Chicago’s North Shore Attractions

Baha'i House of Worship Northbrook Velodrome Historical Society Frances Willard House Green Bay Trail Foundation of Illinois Light Opera Works Music Institute of Chicago Piccolo Theatre Skokie Sports Park

Northwestern University. Founded in 1851, Northwestern University is a renowned educational institution rich in history, education and architecture. More than 150 historic sites on campus are featured in 30-minute walking tours. University highlights include The Arch, University Hall, The Arts Circle, and the University Library. The Northwestern Wildcats offer the best Division 1 college sports action in the Midwest, featuring 19 teams and competing in the Big Ten Conference. The acclaimed university offers two campuses - in Chicago and Evanston. Visit www.northwestern.edu/.

Bach Week Festival. Bach Week, founded in 1974, featured only J.S. Bach works until 1982, when this highly-regarded concert series expanded to include other composers. The annual festival runs for 10 days in late April/early May. Visit www.bachweek.org.

Baha'i House of Worship. Surrounded by exquisite gardens and fountains, Baha'i House of Worship in Wilmette is a temple dedicated to prayer and the oldest House of Worship still standing. The auditorium, with its walls of lace-like ornamentation and its dome rising 135 feet above the main floor, offers a scene of unsurpassed beauty. Call (847) 853-2325

Chicago Botanic Garden. One of metro Chicago's big tourist attractions, the Botanic Garden features 23 beautiful gardens and three native habitats set on 385 acres of rolling hills and tranquil lakes. Highlights include three lush greenhouses, art exhibits, and educational activities. Visit www.chicagobotanic.org.  [Top]

Northbrook Velodrome. The Velodrome is an outdoor bicycle racing facility in Northbrook. The Northbrook Velodrome is a 382 meter outdoor track, asphalt coated with concrete slurry and paint. It banks 18 degrees. It is open during the warm weather months. Visit www.nbparks.org.

Evanston Art Center. Located on Lake Michigan, the Evanston Arts Center offers changing exhibitions in its art galleries and public lectures. Visit www.evanstonartcenter.org.  [Top]

Evanston Historical Society. Visit the magnificent chateauesque mansion of former U.S. Vice President Charles Gates Dawes. This national historic landmark (1894) has been faithfully restored to the 1920’s era and enhanced with exhibits focusing on Evanston history. Call (847) 475-3410.

Evanston Symphony Orchestra. The ESO was founded in 1945 by a handful of veterans and amateur musicians who were passionate about making music together. Concerts are Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Call (847) 864-8804.  [Top]

Frances Willard House. Frances Willard was one of the most prominent social reformers in 19th century America. Her home is a National Historic Landmark open for tours the first and third Sundays of every month, 1 to 4 pm. Call (847) 328-7500

Gilson Park. Gillson Park offers 60 acres of beautiful lakefront property for picnics, bicycling, volleyball, soccer, tennis, outdoor ice skating and year-round activities. Public swimming is allowed only in the lifeguarded swimming area of Gillson Beach. The Park features Wallace Bowl, home of Wilmette's Starlight Theatre. Call (847) 256-9660.  [Top]

Green Bay Trail. The 9-mile Green Bay Trail, which begins in Wilmette and ends in Highland Park, is an excellent place for walking, biking, cross country skiing, and in-line skating. The asphalt and crushed stone trail runs parallel to the Chicago and Northwestern rail line. The trail stays within one mile of Lake Michigan and provides ample opportunities to enjoy eating establishments and beautiful homes along the path.

Grosse Point Lighthouse. Grosse Point Lighthouse in Evanston is located in a park on Lake Michigan in a setting with wildflower and butterfly gardens. Tour this national historic landmark on weekends, June through September. Call (847) 328-6961.  [Top]

Holocaust Memorial Foundation of Illinois. The Holocaust Memorial Foundation of Illinois provides educational outreach to defend and preserve the value and dignity of human life through remembrance of the Nazi Holocaust of the Jews from 1933 to 1945. The museum houses photographs, artifacts, and local survivor testimony, and provides a educational programs and classes. Call (847) 677-4640

Ladd Memorial Arboretum & Evanston Ecology Center. Stretching along a 3/4 mile of McCormick Boulevard on a narrow, 23-acre strip of reclaimed land following the diagonal course of the North Shore Channel, Ladd Memorial Arboretum is an area of natural beauty and recreation, with the Ecology Center as its education nucleus. Call (847) 864-5181.  [Top]

Light Opera Works. Light Opera Works presents a season of professional musical theater productions. Three mainstage productions are presented with cast and orchestra at Cahn Auditorium and smaller musicals are presented on the company's second stage. Call (847) 869-7930 for tickets.

Mary & Leigh Block Museum of Art. The Block Museum at Northwestern University is dedicated to the study and exhibition of reproducible art forms, including prints, photographs, film, video, and computer-mediated art. Check out the cool Sculpture Garden. Free. Call (847) 467-4602  [Top]

Music Institute of Chicago. A jewel of a hall, the Music Institute of Chicago Nichols Concert Hall in Evanston presents a variety of musical series and events, from classical to contemporary, by a distinguished faculty, talented students and professional groups. Call (847) 446-3822.

Noyes Cultural Arts Center. Noyes Cultural Arts Center is the home of art festivals and art camps as well as the Piven Theatre, Next Theatre, Art Encounter, The Actors Gymnasium, and Light Opera Works. There is a full stage that seats 190 people and two galleries that exhibit local artists, with exhibitions changing every two months. Call (847) 448-8260  [Top]

Piccolo Theatre. Performances take place in the Evanston Arts Depot in their unique train station theatre. Call (847) 424-0089. Pick-Staiger Concert Hall - The 1,003-seat Pick-Staiger Concert Hall at Northwest University hosts major orchestral, band, and choral performances. Built in 1975, the auditorium is known for its outstanding acoustics. Call (847) 467-4000.

Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park. Skokie’s Northshore Sculpture Park is a unique recreational facility, with an outstanding exhibition of large-scale contemporary sculpture in a beautifully landscaped setting. Stroll, rollerblade, or bicycle along the paved path and view art in nature. Call (847) 679-4265  [Top]

Skokie Sports Park. The Skokie Sports Park features one of the top 100 rated driving ranges in America complete with a two-tier, 40 station range with an automatic tee-up system, lights for evening practice and 11 heated stalls for cold-weather practice. New target greens provide a landing area for precise accuracy and distance control. Try the park’s miniature golf courses and batting cages. Call (847) 674-1500 ext. 3100.

Skokie Water Playground. The Skokie Water Playground features three slides, a zero depth pool - similar to beach entry - with play equipment including a water play structure with a large bucket. The pool also has lanes for lap swim, lifeguard facilities, a concession stand, turf and a suntan area. Call (847) 674-1500 ext. 3200.

Skatium Ice Arene. Open year-round, the Skatium in Skokie is “the” place for ice hockey or recreational ice-skating. Call (847) 674-1500.  [Top]