Rated one of the most beautiful towns in the Midwest, there’s plenty to do in Naperville. Located southwest of Chicago, it’s loaded with outdoor activities such as swimming in the public pool to walking along the Riverwalk. History buffs will love exploring the city’s early settlement by seeing restored buildings in a town from the 19th century.

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Learn History at Naper Settlement

History lovers will enjoy the 12 acre outdoor village that’s been converted into a village. Actors will join you in full costume to pretend you’re back in the 19th century. Be sure to listen to the stories they tell throughout the day to explain how settlers’ every day life was. You’ll even get the chance to see dozens of restored historic buildings from when the town was first settled.

Swim at Centennial Beach

This fenced four acres holds an outdoor pool open to the public which is popular during the warmer months. Parts of it are shallow enough for children to wade in, while the other end goes out to 15 feet deep for more advanced swimmers to practice their skills. If you’re not much of a swimmer, you can rent a paddleboard board  to still be out on the water.

Walk Along the Riverwalk

The top rated attraction in Naperville is walking along the DuPage River. A focal point of the community, it’s won national awards for being one of the most beautiful spots in the Midwest. Located downtown, there’s plenty of shopping to do in the area after your walk. Once you’ve worked up an appetite from shopping, you can hit one of the many restaurants in the area.

Local Mark Mathys loves to visit this area, stating:

“The Naperville Riverwalk is great for a picturesque stroll along the DuPage River. Brick walk-ways, covered bridges and fountains line the half mile that is along the downtown area. After you take in all that nature has to offer, you can shop at great boutique businesses or name brand stores. To top it all off, you can choose to eat at one of a dozen great restaurants or simply grab some ice-cream while you watch the ducks paddle by. One of the highlights of Naperville at any time of the year.”

See a Concert

The Wentz Concert Hall and Fine Arts Center boasts world-class acoustics in its stadium that sits over 600 people. The building is 13,000 square feet and meant to give the listener an intimate feel. All genres of music can be found playing here throughout the year.

Climb a Tower

The Millennium Carillon in Moser Tower is 16 stories high and has a 72 bell musical instrument. It’s one of only a few Grand Carillons around, and its 72 bells go up six full octaves. For a great view of the city, climb the steps to reach the top and see the skyline of Chicago on a sunny day.