Highland Park can be explored through a range of travel interests: Metra trains stop at Ravinia’s historic entrance, cultural offerings include theater and free community concerts, and the Preserve of Highland Park offers hiking and biking trails. When planning, it’s worth distinguishing between these highlights. Culture, landscapes, and activities at North Pond raise different considerations for your stay—especially when choosing between walking, biking, or fishing.

Taking the Metra to Highland Park

Metra’s Union Pacific North Line trains stop at Ravinia’s historic entrance. This gives you a specific rail connection to Highland Park to consider when planning your arrival. If you plan to use this line, check the current schedule before your trip. Ravinia is a clear point of reference for arriving on this Metra line.

Theater, Concerts, and Historic Preservation

Highland Park Players offers accessible, hands-on theater for the city of Highland Park; Highland Park Strings offers free community concerts. If you’re choosing cultural activities by format, theater and concerts are two distinct options. The concert offering is defined by both its community character and its free admission.

The Highland Park Historical Society preserves the historic Francis Stupey Cabin. This focus on preservation complements the theater and concert offerings with a distinct connection to local history. For travelers who want to explore culture beyond performances, the preservation of the Cabin offers another way to connect with Highland Park’s cultural heritage.

Trails Through Diverse Landscapes

The Preserve of Highland Park has hiking and biking trails that connect residential neighborhoods, downtown Highland Park, and regional bike trails. The trails also pass through restored woodlands, wetlands, and prairie. The connections to neighborhoods and downtown help you get your bearings in town; access to regional bike trails is especially relevant when planning a bike ride. This can help you decide whether you’d rather hike, use trails within Highland Park, or include a regional bike route in your plans.

Bicycles are permitted on the Preserve trails, subject to posted trail rules, and pedestrians have the right of way. Both conditions should be part of cyclists’ plans: bikes are allowed on the trails, but users should be considerate of people on foot.

Fishing at North Pond: Areas and Rules

Fishing is permitted in designated areas at North Pond, including at the overlook on the east shore. Catch and release only; swimming is not allowed. If you plan to fish, use the designated areas rather than assuming that the entire shoreline is open to fishing. The overlook on the east shore is one specifically named area.

Conditions vary by activity: bicycles are allowed on the Preserve trails, with pedestrians having the right of way and trail rules to be observed. At North Pond, fishing is restricted to certain areas, and swimming is not allowed. This comparison can help you choose the activities that suit your stay without confusing the rules for each.

Discover more destinations: Libertyville, Vernon Hills, Grayslake, Lake Bluff, Deer Park, North Chicago, Lake Zurich, Zion

For the overview of the wider area: Lake.