Image: Cantigny courtesy of Discover DuPage & Cantigny
Chicago, the Windy City, is known for its deep pan pizza and its incredible pioneering architecture and skyscrapers. Its vibrant lakeside Navy Pier and the Magnificent Mile make Chicago an exciting urban jungle. However, if you want to be at one with Attenborough-style nature, pop next door to Dupage County, around 20 miles beyond the skyscrapers and experience nature and preserved heritage.
Getting there by train from downtown Chicago is easy in just 25 minutes.
DuPage, famous for its vast tallgrass prairies, has long stood as a beacon of environmental preservation and sustainable development in a sea of frenetic city growth. DuPage County’s conservation began out of community concerns about woodland loss over a century ago, with the founding of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County in 1915.
This was the beginning of an ongoing campaign to protect forests, prairies, wetlands, and streams from development and degradation. Everything from ecosystem health to the reintroduction of native species was put in place decades before such topics became routine in national planning.
The county’s preserves span approximately 26,000 acres, comprising 60 individual sites and connected by more than 145 miles of trails. These preserves include 30 lakes, 45 miles of rivers and streams, and a dynamic patchwork of grasslands, prairies, and forests improved through strategic removal of invasive species like buckthorn.
Not only are these spaces havens for wildlife—hosting thousands of native plant and animal species—but they also provide extensive recreational and educational opportunities, welcoming visitors all year round.
American bull frog, Dupage, Illinois
DuPage County today ranks among the most progressive counties in the Midwest for sustainability, restoring hundreds of acres annually, stabilising rivers and streams, and performing high-resolution ecosystem mapping to guide future improvements.
Here are six of the top things to do in DuPage:-
1Cantigny Park
Located in Wheaton, Cantigny Park is a sprawling estate that combines history, gardens, and recreation. It merges outdoor adventure with an appreciation for military history, particularly the famed US Army First Division. The highlight is the First Division Museum, dedicated to the history of the U.S. Army’s 1st Infantry Division, serving as an educational and historical anchor.
2The Morton Arboretum
The Morton Arboretum maze
The Morton Arboretum
This is a world-renowned public garden and research centre dedicated to trees. Located in Lisle, the 1,700-acre arboretum is a true natural escape. You can explore over 16 miles of hiking trails, drive along the scenic roads, and discover diverse collections of trees from around the globe.
The arboretum also hosts art exhibits, seasonal events, and educational programs, making it a perfect destination for nature lovers of all ages.
3Play Golf at Preserve at Oak Meadows
DuPage has more than 50 golf courses, many of which are historically distinguished, such as Belmont Golf Club, often cited as the nation’s first 18-hole course.
Another gem is the Preserve at Oak Meadows, earning awards for its design and ecology. The course features 18 holes and top-tier amenities and hosts major tournaments. Not least of these was the ‘Miracle Medinah’ in 2012 when the European team staged a seemingly impossible comeback on the last day to win the Ryder Cup.
The same course will host the Presidents Cup in 2026 to become the only Golf course in the USA to stage all the major competitions for both team and individual play.
4Naper Settlement
This 13-acre outdoor living history museum in Naperville brings the past to life. With over 30 historic buildings, including a one-room schoolhouse and a log cabin, the settlement depicts what life was like in the Chicago suburbs in the 19th century.
Policies now emphasise electrifying equipment, employing energy-efficient technologies, and planning for net-zero emissions across operations. Yes in America !
5Graue Mill and Museum at Fullersburg Woods
Graue Mill
Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve
The Graue Mill is situated in Oak Bridge. It was built in 1852 and set along Salt Creek. Now a museum, it is one of two operating water-powered gristmills in Illinois and is surrounded by Fullersburg Woods, a nature preserve and education site. It is one of only three authenticated Underground Railroad networks of safe houses that enabled escaped slaves to escape from the South.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Graue Mill offers a glimpse into the life of the 19th century, with demonstrations of milling, spinning, and weaving
6Route 66 and Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket
No account of DuPage County’s heritage would be complete without mention of Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket in Willowbrook, a culinary and cultural landmark along the legendary Route 66. The restaurant has been operational since the 1940s and is famous for its fine fried chicken, still made using the original recipe handed down from its founders.
What makes Dell Rhea’s even more unique is its proximity to an authentic segment of Route 66, allowing diners to experience a tangible piece of the historic highway directly.
The venue, inducted into the Route 66 Hall of Fame and the National Register of Historic Places, has survived the rerouting and decommissioning of the road, remaining a destination for travellers and locals who seek out legendary food and the ambience of “America’s Main Street.”
DuPage County offers a unique blend of environmental responsibility, historical preservation, and recreational excellence woven into daily life. It’s all about walking preserved trails, learning at heritage sites, golfing among restored landscapes, or sampling iconic fried chicken next to a storied highway.
More info:
Bon Voyage Holidays offers trips to the region. Tel: 0800 980 7093
You may also like: The skyscrapers of Chicago