The Small Town in Illinois That Feels Like a Hallmark Film

Before I fell madly in love with my neighborhood in Chicago, Oak Park, Illinois, captured my heart. Just 15 minutes from the bustle of the Loop in Chicago lies this gorgeous suburb, straight out of a Hallmark film. Oak Park is a dynamic community featuring historic homes, cultural spaces, and renowned landmarks like the Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio. Walking through this suburb, it's almost hard to imagine that it is so close to downtown Chicago with its soaring skyscrapers. It's much easier to imagine a classic Hallmark love story unfolding in front of you on brick-lined Marion Street.

The star of the show in Oak Park is undoubtedly the remarkable architecture. It's only fitting that Wright found a place here among the glorious Queen Annes and Colonial Revival homes. As a former Wisconsinite myself, Wright's connection to Oak Park was enough to capture my interest. It was in Oak Park that the world-renowned architect laid the foundation for his Prairie style, which would go on to be his signature look and an iconic part of American architecture. You could say the design style was Wright's hallmark.

It feels like Oak Park is just a hub for incredible architecture, the likes of which we seldom see. Instead of having to venture across neighborhoods or even towns like you may have to elsewhere, they're all collected together here. If you want a glimpse of three of the most impressive pieces of this history, you can take the Historic Homes and Garden Tour offered by the Park District of Oak Park. In just 3.5 hours, you can experience the Oak Park Conservatory, Cheney Mansion, and Pleasant Home. Pleasant Home is a must-see, especially for Wright fans. It is one of the premier and earliest examples of Wright's Prairie style. If you can't get enough Wright, be sure to drop in to Unity Temple (a UNESCO World Heritage site designed by Wright).

Not to worry, fellow culture vultures, the arts here do not begin and end with architecture. You can catch a flick at the restored Classic Cinemas Lake Theatre, check out Oak Park Festival Theatre in the summer months, or peruse the exhibitions at the Oak Park Art League, for example. These aren't even the only artsy things to do in Oak Park; they're just scratching the surface.

As if the Wright sightseers and cultural wanderers wouldn't be satiated by this dreamy locale, downtown Oak Park is a day adventure in its own right. You could easily spend a whole day just noshing around town. Grab breakfast at Breakfast House Oak Park, mid-morning snack at Crepas Culichi, lunch at Katy's Dumplings, a much-needed 2 p.m. coffee at Kribi Coffee, and finally a nice dinner at Cooper's Hawk Winery and Restaurant. Honestly? It sounds like a day in the (oak) park!

Want to see Oak Park or Chicagoland for yourself? Or are you planning a day trip from Chicago? Use the Only In Your State travel planner. This handy planner will curate ideas for your Illinois trip based on the experiences and thoughts of our team of regional writers.