LeRoux

Located 25 miles west of Chicago in Lisle, Illinois, the Morton Arboretum is just west of Interstate 355 and north of I-88 on Illinois Route 53. Founded by J. Sterling Morton (as in Morton Salt), the Arboretum is an engaging and fun 1,700-acre garden of trees and other woody plants from around the world. Its many exhibits include the Maze Garden and the Schulenberg Prairie, fully restored to the state in which the wild prairie existed when the pioneers first came to Illinois.

http://www.mortonarb.org/

Brookfield Zoo beats Lincoln Park Zoo hands down! Located just twelve miles from Downtown in the southwest suburb of Brookfield, Illinois, Brookfield Zoo is home of the first performing dolphin show ever built away from an ocean. At over 200 acres, it is larger and has more to see than it’s cousin in the city. Just take the Eisenhower Expressway from Downtown and exit at First Avenue. Proceed south to 31st Street.

Here’s the website:

http://www.brookfieldzoo.org/default.asp

The “Cell,” as we locals refer to it nowadays, is nowhere near the pastoral scene that is Wrigley Field. The best thing about it is the 2005 World Series Champion Chicago White Sox. The next best thing about it is the food, even though it’s overpriced. If I wasn’t a Sox fan, I wouldn’t recommend the place. I really miss the atmosphere of the Old Comiskey Park. (See Photo)