Visit Phoenix Cook Illinois and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Discover Phoenix, Illinois: Unique nature and exciting history!* Enjoy the Grand Prairie Trail.* Visit the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.* Experience the adventures at Grafton Petroglyph State Historic Site.* Enjoy the beautiful view from the Starved Rock State Park.* Try local specialties like the Illinois style pizza.
What makes Phoenix so special is the way Phoenix sights hide between endless prairie fields and the silent testimonies of the old Thornton Townships. I remember the first time I drove by car over the old Highway 55 and suddenly heard the quiet sum of the windmills – a sound almost nostalgic, considering that this area was once inhabited by the Potawatomi and later in the 19th. century was colonized by German settlers. The story lies here not only in dusty history books, but in the half-timbered houses, which still line the road, and in the small cemeteries, where the names of my ancestors almost echo.
Honestly, the hype about the modern shopping malls here is not quite comprehensible for me, but the small cafes on Main Street Corner, where I get my morning espresso, are really great – and this without the usual tourist noise. If I go for a walk through the township, I'd like to jump into the Metra B train that takes me quickly to the heart of Cook County; the journey is a short but fine insight into the pulsating life of the suburbs. And yes, I've been testing the local food trucks for countless times, which, with their mix of midwestern-comfort and international spices, capture the true soul of this spot earth. So if you're looking for a place that breathes history, but still stays loosely modern, you'll notice that Phoenix has more to offer than you guess at first glance.
This guide invites you to stroll with me through the inconspicuous but surprisingly charming Phoenix in the Township of Thornton – yes, just the small corner in Cook County, which you hardly find on the map, but which saved me more than a few times the day.
For me, the Phoenix Community Center. I know that sounds like one of these generic community centers that you find everywhere, but here there is a small basketball court, which in the summer is baked by teenagers until late in the night, and a café serving the best homemade apple cakes in the area – no joke, that's almost legendary. Parking is usually a Klacks as long as you don't come on Friday night, then the field becomes a car park for vans and the whole is a small mess.
A short walk (or a short bus ride, depending on the mood) leads you to Thornton Quarry. I don't quite understand the hype about huge quarries, but here you have the feeling of standing in the middle of another world: endless white rock walls that almost glow in the sunset. I once made a picnic there, while a tractor performed his work loudly – that was the loudest, but at the same time the most peaceful noise I've ever heard in a picnic.
If you want to sniff a bit of history, that is Chicago Portage National Historic Site That's right. The place marks the old trading route once used by Indians and later by explorers. I discovered a sign that once was a “portage” – a short road between two waters. Today, it's a quiet park with a small visitor center that displays some old maps. The way is well signposted, and parking is free at the edge of the park as long as you do not crowd the weekend with a whole family excursion.
Another highlight I like to mention is that St John the Baptist Catholic Church in the neighborhood of Phoenix. The church is not only a place for worship, but also an architectural gem from the 1920s. I took part in a choir sample there – that was a surprisingly beautiful moment, considering that I usually am a fan of rock music. The church has a small cemetery where you can read the old tombstones, and the whole terrain is surrounded by trees that offer a great color play in autumn.
For nature lovers there are Lake Calumet Forestonly a short drive away. I spent a few hours with my dog and we explored the 5 miles walk along the lake. The lake is not huge, but the water reflects the clouds so clearly that you almost feel like walking in the sky. There are a few picnic tables, and parking is free at the main parking lot – as long as you don't have the weekend occupied by a group of families, then it can be tight.
A small but fine place I always mention is that Phoenix Fire Department. Yes, that sounds like a museum that only exhibits fire brigades, but here there are old engines, historical helmets and even an original preserved fire brigade from the 1950s. I once met a former firefighter who told me how he extinguished a burning house near the lake at night – that was a real goose bump. The museum is free, and parking is right in front of the building, which is practical if you want to get a coffee after a long walk.
Finally, I must not forget the Phoenix sights To summarize, I personally appreciate the most: the Community Center with its cake, the imposing Quarry, the historic portage, the charming church, the quiet Lake Calumet and the surprisingly interesting fire museum. Each of these places has its own small character, and together they give a picture of Phoenix, which is not found in travel guides, but only when you walk the streets, stay a bit curious and are ready to look at the everyday with an eye-catcher.
The first stop I can't leave here is the imposing Thornton Quarry. Who would have thought a huge quarry could have so much character? I stood there on a sunny Saturday afternoon, the dawn of the excavators was almost like a bassbeat, and suddenly I felt like in a film by Michael Bay – only without the explosions, for that with a lot of dust. Parking is usually easy as long as you don't get to the main working time between 8 and 10 a.m., then the field becomes a true battlefield of vans and construction workers.
A short detour to the south leads to Chicago Portage National Historic Site. Here history meets a little green that hardly anyone notices because the area is surrounded by industrial plants. I discovered an old sign that explains how Indians and explorers once used the Mississippi-Ohio transition – a real secret tip for those who want to escape the usual tourist crowds. The path is well signposted, and parking is a Klacks, as long as you don't come with a group of school classes on weekends.
A couple of miles further Buses Woods, officially Cook County Forest Preserve – a huge forest piece with a lake that invites you to swim in the summer. I made a picnic there, while a swarm duck went out loudly over us, and I thought: “Here you could almost forget that you actually only make a short trip from Thornton.” The trails are well maintained, parking is free of charge, and the only problem is that in autumn the foliage layer makes jogging a slippery matter.
For those who love old locomotives (or just like to sniff on huge metal monsters), this is Illinois Railway Museum in Union a must. I saw more than 200 historical trains there, including an old diesel that still smokes as if it had just returned from the 1950s. The museum is huge, so plan enough time; parking is always full at the main entrance, but a small way to the side entrance solves the problem immediately.
A short trip to Oak Brook brings me to Oak Brook Center. Upscale shopping atmosphere meets a surprisingly good range of art installations – a huge, shiny metal ball that looks almost like a planet in sunlight. I drank a cappuccino there while I was thinking about the excessively expensive shop window bumblebees. Parking is generous, but on Friday night it can come to a little chaos when people “offer” here after work.
A little away from the main roads Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve. The name is program: a small but fine waterfall that suddenly jumps into the picture after a long walk through dense beech forests. I discovered an old farmhouse that today serves as a museum – a real eye-catcher for historical lovers. Parking is free at the visitor center, but there are only a few places, so it's better to come early.
Finally, a hint for the sports activities: The Old Plank Road Trail stretches through several suburbs, including Thornton, and offers an asphalted track that is perfect for cyclists and inline skaters. I made my morning round there while I enjoyed the scent of freshly mowed grass and the sound of passing cars – a mix of nature and urban life that rarely harmonizes so well. The trail is well illuminated, parking at the beginning of the route is usually easy, except on sunny Saturday afternoons when families with strollers flood the route.
Whether you are looking for history, nature or a touch of luxury, the environment of Phoenix, Township of Thornton, offers a colourful range of experiences that go far beyond the city boundaries. The Phoenix sights wanting to explore should not only be limited to the obvious, but discover the hidden jewels in the surrounding Forest Preserves, museums and even in a quarry – this makes every trip here a small adventure with a pinch of irony.
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