Above, from left: Downtown Highland Park; a float at Forest Park’s Brown Cow; and Paper Merchant in Geneva
Photos: (Highland Park) Adam Smith; (Brown Cow) Nuccio DiNuzzo/Chicago Tribune; (Geneva) Brian DeWolfe
| Forest Park | Geneva | Highland Park | La Grange | Tinley Park | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Drag | Madison Street | State Street | Central Avenue | La Grange Road | Oak Park Avenue |
| Folksy Feature | Old-timey streetlamps | Boutiques in Victorian houses | Stupey Log Cabin, built in 1847 | Annual pet parade in June | Arts and Crafts–style Metra station |
| How to Spend a Saturday | In warm weather, grabbing a brew at one of the abundant curbside patios | Strolling along the Fox River | Power shopping through more than 80 stores | Antiquing at the Jackson Square Mall | Instagramming creations from the yearly bench-decorating contest |
| But Where Should I Get Ice Cream? | The Brown Cow Ice Cream Parlor | Graham’s Fine Chocolates & Ice Cream | La Michoacana Ice Cream Parlor | Tates Old Fashioned Ice Cream Shop | Plush Horse Ice Cream Shoppe |
Winner: Forest Park
It has the ideal mix of independent shops, buzzy restaurants, and small-town nostalgia — and you can get there on the L.