Location: Forest Park
Top Things to do in Forest Park
Top 10 Things to do in Forest Park, United States
Forest Park (formerly Harlem) is a village in Cook County, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, United States. The population was 14,167 at the 2010 census. The Forest Park terminal on the CTA Blue Line is the line's western terminus, located on the Eisenhower Expressway at Des Plaines Avenue.
Restaurants in Forest Park
1. Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
The Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio served as Wright's private residence and workplace from 1889 to 1909--the first 20 years of his career. Here Wright developed a new American architecture: the Prairie style. Trained interpreters offer insights into Wright's family life and architectural career. Enjoy guided tours of the museum complex and neighboring historic district seven days a week. Tour details are available on the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust website.
Reviewed By Bob E - Ada, Michigan
This place where Wright did some of his earliest and best work as a young architectural genius is well worth an hour. Seeing how Wright created a new American architecture among other European style homes shows both his courage to step out and lead in developing a new style and his genius in making spaces that were formative and inspiring for family and coworkers alike.
Docents are great...very knowledgeable and passionate about all things Wright, Oak path and Chicago. Make sure to do online reservations so you aren’t disappointed
2. Brookfield Zoo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
216-acre Zoo With Over 400 Species Of Animals.
Reviewed By David I - Oswego, Illinois
I have been to many zoos, but Brookfield never disappoints. I would highly recommend their membership if you live nearby. There is a lot to see so the family has a lot of places to go. I used to have the membership when I lived in Chicago and would just go there to walk around with my daughter. The zoo is educational and relaxing. After leaving the zoo, your kids will be ready for a nap. There is a lot of fun to be had at the zoo!!!
3. Fitzgerald's
Overall Ratings
5 based on 26 reviews
Reviewed By Roseann P - West Chicago, Illinois
Love love this intimate quaint setting for concerts. The entertainment was awesome. You can bring food in from nearby establishments. The cocktails here are very reasonable. Need more concerts please!
4. Flavour Cooking School
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7 reviews
Reviewed By OBChicago - Chicago
I was looking for a birthday present for my wife (who loves to cook....I don't) and found Flavour Cooking School online. I picked a Saturday night in March, (Day before St Patrick's day) and signed up for "bistro nite - gastro pub" couples demo/dinner. BLUF: it was awesome.
The cooking class is set in the back of a quaint kitchen shop in Forest Park, Il. Hint: park in the metered lot couple of blocks east of the store...an hour and a half for 25 cents. You sit at a large butcher block table around the instructor (in our case it was Helge(sp)). Our class was a demo, not hands on, and along with my wife and me, there was a birthday party of 5 couples to make a total of 12. Menu's of the entire dinner with explicit ingredients and preparation technique's are printed out for each individual to follow along and/or take notes. During the 90 minutes of prep time, Helge talked a lot about his background, why certain techniques work better than others, and little secrets to cooking easier/better (to include showing how to sear a steak...not part of the menu).
After 90 minutes of demoing the dinner (Dubliner Cheese dip/Chicken mulligatawny soup/crisp apple and cabbage salad/Irish guinness stew/yorkshire pudding/and classic bread pudding with whiskey sauce) we sat down to eat what we watched Helge demo at a very nice table in the back of the shop.
Truth time...even though I am Irish, other than bread pudding, I have never had any of the dishes just mentioned, and to be honest, I would never order them at a restaurant. Having said that, the overall meal was one of the best dinners I have ever had. Seriously. Everything was first class and delicious. Maybe the fact that you get to watch the preparation and better understand how the ingredients "intermingle" or the three beers I had during the demo (they serve Lakefront Brewery beer and multiple red/white wines) but the meal was fantastic. Soup was curry based and a little spicy but good. Stew was great, and the bread pudding was tremendous. The dinner itself lasted about an hour which made it around 3 hours from start to finish (they give you a 15% discount off future classes and everything in the store after dinner. We picked up a number of ingredients Helge had mentioned during the demo).
For a fun couple's night out and a superb dinner, I highly recommend Flavour Cooking School classes. You won't be disappointed.
5. Quincy Street Distillery
Overall Ratings
5 based on 35 reviews
A craft distillery producing hand-made artisan spirits in historic Riverside, Illinois.
Reviewed By Bruce G - Chicago, Illinois
The wife and I had seen this neat little place on Groupon and thought it sounded interesting. Sign us up! We were on our way! Took the tour and the owner was our guide. Never know how much work goes into making whiskey! Very neat...MoreThanks for your visit, and glad you enjoyed the tour. Hope to see you again!
6. Galloping Ghost
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 59 reviews
Reviewed By Kevin M
Found this place by chance, Now I will make the 2.5 hour drive multiple times a year from now on. Wow this place has everything you can remember and more games that you have never seen. I only saw 2 machines turned off and 1 or 2 I played had slight issues with joysticks But the other 600 machine ran flawlessly. I arrived when they opened at 11 am and just like that it was 6 pm and time to leave. Food is close by (next door and across the street) located in a nice area. I even scored an autograph from John Lee, Qbert Creator. I cant wait to come back
7. Forest Home Cemetery
Overall Ratings
4 based on 10 reviews
Reviewed By yooperann - Chicago, IL
Probably most people come to Forest Home Cemetery to see the Haymarket Martyrs Monument, a National Historic Landmark, and the Emma Goldman grave nearby. It's well worth visiting just for those. But there's also an extensive section of elaborate"gypsy" graves, often with various offerings nearby, a fascinating Ancient Order of Druids monument, and a mausoleum of a radio pioneer featuring goddesses with headphones. Lots more, too, of course, but those are some of my highlights.
8. Wright Plus Housewalk
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 94 reviews
The annual Wright Plus Housewalk celebrates architecture, design, Frank Lloyd Wright's innovative vision and the talents of his fellow architects. It is an enjoyable day featuring rare interior tours of private homes and public buildings designed by Wright and his contemporaries.
Reviewed By Jon from Dallas - Dallas, Texas
We planned our trip to Oak Park a year in advance, then built a week-long architectural study of Chicago around the Wright Plus 150 Housewalk. 'A good plan well-executed! Our ticket included tours of The Rookery and Robie House, making the ticket price an even greater value. Not even a steady downpour dampened our resolve to see all ten homes including Wright's Home & Studio.
HOUSEWALK TIPS - Plan ahead and buy your tickets online to save time. Study the tour information to take full advantage of your day in Oak Park (or week in Chicago). We rode the 'L' from Wicker Park with no trouble and caught the Housewalk Trolley at the Oak Park 'L' station.
Arrive early, because you will need the full day to get your wristbands and queue-up to see every home. Pack light, as backpacks are not allowed. Be patient. There are a lot of people, and you will spend time waiting to enter each home. We started our day at a home with no line, while others waited up to an hour to see their first home. To walk in reverse order works and saves waiting time. If you encounter a long line, move-on to the home with no line.
Take a lunch break and recharge your batteries. The Housewalk recommends local restaurants that offer a discount to tour-goers. Take advantage of this, because you will need a break mid-day. NO PHOTOGRAPHY is allowed inside the tour homes. Prepare for the weather, as much of your day is spent outside. Lastly, be grateful to the hundreds of volunteers who give their time and knowledge to make this a great event. Bravo Oak Park and the FLW Trust!
9. Vault Escape
Overall Ratings
5 based on 23 reviews
Vault Escape is an immersive, puzzle-escape room business. Choose from one of our available themes and spend an exhilarating 60 minutes finding clues, solving puzzles and bonding with your team mates. Can your team outwit the Mad Scientist and disable the bomb? Can you find the trophy in time for the big game? Can you break the witch's curse and escape her cottage? Can you save Christmas??? Good for corporate team building, or an adventure with your family and friends. Our Riverside location has 4 themed rooms. For large groups, please call to inquire about our portable game.
Reviewed By Alex Anne M - Chicago, Illinois
The staff member, David, helped us prepare for this event, which we needed a lot of soothing, because we were pretty nervous! If it is your first time going, don't worry, an assistant is watching the entire time and can provide hints. No phones are...MoreThank you so much for your thorough review! I'm so glad that David was able to put you at ease and prepare your for an exciting time. We hope to see you again soon!
10. Oak Park Public Library
Overall Ratings
5 based on 94 reviews
Reviewed By Melissa T - Oak Park, Illinois
Great cities, villages, towns, etc. can be judged by their libraries. The main library and the smaller branches are a gem to our township. We visit the library all the time. Besides the book selections and such, the programs they offer are excellent. I love our library!
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