South East Villages - Aurora, IL Area Guide

Lisle was established in 1832 by two permanent settlers, Luther Hatch and James C. Hatch. Originally, the area was established as a farming village, but over time, the area has become a commercial, residential and research development sector.

Two museums stand in Lisle, Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum and Museum at Lisle Station Park. Residents find taxidermy animals at the museum, which has a collection of over 10,000. The museum remains open to the public and free, so residents make a habit of stopping in for fun days off.

To learn about the early settlers in Lisle, head to the Museums at Lisle Station Park. Hands-on exhibits make these museums interactive and fun for families and individuals.

Lisle has several art schools including Art Room. Lessons, birthday parties and camps take place here all year. "Eyes to the Skies," the annual hot-air balloon festival, takes place in town each year.

Heading downtown for a bite to eat may be the best bet at finding a restaurant of choice. Downtown Lisle or Naperville both have a collection of unique restaurants. For a taste of traditional Mexican food, locals head to Yerbabuena Mexican Cuisine. The menu has recipes dating back generations, such as the tortilla soup and quesadillas. Diners enjoy the authentic taste and look of this restaurant.

For a taste of German cuisine, residents head to the Bavarian Lodge. Located on Ogden Avenue, this restaurant has wines and spirits, beers, and meals such as German potato pancakes, duck wings, and pulled pork sandwiches. Residents enjoy the pub-like atmosphere of this restaurant.

In the mood for noodles? Locals enjoy a small restaurant, Fabulous Noodles Restaurant, for traditional Chinese dishes. From crab meat rangoon to barbecued pork and beef teriyaki, this restaurant serves all the typical Chinese favorites. With dine-in or carry-out menus, residents enjoy the taste and style of this restaurant.

At night, locals head to Squirrel Cage Tavern or the Bavarian Lodge for a drink. The Squirrel Cage Tavern has a classic pub feel, while the Bavarian Lodge has an upscale menu and design.

Cars remain the easiest way to travel throughout the South East Villages. The Chicago Metra commuter rail system passes through Lisle on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe line. The Chicagoland suburban bus service, PACE, services this area and has regular fares of $1.75 on the fixed routes. Children under 7 years old ride free.

In most areas, parking remains free. Local shops tend to have parking lots for patrons with free and open parking. Downtown Lisle has parking available for commuters. Lots F and V, which sit north of Burlington Avenue and west of the Village Hall, cost $3 per day between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Lot E also costs $3 per day.

Uber provides service to all of Naperville including Lisle, Aurora and other South East Villages. While some parts of the South East Villages do have biking lanes, they do not connect throughout Lisle. This means that cyclists need to keep up with traffic or stay as far to the right as possible while on the roads. Traffic can be tight, so many people opt to walk on the sidewalks provided instead.

The Morton Arboretum encompasses 1,700 acres of land including gardens, exhibits, maze gardens and other areas. This park remains the basis for the village's nickname, "The Arboretum Village." This park provides free entry. With something to do for people of all ages, residents flock to this park to enjoy a day out in the sun or to participate in events. Runners enjoy walking and running paths, while exercise equipment dots the park's facilities.

The Lisle Park District provides access to the Sea Lion Aquatic Park along with 41 other sites. In total, the 477 acres of land provide access to playground equipment, picnic areas and more. To enter Sea Lion Aquatic Park, residents pay $7 before 5 p.m. Nonresidents expect to pay $13 before 5 p.m. With pools, water slides and other fun activities, this park has something for everyone.

Pet owners may enjoy Greene Valley Preserve Dog Park in Naperville. It has dog runs and off-leash areas for the family's furry friends.

"Eyes to the Skies" takes place each year. This hot-air balloon festival welcomes thousands of visitors. Carnival rides, arts and crafts, and fireworks all make up this exciting event.

Living in Lisle has been estimated to be at least 18 percent higher than in other areas of Illinois. Renting a one-bedroom residence in this area costs approximately $918 on average. To get to the center of Napierville, a fixed route ticket on the bus system costs $1.75. An average beer costs $3 or more in Lisle. Residents experience higher-than-average gas prices in this area. A gallon costs approximately 5 percent more than the national average.

Downtown Lisle has unique shops throughout the business district. Residents also head to the Ogden Avenue Corridor for shops. The College Square Shopping Center has restaurants, convenience stores and specialty retail stores.

Housing most of the major stores, Route 53 and Maple Avenue have provided space for businesses such as Malloy's Fine Wines, Walgreens and Jersey Mike's. No major luxury stores exist in this area. For those, residents head to Naperville.

Crème de la Crème, a women's clothing and jewelry boutique, has a range of items from costume jewelry to high-end clothing. Residents enjoy this store for its friendly customer service and range of prices on household goods, clothing, accessories and more.

For knitting materials, a coffee and tea break, or ice cream, The Nook fits the bill. This boutique has yarn for crafty residents, treats for those with a sweet tooth and coffee for a well-deserved break.

Aldi and Jewel-Osco provide access to groceries in the area. For a farmers' market, most residents head to Naperville, where the Naperville Farmers' Market runs from the first Saturday in June through the last Saturday in October.