Top 15 Must-See Attractions in Libertyville, IL

In 1895, the core of Libertyville suffered significant damage from a fire, which led to a rapid reconstruction effort. A beneficial outcome of this incident is the architectural cohesion evident in the preserved downtown area today.

The downtown of Libertyville is not only visually appealing but also vibrant with a variety of retail outlets and dining options, complemented by an active events schedule, particularly flourishing during the summer months.

Numerous events are hosted at the charming Cook Park, situated at the base of a distinguished residence once owned by a notable 19th-century contractor and politician.

The Des Plaines River flows along the eastern boundary of Libertyville, offering a multi-use path that connects various Lake County Forest Preserves and local parks.

1. Downtown Libertyville

Rich with unique independent shops and restaurants, Libertyville features a downtown area that many towns would aspire to possess.

This vibrant area is actively supported by a nationally recognized non-profit program known as MainStreet Libertyville, which has been instrumental since 1989 in enhancing Libertyville as a prime destination for visitors and diners alike.

A notable highlight of this area is Cook Park, a beloved green space in downtown that hosts numerous events during the summer, including a local farmers’ market.

Along Milwaukee Avenue, one can discover distinctive stores offering designer homewares, jewelry, athletic gear, pet supplies, artisanal chocolates, fashion, and oriental rugs.

Scattered throughout are restaurants, cafes, and bars serving diverse cuisines, whether it be pizza, sandwiches, tacos, gourmet coffee, craft beer, or various international dishes like Pan-Asian, Greek, or Italian.

2. Des Plaines River Trail

Extending south for 133 miles from southern Wisconsin to the Illinois River, the Des Plaines River delineates Libertyville’s eastern boundary, traversing through parks and the Independence Grove Forest Preserve.

Throughout much of its journey through Lake County, the river is accompanied by a multi-use trail suitable for hiking, cycling, horseback riding, and in winter, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.

In Libertyville, the Des Plaines River Trail serves as an excellent means to reach local attractions, including two Lake County Forest Preserves and the picturesque Adler Memorial Park.

Positioned not far east of downtown Libertyville, this trail connects with the North Shore Bike Trail, significantly broadening the range of destinations accessible to cyclists, including Marytown, Lambs Farm, and even sections of the Lake Michigan waterfront.

3. Independence Grove Forest Preserve

A recreational haven for the local populace, Independence Grove Forest Preserve, located on the western edge of Libertyville, features a 115-acre lake that was historically a gravel quarry.

Encircling the lake are more than 1,000 acres of rolling woodlands and prairies, interwoven with 7.5 miles of walking trails and 6.4 miles of biking paths.

A marina exists on the lake, where visitors can rent fishing boats, canoes, kayaks, pedal boats, and stand-up paddleboards from spring through early autumn.

Adjacent to the lake is the Millennia Plaza, an amphitheater that hosts summer concerts and festivals. Nearby stands the award-winning Visitor Center, established in 2001, featuring rotating natural history exhibits and a café.

4. Lambs Farm

Located less than ten minutes east of downtown Libertyville, Lambs Farm is a remarkable family-oriented destination featuring a petting farm, mini golf course, pony rides, and a miniature train.

Operated by a non-profit organization, Lambs Farm provides employment opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities.

The organization originated with a pet store established in 1961 near Chicago’s Gold Coast by Corrine Owen and Robert Terese, who had prior experience teaching at a school for adults with developmental disabilities and employed twelve individuals at the store.

In the mid-1960s, the pair acquired the 72-acre property just east of Libertyville and began developing it into the facility seen today. In addition to family-friendly attractions, Lambs Farm includes a garden and pet center, thrift shop, country store, and a café and bakery.

5. Bess Bower Dunn Museum of Lake County

Operated by Lake County Forest Preserves, this museum in Libertyville focuses on the historical narrative of the county, encompassing natural history, culture, and art.

Featuring a collection of over 20,000 artifacts, the main permanent exhibit provides an engaging, interactive account of the region’s history, from prehistory to current times.

This exhibit includes captivating fossil specimens, the legacy of Indigenous peoples who resided in the region for 12,000 years, early 19th-century Lake County, and significant industrial advancements in the area during the early 20th century.

Founded in 1976, the museum honors the county’s first official historian, Bess Bower Dunn (1877-1959). The museum also hosts various temporary exhibitions, which in recent years have featured work by Ansel Adams and explorations of blues music history.

6. Adler Arts Center

David Adler (1882-1949), an architect known primarily in the Chicago area, specialized in designing homes for affluent clients.

His designs were influenced by traditional European architectural styles, and several of his creations are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Adler’s personal residence in Libertyville was a farmhouse from the 1860s that he acquired in 1918 and extensively remodeled, predominantly in the Colonial Revival style, with Neoclassical elements.

This structure now houses the Adler Arts Center, which offers year-round programs designed to foster “critical thinking and interpretation, participation, entertainment, and achievement in music and the arts for the residents of Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin.”

The center features private music lessons, art classes, exhibitions, a creative summer camp for children, and an annual arts festival held at Cook Park in August.

7. Adler Memorial Park

Adjacent to the Arts Center, the former riverside grounds have transformed into an elegant public park along the Des Plaines River Trail.

Spanning over 100 acres and gently sloping towards the river, Adler Memorial Park offers a variety of amenities for both passive and active recreation. A popular feature is the well-maintained nine-hole disc golf course, complete with maps for each hole.

This park also encompasses Libertyville’s principal outdoor public pool, a major draw during the summer, providing areas for both lap swimming and leisure activities.

Additionally, Adler Memorial Park includes a baseball/softball diamond, playground, volleyball court, and ample picnic facilities. In winter, families come for cross-country skiing, ice skating, and a well-known local sledding hill.

8. Cook Park

As the most central green space in Libertyville, the delightful Cook Park serves as the venue for various community events, particularly during the summer months.

This site also reflects the village’s early history dating back to the 1830s and was the location of a one-room log cabin constructed by the Vardin family in that era. Cook Park is an ideal location for relaxation and picnicking in the summer.

Throughout the summer season, the Village Band, comprised of local volunteers, provides free concerts on Thursday evenings in the rose garden.

Cook Park also hosts the Libertyville Farmers’ Market, as well as “Lunch in the Park” events (held Fridays from late June to early August), featuring a range of local food vendors and live entertainment.

9. Libertyville Farmers’ Market

Every Thursday morning from June through October, the Libertyville Farmers’ Market has been a staple of summer life for over forty years.

The market continues to expand its vendor list annually, offering an ideal opportunity to support local businesses.

Additionally, it features a short supply chain, ensuring food provenance and the opportunity to interact with growers, makers, and farmers.

Beyond seasonal fruits and vegetables, visitors can find flowers, cheeses, garlic, homemade dips and spreads, confections, baked goods, honey, nuts, and pet treats, among many others. Freshly prepared food options, including hot dogs, empanadas, crepes, pizzas, and sandwiches, are always available.

10. National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe at Marytown

Situated approximately one to two miles west of downtown Libertyville is Marytown, a serene lakeside campus that serves as the home of the Conventual Franciscan friars community.

This site was designated in the year 2000 by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops as the location for the National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe, a martyr during the Holocaust.

Maximilian Kolbe (1894-1941) was a significant Conventual Franciscan Friar and theologian, who was sent to Auschwitz in 1941.

Following an escape, the deputy camp commander selected ten men to be starved as a punishment.

One of the chosen individuals, Franciszek Gajowniczek, lamented for his family, prompting Kolbe to volunteer to replace him. Gajowniczek lived until the age of 93, passing away in 1995.

Spanning 15 tranquil acres, the National Shrine features relics of Saint Maximilian, multiple outdoor shrines, and a Holocaust exhibit along with a gift shop and bookstore.

11. Ansel B. Cook House

Ansel Brainerd Cook (1823-1898), a prominent figure in late 19th-century Libertyville, was a contractor and member of the Illinois State Legislature.

He was responsible for installing Chicago’s flagstone sidewalks in the 1860s and 1870s, contributing to the city’s extensive reconstruction after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

In 1878, Cook commissioned a Victorian house to be built on the very site of Libertyville’s first log cabin, which had stood there some 40 years earlier.

He donated this property to the village to serve as its library, which underwent an elegant Colonial Revival portico addition in 1921. This library was ultimately replaced in the 1960s by the modern facility located directly behind.

The Cook House is currently the headquarters for the Libertyville-Mundelein Historical Society, showcasing a Victorian interior that has been restored with period-appropriate fixtures and furnishings.

12. Heinz Orchard

Heinz Orchard has been a beloved destination for apple picking for nearly 70 years. This small, family-owned orchard welcomes visitors for U-Pick sessions beginning around mid-September and lasting until mid-October.

Among the varieties cultivated here are McIntosh, Jonathan, Empire, and Red Delicious.

The apple crop fluctuates yearly, and operating hours may vary; however, all information is regularly updated on the farm’s Facebook page. Each season, Heinz Orchard often offers raw honey harvested from its own hives, available in 1-pound jars.

13. Old School Forest Preserve

Named after the now-defunct Bradley School, which once occupied the southeast side of the land, Old School Forest Preserve in Mettawa is notably renowned for its winter sledding hill.

This feature is prominently visible from I-94, which runs along the east side and separates the preserve from Lambs Farm.

The preserve encompasses nearly 550 acres of small prairie patches and expansive woodlands dotted with mature oaks. Walking through the woods allows visitors to experience what Lake County was like during the first settlements by European Americans in the 1820s and 1830s.

August is an excellent time to visit, as prairie wildflowers such as purple milkweed and golden alexanders are in full bloom.

14. Adlai E. Stevenson Historic Home

Located southeast of Libertyville, visitors have the opportunity to explore the home of Adlai Stevenson II (1900-1965), who served as Governor of Illinois from 1949 to 1953 and as Ambassador to the United Nations under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson.

An influential political figure of his time, Stevenson was also the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate in 1952 and 1956, while his tenure as UN Ambassador coincided with the Cuban Missile Crisis.

The Stevenson Estate, constructed in 1938, is now managed by the Lake County Forest Preserve District. The main structure showcases elements of the then-innovative International style, characterized by its cube-like shape and absence of decorative elements.

Information boards about Stevenson and his estate can be found throughout the property, and visitors may also join regular guided tours provided by the forest preserve district for deeper insights.

15. Pine Meadow Golf Club

Situated five minutes from downtown Libertyville, Pine Meadow Golf Club is a highly regarded public golf course that opened in the mid-1980s.

This golf club is especially noted for its exceptional practice facilities, recognized as among the finest in northern Illinois, featuring two tiers alongside a state-of-the-art fitting center.

The practice area includes two putting greens, a chipping green, and 30 grass tee stations down below, while the upper level offers another 30 grass tee stations, 30 mat stations, a practice chipping green, and a greenside bunker.

As for the course design, it is relatively straightforward, accompanied by fairways flanked by blue spruce trees, with several lakes creating risk-reward situations across five holes, including the substantial Lake Schroeder.