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Question of the day

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Illinois

* The DuPage Convention & Visitors Bureau is running a sweepstakes…

Just 20 miles west of Chicago, DuPage County is less than a day’s drive from more than half the nation’s population—making it an ideal destination for a weekend road trip.

DuPage County can be beautiful in fall and winter, and we offer lots of seasonal activities, unique events, value-added hotel packages, and special discounts and deals to make your trip especially enjoyable.

Come and discover a road trip that’s just your style in DuPage County, Chicago’s western suburbs!

DuPage Weekend Road Trip Sweepstakes

Enter to win a DuPage County weekend sponsored by the DuPage Convention & Visitors Bureau and its partners:

* A $500 BP gas card
* A “car care” basket full of goodies
* An overnight stay, breakfast and spa credits at the luxurious Hotel Arista in Naperville, Illinois

One lucky winner will be selected from all entrants after our sweepstakes ends on March 31, 2014.

* The fine print…

Prizes have no cash value. No transportation provided. Prizes to be awarded by the DuPage Convention & Visitors Bureau (DCVB) and its partners. The DCVB may substitute a prize of equal or greater value, solely at its discretion. Any taxes, duty or extra fees are the responsibility of the winner. Prize package must be used by March 31, 2015, unless otherwise specified by awarding business.

* The Question: What would you do in DuPage County if you were the “one lucky winner”?

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 12:33 pm

Comments

Take a Nap

Comment by OneMan Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 12:38 pm
Ribfest or Naper Days.

Comment by L Y O Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 12:40 pm
Play an early round of golf at Medinah.

Go to Elmhurst College and sit in on a lecture by Speaker Daniles.

Take a walk along the Naperville Riverwalk, then have dinner at any of the restaurants that tickled my fancy after the walk.

After dinner, head to the Tivoli Theatre to catch a movie.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 12:41 pm
Drive through DuPage County to get to Wisconsin?

Comment by Empty Chair Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 12:43 pm
Downers Grove car show on Friday nights

Comment by Bill White Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 12:45 pm
Head over to the Morton Aboretum.

Visit Oakbrook Center.

Have lunch at the “Pinstripes”, stay there past dinner playing bocce bar.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 12:47 pm
Hit binnys beverage depot then get the heck out

Comment by foster brooks Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 12:48 pm
Visit my sister in W Chi and stepbrother in Aurora.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 12:48 pm
Take Pate out for a drink and ask if recognizes “DuPate County” anymore or the new voters who have moved into the area.

Comment by Give Me A Break Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 12:49 pm
Morton Arboretum, then a long dinner at Ditka’s or Harry Caray’s.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 12:49 pm
Drive to Chicago.

Comment by Publius Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 12:52 pm
What would you do in DuPage County if you were the ‘one lucky winner’?

“If”? I’m gonna see the Deadstring Brothers at Lombard’s Brauer House on November 8, so I’m already a winner!

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 12:55 pm
I guess stay overnight, breakfast, and spa at the luxurious Hotel Arista in Naperville, Illinois — then leave the next day.

Comment by Just Observing Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 12:56 pm
Visit my parents or my sister.

Comment by Nonplussed Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 1:01 pm
Hop on the Metra to go into Chicago to actually do something remotely fun.

Comment by TJ Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 1:04 pm
Drive to Green Bay for a Packers game.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 1:05 pm
Leave as soon as possible for Chicago

Comment by Senator Clay Davis Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 1:07 pm
Cantigney–and someone please correct my spelling, I am posting from my Nook. It’s really interesting–both the WWI trench and the tour of Col McCormack’s house.

Comment by Chavez-respecting Obamist Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 1:07 pm
Cantigy and Klein Creek Farm in the AM
Morton Arboretum PM
Schnitzel Platz for dinner

Comment by Ggal Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 1:08 pm
Shop in downtown Downers Grove.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 1:08 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdkQFv6yh4E

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 1:11 pm
Leave.

Comment by Mouthy Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 1:17 pm
DuPage County is “less than a day’s drive from more than half the nation’s population”??

Maybe, but only if they fly through O’Hare, or risk speeding tickets through Pennsylvania or Wyoming.

Comment by Elo Kiddies Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 1:17 pm
I would spend the day at the Wade Center in Wheaton College. They have the best collection of reading materials from Tolkien, C S Lewis, Chesterton, Dorothy Sayers and more. They actually have the Wardrobe Lewis based his Narnia tales on as well as his and Tolkien’s writing desks.

If you are into their writings, you could spend a couple days reading some rare stuff.

Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 1:18 pm
Shop and eat. Lots of interesting places for both. Add a spa visit for pampering.

Comment by Nearly Normal Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 1:18 pm
Go to Sonny Acres to get my pumpkins!

Comment by Denny Savard Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 1:19 pm
No idea of what I would do but it begs the question…what is 2nd prize? Two weekends in DuPage?

Comment by Stones Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 1:29 pm
Slow news day Rich?

Comment by Dee Lay Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 1:37 pm
correction-Cantigny

Comment by Ggal Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 1:46 pm
Free concerts @ Fishel Park in Downers Grove. Car show on Friday nites. Tivoli Theater is a gem - take in a movie there. I would spend is little time in Naperville as possible - too crowded.

Comment by dupage dan Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 1:46 pm
Go to Guitar Center and play ‘Stairway’ badly on their expensive guitars. Then go to the drum section.
Stop by Pappadeaux for some tasty New Orleans food.

Comment by zatoichi Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 1:49 pm
===Slow news day Rich? ===

LOL

I actually thought there’d be more snark. But now I’m ready for a weekend in DuPage. I think I’ll hang out with Willy. He seems to know a lot of good places. Maybe we’ll bring Word and others along.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 1:52 pm
Eat at one of the huge selections of wonderful restaurants and enjoy seeing green! Grass, trees, hills and the sky. A break from asphalt, concrete and buildings.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 1:56 pm
A walk in the Arboretum to see the fall colors would be a great start, but…

Frankly, I’d rather stake out a bar stool at the Bavarian Lodge in Lisle and sample some of the best beers from around the world. There is simply no better craft beer bar in the suburbs. Worth the trip.

I hope they accept BP gas cards.

Comment by anon sequitor Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 1:58 pm
Goes without saying, there is an open invitation hanging out there!

Let me know so I can have fresh Cannoli and cappuccino at the ready from Caputo’s as we all start out.

The next morning might have to be Bloody Mary’s, or would that be late morning/brunch?

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 2:01 pm
Looks like there are plenty of anonymous comments from people in Downers Grove. Good to know.

Rich, if you and Oswego Willy and Word come to Downers Grove, Capri is a good Italian restaurant and the Cellar Door serves a powerful white sangria that isn’t only wine.

Comment by Bill White Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 2:03 pm
Been to Capri, not too far from Tivoli Theatre.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 2:05 pm
Cascade Drive IN.
Downtown Wheaton for Ice Cream, Chocolate, and popcorn!

Comment by Pete Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 2:06 pm
Chicken Forget About It

Comment by Bill White Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 2:09 pm
Speaking of Downers Grove, if you want good hotdog stand food, go to Eagle’s on the east side. John’ll set you up with a good gyro and baklava. Nice salads, too. Angelo’s does the best pizza in town, IMO. My son got a good high & tight haircut @ DG Barbershop in the Tivoli building before reporting back to Marine training. Young guys who know their craft.

I better stop, I am starting to sound like I work at the CofC in DG.

Comment by dupage dan Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 2:17 pm
Take a nap, do some laundry and catch up on cable tv…

Comment by Visual Manager Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 2:22 pm
I’d give the Hotel Arista stay to the homeless guy that sometimes resides outside the Naperville parking garage ! Washington and Maple

Comment by railrat Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 2:28 pm
Check out some of the Mexican food joints in West Chicago

Comment by train111 Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 2:37 pm
Oakbrook shopping mall is great. Walk in Ty Warner Park, and dine at the fantastic Bakersfield Restaurant in Westmont. (or Uncle Bub’s Bar BQ can’t be beat) Downtown Naperville or Hinsdale have good shops and specialty stores. Breakfast at Egg Harbor in Hinsdale. Golf at Oakbrook Hills resort. Tour McGrath Lexus dealership in Westmont - the most luxurious auto dealership I have ever seen.

Comment by one of the 35 Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 2:50 pm
Punky’s or O’Neil’s in Lombard if the “local” bar scene is up your alley, and Quigley’s in Naperville for live music is not a bad place to be stuck.

Long dinner/dessert, the “pack a lunch, we are going to dinner” type, great food, got quite a few in Downtown Naperville or even Oakbrook, as long as you aren’t “hustled out” - back area, big table, good and understanding wait staff…

Bunch of choices in DuPage.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 3:07 pm
=== Tour McGrath Lexus dealership in Westmont - the most luxurious auto dealership I have ever seen. ===

Then, use some of that $500 in BP gasoline to check out the “mom & pop” used car dealers that line Ogden Avenue in Downers Grove.

Comment by Bill White Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 3:08 pm
go to Portillo’s in Downers Grove, get a combo beef and sausage dipped with sweet and hot peppers, find nearest Hyatt hotel next to a Walgreen’s for some Rolaids and go to bed.

Comment by PoolGuy Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 3:13 pm
Fill up my gas tank and drive OUT of the county.

Comment by Chicago Publius Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 3:25 pm
Bring Willie. Leave Word at the Will Co. border. Just kidding. Bring Word too. Dupage is wonderful, with or without the freebies.

Comment by A guy... Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 3:28 pm
Fill the tank with BP gas, put the “car care” basket in the back seat, and then drive out of the county to some place with more to see.

Comment by Hit or Miss Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 3:38 pm
Don’t “sleep” on Geneva-St. Charles.

Some good stand alone restaurants (not a chain) if you are looking for food to be the focus.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 3:39 pm
Yes, Geneva-St. Charles in Kane, but you got those saying head into Chicago, how about stay “West” since we are out this far…

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 3:42 pm
MrJM - Thank you for the heads-up on the Deadstring Brothers! Hope to be there as well!

Comment by BigDoggie Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 3:43 pm
“a day’s drive from more than half the nation’s population”

What a bizarre and ridiculous claim unless you consider driving 24 hours a “day’s drive.” Yeah, that’s it.

You live in Denver or New York and say, hey, nothing to do here, let’s drive to DuPage County Illinois. Amazingly lame.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 3:47 pm
Sneak beers into the Tivoli Theater, hang out at the White Castle parking lot afterwards.

Comment by quicknote Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 3:51 pm
RE: Rauner’s “everyman” appeal, on Rauner’s D-2 reports, next to his numerous charges for gasoline from his tour of downstate are two charges for a night’s stay at a hotel in Aspen, CO. Because the everymen in southern IL attend fundraisers in Aspen.

http://www.elections.il.gov/CampaignDisclosure/ItemizedExpendPrint.aspx?FiledDocID=515439&ExpenditureType=Expenditures&Archived=True&ItemizedExpendFrom=D2Quarterly.aspx&OrderBy=Last+or+Only+Name+-+A+to+Z

Comment by Empty Chair Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 4:04 pm
Tivoli? Haven’t been there in decades! I didn’t realize they were still there. As a teenager, I used to get a season pass and go there all the time.

Comment by DuPage Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 4:10 pm
TeePee Pate’s house.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 4:17 pm
TeePee Pate’s house.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 4:17 pm
TeePee Pate’s house.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 4:17 pm
TeePee Pate’s house.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 4:17 pm
Apologies for the quadruplicates, folks. iOS 7, bite me.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 6:32 pm
Can’t ponder ‘cuz I won’t be entering!

Comment by Just The Way It Is One Thursday, Oct 17, 13 @ 7:27 pm