Suburban Cook County is made for getting outside. Discover the many ways to get there through Outside Chicago, the place to explore adventures, nature and fun. Find out more at outsidechicago.com.

Across Cook County there are more than 70,000 acres of natural outdoor space, including the incredible Forest Preserves of Cook County.

Outside Chicago is a Cook County initiative that highlights the hundreds of ways residents and visitors can enjoy the county’s natural areas in the suburbs. Whether it’s a long bike ride, a kayaking adventure or a serene birdwatching hike through the woods, there’s something for everyone. 

We invite you to meet us to explore the great outdoors and then choose your next adventure, all experiences have been curated in our articles below. There is something for everyone in the western suburbs of Chicago. 

Meet us where more than 3,400 creatures from across the globe live in one place at Brookfield Zoo Chicago and where you can bike, hike, fish and kayak in the great outdoors of the Cook County Forest Preserves. 

Schiller Woods Magic Water Pump

Oak Park Conservatory

Walking Trails

Des Plaines River Activities

Spend a day in the forest preserves

The Brookfield Zoo Chicago

Nurseries & Garden Centers

Forest Preserves of Cook County

Community Bike Rides

Picnic Areas + Provisions

Meet us for a mouth-watering meal in the west suburbs. We have all the Chicago staples and more. Italian beef to pizza to tacos to BBQ and all the sweet treats you can imagine.

Brunch

Breweries

Barbecue

Tacos

Rooftops & Patios

Cocktails

Italian Beef

Mocktails

Cooking Classes

Meet Us where creativity meets fun. The artistic spirit runs deep throughout the area, from performances and galleries to a full range of indoor and outdoor entertainment venues that are fun for everyone.

Live Music

Arcades

Game Bars

Bowling Alleys

Summer Concert Series

Gangster Tours

Theater

Meet us where iconic architectural genius, legendary stories and fascinating tours will take you back in time. 

Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio

Pleasant Home

Cheney Mansion

Unity Temple

Riverside Arts Center

Meet us to cool down when things heat up this summer. From children’s museums to indoor playgrounds and trampoline parks, you’ll find lots of ways to stay engaged indoors.

Brookfield Zoo Chicago Dolphin Show

La Grange Pet Parade

Play Spaces

Cooking Classes

WonderWorks Children's Museum

Bowling Alleys

Tours

Giraffe Feeding

Popular Spots

Splash Pads and Pools

Meet us to tour historic homes or to visit gravesites. From famous authors and architects to gangsters, this area has something for everyone. 

Al Capone's Grave

Black History

Earnest Hemingway Birthplace Museum

Gangster Tours

Museums

Frederick Law Olmsted Society Walking Tours

Meet us for a day of shopping, either for yourself or to find unique gifts. Our independent stores offer things up for the fashionista to the foodie to the maker to the book worm and more! 

Local Artisans

Local Artisans II

Farmers' Markets

Women-Owned Businesses

Bookstores

Vintage Stores

Pet Shops

Flower Shops

Record Stores

Meet us for a day of holistic wellness or just a day of pampering. We have several hidden gems in the area you don't want to miss this summer.

Holistic Wellness Spots

Massages

Nail Salons

Yoga and Pilates

Gyms

Spas

Outside Chicago is an initiative of Tourism Alive, a Cook County Bureau of Economic Development-led program supporting the hospitality and tourism industry in suburban Cook County.