Top 10 Best Things to Do in Oak Park, Illinois
Just a short drive or train ride away from downtown Chicago, Oak Park, Illinois is a quaint town that was once home to Ernest Hemingway and Frank Lloyd Wright and still pays homage to their creative genius.
There are so many things to do in Oak Park it is worth the journey whether you’re a visitor or Chicago native. We’re highlighting just a few of the reasons everyone should visit beautiful Oak Park.
Top 10 Best Things To Do in Oak Park, Illinois.
A few tips to keep in mind before starting your adventure.
*Take the Green Line if you’re coming from Downtown Chicago. It’s easy and yes, it’s safe. Many people live in Oak Park because they work downtown and don’t want to live in the city. Oak Park is the first suburb west of the city. It’s best known as a quiet, colorful, cultural hub since its inception.
*Wear comfy shoes. You’ll want to walk everywhere. It’s a relatively small area to cover but you can put in some miles admiring all those Frank Lloyd Wright houses and adding any unexpected shopping stops you may want to make.
* Bring your smile and relax. The local shopkeepers are lovely people willing to help and make sure you get what you’re looking for. There are many small shops that you can spend hours in if you’re not careful. The pace is slower than downtown so relax, have that extra cup of coffee and enjoy yourself.
1. Great Breakfast in Oak Park
Whether you’re looking for a full-on breakfast or a quick bite, Oak Park has a spot for you. If you start out on Oak Park Ave and Lake Street you’ll have many choices. Try Red Hen Bread for coffee, pastries, croissants, and more baked fresh daily. You can always grab a muffin or brownie for later too. If you’re looking for a full breakfast, head down Lake Street west to Delia’s Kitchen at 1034 Lake Street. Their menu is so good it’s awfully hard to pick just one item. I would highly recommend the Vegetarian Benedict. Two perfectly poached eggs atop potato pancakes covered with spinach, sauteed mushrooms, and their own house-made hollandaise sauce. Delicious!
2. Visit Ernest Hemingway’s Home and Museum, 200 North Oak Park Avenue
If you love Hemingway you’ll want to tour Hemingway’s Home and Museum, his birthplace home. Be sure to check hours as they are a bit tricky. Right down the street is the Hemingway Museum, which is the home of rare photos and artifacts including the infamous letter from nurse Agnes von Kurowshy, which was portrayed in A Farewell to Arms terminating their engagement.
3. Visit Frank Lloyd’s Home and Studio, 951 Chicago Avenue
The Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio with over 20 Frank Lloyd Houses in town this is probably the most popular stop in Oak Park and a must-see for FLW fans. This important landmark was built for his family and his studio. The guided tours by trained docents provide great insight into Wright’s design concepts and architectural philosophy. If you have the time spring for the advanced tour (1 hour and 30 minutes) it’s well worth the $25 and you get to see the studio as well as the house. If you’re really ambitious take the in-depth tour which includes a walking tour through the neighborhood including the Unity Temple. Or go on your own town it’s easy enough and there are plenty of walking maps and tours available. They sell maps at the gift shop in the home and studio as well. One tip if you plan to take photos on the house tour it’s an additional $5. Keep in mind that all the funds go FLW Foundation which keeps up all FLW properties. Which you will learn is quite an accomplishment.
4. Stroll Down Lake Street
Lake Street runs through “downtown” Oak Park. Oak Park is a very walkable area. You can start out at Hemingway’s House, wander down Lake Street, and then head over to FLW’s home. If you walk down the side streets you’ll be treated to more of FLW’s designs. Pick up a map of all the FLW homes at the house or grab an audio tour to get all the history about the area and the FLW homes.
5. Eat Lunch
There are so many choices it’s wonderful! Just in the few blocks on Lake Street, you can choose from Mediterranean, Italian, Indian, Greek, Venezuelan, Chinese, and more. Here are some of our favorites: Jerusalem Cafe for terrific chicken or beef shawarma, kabobs, and falafel. If you haven’t had the chance to eat the obligatory Chicago pizza, there’s a Lou Malnati’s on Lake Street where you can get their famous deep-dish pizza or tasty thin crust. To get the true Chicago experience make sure you get the butter crust.
6. Visit Austin Gardens Park
Just a few blocks from Frank Lloyd Wright’s Home and Studio is the Austin Gardens Park. This little park is a quiet sanctuary. Grab a book or your lunch and take a relaxing rest under a tree. You’ll find that you leave city bustle and your worries very far behind.
7. Eat Petersen’s Ice Cream
All this walking and relaxing makes me want ice cream. Two blocks from FLW’s home is Petersen’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream. While you’re deciding what flavor you want to check out the old photos of their humble beginnings. This fabulous ice cream shop was started in 1919 by Hans Petersen, who brought his 18% butterfat ice cream recipe from Denmark. They’ve been serving it up ever since.
8. Shopping in Oak Park, Illinois
You’ll find enough restaurants, candy shops, bookstores, clothing boutiques, gift shops, and more to keep you busy for several hours. Be sure to swing down Marion Street. You won’t want to miss the little shops there too.
9. Watch A Movie
One of the things that always attracts me to small towns is the theater on “Main Street,” and Oak Park has one that is really special. The Lake Theater is a true classic whose original facade still remains intact. The inside has been renovated to be clean and comfortable with large comfy seats but they’ve maintained the art deco splendor throughout the theaters. First-run movies play from late morning to late evening with lots of matinees at discount prices.
10. Eat Dinner in Oak Park
Hemmingway’s Bistro at 211 North Oak Park Avenue across from the Hemingway Museum is open breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We love to drop in for the herb-crusted whitefish or mussels and pâté for dinner. They have all the French bistro classics like Coq Au Vin, Bouillabaisse, and Beef Wellington. It’s a small bistro with a nice wine list. It’s so comfortable you’ll find yourself not wanting to leave and daydreaming of Hemingway ordering another round. They also offer a nice live jazz brunch on Sundays and daily specials.
Maya del Sol offers Latin fusion cuisine 144 South Oak Park Avenue. This place is always full and always rocking. Live music makes the place a little loud but it’s a fun and festive vibe. They also have a large outdoor patio to enjoy in the warm months that is perfect for cocktails and appetizers too. You’ll find lots of Latin flavors including ceviches, ropa vieja, carne asada, portobello tostadas, and fish tacos as well as non-Latin tastes such as Wagyu cheeseburgers and sweet potato fries!
If you’re looking for Greek food try PapaSpiros Greek Taverna on Lake Street. You’ll find all your favorites and think you’ve gone to Greece if even for just a little while. And for great Italian try Cucina Paradiso. All these spots are located in the downtown area. As we’ve mentioned the best way to really get to know Oak Park is by walking the streets and exploring.
We’ve just covered the very tip of all that Oak Park has to offer. There are many events all year round that are fun and really give you a great feel for this vibrant community.
THE QUICK BITE: Whether you live in the Chicago or are visiting Illinois from somewhere else, Oak Park is a quaint town just west of Chicago once home to Ernest Hemingway and Frank Lloyd Wright that offers a bounty of food, culture, shopping and more worthy of a visit.
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