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Before it was West Chicago, this DuPage County town was Turner Junction, the spot where early Illinois railroads met and split in the 1850s. Trains still define the place: Union Pacific and Canadian National lines cross at the old JB Tower, and Metra commuter trains run east to downtown Chicago, about 30 miles away.
The town took its present name in 1896 to attract industry, and it grew into a working community with a strong Mexican-American heritage that shows in the taquerias, bakeries and festivals around its historic downtown. The West Chicago City Museum tells the story from railroad camp to suburb.
Green space surrounds the city. Kline Creek Farm brings the 1890s back to life with horses and heirloom crops, Timber Ridge Forest Preserve follows the West Branch of the DuPage River, and Prairie Landing offers links-style golf beside DuPage Airport. Wheaton, Geneva and the Fox River towns are each a short drive away.
A living-history farm run by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, where costumed interpreters work the fields, tend horses, sheep and chickens and cook in an 1890s farmhouse kitchen. Seasonal demonstrations include planting, haying and harvest. Admission is free; check the schedule for closed days.
A small city-run museum in a historic building on Main Street that traces West Chicago from Turner Junction railroad camp to diverse modern suburb. Exhibits cover the railroads, local industry and the families who settled here. Admission is free, and staff can suggest a short downtown history walk afterward.
A historic railroad interlocking tower where the Union Pacific and Canadian National lines cross near downtown, long a favorite of train watchers. Freight and Metra trains pass often throughout the day. Watch from public sidewalks and parking areas only, never from the tracks, and bring a long lens for photos.
The downtown stop on Metra's Union Pacific West line, with trains to Ogilvie Transportation Center in Chicago in about an hour. It sits beside the busy junction that gave the town its start, so trains of every kind pass by. Weekend service is less frequent, so check the timetable before planning a city day trip.
The historic downtown blocks around Main Street are packed with family-run taquerias, Mexican bakeries, grocery stores and cafes reflecting the city's large Latino community. Order tacos al pastor and a bag of pan dulce for the road. Parking is easy on side streets, and lunchtime is the liveliest hour.
West Chicago's largest community park, with an outdoor aquatic center, a skate park, playgrounds, ball fields and picnic shelters. It hosts many park district events in summer and is a cool stop for families on hot days. Pool admission is charged, with lower rates for residents, and season dates follow the school calendar.
A DuPage County forest preserve along the West Branch of the DuPage River with crushed-gravel trails through woods, wetlands and restored prairie. Herons, deer and migrating songbirds are common along the quiet riverbanks. Bring bug spray in early summer and expect muddy spots after rain.
A public course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. with open, links-style holes, native grasses and water hazards next to DuPage Airport, so small planes often pass overhead. It is a well-regarded choice among public courses in the western suburbs. Book tee times online, and expect wind on the open holes.
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