When it comes to planning a vacation to Illinois, the spotlight is usually focused directly on Chicago. Multiple professional sports franchises make it easy to visit any time of year, and your daily itineraries can be filled with myriad local culinary options and family- and budget-friendly activities, like taking selfies in front of the “Bean” and touring the Field Museum, which will be especially popular this summer with the Pokemon Fossil Museum attracting ultra-excited children from all corners of the country.
However, when it comes to golf, Chicago isn’t necessarily a “top of the list” destination for golfers of all experience levels, which is odd given the region’s deep importance to the game. Zoom out on the Windy City and focus instead on DuPage County, approximately 20 miles west, and we’re talking about one of the most fulfilling golf experiences anywhere in the U.S. After all, this is the home of the ultra-exclusive Chicago Golf Club, where the first 18-hole course was built in the country, so people with an affinity for the sport’s history should consider this a priority vacation setting.
It is also home to the magnificent and alluring Medinah Country Club, which has teased fans for decades with various PGA events, a Ryder Cup, and this year’s Presidents Cup on Course No. 3. Naturally, unless you’re connected or simply among the luckiest people on the planet, you won’t have a shot to play the three courses at this private institution, nor will you have a snowball’s chance to check out Chicago Golf Club’s historic designs on your next trip to Chicago.
Don’t sweat it too much, though, because other courses are equally fulfilling and will make for exceptional memories in between the many other activities that make this part of Illinois so popular to visit. A shining example of this county’s special blend of golf and regional history can be found at Cantigny Golf Club, a favorite choice for local tournaments that makes visitors feel like they’re enjoying the spoils of a private setting. What makes this establishment particularly beneficial for less experienced golfers, including children and especially women, is the variety of instructional clinics at the on-site academy. Cantigny is also the name of the estate of the iconic Chicago Tribune publisher Colonel Robert R. McCormick, where guests can spend time before or after their rounds exploring the gardens and museums, and attending events like the annual jazz festival.
Beyond the golf and cultural elements, there are plenty of traditional vacation activities to include on your to-do list as well. For shopping, the Oakbrook Center is one of the most popular retail settings in the Midwest, but it is just one of the eight shopping experiences in DuPage County, so there will be no shortage of souvenirs. Much like Cantigny, the Morton Arboretum provides hours, if not days, of entertainment, from the various gardens (including a maze) to educational programs and even therapeutic walks and yoga. And perhaps the perfect ribbon on this vacation gift from the gods is a stop at Lynfred Winery, where there’s hardly a day on the calendar without something for oenophiles to enjoy.
