Something to love about each Chicago Southland community

Alsip – Shopping from hundreds of vendors at the huge Swap-O-Rama Flea Market that takes place on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays

Beecher – Enjoying fine dining at a former stagecoach stop that dates back to 1863, The Princess Cafe

Blue Island – Taking in a show at the historic Lyric Theatre, which originally opened in 1903

Bridgeview – Seeing a Chicago Red Stars professional women’s soccer club match at SeatGeek Stadium

Burnham – Playing a round at Burnham Woods Golf Course, named for architect Daniel Burnham, who is credited with developing much of the city of Chicago

Burbank – Zipping around in some go-karts at the Haunted Trails Family Entertainment Center

Calumet City – Wilder Fields, which transformed a vacant Target store into a thriving vertical farm producing kale, arugula, romaine and more

Calumet Park – Shooting some hoops at the Calumet Park Recreation Center

Chicago Heights – Seeing a group of talented local actors in a production by The Drama Group

Chicago Ridge – Enjoying a round of mini golf at Ball Fore Mini Golf & Batting Cages

Country Club Hills – Listening to music from national, big name acts at the Country Club Hills Amphitheater

Crestwood – Taking in a professional baseball game of the Windy City ThunderBolts at Ozinga Field

Crete – Watching a hand-blown glass demonstration at Lotton Art Glass Gallery & Studios

Dixmoor – Shopping for high-quality meats and more at Dixmoor Meat Market

Dolton – Noshing on classic thin crust pizza from popular longtime Chicagoland pizzeria Italian Fiesta Pizzeria

East Hazel Crest – Progress on the Wind Creek Chicago Southland, a 70,000-square-foot casino slated to open in 2024

Evergreen Park – Playing at the 18-hole, highly ranked 50 Acre Park disc golf course

Flossmoor – Exploring the award-winning Flossmoor Sculpture Gardens, which was the first of its kind in the Chicago area

Ford Heights – The Ford Motor Company Chicago Heights Stamping Plant, which stamps metal sheet products for automobile production

Forest View – Visiting the Chicago Portage National Historic Site

Frankfort – Shopping at the annual Frankfort Fall Fest, a huge nationally recognized arts and crafts fair

Glenwood – Playing a round at the Glenwoodie Golf Club

Hazel Crest – Researching for family trees at the South Suburban Genealogical & Historical Society & Library

Hickory Hills – Picnicking at Kasey Meadow Park, which also has splash pads, skate park, tennis courts, outdoor fitness equipment and more

Homer Glen – It was the fourth International Dark Sky in the world and first municipality in the state of Illinois to earn this distinction

Hometown – Visiting Patterson Park, which has two playgrounds, baseball diamonds, a walking track, covered pavilion and veteran’s memorial with cannon and an eternal flame

Homewood – Perusing the largest collection of Richard Haas murals in the world

Justice – Enjoying authentic Polish food at Szarotka Restaurant, Bar and Banquets

Lansing – Listening to free live music on Wednesdays and attending the Lansing Autumn Fest at Fox Pointe

Lynwood – Skating in old school fashion at the Lynwood Sport Center

Markham – Walking through Indian Boundary Prairies, which has over 200 acres of pristine Illinois native prairie full of wildflowers, butterflies and birds

Matteson – Riding the Old Plank Road Trail that winds for 20+ miles through Matteson and surrounding communities

Merrionette Park – Dining at 115 Bourbon Street, a New Orleans-themed complex with beer garden, Cajun eatery and live music that is also the Chicago Southland’s largest entertainment complex

Midlothian – Noshing on the famous pork chops at The Original Hog Wild, which has been featured on several local television shows and voted Best Pork Chops in Chicago and #1 Barbecue Sauce in Illinois

Monee – Spending time at the Monee Reservoir, which features a 46-acre fishing lake and boat rental

New Lenox – Tasting a variety of craft beers at Arrowhead Ales Brewing Company

Oak Forest – Getting your Irish on during the St. Patrick’s Day festivities and the summer Irish Festival

Olympia Fields – Playing disc golf at the 20-acre Sergeant Means Park, which includes a 20-hole disc golf course

Orland Hills – Doing some fishing at Lake Ashbourne, where the annual fishing derby has been held for more than 40 years

Orland Park – Antique and boutique shopping in the charming Old Orland Historic District

Palos Heights – Walking through the sculpture collection in Palos Heights, full of eco-friendly gardens and outdoor sculptures

Palos Hills – Taking in a concert, musical or comedy show at the Dorothy Menker Theater at the Fine & Performing Arts Center at Moraine Valley Community College

Palos Park – Mingling with farm animals at The Center

Park Forest – Stepping back in time at the 1950s Park Forest House Museum

Peotone – Having good old summer fun at the Will County Fair

Phoenix – Sitting back and sipping a drink at Smitty’s Lounge

Posen – Savoring a hearty breakfast at the Silver Flash Restaurant

Richton Park – Walking on one of the many paths in the village’s parks, including Greenfield Park, Covington Park, Pierce Park and Glaeser Park

Riverdale – Launching your canoe out onto the Little Calumet River

Robbins – Learning about the history of the first airport built, owned and operated by African Americans in the United States and other contributions of local African Americans through the Robbins Historical Society & Museum

Sauk Village – Getting a taste of tandoori, tikka or other Indian cuisine at Black Salt Indian Bar & Restaurant

South Chicago Heights – Learning about the area’s local history at the Brown’s Corner marker at Sauk Trail and Vincennes Road

South Holland – Enjoying the annual Heritage Fest at Paarlberg Farm, where you can tour the home of one of the region’s first settlers and see woodworking, quilting and dancing demonstrations

Steger – Eating a traditional Italian meal of pastas, seafood, steak or house specialties at Scrementi’s

Summit – Spending an old-school day of roller skating at Fleetwood Roller Rink, which has been around for over 65 years

Thornton – Taking a tour of the Thornton Quarry, one of the largest aggregate quarries in the world, with the Thornton Historical Society

University Park – Taking in large-scale artwork at the Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park

Worth – Watching the waterfalls at the Sidestream Elevated Pool Aeration (SEPA) station