Hazel Crest Cook Illinois - Top Sights 

• Hazel Crest Attractions – A look at the heart of Bremen Township, Cook County
• Hazel Crest Sights & Attractions
• - Hazel Crest Park
• - St. John Lutheran Church
• - Hazel Crest Public Library
• - Miller’s Diner
• - Bremen Township Hall
• - Crescent Trail
• - Hazel Crest Summer Festival
• Other special sights in the vicinity of Hazel Crest, Illinois
• - Calumet Regional Park
• - Indiana Dunes National Park
• - Museum of Science and Industry
• - Pullman National Monument
• - Chicago Portage National Historic Site
• - Illinois Railway Museum
• - Chicago Botanic Garden
• Conclusion
• - Hazel Crest Attractions

Hazel Crest Attractions – A look at the heart of Bremen Township, Cook County

What makes Hazel Crest Sights so special is the quiet way with history and modernity here, while I stroll along Lake Michigan with my coffee cup. I've always wondered why this little community, which was officially founded as a city in 1915, sprays so much charm, even though it's just a tiny spot in the huge Cook County. Originally, the area was a piece of unbuilt farm space in Bremen Township, inhabited by German immigrants who buried their dreams in the sandy soils of the Middle West. The old railroad rails, which today lead from the Metra line N to Chicago, recall that Hazel Crest was once a hub for grain and coal – a bit like a forgotten prologue to a modern suburban drama.

When I drive by car over the 90-mile length I‐94, I feel the light trembling of the wheels that reminds me that I no longer land in nowhere, but in a city that is proud of its small parks and the well maintained beach section on the Lakefront. I don't quite understand the hype around the “Lakefront Lounge”, but the view of the sunset over the water is really great. And yes, the public buses of the Pace connect the neighborhood with the surrounding suburbs, so that you can be as well on the road without a car – a small comfort for those who want to avoid traffic in Chicago.

I have noticed many times that the locals are wearing a slightly ironic smile when they speak of the “Hazel Crest Sights” – as if they knew that the real highlight is not a museum but the feeling of standing in a time capsule that looks forward at the same time.

Hazel Crest Sights & Attractions

The history of Hazel Crest begins long before the modern suburbs, when fishermen threw out their nets on the shores of Lake Michigan and the first wooden huts only vaguely predicted the current cityscape. I have the dusty wooden bench at the old pier of Hazel Crest Park entering because I thought a little fresh sea air would heal my writing blockade – and actually, the noise of the waves has cooled more than just my thoughts. The park is the unchallenged heart of the city, a broad sandy beach, a small playground, and a barbecue area where the locals turn their sausages on Sundays, while I wonder why no one has opened a real café here. Parking is usually a Klack, except on hot summer days, when the whole shore is overrun by picnic blankets and you have to slip between a family van and a van.

A short walk in front of the St. John Lutheran Church, a brick building from the 1920s, which reveals more about the religious standing of the municipality than any brochure. Once on a Sunday I checked the organ sample – a brilliant sound that swooped back and forth between awesome singing and the occasional fangs of the visitors. The church is not only a place of prayer, but also a popular place for weddings, because the interior is so charmingly cheesy that even the most skeptical couples cry a bit. If you want to shoot a photo there, be warned: The best lighting conditions are only after sunset when the stained glass windows dive into a warm red.

A few blocks further, hidden between a bakery and a small building market, lies the Hazel Crest Public Library. I must admit, I wanted to go there for the first time to find a quiet place to write, and instead was involved by a group of seniors in the history of local ship repair workshops. The library is small, but it has a surprisingly well-stocked archive about the development of the city, and the staff is so friendly that they even recommend a book about the “art of barbecue at the lake” if you ask for a good snack. Wi-Fi isn't the fastest, but that's enough to check out some emails before you get out to fresh air.

If you're looking for a place where you can feel like a real insider, go to Miller’s Diner – yes, this is actually a diner that has existed since the 1950s and whose neon light acts almost like a lighthouse at night. I tried the legendary “Crest Burger” there, a halfway overpriced, but damn delicious patty served with a slice of Cheddar and homemade onion jam. The service is fast, the waitress has a dry humor that reminds you that nobody asks for stars here, but for a second coffee, because breakfast is never enough.

A short detour leads you to Bremen Township Hall, a sober brick building that reveals more about the management of the region than any Wikipedia page. I took part in a public meeting where the redesign of the bike path was discussed – a theme that treats the city's inhabitants with a passion that can only be seen in football fans. The hall is not particularly photogenic, but the interior has a small museum that exhibits old maps and photos from the 1900s. If you're lucky, you can find an original document that testifies to the creation of Hazel Crest.

For the sporting activities there is the Crescent Trail, a piece of the famous Lakefront Trail that leads directly through the heart of Hazel Crest. I turned my morning round there while I tried to inhale the scent of freshly brewed coffee from the diner – a strange but motivating mix of caffeine and sea air. The way is well maintained, but on weekends it can be quite crowded because the families from the neighboring communities here unpack their bikes. There are a few small stops with benches where you can rest and enjoy the panorama over the lake without a tourist staring at you with a huge camera.

And then, every year in July, the little town turns into a colorful spectacle that I love the Hazel Crest Summer Festival nenne. It is not just a huge music festival, but rather a local pub with carousels, a small stage for local bands and a stand where you can buy handmade soaps – yes, there is really. I met an old man there who told me that he worked here every year since 1975, and his story was so full of anecdotes that I almost forgot that I actually wanted to eat only one ice cream. The festival is a perfect example of why the Hazel Crest Attractions not only consist of buildings, but of the people they live.

At the end of the day, when the sun sinks above Lake Michigan and the lights of the city flicker like small light worms, I often sit on the bank at the pier, drink a cold drink from the diner and think about how surprisingly much character can be stuck in such a small place. Maybe this is the real secret of Hazel Crest: It is not the size that counts, but the mix of history, community and a bit rough coastal air that makes every visitor – even the most cynical of us – a little smile.

Other special sights in the vicinity of Hazel Crest, Illinois

The first stop of my little Odyssey was Calumet Regional Park, a huge green piece that is like a forgotten piece of Chicago idyll on the south coast of Lake Michigan. I have arranged a picnic with friends there, and while we were about the insurgent noise of the lake, suddenly a swarm duck came by – a picture that you don't see every day when you live in the city. Parking is usually a Klacks as long as you don't come on Saturday night, then the field turns into a mini-Stauparadies.

A short jump across the border to Indiana leads to Indiana Dunes National Park. I don't understand the hype around the sand dunes, but the vast, almost endless beaches and the feeling of being really on the water have convinced me. I remember how I almost lost the way when hiking over the Dunes Trail, because a squirrel suddenly attracted attention – a real nature showdown. The entrance is free, and parking is good at the main parking lot on West Beach if you are there early enough.

Back in the heart of Cook County Museum of Science and Industry – a place I visit again and again because it is more than just a museum, rather a huge lab for curious heads. Last time, I moved to the submarine exhibition and ran almost the entire hall until a friendly staff member pointed out that I was actually in the space section. Parking is a bit tricky here, but the park at the museum is usually not full as long as you don't get to school.

A short cycle with the Metra brings me to Pullman National Monumentwhere the history of the workers' movement is almost tangible. I made a guided tour there with a guide who knew more about the Pullman-Streik history than I have ever read in a history book. The old brick buildings almost look like a film set, and the small café next to the visitor centre serves the best coffee I've ever had in a museum – no joke.

A little further north, near Lyons, lies the Chicago Portage National Historic Site. The old trade route between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi is celebrated here. I discovered a small sign there, explaining why this portage was so important – and that was the first time I really understood why the city of Chicago was ever there. Parking is a bit sparse, but a few free places are always found when you walk around the hill.

For railway fans this is Illinois Railway Museum in Union an absolute must. I spent a day there that felt like a time trip: old steam locomotives that still began to smoke, and a restored Interurban train that almost brought me to rethink my daily swing. The museum has a generous car park offer, and the staff is so friendly that they even take a picture of the old locomotive.

Last but not least a detour to Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe – a place that is almost too beautiful to be true. I made a walk through the Japanese gardens there, while a light rain shined the leaves. Parking is free, but you have to be there early because the places are quickly away, especially on weekends.

Conclusion

When you explore the surroundings of Hazel Crest, you can quickly see that the region has more to offer than just suburbs and industry. From the vast beaches of the Indiana Dunes to the historical paths of the Pullman Monument to the quiet paths of the Chicago Botanic Garden – each station has its own charm and a few surprising anecdotes that make travelling here a small adventure. And that's exactly what makes Hazel Crest Attractions to a distinctive mix of nature, history and urban flair that you should not miss.