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Mundelein is a village of about 31,000 people in Lake County, Illinois, about 40 miles northwest of Chicago. Originally a farming settlement, it went through several names before taking the name of Cardinal George Mundelein, the Archbishop of Chicago, in 1924, after he founded the University of Saint Mary of the Lake seminary on the edge of town.
The seminary remains the village's best-known landmark, a sprawling lakeside campus of Renaissance and Colonial Revival buildings around St. Mary's Lake. The village itself is a friendly suburb with a small downtown near the Metra station, the Mundelein Heritage Museum in the old Soo Line depot, and Kracklauer Park, where summer concerts are held.
Water shapes much of the recreation. Diamond Lake has a public beach with paddleboard and kayak rentals, and Barefoot Bay water park keeps families cool in summer. Golfers head to Steeple Chase Golf Club, local brewers such as Tighthead Brewing pour craft beer, and the North Shore Bike Path heads east toward Lake Michigan. Libertyville and the Lake County Fair in Grayslake are nearby.
The major seminary of the Archdiocese of Chicago, opened in the early 1920s by Cardinal Mundelein on a wooded campus around St. Mary's Lake. Its buildings blend Renaissance Roman and American Colonial Revival styles, including a chapel modeled on a New England meetinghouse. Ask about public tours before visiting.
A public beach on Diamond Lake run by the local park district, with a sandy swimming area, lifeguards in season and rentals of kayaks and paddleboards. It is open in summer, roughly June to mid-August. Arrive early on hot weekends and check daily fees and hours online.
A local history museum in the relocated Soo Line railroad depot, with exhibits on Native Americans, pioneer farmers, the railroads and the founding of the seminary that gave the village its name. It is small and run by volunteers. Opening hours are limited, so check before visiting.
A small park near the village water tower with a playground, lawn and stage that hosts a free Sunday concert series during the summer. It is a friendly place for a picnic and live music with local families. Bring chairs or a blanket and arrive early for a shady spot.
An outdoor water park of about six acres run by the Mundelein Park District, with pools, a long lazy river, tube slides, splash features and areas for small children. It opens in summer only. Arrive at opening on hot days, bring sunscreen and check for discounted resident rates.
A public 18-hole golf course designed by Ken Killian, with rolling terrain, wetlands and well-kept greens that have earned strong reviews from regional golfers. It offers a driving range, practice areas and a clubhouse restaurant. Book tee times in advance on weekends.
A craft brewery founded in 2010 and named after a rugby position, pouring year-round and seasonal beers in a relaxed pub-style taproom near downtown Mundelein. Food trucks and events appear on many weekends. A good stop after a day at the beach or on the bike path.
A paved multi-use trail that begins in Mundelein and runs east on a former interurban railroad corridor through Libertyville and other towns toward Lake Bluff near Lake Michigan. It is flat and easy, good for cycling, running and walking. Expect road crossings and bring water.
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Log in to add photosPhoto: SeymourHolcomb, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: SeymourHolcomb, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: SeymourHolcomb, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: SeymourHolcomb, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: SeymourHolcomb, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: SeymourHolcomb, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: SeymourHolcomb, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
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Photo: AlphaBeta135, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: AlphaBeta135, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
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Photo: AlphaBeta135, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
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Photo: AlphaBeta135, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: AlphaBeta135, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: AlphaBeta135, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: AlphaBeta135, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
