Aurora, IL

If you work in Chicago but the city isn't a good fit for your family, budget, or lifestyle, Aurora might be the perfect solution for you. That's because commuting takes as much effort as it would in the city itself; Aurora is the westernmost point -- and first morning stop -- on the BNSF Metra Line to Chicago's Union Station. The Aurora Metra Station on Broadway opens at 4:30 AM on weekdays, when early risers can board one of the morning's first two direct routes to the Windy City, but you'll have to wait until 8:30 AM to start catching trains with room for bikes. Even weekend routes start at 5:10 AM, and they all allow bikes, so you can enjoy full days in the city or another suburb during your down time.

For residents who need easy access to the surrounding counties and more rural parts of the state, Illinois 31 (Illinois Route 31) runs parallel to the Fox River and stretches all the way from Oswego to Wisconsin. You can use this road, which turns into Lake Street and River Street downtown, to get directly to Geneva, Elgin, Batavia, McHenry, or Algonquin. It also intersects with I-88, giving you two routes into the city that are both less than fifty miles. However, the Metra's hour-long morning routes are almost always a better bet.

Downtown Aurora's cafes, antiques, and boutiques are still steeped in history and designed to encourage small business growth with an intimate sense of community. Culture Stock Bookstore is community group L.I.F.T. Aurora's passion project, and it's your best source for vinyl, used books, and even live poetry readings and open mic nights. Several small jewelry boutiques line Broadway, giving local artists a place to share their handmade wares.

On the East Side, thrifty shoppers travel hours from every direction to take advantage of Aurora's main shopping attraction, the Chicago Premium Outlets. This world-class savings mecca is full of unbelievable deals on clothes, shoes, and accessories from the most in-demand designers and department stores.

Fox Valley is the best neighborhood if you're in the mood for a full day of indoor, high-end shopping. As New York Street turns into Aurora Avenue just before Naperville, you'll reach the neighborhood's namesake: the former Fox Valley Mall (now Westfield Shoppingtown at Fox Valley). This gigantic shopping center has 157 stores, including all the usual mall staples and a few designer boutiques.