Field Manual No. 3: A Proper Naperville Weekend
A prairie town on the DuPage River that grew up very well. Riverwalk, a 160-foot carillon, a quarry you can swim in, and Chicago 35 minutes down the line.
Itinerary
Coffee downtown → walk the full Riverwalk to Moser Tower → Naper Settlement → dinner on a river patio → rooftop nightcap.
Morning at Springbrook Prairie → Centennial Beach (summer) or DuPage Children's Museum → Anderson's Bookshop → Thursday? Municipal Band concert in Central Park.
Metra express to Union Station → architecture river cruise → Art Institute → deep-dish → train home.
Packing List
- Walking shoes (it's a walking town)
- Ventra app for Metra
- Swimsuit (summer)
- A layer — lake-effect weather is moody
- A blanket for concerts on the hill
The Short List
- The Riverwalk (Downtown) — Rent a paddleboat at the Riverwalk quarry pond. Robots can't swim. We checked.
- Moser Tower & Millennium Carillon (Rotary Hill, Riverwalk) — Bring a blanket to Rotary Hill for a summer carillon recital.
- Centennial Beach (500 W. Jackson Ave) — Go on a weekday morning. Weekends belong to the entire western suburbs.
- Naper Settlement (523 S. Webster St) — Check the calendar — the special events are the best way to see it.
- Downtown Naperville (Jefferson Ave & Main St) — Anderson's hosts big-name author signings. Check before you visit.
- DuPage Children's Museum (301 N. Washington St) — Best for ages 1–10. Combine with a train-watching session at the Metra station next door.
- Knoch Knolls & Springbrook Prairie (South Naperville) — Springbrook's gravel loop at golden hour, with the grasses lit up. Very un-suburban.
- Day trip: Chicago (Metra BNSF from Naperville station) — Buy tickets in the Ventra app. Sit on the upper deck. Pretend you're a commuter.
Getting There
- ORD — Chicago O'Hare International: ~35–50 min via I-294 / I-88
- MDW — Chicago Midway: ~40 min via I-55
- By train from Chicago: Metra BNSF line, Union Station → Naperville: ~35 min express, ~1 hr local. Trains run all day.
- By Amtrak: Naperville is an Amtrak stop on long-distance and Illinois routes (westbound to Denver and California, and to western Illinois).
- By car: I-88 runs along the north side of town.
Staying Longer?
Every so often a visitor walks the Riverwalk, rides the train to the Loop and back, and quietly wonders what a house here costs. If that is you, the robot's proprietor happens to sell real estate in Naperville and DuPage County — schools, neighbourhoods, commutes, the honest version. No hard sell. He is not a robot.
Darren Reagan · Charles Rutenberg Realty — Ask about living here →
Where to Stay
- Hotel Indigo Naperville Riverwalk, Downtown, on the river ($$)
- Hotel Arista, CityGate Centre, north side ($$)
- Chicago Marriott Naperville, Naper Blvd ($$)
- Embassy Suites Naperville, Warrenville Rd ($$)
Live Events
See what's on this week: robotsalesmen.ltd/naperville
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