Located some 55km (35 miles) southwest of Chicago is this little village in the Will County of Illinois. Owing to its quaint suburban vibe, New Lenox makes for a great weekend getaway spot for many Chicago-dwellers. Take a couple of days off from the hustle and bustle of your everyday life and spend your time unwinding at New Lenox. Since the population is also limited, the village is all things peaceful and quiet. While you may be there for unplugging, a bit of fun wouldn’t hurt either, right? Combine the best of indoor laziness and light outdoor fun by following this list of things to do in New Lenox, Illinois.
1. Catch the latest movie at AMC New Lenox 14
It’s never a bad time to catch a movie and that too while you’re on vacation. Zero down on your preferred movie and head to the AMC New Lenox 14 for a totally chill time. The theatres are clean and seating is comfortable. While there’s mostly regular seating, you can even go in for the recliner seats that are available for select shows. Shell out a few bucks and get yourself one of their yummy snacks from the concessions bar and immerse yourself in a totally satisfying movie-watching experience.
AMC New Lenox 14
Address: 1320 W Maple St, New Lenox, IL 60451
2. Splash your way around the Hibernia Park
Today is the day!!! Starting TODAY June 4 we will have regular hours for our splash pad. (weather permitting of course)...
Posted by Hibernia Park, Lake & Splash-Pad on Saturday, 4 June 2016
Cast aside the weariness of the routine at the Hibernia Park. A lake and splash-pad facility in New Lenox, it makes for a fantastic place for kids to jump and swim around in the water. Not fond of the water? There’s also a sand volleyball court and a playground where you can let them tire themselves. You can also rent yourself a boat and go around boating in the lake. While the opening time of the park stays the same and entry is free, the boating and splash-pad timings vary and are paid so remember to check those before heading. Feeling peckish? Grab a small snack or a beverage from the concessions stand.
Hibernia Park
Address: 1664 Eagle Circle New Lenox, Illinois
Website: Hibernia Park
Opening hours: 11am - 6pm (daily)
3. Enjoy a refreshing swim session at the Lincoln-Way Central Aquatic Center
You can also make your way to the Lincoln-Way Central Aquatic Center and use their indoor swimming pool facilities. It is located in the campus of the Lincoln-Way Central High School but is opened for the public in the evenings. The timings keep changing so remember to check their website for updates before heading. Assisted swimming lessons are also provided for kids. Here’s something your little ones can learn while on vacation!
Lincoln-Way Central Aquatic Center
Address: 1801 E Lincoln Hwy, New Lenox, IL 60451
Website: Lincoln-Way Central Aquatic Center
4. Do some thrift shopping at Grayt Finds Boutique
Posted by Grayt Finds on Friday, 3 May 2019
Shopping enthusiasts, head to the Grayt Finds Boutique and pick some wonderful home decor items. Accessories, artisanal products, upcycled furniture, you’ll find it all here. Everything sold here is tasteful in its design and cute in its overall feel. You can pick up some stuff as souvenirs as well. They keep hosting sales regularly so you might get lucky.
Grayt Finds Boutique
Address: 354 W Maple St #A, New Lenox, IL 60451
Website: Grayt Finds Boutique
Opening hours: Wed - Thur, Sat: 9:30am - 3:30pm; Fri: 9:30am - 4:30pm; Sun: 9:30am - 1:30pm (closed on Mon & Tue)
5. Have a picnic with family at the New Lenox Community Park District
Nothing screams chilled out more than a picnic. New Lenox Community Park District is one such awesome place to have a picnic. Bask in the glory of the southern suburban sun, luxuriating in the well-tended gardens of this public park. There are also several recreational activities for you or your little ones to engage in and make full use of. The authorities also keep hosting events every now and then so have a look at their website and you can plan your outing accordingly.
New Lenox Community Park District
Address: 701 W Haven Ave, New Lenox, IL 60451
Website: New Lenox Community Park District
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9am - 5pm (closed on Sat & Sun)
6. Let yourself loose at Raffy's Candy Store
A trip to Raffy’s Candy Store in New Lenox is a must. Not just candies, there’s scrumptious frozen yoghurts, ice creams, and candied popcorns that you can try, too. Of course, it’s a super hit with the kids, but adults also love it equally. The place has a huge selection of flavours and candies for you to choose from and also some gaming booths you can have a whale of a time playing.
Raffy's Candy Store
Address: 2571 E Lincoln Hwy #1, New Lenox, IL 60451
Website: Raffy’s Candy Store
Opening hours: Mon - Fri, Sun: 11am - 9pm; Sat: 10am - 9pm
7. Ring in the day at the Country Charm Restaurant
Grab some superb breakfast at the Country Charm Restaurant, consistently wowing their diners with breakfast dishes for 35 years! It opens as early as 5:30 to 6am everyday and serves some quality bites to its diners. They have quite an extensive menu. Try their Crab Cakes Benedict, Melting Pot Skillet, or one of the pancakes. Else, go in for whatever you like. Everything is equally yummy. Service is instant and portions are generous, all in all making for a solid start to the day.
Country Charm Restaurant
Address: 2034, 101 Lincolnway Dr, New Lenox, IL 60451
Website: Country Charm Restaurant
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 5:30am - 3pm; Sun: 6am - 3pm
8. Have a quick nibble and coffee at Gina's Teardrop Cafe
You can’t function without coffee. If that statement rings true for you, head to Gina’s Teardrop Cafe for a cup of frothy love and some quick bites. It is reasonably priced and the place gives out the vibe of you being at someone’s place for a party. The hostess, Gina, goes around chatting up with her happy diners and other servers too cater to you with a smile on their faces. Try this place and you won’t regret it.
Gina's Teardrop Cafe
Address: 826 W Laraway Rd, New Lenox, IL 60451
Website: Gina’s Teardrop Cafe
Opening hours: 6am - 3pm (daily)
9. Try some chilled handcrafted beer at the Hickory Creek Brewing Company
Congrats to the folks at Mad Hatchet Brewing on their grand opening today. The crowd was big and the beers are great! Best of luck! Cheers!
Posted by Hickory Creek Brewing Company on Saturday, 20 April 2019
Wash down the exhaustion of everyday life with handcrafted beers at the Hickory Creek Brewing Company. Opened as recently as 2018, this microbrewery is the brainchild of Gary Meyer, a local who loves his beers and decided to make a business of it. Some of the hops are grown at his own farmstead, which adds to the authenticity of flavour. To add interesting twists to the beer flavours, they’ve also introduced wild pear-, crab apple-, black walnut-, and mulberry-flavoured beer variants. Not only is the beer amazing here, the service, ambience, and child- and pet-friendliness also add to the overall positive experience.
Hickory Creek Brewing Co.
Address: 1005 W Laraway Rd New Lenox, Illinois 60451
Website: Hickory Creek Brewing Co.
Opening hours: Mon - Thur: 3pm - 9pm; Fri: 3pm - 10pm; Sat: 12pm - 10pm: Sun: 12pm - 9pm
10. Play a video game at JBD White Horse Inn
Bring on your competitive spirit and play some video games at the JBD White Horse Inn, a traditional American sports bar. They keep hosting gaming competitions and roll out prizes as well so keep a tab on their events’ calendar and test your luck at playing and winning! If you’re done with drinking and gaming, you can also head to their family-friendly dining area and enjoy some tasty food.
JBD White Horse Inn
Address: 348 W Maple St New Lenox, Illinois 60451
Website: JBD White Horse Inn
Opening hours: Mon - Thur, Sun: 9am - 1am; Fri - Sat: 9am - 2am
11. Grab a decadent bite at Paisano's Restaurant
Paisano’s joined in on New Lenox’s Restaurant Week (which continues thru September 11) offering a Medium Pizza with one...
Posted by Don Dziedzina on Friday, 7 September 2018
Make your way to Paisano’s Restaurant, a delightful restaurant where you can gorge on some absolutely flavoursome Italian fare and delicious, loaded pizzas. The dimly lit interiors of the place host many diners who step out completely stuffed and satisfied. Not just their food, their bar items are equally amazing. To add cherry on top of the cake, their desserts make for a cracking conclusion to the whole affair. Add to that, friendly service, great ambience, and amazing aromas lingering in the air!
Paisano's Restaurant
Address: 348 W Maple St, New Lenox, IL 60451
Website: Paisano’s Restaurant
Opening hours: Mon - Thur: 4pm - 9pm; Fri - Sat: 4pm - 10pm; Sun: 3:30pm - 9pm
12. Savour Thai flavours in the USA
Posted by Oy's Thai Cuisine on Sunday, 14 January 2018
You can also go in for authentic Thai cuisine at Oy’s Thai Cuisine. Each dish is good enough per diner and there’s no skimping on the meat and veggies. With complete value for money, the food here not only looks fresh, but also tastes fresh. Their Thai-style Fried Rice, the Drunken Noodles, Pad Si Ew, and the Sticky Rice are among the hot-selling dishes so do try.
Oy’s Thai Cuisine
Address: 1880 E Lincoln Hwy, New Lenox, IL 60451
Website: Oy’s Thai Cuisine
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 11am - 8pm; Sat: 2pm - 8pm (closed on Sun)
13. Satisfy the tummy with flavours from Irish Pig BBQ
Craving some hearty barbecued fare? Head to the Irish Pig BBQ restaurant and dig into their succulent dishes, charred to perfection and glazed with utterly flavourful sauces. The restaurant attracts many serious eaters and doesn’t disappoint in any way. There is quick and friendly service, a complete bang for your buck, and you can carry your own booze, too! Their Bunless Reubens, the Irish Pig, and Pulled Pork are quite famous.
Irish Pig BBQ
Address: 280 E Lincoln Hwy, New Lenox, IL 60451
Website: Irish Pig BBQ
Opening hours: Tue - Thur: 11am - 7pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 8pm; Sun: 12pm - 6pm (closed on Mon)
14. Gorge on some freshly baked pastries at the Fleckenstein's Bakery
Posted by Allison Steinhauser on Sunday, 2 September 2018
Tickle your tastebuds with some fresh-out-of-the-oven sweetmeats at the Fleckenstein’s Bakery, which is a favourite among New Lenox locals and you’ll usually find a long queue leading up to the till. Cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and other bakery items-this place has it all and nails everything to the T. Although their items are fantastic, the service may be slightly slacking at times. However, the flavours more than make up for this tiny glitch in the system.
Fleckenstein's Bakery
Address: 352 W Maple St New Lenox, Illinois 60451
Website: Fleckenstein’s Bakery
Opening hours: Tue - Fri: 6am - 5pm; Sat: 6am - 3:30pm; Sun: 6am - 12pm (closed on Mon)
15. Burn some pesky cals at ProCore Fitness
Posted by Procore Fitness on Thursday, 12 October 2017
Fitness is important, even while you’re on vacation, hence this addition to the list of things to do in New Lenox, Illinois. A fully equipped gymming facility, the charged atmosphere at ProCore Fitness inspires even non-gymmers to take on the sessions. If that wasn’t enough, Kasia, the owner and group fitness instructor at the gym is a ball of energy. She’s encouraging and stays involved in the workouts of her clients. Trust us when we say, you’ll do it for her if not for fitness’ sake.
ProCore Fitness
Address: 1925 Ferro Dr, New Lenox, IL 60451
Website: ProCore Fitness
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 8am - 8pm; Sat: 7am - 12pm; Sun: 8am - 12pm
Quiet and restful New Lenox
Even though New Lenox is just a stone’s throw away from the cosmopolitan Chicago, it is much different in terms of its environment and living style. While Chicago is all about the fast-paced life, New Lenox is all about the laid-back. These things to do in New Lenox, Illinois will definitely not get in the way of your relaxation so go on and entertain yourselves.
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