Hotels Oakbrook

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A suburb of Chicago, Oakbrook is a village in DuPage County, Illinois. It consists of about eight square miles and is located at the junction of several interstates, making it easily accessible from Chicago. For tourists wanting to experience the lovely state of Illinois as well as the Chicago metropolis, the hotels Oakbrook offers put you in the heart of nearby recreation and entertainment.

One of the most historic attractions in Oakbrook is the Graue Mill and Museum. Celebrating 150 years of history, the Graue Mill is the only operating waterwheel, gristmill in the northern part of the state. The museum is dedicated to preserving a bridge between the past and present, knowing that understanding our history is of the utmost importance to future generations. The museum offers public programs that include live-action milling, spinning and weaving demonstrations as well as living history presentations. Artifacts in the museum illustrate the residential way of life in the late nineteenth century and the importance that mills like the Graue Mill had on Illinois culture. The Graue Mill is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and was recognized as an Illinois Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. It is the only gristmill to be bestowed with that honor. Tours of the mill include the grinding area, a view of the wooden gears, the farmer's workshop, the general store, a pioneer kitchen and Victorian parlor. Guests can buy unique gifts such as ground corn meal, homemade jam and mill-themed ornaments in the museum gift shop. It's a wonderful experience for the entire family.

For the nature lover, visit the Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center in the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. The nature center is the perfect place to bring the dog for a walk, to ride a bike, cross-country ski, or just hang out in the nature center with a laptop and the free Wi-Fi. Backpackers come here for nature excursions and hikers appreciate the serene beauty of the natural preserve. The nature center also strives to educate the public with its nature-education programs. It offers programs year-round on humankind's influence on the ecosystem, interrelationships with the environment and so much more. Scheduled activities include wildflower identification, tracking wildlife and tapping maple trees.

Visitors may also enjoy the Willowbrook Wildlife Center. This rehabilitation facility provides state-of-the-art medical treatment and care to injured and orphaned wild animals. It acts as an education center for the public and instructs locals and visitors on how to best live in harmony with the local wildlife. Young visitors will love the indoor discovery area and the wildlife-related merchandise in the gift shop.

For another chance to step back in time, stop by the preserve's Kline Creek Farm. This attraction will show visitors what life would have been like in Oakbrook back in the 1890s. You can walk through the restored farmstead structures and meet the historically costumed employees as they reenact a living history farm of Oakbrook. Live demonstrations include harvesting, planting, canning, sheep shearing, baking and nineteenth-century ice cutting.

Horse lovers will enjoy a trip to the Danada Equestrian Center. Visitors can go on one-hour guided tours for a look at horse care. Experience saddling, cleaning stables, feeding horses and grooming and learn about horse behavior. The center features educational and recreational opportunities throughout the year, so contact them ahead of time to best plan your visit.

While at the forest preserve, take advantage of the countless opportunities for recreation. Some areas permit off-leash dogs, model aircraft, picnicking, horseback riding and archery. Permitted visitors can enjoy a day of fishing while adventurers can go geocaching and letterboxing. There are even winter activities such as ice fishing, ice-skating, snow tubing and dogsledding. No matter what time of year you visit Oakbrook; the DuPage Forest Preserves has an adventure waiting just for you.

The hotels Oakbrook offers seem a world away from the big city, but they are all within easy access of Chicago. Some of the amenities at the hotels Oakbrook supplies include complimentary Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, iPod docking stations, fitness centers, business rooms, on-site restaurants, free breakfast and jacuzzis. Downtown Chicago is generally a twenty minute drive and the O'Hare International Airport is even closer to Oakbrook.

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