Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Wilmette, Illinois

Sitting along the shores of Lake Michigan, Wilmette is a picturesque suburban village with a population of approximately 27,000 residents, located on the North Shore.

The village’s waterfront is a significant aspect of its allure, featuring access points such as the sandy Gillson Beach and a rare restored dune ecosystem.

Wilmette boasts various shopping districts, with the most charming found along the flowery, tree-lined streets surrounding the Wilmette Metra station.

In addition to a vintage theater that dates back to the 1910s, the village center hosts unique specialty shops, an appealing variety of restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and ice cream shops.

Several of the North Shore’s most prominent attractions are also within a short train ride, cycle, or drive away, including Northwestern University, the Skokie Lagoons, and the Illinois Holocaust Museum.

1. Bahá’í House of Worship

Wilmette hosts the oldest existing Bahá’í House of Worship, constructed between 1912 and 1953, and recognized in the National Register of Historic Places since 1978.

Originating from Iran and the Middle East, the Bahá’í Faith counts around five million followers, promoting global unity and rejecting racism, nationalism, and sectarianism.

The House of Worship in Wilmette is situated prominently above Wilmette Harbor, where the North Shore Channel converges with Lake Michigan.

The design, by French-Canadian architect Louis Bourgeois, reflects the faith’s principles of unity, integrating Islamic, Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance architectural styles.

Examine the meticulously detailed tracery on the building’s nine pillars, featuring symbols from major world religions, such as the Star of David, crescent moon, and the Christian cross.

2. Gillson Park

While there are several access points to the lakefront in Wilmette, Gillson Park is undoubtedly the most prominent. Its primary feature is the expansive sandy beach, which typically has lifeguards present throughout the summer months.

The fine sand and gentle slope into the water make this beach particularly suitable for younger swimmers.

A nominal fee (plus parking) is applicable for non-residents, and visitors can enjoy a variety of amenities in the lush parkland behind the beach.

These features include an outdoor concert theater, tennis courts, picnic areas, a fitness trail, a shelter, a children’s play area, and an ice rink available during the winter months.

In addition, a sailing center offering rentals is located at the northern end of the beach, complemented by a designated dog beach at the southern end by Wilmette Harbor.

3. Village Center (Downtown Wilmette)

During the creation of this list, Central Avenue and surrounding streets were undergoing significant improvements.

The Village Center offers much to appreciate, with its historic architecture and shaded sidewalks adorned with café and restaurant seating.

Within a few blocks, one can find numerous dining and specialty food establishments, encompassing options like steak, pizza, tacos, French pastries, classic American cuisine, frozen yogurt, BBQ, and ramen, amongst others.

Scattered throughout this area are charming shops that merit exploration, offering items such as musical instruments, antiques, fashion, jewelry, home decor, and textiles.

The Village Center also hosts the French Market, a well-loved farmers’ market that operates next to the Metra station on Saturday mornings.

4. Skokie Lagoons

Adjacent to Winnetka lies a scenic, wildlife-rich series of seven interlinked lagoons along the Skokie River.

This area, historically marshland that experienced flooding, was altered by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, mitigating water concerns.

Connected by the North Branch Bicycle Trail, the Skokie Lagoons encompass nearly 900 acres and serve as a hub for recreational activities, particularly in summer, when visitors can rent canoes or kayaks, stopping to picnic along the lush banks of the lagoons.

The lagoons feature a 4.2-mile loop trail, while the nearby Chicago Botanic Garden represents another major attraction just to the north.

5. Wilmette Theatre

Managed by a non-profit organization, the historic Wilmette Theatre has been operational since 1913.

This multi-arts venue features two intimate auditoriums and hosts a diverse range of programming, including films, concerts, theatrical performances, lectures, workshops, and much more.

Although significant portions of the original interior have been remodeled, the marquee and lobby retain a vintage appeal.

For casual visitors, it represents a delightful venue for viewing independent or foreign films, known for its affordable tickets and freshly popped popcorn. When this article was prepared, renovations were temporarily pausing operations at Wilmette Theatre.

6. Northwestern University

Situated just across the North Shore Channel, Northwestern University ranks among the nation’s premier institutions of higher learning and is located only a short distance southeast of Wilmette.

Founded in 1851, it is the oldest chartered university in Illinois, and offers numerous reasons to warrant a visit.

Whether for prospective students or casual visitors, the Segal Visitors Center remains open year-round, providing multimedia exhibits about the university and a hall dedicated to its notable alumni.

The Block Museum of Art is housed within the Art Circle on campus, featuring a collection of over 6,000 artworks and hosting prominent exhibitions, often in collaboration with esteemed institutions globally.

For those interested in varsity sports, Ryan Field (capacity: 47,000) and the Welsh-Ryan Arena are conveniently located just one Metra stop away at Central Street, closer to downtown Wilmette.

7. Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center

Another esteemed attraction near Wilmette is a museum dedicated to honoring Holocaust memory while providing educational resources for combating prejudice, hatred, and indifference among future generations.

Officially opened at its present location in 2009, it ranks among the largest Holocaust museums worldwide.

The Zev & Shifra Karkomi Holocaust Exhibition showcases over 500 artifacts donated by survivors, guiding visitors through the experiences of pre-war European life, the rise of Nazism, the ghettos, concentration camps, and post-war resettlement.

One particularly poignant exhibit features a German railcar used for wartime deportations. Temporary exhibits delve into specific elements of the atrocity, alongside lighter exhibits at the Take a Stand Center, aimed at empowering youth with knowledge and tools for confronting hatred.

8. Mitchell Museum of the American Indian

Also located nearby is a remarkable museum that explores the history, culture, and arts of North America’s indigenous peoples.

Established in 1977, the Mitchell Museum houses more than 9,000 artifacts spanning thousands of years, from the Paleo-Indians to the contemporary era.

The captivating permanent exhibit is organized by region, featuring individual galleries dedicated to the peoples of the woodlands east of the Mississippi, the Great Plains, the Southwest, and the Northwest Coast and Arctic.

Each gallery includes interactive “touching tables” where visitors can handle artifacts and materials such as buffalo skin, snakeskin, birch bark, caribou fur, and turquoise.

9. Grosse Point Lighthouse

Located just south of the Bahá’í House of Worship, this historic lighthouse was constructed in 1873 following advocacy from local residents due to several maritime disasters along the Chicago approach.

Now designated as a National Historic Landmark, Grosse Point Lighthouse was automated in 1935 and is currently managed by the Lighthouse Park District of Evanston.

The grounds, featuring beautiful butterfly and wildflower gardens, remain accessible year-round, offering informative interpretive signage detailing the lighthouse’s history. Guided tours of the building are available on weekends from June through September.

10. Wilmette Historical Museum

Individuals interested in Wilmette’s rich heritage can explore this museum, operated by the local historical society. Founded in 1951, the museum has developed a comprehensive collection over more than 70 years.

Since 1995, the museum’s permanent home has been the former Grosse Point Village Hall, a distinguished Victorian structure built in 1896.

Visitors can explore well-curated temporary exhibits, which utilize the museum’s extensive artifacts, on Sunday afternoons as well as on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

At the time of writing, exhibitions focused on significant local women, historic photographs from 1850-1950, and notable figures such as Bill Murray and Jens Jensen.

11. Elmwood Dunes Preserve

Situated adjacent to Gillson Park, the scenic Elmwood Dunes Preserve had been inaccessible to the public until 2015 when local volunteers and donations facilitated its restoration.

This initiative involved the removal of numerous invasive trees and shrubs to return the habitat to its original state.

Today, with over 50 species of native plants, the preserve offers a splendid vantage point of the lakeshore while allowing visitors to appreciate the historical ecological context of the Lake Michigan waterfront.

12. Keay Nature Learning Center

This underappreciated nature park is located directly behind the Christensen Animal Hospital on Wilmette’s west side.

Spanning 4.6 wooded acres, the Kay Learning Center opened to the public in the early 1980s as part of an initiative to preserve natural open spaces in the village.

A half-mile trail winds through the park, guiding visitors past several interpretive stations and over a pond with an artificial waterfall.

During summer strolls, nature enthusiasts will have abundant opportunities to observe frogs, turtles, water birds, and various fish species.

13. Green Bay Bike Trail

The Green Bay Bike Trail, a rails-with-trails (RWT) bike path, begins in Wilmette and proceeds northward, paralleling the lakeshore for nearly ten miles up to Highland Park.

Starting from the front of the Village Hall, the trail shares its path with the Metra rail line, making it easy to access several charming parks such as Shorewood Park, Yorkwood Park, Townley Field, and Indian Hill Park within minutes.

At various points along the route, particularly at the Glencoe Trailhead, one can appreciate the landscape designs of renowned architect Jens Jensen (1860-1951).

14. Plaza del Lago

Those intrigued by local history will find a noteworthy piece of heritage near the water’s edge at 1515 Sheridan Road.

Constructed in 1928, Plaza del Lago is believed to be the nation’s second-oldest shopping center designed with automobiles in mind.

Designed in the fashionable Spanish Revival style, the center innovatively organizes shops, a movie theater, and apartments around a central parking area.

Notably, in their youth, movie stars Rock Hudson and Ann-Margret worked at the theater, which was demolished in the 1960s.

In addition to featuring a Starbucks and Jewel-Osco supermarket, Plaza del Lago also hosts an independent fish market and a long-established lingerie store while organizing summer events such as concerts and car shows.

15. Walker Bros. The Original Pancake House

Established in 1960, Wilmette is home to the original location of this beloved Chicagoland establishment, often lauded for offering the finest breakfast in the area.

The chain traces its origins to a franchised offshoot of The Original Pancake House in Portland, Oregon, which was established in 1953.

The Wilmette branch remains the busiest within the chain and boasts a dignified atmosphere highlighted by original decor, including stained glass.

The menu features all the breakfast essentials, as well as notable specialties that merit sampling, such as oven-baked omelettes, apple cinnamon pancakes, and French toast, accompanied by whipped butter.