Top 5 Things to do in Des Plaines

Des Plaines is named after the Des Plaines River, which runs through it. The name is French, meaning "of the plains". Des Plaines is a city in Cook County, US. It is a suburb of Chicago, and quite close to O'Hare International Airport. The Des Plaines River flows through the city, just east of its downtown region.

1. Visit one of the original McDonald's Restaurants: McDonald's Restaurant and Museum is housed in a replica of the former McDonald's restaurant in Des Plaines. It was opened by Ray Kroc in 1955. McDonald's Museum is a show piece of all the old fryers and shakers that were used when this restaurant was first opened. 

2. Spend a day in the open: Lake Opeka is a small lake surrounded by a 40 acre park which has a18 hole par-3 golf course. Jogging paths run around the east side, where a band shelter is situated among picnic tables and grills, exercise stations and a playground.

3. Browse some books in an old library: The Plaines Public Library dates back to the mid-1890s. Dr. Clarence Earle and a group of like minded thinkers kept up their fight to establish a library and eventually in 1904, a subscription library called the Tabard Inn was established on Ellinwood Street.

4. Take in a theater show: The Des Plaines Theater is an active group of local artists and there are a variety of shows that are held at this theater.  

5. Visit a National Historic Site: The Methodist Camping Ground is a national historic site which out dates the village and is still active.