About the River Forest, Illinois Area
River Forest lies just west of Oak Park, is only 15 minutes from the heart of downtown Chicago and Lake Michigan, and is conveniently located between O’Hare International and Midway Airports. Transportation for its residents is also made easy thanks to 2 "el" train stops nearby, a metro stop, a bus system, and the 290 expressway.
River Forest, aptly named for the quaint Des Plaines River and Thatcher Woods which run along the village’s west border, invites both residents and visitors alike to roam its surroundings. Each block is open and wide, canopied by mature, leafy trees which provide a feast for the eyes in autumn. Stately, craftsman, grand homes, many designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, sit on spacious lots. Residents in River Forest love their gardening; it is difficult to pass a terrace, patio, or lawn not bursting with a multitude of colors.
A roam through River Forest is incomplete without a ramble through the woods and along the river. It was the village’s location next to "a beautiful woodland skirting the shores of the river of the plains" that encouraged George Bickerdike and Mark Noble to build a sawmill in 1828 that provided the lumber for the first homes and businesses of River Forest. The woods are enchanting in every season, and for some residents, are actually their front or backyards! Perfect for picnicking, playing family games, and skipping rocks in summer, and ideal for observing deer in the winter, Thatcher Woods and its river are quite possibly the best kept secrets in the near-west suburbs. Located in the Woods along one of the trails, Trailside Museum houses and rehabilitates local wildlife and is a special treat for children.
If you do spend a day Thatcher Woods, make sure to relax at a local café afterwards for hot chocolate or tea next to a fireplace in River Forest’s thriving business district. Specialty stores, restaurants, and cafes provide River Forest residents with all the convenience and comfort a town can offer, as well as places for the community to gather for food and conversation. Residents also have a chance to gather at any of the 7 historic churches, the many wonderful public parks, or the River Forest Community Center. The Park District of River Forest offers activities for all ages.
Within River Forest, there are impressive educational opportunities for children and adults. River Forest Public Schools, (District 90), rank nationally and in the top 10 in Illinois almost every year for their test scores. The elementary schools offer superior programming and academic instruction. River Forest students attend the nationally ranked Oak Park and River Forest High School with Oak Park students. Parents also have the choice to send their daughters to the prestigious Trinity College Preparatory School in River Forest, or their children to Fenwick High School in Oak Park. Dominican and Concordia Universities are also in town, providing the residents here with opportunities to attend symphonies, seminars, workshops, and continuing education.
Whether you choose to live in River Forest for the natural beauty, the gorgeous homes, or the top-rated schools, you will undoubtedly find River Forest to be your end-of-the-rainbow home. Request my Free Chicago, River Forest and Oak Park Relocation Package. It's packed full of useful and important information about the Chicago, River Forest and Oak Park, Illinois area. Don't move here without it!
