Cycling, Running, and Dog Walking- Best Suburbs? (Naperville, Wheaton: apartments, rentals)

[ChacoGirl]

Hello-
I'm officially starting my housing hunt and wanted to get some feedback on which suburbs you feel offer the best cycling, running and dog walking areas? Access to parks, nice wide sidewalks...etc.

I will be renting ( around the $1200-$1400 a month range) and I'm using Oakbrook Terrace as my epicenter. I'm coming up next weekend to tour some suburbs and need some places to investigate.

Thanks in advance!!

[emmi605]

Any suburb by the prairie paths (bike-running-walking trails) would be a great fit. Near Oakbrook Terrace there are apartments or townhomes along the path in Elmhurst, Villa Park, Lombard, etc... You may want to start in those areas.

[ChacoGirl]

I appreciate it!

[irish setter girl]

I agree with the Prairie Path suggestion. The PP is a great way to run, walk a dog and while many people do cycle on it, it is more for the leisurely bike ride not "road bike cycling". DuPage county has several dog parks and several forest preserves that allow dogs. Not sure if you are a cyclist but there are two large groups out of the Wheaton/Glen Ellyn area that cycle out west through FermiLab and out to the far west burbs. If OT is your target point I'd check out Elmhurst, Lombard, Glen Ellyn Wheaton, Warrenville since they are close to Butterfield Rd/88 and have access to the PP and great parks. AMLI apartments off Butterfield in Wheaton are very nice and would have great access to what you are looking for. There is a nice forest preserve across the street with paths/trails and close to Spokes Bike shop that has an active cycling group. Good luck to you.

[NearWestSider]

The Salt Creek Trail is not as extensive as the Prairie Path, but in some ways nicer due to the fact that it is a paved trail that runs through forest preserve. It starts at Bemus Woods South and runs along Salt Creek to Brookfield Zoo.

When I lived in La Grange I ran there all the time, both with and without dog. It was very cool to see deer and racoons in the woods in the morning, and then jump on the train and be at work in the Loop.

The suburbs it passes through are Western Springs, Westchester, La Grange Park and Brookfield, and finding good rentals should not be terribly difficult in any of them. Riverside is nearby, too. All of those towns are easy to bike around, and Riverside, in particular, is pretty spectacular on two wheels.

Best of luck.

[Steve-o]

Geneva, St. Charles, Wheaton, Elburn, etc, have lots of biking trails available.

[ChacoGirl]

Thanks for all the info! I'm touring the area this weekend and actually looking at the AMLI in Wheaton!

[irish setter girl]

The Vinings on the other side of Naperville Road are nice rentals too - they may be a bit more expensive but they are nice. Welcome to the area!