Area Attractions
Oak Park and River Forest
Both are quaint, upscale suburbs located 10 miles west of Chicago. You'll find plenty to do as you walk through the downtown areas of these friendly villages.
Six blocks from campus, you are in Oak Park, where you can:
- Grab a cup of coffee at Caribou Coffee, Starbucks, Prairie Bread Kitchen or the Bleeding Heart Bakery
- Shop the small boutiques
- Take a tour of Frank Lloyd Wright's Home and Studio and/or Ernest Hemingway's boyhood home
- Check out Barbara's Book Store, Borders or the Book Table
- Sample food from around the world - Greek, Italian, Thai, American, Mexican, French, Chinese, Indian, Middle Eastern
A world class city
Native Chicagoans travel the interconnecting public transit lines of the "EL" – short for elevated trains. The EL runs on raised rail platforms throughout the downtown "loop" area to neighborhoods on the north, south and west. The Green Line in Oak Park is only a 20 minute walk from campus. Here are just a few reasons to hop the EL.
- Take advantage of a free admission day at the Art Institute or the Museum of Science and Industry
- Go "out to the ball game" to watch the Cubs at Wrigley Field or the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field
- Ride the Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier
- Attend the free concerts at Millennium Park
- Shop on State Street or the Magnificent Mile
- Watch one of our famous downtown Chicago street parades
- Relax and people watch at Oak Street beach
- Spend a day at Lincoln Park Zoo – it's free!
- See a performance at the lakefront Chicago Shakespeare Theater
- Take advantage of CUC discounted theater performances at the Cadillac, Ford or Goodman theaters
- Get a bag of Garrett's famous cheddar/caramel popcorn mix