Naperville is the fifth largest city in Illinois, and it is only 35 minutes from Chicago. This thriving community is often named one of the best places to live in the state. Naperville has grown from a tiny prairie outpost to a bustling suburban area. If you are looking to explore Naperville, here are a few places to check out.
Naperville's history dates back to the pre-Civil War days. Naper Settlement is one place that you can check out the history of this town. Today, you can explore over 12 acres of exhibits that show how the early settlers in the area had lived. The Martin Mitchell Mansion and St. John's Episcopal Church are some of the historic buildings on the grounds. On many weekends, you can witness demonstrations by the living history actors or even shop for traditional crafts at one of the shops. During May, Naper Settlement celebrates its annual festival known as Civil War Days.
The Naperville Riverwalk is considered the "crown jewel" of the community. Built in 1981, this peaceful spot was designed to celebrate the 150th birthday of the city. The Riverwalk is a community gathering place for residents and visitors. With over two miles of brick paths, decorative fountains, and covered bridges, the Riverwalk has won many awards for its unique architecture and design elements. If you look up, you can see the shepherd's hook light poles that represent Naperville's prairie days. On any given day, you will see many residents taking a quiet stroll along both sides of the river.
While you are there, you can also visit the Century Walk. This unique art installment features art from the local artists in the community with over 40 pieces, including murals, sculptures, and mosaics. You can find many of these unique works located within the downtown area. The artwork represents all the communities and people that call Naperville their hometown. Many of the sculptures celebrate the prominent residents and founders of this unique city.
During the summer, Naperville residents look to cool off at Centennial Beach. This spot is known as an old fashioned "swimming hole" for many generations of residents. While it is called a beach, the summer fun spot is more of an aquatic park. With over six acres of open-sourced water from Lake Michigan, there is enough space and activities to keep the whole family entertained. The former limestone quarry has several zero-entry points for visitors to make their way into the water. If you would rather stay on dry land, the man-made beach is located near the shallow end of the lake. The beach also has additional activities with a ballpark, skate park, and restaurant for all visitors to enjoy.
One of the most iconic spots in the city is the Millennium Carillon, and it is also one of the newest attractions as well. The tower's construction started in 1997 as a way for the city to commemorate the new millennium. Today, visitors can explore the inside of the building on the weekends. You can choose to climb the 253 stairs to the top, or you can take an elevator for a quicker trip. Once you reach the top, the observation deck will give you some of the most spectacular views of the city. On clear days, you can even see the skyline of Chicago. You might not think that the tower is tall, but it is taller than the Statue of Liberty.
Throughout the summer, the Carillon hosts many special events and concerts. This Carillion is the fourth largest in North American, and it has over 72 bells with six different octaves. The large size is one reason the musical instrument is designated as a "Grand Carillion." The largest of the bells weighs in at 5.8 tons, and it is named after the founder of Naperville, Captain Joe Naper. The bells are either operated by a computer or manually controlled by a carillonneur. These bells strike throughout the day at 12 pm, 4 pm, and 7 pm.
With so much to do in Naperville, you don't want to spend your time worrying about lawn care. At Lawn Love, we are here to help you out. Your Lawn Love pro will take care of your landscaping needs. You can sit back and spend a night on the town when you use our services. For a hassle-free way to tend to your lawn care, contact Lawn Love today.
