Why You Should Visit Oak Park, Illinois

Often, visitors to the Windy City look to stay primarily within "the Loop," the downtown area which houses the Theatre District, the Sears Tower, and the world-famous museums and attractions such as Shedd Aquarium or the Art Institute. Occasionally they might go north to Wrigley Field or south to the Museum of Science and Industry. However, such a limited plan of touring the city merely along the long denies the tourist some true gems found in Chicagoland. One of them - and a surprising one at that - is Oak Park. A suburb just to the west of Chicago, Oak Park often gets a bad reputation due to crime or poverty, and this is where I believe an analogy to parts of Brooklyn in New York City is in order. Though parts of it are less than pleasant to travel through, and I wouldn't necessarily recommend staying the night in certain parts, Oak Park is a vibrant 50,000-strong community of historical importance well worth the visit to anyone looking to explore Chicago's rich heritage beyond the skyscrapers. Oak Park is one of the most diverse communities in Chicagoland, if not the country, a fact reflected in its output of residents. Rapper Ludacris hails from the city. So do Kathy Griffin, Bob Newhart, and Edgar Rice Burroughs, not to mention the two most famous residents, Frank Lloyd Wright and Ernest Hemingway. Briefly, then, I'd like to highlight the things that make a jaunt into Oak Park worthwhile.

The Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio - Located at 951 Chicago Av., the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio offers tours of the studio where America's finest architect lived worked during his first two decades, refurbished to its 1909 condition. As this is the first area Wright worked in, he also has a variety of buildings in the town, including many examples of his "prairie-style" and the famous Unity Temple (875 Lake Street). The Wright Preservation Society also offers a variety of tours (both guided and self-guided) that lead to these fine buildings, as well as others in Chicagoland (such as Robie House or Winslow House). Oak Park prides itself for being the epicenter of Wright's early output, and it shows with the quality and care taken to preserve his memory and legacy to the area. Visit www.wrightplus.org/ for details, hours, pricing, and more!

Ernest Hemingway Birthplace and Museum - It might be hard to believe that two of America's modernist masters hail from the same small section of Chicago, but it's true. Just down the street from some of Wright's stellar architecture sits the Ernest Hemingway Birthplace and Museum (339 N. Oak Park Av. and 200 N. Oak Park Av., respectively). The Hemingway on display in this birth house is not the Hemingway of safaris or war or bullfights, but a somewhat-lost child Hemingway. For the literature buff or the psychologically-minded, this place is a gold mine. You can see traces of where his adventurous spirit come from, learn how his love of nature developed, and see where his writing skill came from. There is a certain aura to the Hemingway birthplace that cannot be experienced by reading a biography. Be forewarned, though: the quality is not always up to par with other historical landmarks like what you might expect. The museum is filled with similar gems from Hemingway's youth, definitely a must-see for anyone with an interest in American letters or the psychology of genius. Admission is $7 adults, $5.50 kids and seniors, for both attractions.

The Oak Park Conservatory - While it might seem boring to suggest a place full of plants, the Oak Park Conservatory (615 Garfield St.) is worth the time. With over 3,000 species - including rare specimens, plants from tropical climates, and unique plants such as the Venus flytrap - the Oak Park Conservatory makes for a relaxing walk-through of botanical delights if you want something restful, yet interesting. And with an admission price of only $1, it sure makes a bargain compared to seeing a mediocre film at the cineplex.

Other Noteworthy Architecture - For the traveler deeply interested in art, architecture and history, Oak Park has several non-Wright buildings that are worth seeing. The historical and cultural diversity has given Oak Park a plethora of unique structures worth seeing from a variety of periods. For example, there are a wonderful selection of gorgeous Victorian houses in the city, and the quality and diversity is so much that the Village of Oak Park runs multiple tours, including one in architectural history. Stop by the Visitor's Center (1118 West Gate St.) for more information.

Other Arts - Oak Park is also a haven for artists, art connoisseurs, antique shoppers, and book dealers, especially those of the whimsical variety. The town is littered with galleries, studios, book shops, and quality antique stores worth checking out. Two of the more unique art galleries would be She.Art (142 Harrison St.), which features mostly feminist (or "women-related") art from the Chicago area, and Ridge Art (21 Harrison St.), which focuses on Caribbean and Latin American art. Also worth looking at is the Lake Theatre (1022 W. Lake St.), one of the wave of renovated art-deco movie houses in the country. Just drive around, you're bound to find something fun!

Dining - As one might expect from the heavy presence of art galleries and historical places, there are a variety of eateries in Oak Park worth checking out. One of them, if you don't mind cooking for yourself, is the Oak Park Farmer's Market (Elmwood and Lake), one of the best and most fun places to get fresh produce in the Chicago summertime. For standard dining, check out Avenue Ale House (825 Oak Park Av., open lunch and dinner, American/Traditional), Cucina Paradiso (814 North Blvd., open lunch and dinner, Regional Italian), Papaspiros Greek Tavern (733 Lake, lunch and dinner, Greek), or Nola's Cup (800 S. Oak Park, open breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Creole-American). Especially recommended for a fine dinner experience is Cafe Le Coq (734 Lake, open only for dinner Tues-Sat, brunch on Sun., closed Mon.), a unique French restaurant consistently receiving accolades as a gem of Chicagoland.

There you have it! With an outstanding wealth of history, art, and fine dining, Oak Park places itself right up there with the top 50,000-person communities in the country. It's too bad far too many visitors with a week in Chicago go through the standard routine and leave Oak Park to the locals. Their loss; do not be like them. Take a day or two to explore a suburb with rich history and vibrant culture. Do it right, and you won't be disappointed.

Oak Park can be reached via the Eisenhower Expressway or by the Chicago Transit Authorities Green and Blue lines. Call the Oak Park Visitor's Center at (708) 524-7800 or infor@visitoakpark.com for more details today!