Naperville
© OpenStreetMap, CARTO
A great place to live, work, and play | Naperville's enduring civic motto
Why visit
Naperville is more a comfortable base than a tourist destination, but its Riverwalk, a 2-mile brick path along the DuPage River with covered bridges, fountains, and an amphitheater, is really lovely. Naper Settlement, a 12-acre living history museum, recreates 19th-century Illinois town life. Downtown's red-brick streets are packed with restaurants and craft breweries. The Morton Arboretum, just north in Lisle, is a major tree collection. Easy Metra commuter train rides into Chicago make Naperville a viable budget base for a Windy City visit.
When to avoid
Don't expect urban grit or major sights, this is American suburbia at its most polished. Summer humidity (highs near 29°C) feels heavy, and winter wind chills can drop below −20°C. Tornado warnings happen occasionally May to August. Driving is essentially mandatory. Public transport beyond the Metra is sparse. Restaurant prices are city-level. Avoid rush-hour traffic on I-88 and I-355, commuter congestion is brutal. The Naperville and Aurora Metra lines have weekend service gaps. Check schedules.