Plainfield, Illinois

Will spend a few days there soon. What's to do, where to eat, etc., etc.?

In reply to chuckles:

If it were today, I'd say vote early and vote often......

Head north on 59, there is a plethora of places to eat just north of Plainfield. If you don't see anything you like, just keep heading north. I pass all that stuff going to my relatives house in Aurora.

There's apparently some mega-mall in Joliet that everyone else went to the last time I was up there for training. I went north & found food & stuff instead.

Well, you won't be driving through the Dixie Square Mall.

In reply to Karacticus:

Yep, right there by Joliet.

Yeah Louis Joliet mall is right there on Rt 30 east of I-55, there is a bunch of stuff over there too.

Watch out. Plainfield seems to attract tornadoes.

Lol yeah like 25 years ago.

Might be to cold but rt66 raceway is around the corner off of i80

And autobahn country club is between rt66 raceway and i57

If there is a suburb that is considered a "bedroom community" Plainfield would be it. Lots of folks like the gambling boats in Joliet. Home of some cornfields too.

Just look at the name: plain, field. Even the name is telling you not to expect much. It's one of those way out suburbs but still at the point of being able to still say it's a "suburb of Chicago". It's a small farming town that grew bigger just because it's close to Chicago.

In reply to jimbbski:

Sort of what I had figured. Maybe I'll just stock up on reading material. Or rent a car and tour the parts of Wisconsin where I was a farm worker a couple of summers in the 60's. Thanks to all for trying.

Like fried chicken? Head an hour west on I-80 to Rip's Tavern in Ladd, IL for the best chicken in the world. Yes, this is including everything south of the Mason-Dixon line.

There really isn't much going on around there, especially this time of year. A decent guitar shop in the area if you're into that. Might be a few concerts going on if you look around. Uh... Chicago? Jump on the Metra and its pretty accesible.

EDIT: Where in Wisconsin would you go?

In reply to mtn:

I have been thinking I should have said I realize Chicago is one of the World's great cities. I have spent a lot of fun and happy times thare. This trip is not one where I'll be getting into the big city, though. I need to check out how Columbus, Wisconsin has changed. A little northeast of Madison (itself a wonderful city.)

That's a pretty strong chicken recommendation, thanks.

Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket on an old stretch of Route 66. Willowbrook. Greasy 1940's chicken. White Fence Farm Chicken in Lemont - also old school and both are 20-30 minutes from you.

BTW Columbus hasnt changed but Enerpac had built a large HQ and factory this past year. Really impressive.

In reply to Datsun310Guy:

I'm guessing Stokely Van Camp doesn't still have a little pea-canning factory in Columbus. But that's OK. If it hasn't changed, it's still pretty. That's a very nice part of the world.

Thanks for the back-up chicken joints. Rip's is closed Mondays AND Tuesdays, which will make it tough this trip.

In '64 and 5 I drove up to Road America and was invited both times to drive the track as long as I was "careful." I bet that policy is long gone.