An ideal vacation spot with your family is Evanston, which is located in Cook County near Lake Michigan in Illinois, USA.
Known for its vibrant arts scene, diverse culinary offerings, and stunning lakefront parks, Evanston offers a perfect blend of urban excitement and natural beauty.
From exploring world-class museums and historic landmarks to enjoying outdoor activities in scenic surroundings, there’s something to captivate every visitor.
Whether you’re interested in shopping in unique boutiques, attending lively cultural events, or simply strolling along the lakefront, Evanston promises an enriching and unforgettable experience.
This guide provides the best and most fun things to do in Evanston so you can make lasting memories with your family.
Things to Do in Evanston, Illinois
1. Visit Northwestern University
Northwestern University, which was founded in 1851, is one of the most active universities in the world in terms of research.
Northwestern University contributes significantly to the development of its local community’s culture and is one of the most prestigious and oldest universities in the state.
The performing arts program at Northwestern University is well-known for producing artists like Pharell Williams, David Schimmer & Meghan, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus
The University’s football team, the Wildcats, also plays its opponents during the fall season on Saturdays.
2 .Visit Block Museum of Art
Block Museum of Art is a well-known art museum in Evanston owned by Northwestern University.
This art museum was founded in 1980 and houses an exceptional and distinctive collection of Chicago graphic art from the 1930s to 1940s.
You’ll see documentary photography from the Midwest and early South African prints from the 1990s on display at the Block Museum of Art.
You will discover the work of some eminent artists, including Max Beckman, Chuck Close, Carrie Mae Weems, Barbara Hepworth, and Jasper Johns.
3. Visit American Toby Jug Museum
The American Toby Jug Museum features original antique dollhouse miniatures, majolica artwork, and Royal Doulton character jugs.
Eight thousand Toby and Character Jugs are housed in the American Toby Jug Museum, which is a one-of-a-kind pottery jug that dates back to the 18th century in England.
Stephen Mullins, who started collecting Toby Jugs is the creator of the museum and he kept all of his collections in his home, but in 1985 he moved the first 100 pieces to downtown Chicago.
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4. Visit Halim Time & Glass Museum
The impressive collection at the Halim Time & Glass Museum includes works by American School artists like Sperry, Tiffany, and Lamb.
The museum is home to the Clocks of the World collection, which includes more than a thousand watches, chronometers, tower clocks, automata, and other timekeeping devices.
The Treasures of Louis Comfort Tiffany exhibit, which also displays the artist’s pottery, pastels, stained glass, and paintings, is housed in the Halim Time & Glass Museum.
5. Visit Mitchell Museum of the American Indian
The Mitchell Museum of the American Indian contains a wealth of information about Native Americans’ history, from prehistoric times to the present.
Artifacts related to American Indian culture are collected and displayed at the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian.
You’ll see bandolier bags, beadwork, dolls, gut skin parkas, masks, weaving, and canoes on display at the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian.
There’s an on-site library that has more than 5,000 books, a video exhibition, and journals about the Native Americans.
6. Visit Grosse Point Lighthouse
The Grosse Point Lighthouse was built in 1873 as the only beacon traffic guide on the lake with an exceptional 18-mile navigational range.
Grosse Point Lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 8th, 1976.
When you reach the top of the 113-foot structure, Grosse Point Lighthouse offers a breathtaking view of Lake Michigan.
7. Visit Dearborn Observatory
Dearborn Observatory was constructed in 1888 using rusticated limestone in the Richardson Romanesque style.
Every Friday night, you can visit the Dearborn Observatory, where inside the dome viewing sessions are available to the general public.
And you’ll have the opportunity to interact with and meet other astronomers, and many experts are on hand to respond to any queries you may have.
8. Visit Evanston History Center
An old mansion built by former US Vice President Charles Gates Dawes is where the Evanston History Center is situated.
The 1894-built mansion, which has a view of Lake Michigan, is available for tours by both locals and residents.
With the Dawes Family’s exquisite furnishings and artwork, the mansion is still as it was despite the passage of many years.
The fascinating history of Evanston City and Region is compiled, analyzed, and preserved using research resources, cutting-edge programs, and exhibitions.
9. Stop At Welsh–Ryan Arena
A fully equipped multi-use arena near the campus of Northwestern University is called Welsh-Ryan Arena.
The arena recently added a fantastic new locker room with over 2000 square feet of space and necessary amenities for men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball.
Six televisions, a kitchen, a wet area with an Atmos air system, a lounge, a locker room, and a fueling station are all included in the facility.
The Wildcats play their sports at the sports center, including men’s basketball, volleyball, and women’s wrestling.
10. Spend A Day At Clark Street Beach
During the summer, Clark Street Beach requires day or season passes to enter, but Evanston residents don’t require passes on Monday.
If you want to cool off by swimming in the pristine blue waters, the park has a sizable swimming area.
Lifeguards are on duty all year long to keep an eye on the beach at Clark Street Beach, which also has volleyball nets with a lovely and spotless spread of sand.
This beach has lots of nice, well-maintained restrooms with showers, and is well-kept.
11. Explore Dawes Park
Dawes Park, one of Evanston’s most lovely public parks is a breathtaking sight, especially in the morning when you can take in views of the sun rising over Lake Michigan.
The shallow Arrington Lagoon, which has a set of fountain jets and serves as a stage for summertime outdoor events, is one of the park’s most notable features.
Dawes Park has four baseball diamonds, a spray pad, a multi-purpose clubroom, a basketball court, a lovely green space with a lagoon in the middle, and soccer fields.
Dawes Park also provides a range of programs for people of all ages, including popular day camps for kids and other after-school activities for kids.
12. Take Photos At Merrick Rose Garden
Merrick Rose Garden features a lovely but modest sunken lawn, the iconic Fountain Square Centennial Fountain, and geometric beds.
More than two thousand roses, representing over 200 species, can be found in the level Merrick Rose Garden.
The best place in the city where you can take memorable photos for large and small weddings and engagements is the Merrick Rose Garden.
13. Explore Downtown Evanston
Downtown Evanston, is a thriving area with several beautiful shops with various high-quality and reasonably priced goods and services.
Numerous shops sell antique jewelry, Belgian chocolate, hemp products, collectibles, fossils, fabrics, handicrafts, and other items.
There are many different types of restaurants you’ll find in downtown Evanston, including ones that serve sushi, Korean-American food, coffee shops, gourmet pizza, and Argentine cuisine.
14. Watch Plays At Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre
The Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre creates and maintains a welcoming environment where playwrights, custom designers, directors, performers, and technicians can develop and perfect their craft.
The play “Home” at Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre is one of the most thrilling theatrical productions that draw audiences.
Many talented performers, including Lewin Johnson, Tuesdial B. Perry, and Rachel Blakes have graced the theater’s stage.
15. Watch Concerts At Evanston SPACE
One of the best music venues is Evanston SPACE, which was established in 2008 as a creative music hall.
Numerous bands and performers, including Lucinda Williams, Alabama Shakes, David Lindley, Graham Parker, and the Lumineers have performed on the stage of Evanston SPACE.
With comfortable seats and candle-lit cabaret tables, Evanston SPACE can accommodate 240 spectators.
And before the main shows, artists rehearse and collaborate in the recording studio at Evanston SPACE.
16. Chill At FEW Spirits
FEW Spirits provides a distinctive brand of urban whiskey with a flavorful and bold profile that almost every whiskey enthusiast would adore.
FEW Spirits offers a variety of whiskies, including single malt whiskey, rye whiskey with eight immortal tea, straight Bourbon whiskey, straight rye whiskey, American straight whiskey, and bourbon whiskey with cold brew coffee.
You can sample drinks at FEW Spirits’ tasting rooms, and the company also conducts tours of its distillery.
17. Drink Beer At Sketchbook Brewing Co.
The Sketchbook Brewing Company produces the best-handcrafted beers and it’s an excellent brewery that sees itself as a yeast studio.
The lovely interior and friendly staff at Sketchbook Brewing Co. create a tranquil and welcoming atmosphere.
You can get Sketchbook beer for the soul, Sketchbook bud’s corvus nitro, Sketchbook honey bird, Sketchbook insufficient clearance, Sketchbook orange door, or Sketchbook amistosa.
18. Eat At Lucky Platter
You get to feel at home in the Lucky Platter restaurant’s relaxed atmosphere and American-style folk art decor.
There is a wide variety of options available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the restaurant, so you won’t have any trouble finding something you’ll like.
A bowl of cereal, an omelet, fried green tomatoes, chicken tenders, avocado salad, fried chicken salad, Yankee pot roast, chicken piccata, soups, tandoori salmon, and black bean veggie burgers are all available on the Lucky Platter.
Bottomless coffee, cappuccino, espresso, mimosa, mighty leaf cocktails, sparkling wines, ginger beers, mocktails, slava Ukraine, red wines, and CBD drinks are also available.
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19. Eat Delicious Seafood At Oceanique
Oceanique is housed in a stunning Spanish-style building from the 1920s and has maintained its position as the top seafood restaurant in the area.
A variety of seafood options are available at Oceanique, all of which are prepared with a distinctively American twist on classic French recipes.
There are a variety of meals available, such as Black Angus Prime Filet Mignon, Wild Mexican Bay Scallops, Organic Pacifico Striped Bass, Broccolini, Butternut Squash Ravioli, Jalapeno-Red Onion Salsa, and Steamed Asparagus.
Classic wines from Oceanique include Chateau Dourthe Sauvignon Blanc La Grand Cuvee Bordeaux, France, and M.V. Charles Heidsieck.
20. Shop At Cultivate Urban Rainforest & Gallery
Evanston’s Cultivate Urban Rainforest & Gallery combines a shop with an art gallery to offer the ideal decor for your home and place of business.
The shop offers a selection of naturalistic-inspired artworks and presents that can be used to decorate and liven up your home or place of business.
You can shop for high-quality T-shirts, candles, organic soils, and fertilizer at Cultivate Urban Rainforest & Gallery.
Cultivate Urban Rainforest & Gallery also hosts gallery openings, poetry readings, artist talks, and art openings led by well-known and accomplished local artists.
21. Shop For Spices At The Spice House
The Spice House provides a huge selection of the best quality spices, extracts, blends, and herbs to their sizable customer base.
To ensure that their customers receive the best of everything, The Spice House offers rare spices and blends that they have sourced from their team of dedicated growers and distributors.
Fresh spices from all over the world are available here, and they have all been taste-tested and approved by skilled Glover producers and chefs.
22. Shop At The Downtown Evanston Farmers Market
The Downtown Evanston Farmers Market is seasonal typically only open on Saturdays from May to September.
The market has almost everything you could need, you can shop for flowers, baked goods, meat, produce, eggs, and cheeses.
The Downtown Evanston Farmers Market hosts a large number of vendors who provide a variety of locally produced services and goods.
Vendors like Pappone, Baked Cheese Haus, Cocina Azteca, Misericordia Hearts & Flour Bakery, and Geneva Lakes Produce Farm and CSA are among those you can find.
23. Play At Lock Chicago Escape Rooms
At Chicago Escape Rooms Lock, each escape room has a distinct theme, layout, and challenges.
Lock Chicago Escape Rooms gives you time to work out puzzles and look for tips and hints to help you get out of the room.
These games strengthen and build relationships as you come together as a team to win the games.
The Lock Chicago Escape Rooms is the ideal location for a wide range of events, including birthday celebrations, team-building exercises, family reunions, and friend gatherings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some highly rated fun things to do in Evanston, IL?
Trickery
The Red Room Hookah Lounge
Wanderlust Archers
LRA Chicago
Village Newcomers Club
What is Evanston IL famous for?
The city became known for its architecture and beautiful homes on the lake.
What is there to do in Evanston in the winter?
You can travel through the Uinta Mountains on a snowmobile, skate under the stars at the ice ponds, go sledding at Bear River State Park.
Does Evanston have a downtown?
Downtown Evanston is a dynamic city center that is home to over 100 dining options for every palate and budget.
Is Evanston a nice city?
Living in Evanston offers residents an urban feel and most residents own their homes.
What is in Evanston IL?
Northwestern University.
Halim Time & Glass Museum.
Space.
Grosse Point Lighthouse.
Ryan Field.
Is Evanston more expensive than Chicago?
Evanston’s housing costs are much higher than the national average.
Which county is Evanston?
Evanston is in Cook County.
Is Evanston safer than Chicago?
Crime in Evanston, Illinois, is at or below the US average.
Does Evanston have a newspaper?
Evanston Review is Evanston’s newspaper.
Visit Evanston, Illinois
Beyond outdoor activities and recreation, Evanston provides exciting opportunities for you, your family, kids, and friends.
The Evanston History Center, Merrick Rose Garden, the American Toby Jug Museum, Lock Chicago Escape Rooms, and the Spice House are attractions you’ll love exploring.
You can start planning your next vacation to Evanston, and for a fun holiday, consult this guide on the best and most fun things to do in Evanston, IL.
Have a great day.
