What's the most beautiful suburb to live in, and why? (Chicago: cul-de-sac, Home Depot)

[abideasthat]

Let's hear what you got... Looking to move and want to examine some of your opinions.

Pictures welcome.

[westburbsil]

Impossible post to reply, there are countless beautiful suburbs from the north to the northwest, to the west, to the southwest, to the south. With that said, my Top 5 are as followed

St. Charles/Geneva(will count as one)
All North Shore(will count as one as well)
Downtown Naperville
Park Ridge
Edgebrook/Saugnash(yes I know city, but that whole area is more suburban and beautiful)

[abideasthat]

Well, I guess that's what Im saying... let's hear your top 5...

This is more in terms of natural beauty nature.

River, lakes, hills...

Illinois is really flat. Any area with some sort of terrian?

[desperad0stl]

Wilmette.

[japster28]

Originally Posted by desperad0stl

Wilmette.

Bahai Temple!

[desperad0stl]

Originally Posted by japster28

Bahai Temple!

I love that place

[westburbsil]

In the summertime especially with the beaches and tree lines streets, nothing is more beautiful than the North Shore. Now if only I had a few million to live there

[cohdane]

Highland Park was our pick. There is terrain here, tree-filled ravines that run along the lake where you see deer and fox along with birds like mallards and great blue herons using them to navigate. And unlike many other north-shore suburbs, Highland Park has a solid amount of undeveloped public land along the lake-- not just one park, but four (five, if you count nearby Fort Sheridan's trails). You can actually hike here.

Jens Jensen was a famous naturalist landscape architect at the turn of the century who planned many of HP's parks and lakefront access points: jens jensen - Google Search (http://tinyurl.com/4affl8n - broken link) The community still reveres and preserves his work, so the philosophy runs deep.

The only thing I wish HP was better about was protecting large old trees. They claim to be a "tree city" and have ordinances, but it's clear they only talk the talk by how easy it is for developers to take down a 100+ year old tree in a back, front or side yard and replace it with three saplings from Home Depot. Unlike Lake Forest where trees truly rule, wherever you see new construction in HP, you see a clean skyline devoid of foliage. I think the city's so greedy for building permit cash, they're gradually destroying the reason people want to move here in the first place. Very short-sighted. The main streets look pretty barren and urban, too.

I've heard people say they like other nearby town's beaches better, but I prefer Highland Park's for their natural beauty. They're not all developed. And probably because of that, almost never crowded, even in summer.

Highland Park also has its Heller Nature Center and quick access to the Chicago Botanic Garden. Even Ravinia features concerts in an outdoor natural setting.

For the kiddies, Sunset Woods park is enormous, tree-filled and has no fewer than five playgrounds (with picnicking area, pavilion with grills, etc.).

That said, all of the North Shore is lovely, but do compare the others in terms of public access to the Lake and ravines. The North Shore-- unlike inland suburbs with lots of forested area-- isn't hemmed in on all sides by six lane roads and miles of soulless mega-malls. If you really like a natural vibe while living in a developed area, this is as close as you can get. We looked at Lincolnshire-- lovely-- but as soon as you leave your cul-de-sac you're confronted with epic traffic and the worst kind of paved-under treeless suburban sprawl in every direction. Ugh.

[Tex?Il?]

Originally Posted by abideasthat

Well, I guess that's what Im saying... let's hear your top 5...

This is more in terms of natural beauty nature.

River, lakes, hills...

Illinois is really flat. Any area with some sort of terrian?

Yes,

People already covered the north shore in terms of lake Michigan.

Many people forget all of western Lake County because it is a bit far from "the action" but the areas aroudn Barrington, Lake Zurich, Antioch, Grayslake, Wauconda, Island Lake, Fox Lake/Chain O Lakes are all areas with lots of lakes and hills. However they are all 35 to 50 miles from downtown Chicago and some people don't even consider these areas suburbs but they are part of the metro area.

The whole Fox River Valley area, is a true valley with bluffs and ravines, and St. Charles, Geneva, Elgin, Dundee are all within this subregion.

Also, check out Willow Springs, Lemont, Palos Hills for some of the biggest tracks with the greatest amount of hilliness. Plus this area is closer to the city than the Fox River area. You can also potentially commute from the Indiana Dunes area if you work downtown. Ogden Dunes and Dune Acres are old summer home communities nestles amongst the Indiana Dunes, but it might be a bit of a drive to any good employment, but still possibly doable.

[Oldrustycars]

I know the best suburb. I won't say which one because I don't want any more people moving there.