What makes Homewood sights so special is the unique mix of suburban idyll and sublime history that you can hardly find in a guide if you just go down the highway. I remember driving to Homewood for the first time in the late 90s with the Metra – the rat of the trains was almost a soundtrack for what is here: a small piece of Chicago suburb, which was created in 1840 as an agricultural village in the heart of Bloom Township, Cook County, and has since developed into an independent place without ever losing the charm of its beginnings.
A walk through the main road makes you immediately feel that there are more than just terraced houses – the old brick buildings tell of a time when the railway formed the backbone of the municipality and the people here were still real neighbors. I don't understand the hype about the modern shopping complexes, but the small cafés I discover at every corner are really great and give the whole a surprisingly cozy vibe.
When you arrive by car, follow the I‐57 until the Homewood exit; the signage is clear and a short trip to the local County Road You're in the middle of what's happening. And yes, if you ask yourself where you can drink a coffee here, just follow my sense of smell – he never let me down.
With the map tool, you can plan the ideal location for a photo online in advance – taking into account the sun's path and the surroundings.
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Advantage:
You can assess light, perspective and location before visiting the site – ideal for photography, sunrises and sunsets.
To find the exact point where the sun disappears behind the skyline, use the azimuth display on poi-travel.de. In Homewood, the sun travels further northwest below the horizon in summer, while in winter it takes a more southwesterly angle. With the embedded line on the map, you can determine your tripod position down to the metre.
The first stop I put to every visitor is that Illinois Railway Museum in Union, just a short cat jump from Homewood. I have spent my childhood with squeaking steam locomotives there, and the feeling of sitting in an old wagon is still a bit like a time travel trip, only without the annoying jet lag feeling. The terrain is huge, so plan a few hours, otherwise you miss the rare special rides where a real Steam engine hits the tracks. Parking is almost always a Klacks as long as you do not arrive with the whole family on Saturday night – then the field behind the main building becomes the battlefield.
A short jump to the south leads you to Brookfield ZooOne of the largest zoos in the Middle West. I do not quite understand the hype about the Penguin Plunge because I prefer to observe the majestic giraffes that seem to stretch across the entire enclosure. Nevertheless, if you're a fan of animal show acts, you shouldn't miss the dolphin offer – the water sprays higher than my expectations for a normal zoo visit. The zoo is located directly on the I‐55, so parking is a children's game, and the free shuttle bus system will bring you to all main events.
If you have enough of animal companions, take a look at Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe. I once made a picnic there, while a swarm of geese moved over the rose garden loudly – an image I will never forget. The gardens are thematically divided, from Japanese Zen gardens to a huge herb garden, and the whole area is barrier-free, which makes strolling with the stroller or wheelchair a children's play. Parking is free, but the places fill up quickly on sunny weekends, so be ready to walk a few meters.
A little further east, almost in the shadow of the old steel works, lies this Pullman National Monument. Here industrial history meets social experiments, and I must admit that I initially thought it was just a dusty museum. But a walk through the restored terraced houses, the former Pullman factory and the small visitor centre has completely knocked me around – especially the lead where a former locomotive guide spices the story with anecdotes over strikes and workers' culture. The area is easily accessible by Metra, and parking on the edge of the road is usually easy as long as you do not arrive at the main traffic time.
For those who prefer to stay in the green, Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve an underestimated jewel. I once discovered a spontaneous photo motif there when a small waterfall suddenly jumped out of a rocky stream – a perfect spot for Instagram if you believe that. The trails are well marked, and the visitor centre offers maps that lead you to the best viewing points. A little hint: Parking is fast on weekends, so come early in the morning when the birds are still singing and the paths are still empty.
Another highlight I can't leave is that Chicago Ridge Mall. Yes, I know a shopping center doesn’t sound like “sight-seeing”, but here there’s a cinema, the latest Indie film program and a Food-Court, which surprisingly serves good Mexican tacos – a real secret tip for hungry travelers. Parking is free around the clock, and the Mall-Design almost lets you forget that you are in a suburb of Chicago.
Whether you’re looking for historical locomotives, animal encounters, botanical wonders or urban secret tips – the surroundings of Homewood offer a colourful mix that delights every modern traveler. And yes, despite all the change, the heart remains the question which Homewood Attractions you want to explore next.
This guide invites you to discover the hidden treasures of Homewood, and I am starting with my personal favorite place: the Homewood Public Library. I mean, who needs the New York libraries when you have a building that is at the same time a café, a reading room and a place for spontaneous poetry slams? Parking is usually a Klacks – a small car park right behind the main entrance is enough as long as you don't come with a group of students on Friday night, then it will be a real patience game.
A short walk down the main road leads you to the Homewood Historical Society Museum, a tiny but charming house that used to serve as a primary school. I found an old school uniform there that looked like she forgot a time traveler from the 1950s to leave her. The exhibition is not just a mega-museum, but the stories about the railway that once held the village together are better than any Netflix documentation. And yes, the word Homewood Attractions Sounds like an insider joke here, because the city doesn't advertise with tourist crowds.
If you are looking for something that requires more movement, the Homewood Aquatic Center is just the right one. The indoor swimming pool is not only huge, but also has a hot tub that is so hot that you almost feel like swimming in a sauna. I once tried to improve my swimming technology there, just to see that the water is so clear that you can see every little uncertainty right away – a real reality check. Parking is a bit trickier here because the center has only a small parking space; a few minutes walk from Main Street but are not a problem.
For the golfers among you there is the Homewood Golf Club, an 18-hole course, which offers more green space than many city parks. I put a game there with my mate from Chicago and we were fighting about whether the 12th. Train should be a Par‐5 or a Par‐4 – Spoiler: it is both, depending on how much patience you have. The clubhouse has a small pro shop where you can buy golf balls with the city logo – a perfect souvenir if you want to take home nothing else.
Another highlight is the Homewood Metra Station, which is not only a traffic hub, but also a small architectural jewel from the 1970s. I once discovered a street musician who played Beatles-Covers with an old guitar – that was almost as good as a mini concert, only without the crowd. The station is practically in the center, so you can immediately stroll to the city centre after leaving without having to worry about a taxi.
At the end of my little tour I would like to mention the Homewood City Hall. The building is a rather inconspicuous brick box, but inside there is a surprisingly modern city hall, which comes up with art installations and a small exhibition about local artists. I once saw an exhibition on the history of local breweries – yes, Homewood actually has a small but fine craft beer scene that you should not underestimate. Parking behind the town hall is free, but be warned: the city administration has a very strict view for wrongly parked bikes.
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