Lisle
A circuit of parks and nature reserves surrounds the pleasant village of Lisle, a little west of Chicago. The town is a bubble of serenity, luring hikers and nature lovers with the vast arboretum that occupies the northern side of the small town. For a sense of the local culture and scenery, visit the restaurants and cafés of the pretty tree-lined downtown district.
Dominating the village’s northern outskirts is the 1,700-acre (700-hectare) Morton Arboretum. Attend classes in the park in photography, gardening and ornithology, among other topics. Find your way through the Maze Garden, pick out the scents in the Fragrance Garden and wander past dense thickets of trees.
Embrace the wilderness of the nearby Belmont Prairie Nature Preserve. It comprises swaths of Canada bluejoint grass and porcupine grass, sheltering snakes and field mice.
For a change of theme, bring your little ones to the slides and water playground of the Sea Lion Aquatic Park. A sand pit and a vortex pool are among the highlights.
Snow covers the parkland and buildings with a blanket of white in winter, creating a realm of tranquility as well as opportunities for sports enthusiasts. Head to the Four Lakes Alpine Snowsports in the village’s southern section. Get skiing and snowboarding lessons and watch your children practice in the Little Bumper Ski School. Enjoy a meal at the site’s pub, with a vista of the snowy hill.
The snow melts in spring, revealing a landscape of lakes and grassy meadows. Play a few rounds at the River Bend Golf Club or the Seven Bridges Golf Club.
The city is 25 miles (40 kilometers) west of Chicago in the northeastern corner of Illinois. Get between the two in about 50 minutes via Amtrak train, which stops at the Lisle train station in DuPage County.
Lisle combines a winter wonderland with a hub of summer nature trails.