Illinois isn’t exactly rich in national parks. We lack a certain topography here! But there is one in the state, the Lincoln Home National Historic Site in Springfield. Another national park is close to Chicago, the Read More
Did you hear that Chicago is getting an Olive Garden? Yep, in the parking lot of the K-Mart at Addison and the Kennedy. If you can’t wait, head on out to the suburbs for Read More
by Ally Gercken, Chicago on the Cheap Correspondent If you’re looking for cheap fun in Northwest Indiana, check out these great Chicago on the Cheap listings: 3 Floyds Tour Indiana Dunes Read More
Frugal people know that growing your own produce can save money and keep you healthy. Even in our city backyard, we get a huge crop of tomatoes, tomatillos, chard, basil, cilantro, and hops every year. We give the hops to Read More
If you live in Northwest Indiana, you don’t have to travel to Chicago or Brookfield to see a zoo. The Washington Park Zoo, in Michigan City, is a lovely spot. It has 200 animals, mostly smaller mammals Read More
Every spring, high schools all over Chicagoland put on musical and theatrical performances. They are a great source of cheap entertainment, with many advantages: Tickets aren’t very expensive The performers are enthusiastic and thrilled to have an audience Read More
Buckley Homestead, in Lowell, Indiana, was the home of one of the early settlers in the region, and it is now a park. There are many different activities to participate in such as an interactive tour, the Carriage House, the Read More
Spring is on its way, so it’s time to think about getting outdoors. The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in Chesterton is magnificent, and it’s a short drive from Chicago. It’s hard to describe how imposing the dunes Read More
I know, I know, Frisbee is a registered trademark, so I should refer to this as disc golf. Disc golf it is! And the best place to play disc golf in the Chicago area is Lemon Lake County Park in Read More
My high school didn’t have a prom, one of only a handful of schools I have ever heard of that didn’t. (One was Quigley Seminary, a now-closed Catholic high school for boys who wanted to be priests; another was a Read More
If you are looking for a good way to get ready for Easter, visit the Shrine of Christ’s Passion in St. John, Indiana. It is one of Northwest Indiana’s top tourist attractions. It is an interactive half-mile Read More
It’s easy to forget how rural this region is. There is farmland in Cook County, if you get way out by the Indiana line, and the tri-states all have huge agricultural economies. If your kids want to see a huge Read More