Chicago’s Great Backyard: More than Meets the Map
Oak Park: Meet the American Masters
Interior Image of Frank Lloyd Wright's Unity Temple in Oak Park, IL
Far more self-consciously a tourist attraction than Evanston, the western suburb of Oak Park nevertheless deserves your attention as an American gem. Both Francis Lloyd Wright and Ernest Hemingway called Oak Park their homes at some point in their lives, and the town has done its utmost to preserve the historical artifacts on its soil.
To truly appreciate a Francis Lloyd Wright home, you have to experience how it coexists with nature – a perspective you just can’t garner in a city. And only in Oak Park can you find the building that Wright called his own home – complete with a willow tree that grows through the walls.
The town is a veritable treasure trove of Prairie School Architecture that you can experience via a self-guided or rickshaw tour. Not only will these tours take you to Wright’s famous constructions, they will also guide you to Hemingway’s birthplace.
Okey-Skokie
Sculptures from Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park
Perhaps more known for its silent film and gangster past, Skokie – a northern suburb just west of Evanston – has emerged in the last few years as a cultural spot where you can find great food and art.
Top on your list should be to visit Skokie’s Farmer’s Market. Running every Sunday from June to October for more that thirty years, the Skokie Farmer’s Market offers cheeses, baked goods, and freshly picked fruit and veg from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin.
After satisfying your yen for fresh and delicious foods, walk off the calories with a stroll through Skokie’s delightful and free Sculpture Park or explore one of the many nearby art galleries. Fill in the Blank Gallery, which technically resides in Chicago’s North Side Ravenswood neighborhood (easily accessible to Skokie and Evanston residents), you’ll get to experience art, film, and music that transcends the provincial borders you may expect of small town suburbia.
