Lake Michigan Photo | Todd and Brad Reed Photography
Explore Evanston, Illinois!
Home of Northwestern University, Evanston lies just north of Chicago. This city is alive with creativity and diverse entertainment options, courtesy of the creative and diverse students at Northwestern. Their eclectic tastes foster a wonderful environment for small business which means that you’ll have a ton of choices and options. From “go team go” to “a rose by any other name,” Evanston will have you sampling a little bit of it all.
Top Things to Do and See in Evanston
- Tour Grosse Point Lighthouse.
- Make some noise for the live entertainment.
- Let history awe you at one of Evanston’s many museums.
- Or stroll through gardens and parks and beaches, oh my!
Grosse Point Lighthouse
Dangerous shallow water pockets along Evanston’s portion of the shipping route to Chicago necessitated the building of Grosse Point Lighthouse in 1873. Today, the lighthouse’s history is highlighted on a tour that lets you climb the tower and take in Lake Michigan from its observation area141 steps up.
Excellent Entertainment
If you’re looking to be entertained, look no further. The only problem you’ll have is choosing what to do first. You can raise up your proverbial lighter at Space, the live music hall with a range of artists that anyone can appreciate. Or go the classic route and be swept away by a performance by The Chicago Philharmonic. For something that keeps the beat and adds some drama, take in a show at The Actors Gymnasium. Of course, if all you really want is some tailgating and a great game, then Ryan Field, home of Northwestern Wildcats football, is where you need to be.
Miraculous Museums
Evanston’s diversity extends to history as well. From the serious to the ridiculous, Evanston’s Museums have it all. Take in the history of time itself and revel in the beauty of stained glass masterpieces at the Halim Time and Glass Museum. Or visit Northwestern’s Block Museum of Art for exhibits that span continents and ages. Tour Mitchell Museum of the American Indian for a glimpse into Native American history, art and culture dating back to the Paleoindian time period. Or, if interesting drinkware is your cup of tea, wander The American Toby Jug Museum and its 8000 or so character mugs. Of course, for a complete set of museums you need the fossils and you’ll find those and more at The David and Sandra Douglass Prehistoric Life Museum, an interesting collection located in the basement of Dave’s Down to Earth Rock Shop, an Evanston institution.
Neat, Little, Natural Spaces
Of course, you can get burned out on culture like anything else. When you do, nothing soothes like green leaves or white sand, and Evanston has its fair share of both. A great example is Northwestern University Shakespeare Garden. This green space was created to celebrate The Bard himself and is a traditional English garden with a rotating cast of plants straight from the pages of Shakespeare’s many plays. Merrick Rose Garden is a small, yet elegant space, and is one of those little gems that feel like they’re put there just for you. Dawes Park is a place of festivals, art fairs, and when all of those are done, relaxation with a walk, a picnic, or a towel on the beach. It’s one of many small parks dotting the city, including Centennial and Elliot parks and Northwestern’s Lakefill park. Its beach is also only one of many beaches in Evanston, including Lee Street, Greenwood Street and Clark Street beaches.
Remember that when Chicago’s eclectic culture is calling but its traffic has you putting on the brakes, you can look to Evanston for all the same diversity without any of the huge-city hassle
For more travel information about Evanston, Illinois, please contact this tourism resource:
Downtown Evanston Visitor Information Center
909 Davis Street, Suite 500
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 866-6319
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