By Donna Templeton | Senior Member
The 2012 STC Summit will be held just outside the city of Chicago at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare in Rosemont, Illinois. I would like to share some gems from my entertainment box of things to do in the Greater Chicago Area, also known as Chicagoland. Most anything you would want to do, see, or buy can be found in the area. You will feel as if you have stepped onto the grounds of a huge resort.
The Summit takes place in May, when flowers will be in bloom in the Chicago area. If you would enjoy seeing a variety of plants and seasonal flowers the region has to offer, you may want to visit the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe, a 385-acre living plant museum featuring 24 display gardens. Or you can drive through or hike the trails of the Morton Arboretum in Lisle where acres of trees and other plants from around the world are cultivated for display and research. Cantigny Park in Wheaton, named after the WWI Battle of Cantigny in France, features large gardens surrounding the two war museums. Another is the Cuneo Historic Mansion & Gardens in Vernon Hills.
If you are interested in shopping, the quaint village of Geneva is an excellent place to start. You'll find many shops featuring fine art and antiques, and don't forget to visit The Little Traveler, known for its room-after-room of unique gifts. The downtown districts of St. Charles, Naperville (also known for its historic Naper Settlement), Evanston (also known for its Mitchell Museum of the American Indian), and historic Long Grove Village host many shops in close proximity.
For outlet shopping, head to the Chicago Prime Outlets in Aurora. To the north is Gurnee Mills, where the outlets rest in the shadow of Six Flags Great America. For indoor mall shopping, the multi-layered Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg is popular. For outdoor mall shopping, the Arboretum in South Barrington and the Oakbrook Center are a must.
For slots and tables, Rivers Casino in Des Plaines is just down the street from our hotel; however, there are other gaming establishments in the area—Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin, Hollywood Casino in Aurora, and Harrah's in Joliet. To the south in Hammond, Indiana, is the Horseshoe Casino.
For horses, racing returns 4 May to Arlington Park. To see other animals, you can visit the Brookfield Zoo. For animal art, the Guge Institute of Wildlife Art in Gilberts is a destination.
For science, you can visit Fermilab in Batavia, the only U.S. laboratory dedicated to high-energy physics. Another site is the Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont, one of the U.S. Department of Energy's oldest and largest national laboratories for science and engineering research.
For premier architectural tours, a must-go destination is Oak Park, home of the world's largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright-designed buildings and houses. Both guided and self-tours are available.
For golfing destinations, refer to http://chicagogolfguide.com.
Other places of interest in Chicagoland are the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, the elaborate Bahai House of Worship in Wilmette, the Billy Graham Museum in Wheaton, Tempel [Lipizzan] Farms in Wadsworth, the Auto Museum in Volo, the Illinois Holocaust Museum in Skokie, and the Lynfred Winery in Roselle.
If you have the luxury of staying additional days, you may want to take a longer trip. Places to consider in Illinois are Rockford and Galena, and in Wisconsin, Lake Geneva and Milwaukee. In Rockford you can visit the Clock Tower Resort or the Anderson Japanese Garden. In Galena you can visit a spa or winery or take a guided-tour of the Ulysses S. Grant Historic Site. In Lake Geneva, you can hike along the shore or take a scenic boat tour past the late 19th and early 20th century mansions of Chicago-area tycoons. In Milwaukee you can visit the Art Museum, the Harley-Davidson Museum, or the beer-related Miller Park, Lakefront Brewery, or Pabst Mansion.
Other far-flung places to visit are Starved Rock State Park in Utica, Shabbona Lake State Park, even the John Deere Historic Site in Dixon.
Enjoy your stay at the Summit. STC Chicago welcomes you and hopes that you have a wonderful visit.
Donna Templeton is a senior member of STC and a longtime member of STC Baltimore and STC Chicago.
