca n't beat a quaint suburb with a stellar downtown filled with great restaurants and entertainment streets diverse... 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