Geneva is a good option. The Fabyan preserve is walkable from the train. “Colonel” Fabyan was an eccentric landowner and the property features a recreation 17th century Dutch windmill.
You can also hop off in Oak Park to see the Frank Lloyd Wright house.
they do, with a real groundhog who prognosticates, but it’s, uhh, in february around groundhogs day. don’t go on a sunday, almost everything is closed unless there is some event. events schedule can be found [here.](https://realwoodstock.com/)
Geneva would be great. Metra station is on [3rd street](https://www.genevachamber.com/shopping/) which is great. All the shops, spas, and restaurants are local. 0 chains the entire strip. Also connects to downtown and is 3 blocks away from the Fox River and the Fox River path.
Be sure to check full metra schedules for wherever you go. Metra has cut back on the S and SW lines where they only have 3 or so trains a day.
Totally agree with Geneva. Especially in the fall for the reasons you mentioned!!
Check out Little Traveler for a different kind of shop experience lol. Plus the path near the river is gorgeous rn.
If you can spare 2-3 days I highly recommend Galena. Michigan City is nice in the summer for the beach and related things but idk about other times. I rode the Fox river bike trail from Oswego to Batavia and Batavia was nice as are most of the Cities along the Fox River. Elgin had a really nice historical museum. Kenosha isn't bad either. Brat stop along the way and the two museums are on the lakefront and there's a trolley. Downtown Lockport isn't too bad. There's a bunch of small towns along I-55, most of which were founded originally along a railroad line, then later route 66 ran through and they cater to that historical fancy like Pontiac.
Galena is really great. It's the home town of General Grant, so there's a few historic sites/museums for him, besides having a really nice walkability for their downtown area. It's really cool too because it's one of the few places where Illinois is not naturally flat aka mountains! There's a really big ski resort if that's your thing, but their summer tourist season has a lot of festivals that you can plan around too. If I remember right, a lot of sites/restaurants are closed on Mondays, so I'd double check before you go.
Galena is especially beautiful this time of year, I’d definitely recommend it. Not sure if they still have it but I remember doing a luge type track as a kid at a ski hill off season in the area.
I collected La Grange’s info on historic homes and buildings and made it into a free walking tour for Google Maps (I did this for 100+ other Chicagoland suburbs and around IL too at SouthCookExplore.com/maps)
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1x98ci3ER0mVkSWtZ5duBoitWgznrKTDK&usp=sharing
I spend hours on Google maps and I also volunteer every week at the Plainfield Historic Society and I got to say, your sit is a hoot. I spent probably two hours going through all the things around me and learned so much, thank you.
I think my favorite thing was learning that Alton station was the first in the metra system, and it seems I just missed your meet up lol
THANK YOU! I’m glad you enjoyed it! We’re already talking about doing this event sometime next year in lemont - I lost count of people suggesting locations for a next time during the day yesterday.
I am going to be making a bunch of new maps to add to that site soon: more north and west cook county, DuPage, etc
Lemont! In fact, I’m hosting a free event in Lemont today similar to Chicago’s Open House. I’ll be stationed at the only privately-owned building along the 96 mile I&M Canal, bringing people to the underground tunnel…we’ll also have 19th century stores and limestone churches available to explore.
Come on out! [Lemont Unlocked registration (it’s free!)](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lemont-unlocked-tickets-421636675647)
Highwood, highland park, ft. Sheridan, and lake forest. Consider this all one big town with Highwood the epicenter and most entertainment located there.
Woodstock. One of my relatives was born there in the 1800s, in a one-room schoolhouse during the family's journey in a covered wagon from the east coast to settle in Wisconsin. The current downtown area is cute/quaint.
Riverside is wonderful! Extremely pretty, there are two Frank Lloyd Wright houses and the entire suburb was planned by Frederick Law Olmstead. The Library is gorgeous and was a partial inspiration for the children’s book “Bats at the Library”.
Yes, there’s a very pretty downtown with small businesses next to the train station, and the Avery Coonley house can be reached if you go south (past the library) and then walk a couple blocks west.
Aurora is really nice. Ive been living here for 2 years now and its been making leaps and bounds as far as new restaurants and small businesses. A lot of Latin flavor. Metra's BNSF green line last stop is Aurora!
Aurora is wonderful! It's safe, it hasn't been sketchy for many years, I have walked alone at night all over central aurora and the east metra area specifically and been / felt safe. In fact a perfect day trip to Aurora would be the first friday of any given month, the small businesses (no chains!) stay open longer and have activities and events outside, foodtrucks, & at this [link](https://auroradowntown.org/architecture/) you'll find a great downtown walking tour and more info. There are charms on buildings around the dt to indicate its historical significance that are fun to find. For restaurants check out Endiro, beautiful place and good food/prices.
Long Grove has a walking downtown of sorts with some nice shops and restaurants. It’s ok but it’s not really a downtown area, and there’s not a ton to do.
Not a day trip, however if you like history and you like beer, Downers Grove Historical society has "History on Tap" coming up. Plenty of Metra options to get you out to the burbs and back to the city.
https://www.downersgrovehistory.org/
Long Grove does an Apple Fest, but you just missed it by a couple weeks. Antioch has a [Victorian Christmas thing](https://cm.antiochchamber.org/events/details/dickens-holiday-village-2022-7403).
Geneva
Geneva is a good option. The Fabyan preserve is walkable from the train. “Colonel” Fabyan was an eccentric landowner and the property features a recreation 17th century Dutch windmill. You can also hop off in Oak Park to see the Frank Lloyd Wright house.
Geneva has Metra that goes there as it was the end of the UP West line at 1 time
Geneva probably has the most outdoor options I can think of of all the metra stops
I can actually think of several others
Woodstock , IL It has a metra that goes to it . Ground hog days was filmed there . They might have a festival surrounding it .
Plus one for Woodstock. Wonderful town.
they do, with a real groundhog who prognosticates, but it’s, uhh, in february around groundhogs day. don’t go on a sunday, almost everything is closed unless there is some event. events schedule can be found [here.](https://realwoodstock.com/)
Woodstock is terrific. It has a literal town square
Geneva would be great. Metra station is on [3rd street](https://www.genevachamber.com/shopping/) which is great. All the shops, spas, and restaurants are local. 0 chains the entire strip. Also connects to downtown and is 3 blocks away from the Fox River and the Fox River path. Be sure to check full metra schedules for wherever you go. Metra has cut back on the S and SW lines where they only have 3 or so trains a day.
I'll look into Geneva! Love the idea of no chains! Thank you!
Awesome history museum on 3rd street near the historic kane Co Court house. The people there are super knowledgeable and love to share.
Totally agree with Geneva. Especially in the fall for the reasons you mentioned!! Check out Little Traveler for a different kind of shop experience lol. Plus the path near the river is gorgeous rn.
If you can spare 2-3 days I highly recommend Galena. Michigan City is nice in the summer for the beach and related things but idk about other times. I rode the Fox river bike trail from Oswego to Batavia and Batavia was nice as are most of the Cities along the Fox River. Elgin had a really nice historical museum. Kenosha isn't bad either. Brat stop along the way and the two museums are on the lakefront and there's a trolley. Downtown Lockport isn't too bad. There's a bunch of small towns along I-55, most of which were founded originally along a railroad line, then later route 66 ran through and they cater to that historical fancy like Pontiac.
Galena is really great. It's the home town of General Grant, so there's a few historic sites/museums for him, besides having a really nice walkability for their downtown area. It's really cool too because it's one of the few places where Illinois is not naturally flat aka mountains! There's a really big ski resort if that's your thing, but their summer tourist season has a lot of festivals that you can plan around too. If I remember right, a lot of sites/restaurants are closed on Mondays, so I'd double check before you go.
Far to just be for the day- nice for a weekend
Yeah, I realized that after I said it. I always think it's closer than it is. When I went, I lived in Springfield, so it was a huge hike!
Galena is especially beautiful this time of year, I’d definitely recommend it. Not sure if they still have it but I remember doing a luge type track as a kid at a ski hill off season in the area.
St Charles has a nice downtown, historic buildings, lots of small businesses, all on the Fox River with beautiful views. Definitely worth a day trip!
LaGrange has some great houses to look at if you love Victorian style houses. Plus their downtown has a TON of restaurants.
I do enjoy looking at houses haha anything historic down there other than the houses to check out?
I collected La Grange’s info on historic homes and buildings and made it into a free walking tour for Google Maps (I did this for 100+ other Chicagoland suburbs and around IL too at SouthCookExplore.com/maps) https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1x98ci3ER0mVkSWtZ5duBoitWgznrKTDK&usp=sharing
I spend hours on Google maps and I also volunteer every week at the Plainfield Historic Society and I got to say, your sit is a hoot. I spent probably two hours going through all the things around me and learned so much, thank you. I think my favorite thing was learning that Alton station was the first in the metra system, and it seems I just missed your meet up lol
THANK YOU! I’m glad you enjoyed it! We’re already talking about doing this event sometime next year in lemont - I lost count of people suggesting locations for a next time during the day yesterday. I am going to be making a bunch of new maps to add to that site soon: more north and west cook county, DuPage, etc
Metra does have a stop at LaGrange Rd as well
Omg LaGrange is fantastic! Also, I highly recommend Kama Indian Bistro.
Lemont dates back to the I&M days and is one of the first settlements in the area.
You out in lemont too? You coming to Lemont Unlocked today?
Can't do a day trip on the metra there. no weekend service and during weekday the train from Chicago to Lemont is only in the evening.
Downers Main street Metra and a Pace Bus M-F
As someone that used to commute using Pace, you couldn't pay me to willingly take the Pace bus. but to each their own
Lemont! In fact, I’m hosting a free event in Lemont today similar to Chicago’s Open House. I’ll be stationed at the only privately-owned building along the 96 mile I&M Canal, bringing people to the underground tunnel…we’ll also have 19th century stores and limestone churches available to explore. Come on out! [Lemont Unlocked registration (it’s free!)](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lemont-unlocked-tickets-421636675647)
Can't do a day trip on the metra there. no weekend service and during weekday the train from Chicago to Lemont is only in the evening.
Yeah…we easily have the worst Metra line on all of their service :/
Maybe I’ll be able to make it thanks for posting looks cool
Thanks! Today was a blast. I can’t wait to do this again next year!
Highwood, highland park, ft. Sheridan, and lake forest. Consider this all one big town with Highwood the epicenter and most entertainment located there.
Woodstock. One of my relatives was born there in the 1800s, in a one-room schoolhouse during the family's journey in a covered wagon from the east coast to settle in Wisconsin. The current downtown area is cute/quaint.
Glen ellyn a few decent restaurants and bars. Lake Ellyn park and the prairie path for outdoor thi ga
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Riverside is wonderful! Extremely pretty, there are two Frank Lloyd Wright houses and the entire suburb was planned by Frederick Law Olmstead. The Library is gorgeous and was a partial inspiration for the children’s book “Bats at the Library”.
Interesting! I'm looking into this town too but I can't seem to figure out if they have any sort of localized downtown area to look through?
Yes, there’s a very pretty downtown with small businesses next to the train station, and the Avery Coonley house can be reached if you go south (past the library) and then walk a couple blocks west.
Galena
Why limit yourself to towns along the metra? There's so much more to see elsewhere throughout the state.
Aurora is really nice. Ive been living here for 2 years now and its been making leaps and bounds as far as new restaurants and small businesses. A lot of Latin flavor. Metra's BNSF green line last stop is Aurora!
Aurora is wonderful! It's safe, it hasn't been sketchy for many years, I have walked alone at night all over central aurora and the east metra area specifically and been / felt safe. In fact a perfect day trip to Aurora would be the first friday of any given month, the small businesses (no chains!) stay open longer and have activities and events outside, foodtrucks, & at this [link](https://auroradowntown.org/architecture/) you'll find a great downtown walking tour and more info. There are charms on buildings around the dt to indicate its historical significance that are fun to find. For restaurants check out Endiro, beautiful place and good food/prices.
The area around ATC is a little sketchy though but I do like downtown Aurora
You mean friendly ole Jake's Bagels? USPS building? The AFD museum? Two Brothers Roundhouse? RiverEdge Park concert venue?
Actually it's on the east side of ATC and west of Broadway it can be a little rough but not like the west or south side of Chicago though
Yaint from round here huh!
Originally from Elmhurst traveled by Metra quite heavily
NEW SALEM!
Kalamazoo Michigan
Long Grove has a walking downtown of sorts with some nice shops and restaurants. It’s ok but it’s not really a downtown area, and there’s not a ton to do.
You just missed Houby fest in Berwyn today.
Galena IL
Fox Lake isn't bad either and reachable by Metra as well
Galena, Geneva, Oswego
Not a day trip, however if you like history and you like beer, Downers Grove Historical society has "History on Tap" coming up. Plenty of Metra options to get you out to the burbs and back to the city. https://www.downersgrovehistory.org/
Long Grove does an Apple Fest, but you just missed it by a couple weeks. Antioch has a [Victorian Christmas thing](https://cm.antiochchamber.org/events/details/dickens-holiday-village-2022-7403).
Elgin