Welcome to Naperville, IL! We are so appreciative of everyone who is able to make their way to the Midwest to celebrate the marriage of Sarah and Greg. Beyond grateful to be surrounded by the love of such wonderful family and friends both near and far.

Naperville is a special place, not just for Sarah, but now Greg and Lauren too! We are excited for you to explore all it has to offer. Here are some of our favorite things to do… and most importantly, eat and drink as well!

Water Street (also where Hotel Indigo is located) has a number of new, top-rate restaurants. Reservations recommended. There are great bars at all of them too if you’re just looking for a drink and a quick bite! Be sure to check out some of our favorites…

Vasili’s: Excellent Mediterranean food and cocktails, this is where we took Greg’s mom when she first came to Naperville to visit

Santo Cielo: Beautiful outdoor terrace on the second floor of Hotel Indigo, this restaurant overlooks downtown and the Riverwalk

Sixty-Four Wine Bar: Enjoy sampling wines indoors or grab a seat on the outdoor patio

Blue Sushi Sake Grill: We know you’re thinking “but the Midwest is landlocked,” rest assured this is an excellent sushi spot

Quiubo: Great Mexican!

For a more chill vibe, pop into one of these favorites for a bite and beer:

Empire Burgers + Brew: Fun, lively rooftop bar

The Lantern: One of the oldest bars in Naperville, don’t miss the free popcorn

Quigley’s: Classic Irish pub with a cute outdoor patio, great sandwiches (and fish & chips)

Lou Malnati’s: Chicago’s best pizza :)

Hugo’s Frog Bar & Fish House: You can make a reservation here, or just pop in and grab a bite in their bar area (sliders are not to be missed!)

For breakfast, Egg Harbor is as classic as they come. They don’t take reservations but they do have a waitlist you can join online

Riverwalk: A beautiful stroll along the DuPage River, we recommend grabbing a cup of coffee in the morning (Sparrow is our favorite) and winding through the streets of downtown Naperville (more info here)

Centennial Beach: Perhaps Sarah’s love for the beach started here, Centennial “Beach” is a man-made stone quarry that was turned into a watering hole in 1932 at the recommendation of her Great Grandfather Judge Win Knoch to provide a swimming facility for the community. We loved coming here as kids so if you’re looking to cool off, dive right in! (more info here)

Paddleboat Quarry: Paddleboats, paddleboards, and kayaks are available for rental at the Paddleboat Quarry right along the Riverwalk (more info here)

Millennium Carillon: Right across from the Paddleboat Quarry, you’ll see the Millennium Carillon but chances are you’ll hear the 72 bells before you see them! If you’re up for a 253 stair climb to explore the inside, this is the place (more info here)

Naper Settlement: This 13-acre outdoor museum tells the history of Naperville dating back to its early farming days in 1831 and worth a visit if history (or churning butter) is your thing. Don’t miss the Pre-Emption House where Sarah’s Grandpa was raised with his 12 brothers and sisters (more info here)

Shop! There are no shortage of stores from Naper Nuts & Sweets (if you’re a caramel corn, or old fashioned candy lover, don’t miss it!) to Anderson’s Bookshop, Apple and a number of unique boutiques – we hope you find something you love to take home! (link to all the shops here)

Knoch Knolls: One of our favorite things to do is go on a hike at Knoch Knolls. It’s just a 7-minute drive from downtown Naperville and you’ll love meandering through the woods and along the DuPage River. You could hike for 45 mins – 1 hour or spend an afternoon there and bring a picnic lunch (more info here)

Located just outside the heart of downtown Naperville (car/short Uber ride required), you won’t regret making a stop at:

Kreger’s – only open Friday and Saturday 10-3pm, this 4th generation old grocery store turned home of the world’s best bratwurst will have you coming back to IL just for the brats (Greg is known to fly home with frozen brats in his carry on)

Portillo’s – if you’re looking to sample the “best of” Chicago eats, stop here for a Chicago dog and Italian Beef sandwich (the burgers and chopped salad are also delicious). For 20 years, this has also been a “first stop” on the way from the airport to Sarah’s house every time she comes in, and proud to say both Greg and Lauren very, very quickly embraced this Chicago favorite

Depending on how much time you have, nothing is better than Chicago in the summer! The Metra commuter train runs regularly between Naperville and Union Station (link to check times here) or of course you can drive too. If you haven’t been to Chicago, or it’s been awhile, here are just a few of our favorite stops. Happy to chat through a variety of options and help plan your trip to Chicago!

Wrigley Field: If you can’t make the game on Friday or Sunday of our wedding weekend, Wrigley does offer tours on non-gamedays (info here). Be sure and stop at Murphy's for an Old Style beer

Architectural Boat Cruise: A Chicago highlight whether it’s your first time in the city, or have lived in the Second City for 30+ years. There are lots of options, and you can’t go wrong, but Wendella is our go-to (link here)

Cloud Gate (or “The Bean”): Take a pic and then head to Cindy’s Rooftop for a drink and catch beautiful views of Lake Michigan

West Loop Restaurants: Chicago is home some amazing restaurants and the West Loop will not disappoint with a range of options (link to Chicago Eater article here)

Museums: The Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, Museum of Science & Industry, Art Institute… the list goes on!

Second City: If you have a free night, grab some tickets to improv at Second City (link here)

Chicago White Sox vs. Yankees: Wednesday, August 14th 7:00PM game

Chicago Cubs vs. Toronto Blue Jays: Friday, August 16th 1:20PM game, Sunday, August 18th 1:20PM game

Naper Nights at Naper Settlement: Friday, August 16th 5-10pm

If you’re looking for something to do before the Welcome Nightcap downtown Naperville, on select Fridays in the summer, Naper Settlement hosts various tribute bands for an outdoor concert. It’s a really fun night and we recommend getting the $20 tickets in advance. Naper Settlement is an easy walk from downtown. Beer available for purchase (more info here)