Naperville Travel and Things to Do Guide

A vibrant city bursting with old-fashioned charm, Naperville is only 28 miles from Chicago but seemingly worlds away from the city's hustle and bustle. You'll find the best of both worlds in this fast-growing northern Illinois suburb, thanks to Naperville's easy proximity to major interstates and its high-tech corporate corridor. Its thriving walkable historic downtown boasts impressive public art, plenty of green space, and family-owned shops and eateries. When it comes to meetings in Naperville, there are plenty of unique venues and group-friendly adventures perfect for get-down-to-business boardroom assemblies and fun open-air gatherings.
It's remarkably easy to get to Naperville, thanks its proximity to both Chicago O'Hare International Airport (one of the busiest airports in the country) and Chicago Midway International Airport (the state's second busiest airport and one with plenty of low-fare carrier options). Both airports offer direct access to Pace, a suburban bus system that serves the entire Chicago area and operates 25 commuter and neighborhood routes with service to Naperville. Chicago O'Hare International Airport also offers direct service to Metra, the northeast Illinois commuter rail system that stops at Naperville via the BNSF Railway line, which runs daily between Aurora and Chicago's Union Station (and connects to more than a dozen Pace bus routes). The Naperville Metra station also serves as the city's Amtrak station and one of its Greyhound bus stops, with the station situated a pleasant six-block walk from downtown Naperville.

Conveniently located 10 minutes from downtown Naperville and less than 30 minutes from both Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Chicago Midway International Airport, the 168-room Embassy Suites by Hilton Chicago Naperville features more than 13,000 square feet of event space for up to 1,000 people (making it the spot with the most meeting space in Naperville). This contemporary, all-suite hotel off I-88 features the 13,098-square-foot Naper Ballroom (divisible into six sections), as well as the 329-square-foot Executive Ballroom and 403-square-foot DuPage Room. Other meeting hotel options in Naperville include the 424-room Chicago Marriott Naperville with 25,000 square feet of event space and 21 event rooms. The business-oriented Hotel Arista, a locally owned boutique hotel features 10,000 square feet of flexible meeting space ranging from its 6,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom to 60-person Executive Corridor and 75-person Cyprus Room with private terrace.

Aside from Naperville's meeting hotels, you'll find plenty of unique meeting and event venues throughout Naperville – two of which at the "Crown Jewel of Naperville," the Naperville Riverwalk. Beloved by Naperville residents and visitors, this linear park boasts 1.75 miles of walkway along the DuPage River accented with covered bridges, fountains, lush landscaping, public art, and such landmarks as the covered Grand Pavilion and Riverwalk Amphitheater, both available for private rentals.

Private events can also be held at the beautiful Millennium Carillon in Moser Tower, found near Naperville Riverwalk's Rotary Hill. The 16-story tower features incredible views and soothing sounds (thanks to its six-octave carillon), as well as private event space at the base of the tower and visitor center. Right next to the Naperville Riverwalk is Centennial Beach, a quarry-turned-community pool with a beach feel and swimming depths up to 15 feet. A perfect spot for catered corporate outings, Centennial Beach features a diving complex, picnic areas, shade trees, a sand beach, water play features, and much more.


A short walk from the Naperville Riverwalk is the Naper Settlement Museum, a 12-acre outdoor historic museum with 30 restored or reconstructed buildings from Naperville's first 100 years – many of which are available for private events, including the 1841 Meeting House and the 1834 Pre-Emption House, the first hotel and tavern built west of Chicago. Large-scale meetings and gatherings can be had at North Central College's 605-seat Wentz Concert Hall, which is known for its superb acoustics and intimate feel. The DuPage Children's Museum, located within a short walk of the Naperville Metra station, also features full-facility rentals for groups of up to 1,000 people. For active group outings and team-building sessions, groups head to Topgolf Naperville, a sleek, fun facility with more than 100 bays. Topgolf offers a full menu service as groups swing a club and try to hit microchipped balls into dartboard-like targets (no prior golf experience required!), as well as a variety of private event spaces. An indoor skydiving facility, iFLY Chicago-Naperville simulates true freefall conditions in a vertical wind tunnel and specializes in custom group events. Sky High Sports Trampoline Park welcomes private court rentals and full facility rentals, while the walking Naperville Ghost Tour welcomes groups to learn about spooky Naperville tales. Groups can be transported to the Mayan jungle, a Chinese palace, and more in the brilliantly themed auditoriums at the beautiful Hollywood Palms Cinema, a dine-in theater spanning seven auditoriums, a private screening room, three-story glass conservatory, a two-story waterfall, and private auditorium rentals.