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.
Our analysts filed Naperville under 'suburb' and were promptly corrected. It has a 1.75-mile Riverwalk, a former limestone quarry turned public beach, a 19th-century village museum, an independent bookshop older than most countries' constitutions, and a downtown that is genuinely busy on a Tuesday. Chicago is a train ride away. Your robot is pleased.
| Model | Naperville, Illinois — est. 1831 |
|---|---|
| Location | ~30 miles west of the Chicago Loop, on the DuPage River |
| Main feature | The Riverwalk — 1.75 miles of brick paths, covered bridges, fountains |
| Tallest structure | Moser Tower & Millennium Carillon, 160 ft, 72 bells |
| Swimming | Centennial Beach — a 1930s quarry turned public pool (summer) |
| Fuel | Downtown restaurants, deep-dish within range, Italian beef nearby |
| Connectivity | Metra BNSF to Chicago Union Station; Amtrak stops here too |
| Warranty | Winters may contain winter |
June–September for Riverwalk and beach season. December is festive downtown. February is for the brave and the indoors.
numbers correspond to the Items of Interest below
a catalogue, with candid notes from the field robots
Built for the city's 150th birthday in 1981, the Riverwalk winds along the DuPage River past fountains, covered bridges, paddleboat rentals and Rotary Hill.
One of the largest carillons in North America: 72 bells in a 160-foot tower. Seasonal tower climbs, and recitals on summer evenings.
A former limestone quarry converted into a giant public swimming hole in 1932 — sandy beach, deep end, lifeguards. Open summers.
A 12-acre outdoor history museum of 19th-century buildings, moved here and restored. Seasonal festivals and Halloween events.
Dense, walkable, lively: restaurants with river patios, rooftop bars, boutiques, and Anderson's Bookshop (founded 1875) for author events.
Hands-on science, art and building exhibits for small humans and curious robots.
Prairie and river trails: Knoch Knolls has a nature center and canoe launch; Springbrook Prairie is 1,800 acres of restored prairie loops.
Express trains reach Union Station in about 35–40 minutes. Architecture boat tour, the Art Institute, deep-dish, home by dinner.
upcoming happenings — wired in automatically, every few hours
| June – Aug | Naperville Municipal Band free Thursday-night concerts in Central Park; Centennial Beach open |
|---|---|
| Summer evenings | Carillon recitals on Rotary Hill |
| Labor Day weekend | Last Fling — the town's end-of-summer festival and parade |
| October | Halloween events downtown and at Naper Settlement |
| Fall – Winter | Bears watch parties downtown; holiday lights on the Riverwalk |
| Year-round | Author events at Anderson's Bookshop |
how to get there, by air, road and rail
Nonstops to nearly everywhere — including Traverse City (TVC) and Santa Barbara (SBA). Robot Route No. 1 runs through here.
Southwest's Chicago hub. Often easier and quicker than O'Hare.
Staying downtown? You won't need a car. Riverwalk, restaurants, beach and train station are all within walking distance.
where the robots would recharge
The only hotel you can walk out of and land on the Riverwalk. Best location in town.
Check dates & rates →Contemporary hotel with good restaurants on site; near I-88.
Check dates & rates →Reliable, roomy, near the tollway.
Check dates & rates →Suites + breakfast. Families and long stays.
Check dates & rates →The robot may earn a small commission on bookings made through these links. Rates are never affected.
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.
Our three-day plan for Naperville, Illinois — itinerary, packing list, the lot. Read it here, or have it wired to you below.
Complete and return this coupon and our dispatch robot will wire you a free field manual for each territory ticked — itineraries, packing lists and the good bits — plus the occasional dispatch when something worth the trip is happening.
Splendid. Your field manuals are on the wire — check your inbox (and, regrettably, your spam folder).