Glen Ellyn to West Chicago Corridor - Wheaton, IL Area Guide

Deacon Winslow Churchill and his family moved from New York to Glen Ellyn in 1834, becoming the first landowners of the soon-to-be Chicago suburb. Twelve years later in 1846, Stacy's Tavern was built. The building still stands as a historical monument in town. Development began to boom in 1849 with the completion of a railroad line through Glen Ellyn. The town became officially incorporated on May 10, 1892.

Trains likewise dictated the growth of West Chicago. Water and fuel facilities for locomotives, a roundhouse, eating-house and hotel for travelers were built to accommodate the increasing number of trains passing through. This attracted a lot of railroad employees to the burgeoning town.

The West Chicago City Museum houses collections and exhibits of local history. The McAninch Arts Center in Glen Ellyn represents the success of the area, hosting many modern music performances, theater productions and classic symphonies and orchestras.

From Glen Ellyn to West Chicago, the area is filled with great restaurants, with Glen Ellyn probably having the best of the bunch. That is where you'll find Fire + Wine, the tapas and Italian joint on Main Street that remains the toast of the town. Starting with the ambiance, the restaurant has created a dark, cozy and rustic vibe which makes you feel as if you've entered a medieval castle. For small plate options, try the meatball sliders and zucchini fries. All of the flatbread pizzas here are also fantastic. Note, however, that the restaurant does not take reservations. The place fills up by 5:30 p.m. every night, so if you don't want an early dinner, be prepared to hang out at the bar for a while. Pass the time with one of the creative martinis.

Head just west into Wheaton to arrive at Steamboat BBQ for the best barbecue in the suburbs. You can't really go wrong with anything here. Between the pulled pork sandwich, the brisket, burnt ends and ribs -- it's all so flavorful and perfectly smoked. For sides, the fried mac and cheese bits can't be beat. Again, get here early or be prepared to wait. This place is small and the 8-10 tables usually fill up by about 5:30 p.m. as well.

South of the Steamboat, Warren’s Ale House is a gastropub not to be missed. With 22 different beers on tap and close to 100 more bottle varieties, the beer menu is only the tip of the iceberg. Whiskey and wine comes plentiful here as well. Bourbon, scotch, whatever your taste may be, Warren's has it. Head there for pub trivia on Tuesday nights with a few friends and pour over the extensive menu. During the freezing Midwest winters, a breckenridge vanilla porter remains a solid option.

Transportation throughout the Glen Ellyn/West Chicago area comes easy for locals. While walking isn't really smart going from town to town, getting around the downtown areas of each town remains easy and enjoyable. Two major bike trails connect the towns for cyclists though: the Illinois Prairie Path bicycle trail runs roughly through the center and the Great Western Trail runs along the northern edge.

Public transportation also exists in two primary forms: Metra Rail and PACE Bus. Both systems serve the whole Glen Ellyn/West Chicago area. PACE buses are ideal for transport within this area, while the Metra Rail is ideal for getting into downtown Chicago and other places outside the immediate area. Running right through the center of town, five Metra stations provide convenient access into Chicago: West Chicago station, Winfield station, Wheaton station, College Avenue station and Glen Ellyn station. From Glen Ellyn station, you'll be in downtown Chicago in just under an hour.

Drivers benefit from a number of major roadways that can get them into Chicago even faster as well as easy parking in town. I-88, I-355, I-290 and I-294 all run right by these neighborhoods. Within the suburbs, street parking remains easy and available as well. If you're looking for a cab, hail an Uber with a few simple taps on your phone. The company will send a cab to your exact location and take you anywhere in the Chicago area -- much easier than trying to hail a cab the traditional way in the middle of a suburban neighborhood.

Those in West Chicago should pay a visit to Kline Creek Farm, an 1890s living history farm. Admission is free and visitors tour the grounds and farmhouse while workers dressed in period clothing explain the day's activities. They also host numerous 1890s-themed events throughout the year such as Corn Harvest, a county fair and many others. The Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn is a park as well as a zoo where they rehab all sort of animals, from squirrels and snakes to hawks and bobcats.

Cost of living in the suburbs is slightly higher than in Chicago. The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the area falls around $1,017.

While housing costs sit a little higher, the 1-2 percent savings locals see at the pump compared to national averages helps a little. Those who ride local PACE buses pay $1.75 per ride. Dining costs remain on par with the surrounding area. Expect to pay around $12 for a meal and another $4 for a beer at a local restaurant.

Many shopping options exist within this area. Local business supporters head to shops like Twice Is Nice in Carol Stream and String Theory Yarn Company in Glen Ellyn. Locals love the gem of Twice Is Nice, a vintage and consignment shop with quality items and beyond friendly staff. Young families can find some amazing deals of baby clothes and toys here and vintage thrifters love the jewelry and furniture items. Not only does String Theory carry a beautiful selection of natural, socially conscious fibers, but they're always available to answer questions about a particular project you're working on or suggest classes to take to develop skills. Both of these shops have successfully integrated themselves into the community.

For major retail shopping, a number of options exist as well from the Target and Kohl's in Wheaton to the Walmart in Glen Ellyn. Every town in the area has a grocery store but a few of the best ones are the Trader Joe’s in Glen Ellyn, Village Market Place in Carol Stream, Whole Foods in Wheaton, and the specialty Saigon Oriental Market in Carol Stream as well. The French Market in Wheaton is a very popular farmer's market open Saturday mornings. Make sure to pick up some honey, as well as baked goods from the nuns of St. Roger Abbey.