If you’re coming in from out of town and looking to make a vacation of the visit, I highly recommend the Indiana Dunes. As a kid, it’s where I made some of my favorite summer memories and it’s gorgeous this time of year. This is a couple hours away, but for any of our guests making a trek from way out of town, it’s a great way to see the best of the Midwest.
If you’re staying in Mokena, you can easily take a train into Chicago and make a day of downtown sightseeing. My top recommendation in the city is the Art Institute of Chicago. It’s one of the best art museums in the world and has a stunning and enormous collection that ranges across many styles and eras.
If you’re looking for a local place to visit, enjoy the Orland grassland prairie preserve for a morning walk or observe the wildlife along the trails. The primary natural biome of Illinois was tallgrass prairie until agricultural development tilled the soil into the farmland we see today. This preserve is one of a few patches of the restored natural ecosystem available to visit.
The breakfast spot we stop at most when we come in town to visit.
A cozy cafe great for reading or working while sipping on a barista-made beverage.