When travelling to Illinois, most people wouldn’t even consider Lisle as a possible destination. Dwarfed by cities like Aurora, Naperville, and Chicago, why would anyone choose to visit the small town?
It is precisely for that reason that it should be considered. Lacking much of the hustle and bustle of the larger cities, Lisle maintains an air of calm throughout its quiet subdivisions, forest preserves, and even down town. Down town Lisle is relatively small. It has a few shops, mostly local small businesses. John Doe Bakery and Traviata are destinations for sweet treats. Flowers of Lisle and P. Martin Jewelers will help any man impress his love. Other stores include a Verizon store and The Nook, a small book store. Recently renovated, down town Lisle now fits its title as the Arboretum Village that much more.
Of course, the name wasn’t given just for a few trees. Lisle is home to the famous Morton Arboretum. Established by Morton Salt founder Joy Morton in 1922, The Arboretum covers around 1,700 acres and is home to around 4,100 different species of plants. In addition to recreation areas featuring exhibits on plant and animal life, there are 16 miles of hiking trails and 9 miles of driving and biking paths open to the public.
In addition to the Arboretum, Lisle has an extensive series of parks and forest preserves. Community Park, located in the heart of the town, includes trails, baseball fields, and even an open stage set slightly into a pond. This stage is a key part of one of the biggest festivals around: Eyes to the Skies.
Every year for four days around July 4th, Lisle plays host to hundreds of food vendors, carnival booths, and bands. Most important to Eyes to the Skies are the hundreds of hot air balloons that take off from the field. This festival is a major attraction each and very year, bringing in thousands for the sights of fireworks, sounds of music, and tastes of everything from ribs to funnel cakes. Lisle may be small, but it’s worth keeping on the radar.
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