Lake Forest, IL, was founded in 1857 along the Milwaukee Road rail line as a planned community designed to combine residential development, higher education, and preserved open land. Early planners laid out broad streets, coordinated architecture, and protected green space alongside institutions such as Lake Forest College, which opened the same year. Those early decisions still define how neighborhoods, campuses, and civic spaces connect a population of about 19,000.

Preserved land occupies large portions of the city’s interior. Lake Forest Open Lands manages more than 900 acres across sites including Middlefork Savanna, Mellody Farm Nature Preserve, and Elawa Farm. Trails pass through restored prairie, wetlands, and wooded areas with minimal signage and infrastructure. Elawa Farm Foundation manages the historic Elawa Farm as both preserved land and an operating public site. The property includes the original farmhouse and barns, a farm market, and seasonal programming that brings visitors onto the grounds. It also hosts a farmers market and educational events tied to the site’s agricultural history and land stewardship. 

Market Square sits at the center of daily activity. Designed and built between 1916 and the early 1920s, the square is arranged around a rectangular green with brick walkways leading to two- and three-story commercial buildings. Businesses such as the Lake Forest Book Store, The Lantern, King’s Cafe, and professional offices operate at street level, with additional offices on upper floors. 

The fun begins at the top of the bluff. Forest Park Beach opens onto a wide stretch of shoreline where swimmers enter Lake Michigan during guarded hours, and others spread out along the sand with chairs and towels pulled from nearby lawns above the bluff. A short distance south, Sunset Beach offers a quieter setting with uninterrupted views up and down the shoreline, making it a common stop for evening walks, watching waves break against the rocks, or sitting through a full sunset. 

Creative work is close at hand. Ragdale occupies the former estate of architect Howard Van Doren Shaw and operates as a working residency where writers, composers, and visual artists stay on site throughout the year. Studios, living quarters, and performance spaces are spread across the grounds, with public readings, concerts, and open house events scheduled regularly. The Lake Forest Symphony and Lake Forest Civic Orchestra add to that presence with established concert seasons held at local venues. 

Tables here fill throughout the week. The Deer Path Inn serves steakhouse cuts, seafood, classic soups, and traditional desserts across its dining rooms and bar, with menus built around familiar American and European dishes. In Market Square, The Lantern offers burgers, fish and chips, steaks, and a rotating draft list, while King’s Cafe focuses on breakfast plates, omelets, sandwiches, and baked goods served from a long-standing counter setup.

Crowds gather annually at favorite events. Lake Forest Day takes place every summer with a parade route, family activities, and fireworks, drawing residents into city streets and parks. The Lake Forest Farmers Market operates seasonally on the West Campus of Lake Forest College, bringing regional vendors together on scheduled days. Art fairs and outdoor concerts are held on the Market Square green and in city parks during warmer months.

With so much to experience around the city, keeping a home updated can’t be overlooked. B&G Remodeling works with homeowners in Lake Forest on renovation and remodeling projects that require careful planning, quality materials, and lasting results. Don't hesitate to contact us at B&G Remodeling for an estimate today.