The suburbs mean bigger yards and more affordable homes, but they also mean trading in your CTA pass for a car and leaving behind your favorite neighborhood greasy spoon. The urban versus suburban debate could go on forever, but if you’re ready to make the move to the burbs, know you don’t have to leave behind everything you love about Chicago. Consider these five suburbs with plenty of urban flavor.

Aurora

Downtown Aurora photo courtesy of Center for Neighborhood Technology

If you love the sheer size of Chicago and fear a small-town feeling outside of the city, Aurora might be the spot for you. Located west of Chicago and sprawling across three different counties, Aurora is one of the city’s largest suburbs. But, size is not the only thing Aurora has going for it. Nicknamed the “City of Lights,” this suburb has a scenic location on the Fox River. Anyone who has a hard time parting with the Chicago River will appreciate the scenic waterfront view in Downtown Aurora. The city is also home to RiverEdge Park, which puts on live music and entertainment. Or if you miss Lincoln Park Zoo, Aurora is home to its own zoo. Opened in the early 1900s, Phillips Park Zoo is home to birds, reptiles, and mammals. Just like Lincoln Park Zoo, admission here is free.

Evanston

Aerial view of Evanston photo by Shutterstock

Evanston is so close to Chicago you can practically taste the deep dish pizza and hear fans cheering on the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Just an L ride away from the city, Evanston is just about as close as you can get to Chicago without actually living there. Avid cyclists who appreciate Chicago’s bike lanes and ride-sharing options will love that Divvy has stations in this suburb. Lake Michigan is one of the hardest Chicago amenities to give up, but moving to Evanston means you still live right on the lake—closer than plenty of neighborhoods within the city. The suburb is home to seven beaches: Lighthouse Beach, Lincoln Street Beach, Lee Street Beach, Clark Street Beach, Greenwood Street Beach, South Boulevard Beach, and a dog beach. If you need a home sports team to cheer on, Northwestern University’s football team plays right at Ryan Field in Evanston.

Highland Park

Madame Zuzu's in Highland Park photo courtesy of Nicolas Henderson

Highland Park is another northern suburb located right on the shores of Lake Michigan. You can get your swimming time in at Rosewood Beach and run your dog at Moraine Beach. If you look forward to Chicago’s Movies in the Parks series and Millennium Park’s live music every summer, you’ll feel right at home in Highland Park. This suburb has Ravinia Festival, an outdoor and indoor venue that hosts movies, plays, musicians, and more throughout the year. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra plays there every summer.

Naperville

Naperville Riverwalk photo by Shutterstock

Living in Chicago means having ready access to nearly any type of food you could imagine and a spectacular downtown. It can be hard to imagine life without those things, but living in Naperville means you don’t have to lose access to those comforts. This western suburb has a vibrant downtown anchored by a myriad restaurants and a picturesque riverwalk. When you eat out in Naperville you have your choice of nearly anything imaginable. You can grab sushi at Blue Sushi Sake Grill or Moshi Moshi. Or get your deep dish pizza fix at Lou Malnati’s or Giordano’s. The downtown area also has plenty of bars for residents looking for nightlife. After you’re done dining and drinking, a stroll along the Naperville Riverwalk will help you appreciate just how much this suburb has to offer. 

Oak Park

Oak Park photo by Shutterstock

Maybe the sense of history you get when living in Chicago is what ties you to the city. If you want that same feeling in the suburbs, try Oak Park. This western suburb has a large collection of homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and it’s the birthplace of beloved author Ernest Hemingway. The suburb also has its own historic theater (Lake Theatre), an Art Deco building dating back to the 1930s. Though the suburb has years of history, you don’t have to feel stuck in the past. New development is popping up in Oak Park, including new townhomes within walking distance of the burb’s Metra and L stations (in case you want to visit sweet home Chicago).