Best Places To Visit On A CTA Road Trip

Everyone's got a favorite spot – your local watering hole, your favorite restaurant, your morning stop, your relaxing landmark. But sometimes you need to get outside your comfort zone and try something out of the neighborhood – maybe even outside the city. If you're up for an adventure but can't drive - or just don't want to lose your parking spot – we've picked out some destinations that should be worth stretching your Chicago horizons through the good ol' CTA.

Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio

931 Chicago Ave.
Oak Park, IL 60302
www.gowright.org
Directory information and reviews

One of the world's most famous architects called Oak Park home for a time. As a result, his studio – and a large number of homes he designed – are collected into a tour starting and ending at the studio. After a walk through the studio, the tour consists of a stroll through the neighboring blocks, which feature many of his prairie-style homes (particularly one deadringer for the Robie house, just down the block from the studio).

Nhu Lan

2612 W. Lawrence Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
www.nhulansbakery.com
Directory information and reviews

The tiny Rockwell station ends in a very residential neighborhood, looking into people's backyards at the end of the line. Just a quick walk north of the railroad crossing will find you at Nhu Lan Bakery, a Vietnamese restaurant with a devoted following. Known for their Banh Mi sandwiches (all of which are under four bucks), the bakery makes all the bread in-house. Add in some fruit smoothies with or without the tapioca pearls, and you've got a unique and tasty meal for well under ten bucks.

The Baha'i House of Worship

100 Linden Ave.
Wilmette, IL 60091
www.bahai.us/bahai-temple
Directory information and reviews

The only Ba'hai temple in all of North America is also one of only seven in the world; it's also just a quick walk from the Linden stop of the Purple Line. The auditorium and visitor center are open to the public during select hours, but even those just looking for a nice nature walk can take in the impressive greenery surrounding the temple.

Old Fashioned Donuts

11248 S Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60628
Directory information and reviews

The south side has a lot of gems hidden from foodies who only explore the north. For those who want to find some of the most renowned donuts in the city, the journey takes you to the southern end of the red line and then a short bus ride even further south into Rosewood. Your reward? Some of the best-reviewed donuts in the city, including an apple fritter that sports enough real apple chunks to live up to the name.

Lost Eras

1511 W. Howard St.
Chicago, IL 60626
www.losteras.com
Directory information and reviews

Everyone has a thrift shop, but few have one that can boast customers from film studios. Films like The Untouchables, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and even Home Alone have used the shop for costumes and props. If you're looking for something a little simpler, they also carry Halloween costumes, jewelry, and footwear of all shapes and sizes. Just hop off the Howard stop of the Red line and head east for a day's worth of perusal.

Dan Morgridge is a writer from Ukrainian Village who still has two CTA stations left to visit.