In addition to the suburbs in the Chicago metropolitan area, the cities and regions outside it, just a short distance from Chicago, offer wonderful opportunities for sightseeing, recreation, and gracious living. At the end of Chicago's commuter rail lines are some of the most interesting cities in the Midwest, too often overshadowed by Chicago's spellbinding center of gravity. The rivers are king in Elgin, Aurora, and Joliet, with plenty of opportunities to enjoy them. Waukegan, Gary (Indiana), and Kenosha (Wisconsin), on the other hand, revolve around the commercial side of Lake Michigan, with harbors to rival many ocean seaports.

Beyond Chicagoland, enjoy Wisconsin's thriving tourism industry at the exciting Wisconsin Dells or in picturesque Door County. Have some fun in rollicking Milwaukee, or get serious in quaint, scholarly Madison. Explore bustling Indiana in Michigan City, see its historic side in South Bend, or go for natural wonders along the lake in nearby Michigan. A bit farther out, the Quad Cities in Illinois and Iowa offer a slice of America of days gone by, St. Louis, Missouri is a natural starting point for a pioneer adventure, and Grand Rapids, Michigan offers small-city alternative to megalopolitan Chicago. Or head down to Springfield, Illinois' capital, where you can brush up on your Lincoln lore and see where big-city politics meets the heartland.