Things To Do In Skokie

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Best Things To Do In Skokie

A village on the North Shore, Skokie sits just 16 miles northwest of downtown Chicago and has a distinctive character.

This is a highly diverse part of Chicagoland that was settled by a large Jewish population, including many Holocaust survivors, in the wake of World War II.

Skokie continues to have a large Jewish community, making up about a third of the population, and is home to several Orthodox schools and has an active Chabad.

For visitors this is a welcoming place that takes pride in its cultural makeup, with a high-profile Holocaust museum, a passion for the arts, an upscale Westfield mall and first-class public amenities.

Buy Bagels At Kaufman’s Bagel & Delicatessen

Are you starving or just in the mood for some comfort food? If you want a taste of great food in Skokie, check out Kaufmans Bagel & Delicatessen and enjoy some bagels and sliced meat dishes. Visit the store and make the foodie in you cry happy tears. This lovely deli guarantees that their food is fresh and made on site. Plus, Kaufmans Bagel & Delicatessen bills itself as the best bagel maker outside of New York City.

Kaufman’s Bagel & Delicatessen

Opening hours: 11am – 10pm

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Relax At Lockwood Park

If you are in the mood for a baseball match and basketball games with some of your friends, you might want to check out the courts at Lockwood Park. This place is a haven for people who are looking for a place to go on a lazy afternoon. It is a vast land with lots of recreational areas. Aside from sports courts, it also has fascinating sculptures, a picnic area, a playground, a charcoal pit, portable restrooms, and more.

Lockwood Park

Things To Love About Skokie Illinois

Skokie, Illinois is one of Chicagolands most pleasant suburban communities. With lots of tasty restaurants, beautiful parks and outdoor spaces, and wonderful real estate, its as great a place to visit as it is to call home!

Looking for a little local inspiration? Here are just 10 of the things that our caregivers and senior clients love most about Skokie:

1.) The Astonishing Outdoor Art

One of the most unique attractions in Skokie is the Northshore Sculpture Park, a free open-air park featuring enormous and stunning sculptures by local artists. You can also see some astonishing sculptures and buildings in the Memorial Park Cemetery, which features many gorgeous natural gardens to explore.

2.) The History

There is a story around every corner in Skokie and you can learn them all at the one-of-a-kind Skokie Heritage Museum. This community is also home to the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, which encourages visitors to take history to heart and take a stand for humanity.

3.) The Great Outdoors

When you want to enjoy a quiet afternoon in nature, Skokie is the place to be. This lush area features many wonderful parks where you can get close with nature, including the Emily Oaks Nature Center and the Skokie Lagoons. For a more active day out, hop on the North Branch Bike Trail or enjoy your favorite sports in Devonshire Park.

4.) The Mall

5.) The Entertainment

6.) The Festivals

7.) The Small Business Community

8.) The Tasty Food

9.) The Unbeatable Location

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Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park

Source: Chicago’s North Shore Conventions & Visitors Burea / Flickr | CC BY

The Skokie bank of the North Shore Channel drainage canal beside McCormick Boulevard had been an eyesore for decades until it was transformed into this sensational linear park.

This project, a collaboration between the Village of Skokie and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, began in the late 1980s and has resulted in dozens of engaging sculptures and installations beside the channel.

Arranged across four sections, these are surrounded by beautiful landscaping, with lawns and slowly maturing trees, and are easily accessed via the North Shore Channel Trail.

What makes the park compelling is the variety of styles and materials, and among the works by leading international sculptors are pieces by the students of local high schools.

Explore The Amazing Illinois Holocaust Museum And Education Center

A post shared by Aneliese Cruz on Jun 17, 2019 at 4:05pm PDT

If you like touristy things and activities that will provide you with new pieces of knowledge, the Holocaust Museum and Education Center is the place for you. This museum will take you back to the time of the holocaust and make you understand that period. For the people of Skokie, it is important that this part of history is preserved not to celebrate it but to avoid repeating it. As they say, people must learn to stand for humanity.

Holocaust Museum and Education Center

Address: 9603 Woods Dr, Skokie, IL 60077, USA

Opening hours: Mon – Sat 10am – 9pm Sun: 10am – 11pm

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Admire The Gardens At Emily Oaks Nature Center

Whether you are in the mood for some alone time or quality time with your friends, Emily Oaks Nature Center is a beautiful tourist attraction in Skokie that features gorgeous natural wonders. This vast savanna and nature center treats your eyes to a feast of stunning sceneries and majestic flora. There is also a lovely pond where you can boat and some hiking trails if you feel like exploring the park some more.

Emily Oaks Nature Center

Opening hours: Mon – Thu: 9am – 7pm Fri – Sat: 9am – 8pm Sun: 11am – 5pm

Settlers Change The Land

Settlers used the land in the SkokieValley to graze livestock and harvest peat to burn for warmth during the winter.The marshs ecosystem suffered irreversible damage as drainage projects and agricultureincreased.

The advent of the regions railroad in 1855 made commuting between the Skokie Valley and Chicago easier, and the areas population boomed as people dispersed from the city after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

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Taste Wonderful Tea At Adagio Teas

Editor’s Note: Photo taken from the establishment’s official social account

Whether you are on an afternoon bonding with your friends or solo tea time, Adagio Teas is a perfect spot to chill and relax. For 19 USD per person, you can book a private tasting of their teas guided by a professional staff. Not only that, but you can also bring a friend to share the experience with. Before you leave the store, be sure to purchase your favorite tea flavors for a healthier life.

Adagio Teas

Opening hours: Mon – Thu: 10am – 8pm Fri – Sat: 10am – 9pm Mon: 10am – 6pm

Museums And Galleries To Visit In Skokie Illinois

About 16 miles northwest of downtown Chicago you will come across the quaint village of Skokie, Illinois. Skokie is conveniently located with accessible transportation, like the Edens Expressway that connects the residents with various locations and famous attractions.

In the village itself, you can find several attractions, including restaurants in Skokie IL, museums, and art galleries. If you are in Skokie, Illinois, here are some museums and art galleries to visit.

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Places To Go In Skokie

Welcome, traveler, to Skokie. Your journey has landed you here, and new adventures are calling your name. Now that youve arrived, you can stay in the safety and comfort of your hotel and watch the world spin pastor you can embrace this new place youve come to. Learn its streets. Meet its people. Learn its history. Your hand is already on the doorknob, isnt it?

Things to Do in Skokie

Youll not be wanting for things to do in Skokie. Explore the downtown area in search of museums and boutiquesor that next delicious meal. What tickles your fancy? A delectable five-course supper at the restaurant youve been hearing about? Or perhaps youd rather read the paper while sipping hot coffee at one of the cafes scattered throughout town. Take in a show at the theatre, or just walk along down the main thoroughfare, watching people wander past.

Why spend hours ruminating over what to do in Skokie? Let the possibilities wash over you as you explore this new region. Move out on foot and get to know the area on a more personal level. Find that perfect souvenir at one of the smaller shops, or reinvent your entire artistic aesthetic at your new favorite gallery.

When you book your journey with Travelocity, youre never far from Skokie attractions. After all, the money you save when you plan a trip with us is best spent along the way. Whether its the roar of the city you crave, or the quiet solitude that comes with a simpler getaway, everything you need to get started is right here.

Before You Leave The United States

Make sure to plan ahead:

• You tested positive for COVID-19.
• Do not travel until a full 10 days after your symptoms started or the date your positive test was taken if you had no symptoms.

If you had close contact with a person with COVID-19 but are NOT recommended to quarantine…

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Forest Preserves Of Cook County

The 894-acre Skokie Lagoons are a prime destination for water exploration, featuring public boat access, canoe and kayak rentals, fishing, biking and hiking trails and picnic areas.

On this page:

Maps

Picnic Groves

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The North Branch Trail System offers paved and unpaved trails along approximately 20 miles of the North Branch of the Chicago River, making it a premier biking route in the northern suburbs.

Location: Chicago, Glenview, Morton Grove, Niles, Northbrook, Northfield, Skokie & Winnetka

Maps

Emily Oaks Nature Center

You can get reacquainted with the natural world at this tranquil parcel of wilderness in Skokie.

Over 13 acres, the Emily Oaks Nature Center is composed of oak woodland, grassland speckled with wildflowers in early summer and two ponds, all ready to be discovered on a trail.

These habitats harbor rich wildlife, with coyotes, red foxes, Coopers hawks, flying squirrels and great blue herons all frequently spotted.

The center has an educational vocation, hosting interactive displays and organizing activities as varied as birding, identifying wildflowers, storytelling campfires and seasonal celebrations like Earth Day.

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Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center

Source: victor408 / Flickr | CC BY

This institution had been almost 30 years in the pipeline when it opened in 2009. The origins of the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center go back to an attempt by a Neo Nazis group to march in the village in the early 80s.

In a building designed by Stanley Tigerman, the museum exhibitions approach the Holocaust and topics like prejudice and hatred, using state-of-the-art museography.

The detailed Karkomi Holocaust Exhibition is a moving but educational timeline, taking your from pre-war Europe through ghettoization, concentration camps and then resettlement.

Another permanent display is the Take a Stand Center, using technology to emphasise contemporary social justice and relate Holocaust survivor accounts.

Finally, Make a Difference is an interactive attraction for children up to the age of 12, encouraging self-esteem, empathy, leadership skills and positive decision making.

Civilian Conservation Corps Project

The Forest Preserves of Cook Countyacquired land in the Skokie Valley in 1920 with plans to create lagoons forrecreation and flood and mosquito control. Those plans came to life after FranklinD. Roosevelt formed the Civilian Conservation Corps to put unemployed men towork during the Great Depression.

Between 1933 and 1941, thousands ofmen, including three segregated African American companies, lived and worked atCamp Skokie Valley. Men worked seven-hour days, five days a week to create anew landscape featuring seven lagoons. During free time, Camp Skokie Valley hadacademic and vocational classes, a chapel, organized sports and even abarbershop.

In the first year, all constructionwas done by hand, with heavy equipment arriving soon after. In total, fourmillion cubic tons of soil were excavated during what became the largest publicworks program in the country during the Great Depression.

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North Shore Center For The Performing Arts

Source: Chicago’s North Shore Conventions & Visitors Burea / Flickr | CC BY

Right in Skokie is a modern destination for theatre, comedy, dance and music. The North Shore Center for the Performing Arts opened in 1996, and offers superb cultural, literary and educational programs for the residents of Skokie and neighboring communities.

The center consists of an 867-seat main stage theater, along with a flexible 318-capacity auditorium for performances and community events.

In recent years the center has also put on an exciting series of outdoor concerts in the Out Back Parking Lot.

Keep an eye on the schedule for a rich lineup, offering music of all styles, famous comedians, dance, broadway shows and magic.

Canoe & Kayak Rentals At Tower Road

The rental season is weather dependent, but generally lasts from early April through late October. Rentals are available every day from 9 am to 5 pm on a first come, first served basis. Please call 847-414-5883 before visiting to confirm rentals are available.

Tower Road

Discounts:Monday Discount: Reduced per-hour rates . Paddle Card: Fifth visit FREE after four paid visits .

Regulations: Must be 18 or older with government issued-ID to fill out a rental waiver. No more than three adults per row boat or fishing boat. Minimum age and weight: 3 years, 35 lbs. Dogs welcome at owners risk and operators discretion. Properly-fitted life vest must be worn by every paddler for duration of rental period. No alcohol or glass bottles.

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Skokie Festival Of Cultures

Source:

Its fitting that a place as diverse as Skokie should host a wildly successful celebration of world cultures.

This event takes place across two days in May in Oakton Park, and has grown dramatically since its inception in 1990.

Now some 40 cultures are represented, with arts and crafts, folk music and dance, childrens games, cultural booths and a truly international array of food.

The events showpiece is a display of the flags for every nation represented in the festival, and a mini train ride meanders through the park during the celebration.

If You Are Notfully Vaccinated And Allowed To Travel To The United States By Air Through An Exception

You may be required to attest to some or all of the following measures, depending on the type of exception. For more information see Requirement for Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination for Air Passengers.

• Get tested for current infection with a viral test 3-5 days after arrival, unless you have documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days.
• Stay at home or in your hotel room and self-quarantine for a full 5 days, even if you test negative, unless you have documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days.
• Isolate if your test result is positive or you develop COVID-19 symptoms.
• If you intend to stay in the United States for 60 days or longer, become fully vaccinated against COVID-19 within 60 days of arriving in the United States or as soon as medically appropriate.

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Fall Features And Festivities On The North Shore

MUSEUM ME

Notorious RBG Exhibit, Illinois Holocaust Museum, Skokie

CELEBRATE FALL IN THE GARDEN

Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns, Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe

OPEN AIR HISTORY AND THE ARTS

Glencoe Festival of Art, Glencoe

EMBRACE THE GREAT OUTDOORS

The Grove National Historic Landmark, Glenview

WATER WORKS

Skokie Lagoons, Multiple Locations