Known for its popular state park, bustling downtown retail district, beautiful beaches, and plentiful recreational activities, Zion is located 41 miles north of Chicago's Loop in Lake County, about half-way between Chicago and Milwaukee. It is easily accessible from I-94 and U.S. Route 41 via State Route 173. Commuters can also board...
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Known for its popular state park, bustling downtown retail district, beautiful beaches, and plentiful recreational activities, Zion is located 41 miles north of Chicago's Loop in Lake County, about half-way between Chicago and Milwaukee. It is easily accessible from I-94 and U.S. Route 41 via State Route 173. Commuters can also board Metra trains to travel to Chicago's Loop or downtown Milwaukee. Zion covers an area of 8.2 square miles, and its population in 2005 was 24,303. In their spare time, villagers have many options from which to choose. Illinois Beach State Park is the state of Illinois' most popular state park, receiving roughly 1,000,000 visitors a year. It offers swimming, boating, fishing, camping, hiking and biking trails, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and ice fishing. Located on the property is Illinois Beach Resort and Conference Center, which lies adjacent to the lakeshore and features an Olympic-size swimming pool, and other facilities. Nearby in Gurnee is Six Flags Great America amusement park, which contains more than 100 rides, as well as Gurnee Mills, the world's largest outlet shopping mall. Nearby Vernon Hills boasts the Cuneo Museum and Gardens, featuring 17th Century tapestries, a collection of beautiful Oriental rugs, and other attractions. The Zion Park District maintains 19 parks and the North Shore Trail that's specially designed for walkers and bicyclists. Golfers can play a round of golf at Shiloh Park, Shepherd's Crook or Thunderhawk Golf Courses. Zion also has numerous driving ranges, bowling alleys, movie theaters and health and fitness clubs. The Port Shiloh Waterpark features a zero depth pool, a lap pool for fitness and deep water swimming, two water slides, and other amenities. Zion hosts a variety of special events throughout the year. These include the popular Jubilee Days celebration held over the Labor Day weekend; this event features an arts and crafts fair, a parade, and a beauty pageant. During the last weekend in June, the village holds its famous Nostalgia Days celebration, featuring a classic car show, a parade and various forms of entertainment. Other events include the town's annual 4th of July celebration, the Potawatomi Trails Traditional/Social Pow-Wow, which is held each fall in Shiloh Park, and December's month-long Festival of Lights celebration. In addition to nearby Gurnee Mills, Zion residents can shop in the town's thriving downtown retail district, located on Sheridan Road. Villagers can also shop in Waukegan, or in nearby Kenosha, Wisconsin. Zion contains homes that fit every budget and lifestyle, ranging from Victorians and large executive-style homes in new subdivisions to condominiums, townhomes and rental apartments. There has been a great deal of new home construction in recent years; nearly 100 new single-family homes have been constructed in Zion each year since 1990.
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