Essential guide to group fun in the Chicagoland area
The Chicagoland area has an overwhelming amount of hang-out or date destinations, but for Elmhurst University students new to the area, figuring out where to make memories can require proper guidance. Here are a few options for memory making destinations.
Chicago Wolves game
Making the 20 minute drive north on I-294 from EU to the Allstate Arena can be an easy way to impress that first date or friend group without making your bank account sweat. The Chicago Wolves play professional level hockey with tickets as cheap as $17 per ticket. The trick, though, is to buy tickets at the box office before the game on the north side of the arena. Buying tickets here, as opposed to online where you will be hit with convenience fees, is going to save you some cash. Also, the games typically do not sell out, so there will be plenty of legroom with a perfect view of all the action.
Top Golf
A hoppin’ group or date destination is just 23 minutes northwest on I-294 in Schaumburg: Top Golf. Top Golf is a driving range where you can put iron to the ball and try to show-off your golfing skills to that first date or your new band of freshman buddies. The cost for a group of six or less is $50 on Friday nights, which if you get a whole group of six, adds up to roughly eight dollars per-person. Top Golf also has your typical grill food, as well as appetizers to share with your group or date.
Elmhurst Art Museum
Looking for a relaxed and unique first date spot? The Elmhurst Art Museum, which is a short five minute walk east of campus, is the perfect spot. The museum holds one of a kind art — perfect for those who enjoy seeing new brush strokes on canvas. This museum is certainly not just its artwork; it is also currently a nine hole mini-golf course, where each hole has been created by artists. The set-up is unlike most mini-golf courses, with one hole being a quick straight line through a narrow hall, while another requires players to use their putter like a pool cue. A unique experience that is right in Elmhurst.
Woodfield Mall
Last, but certainly not the least, is Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg — a quick 18 minute drive north on I-290. Woodfield Mall is an ideal location for university students, especially since there is no cover charge to get in. The mall is home to sentimental favorites such as Legoland, as well as ample places to dine, like the Cheesecake Factory, and an ice cream shop that serves ice cream between two warm cookies.
While the Chicagoland area has plenty of hang-out spots for EU students, these four options can become memory-makers for students hoping to make their time at EU special.