Waukegan
The seemingly quiet city of Waukegan, Illinois, on the shores of Lake Michigan is in the midst of an artistic enlightenment of sorts, yet it hasn't given up its 155-year-old roots. A smattering of new-age art galleries in Waukegan's edgy Art District are juxtaposed with the city's oldest local treasure - the grand old (but recently renovated) Genesse Theatre. The latter is a Spanish Renaissance style theatre that once played silent era movies to packed houses in the 1920s and 1930s. The city's Hollywood connection doesn't end here. If you've seen the Batman series, chances are you've already seen a bit of Waukegan. The Amstutz Expressway, a short stretch of highway that was built in the 1970s but is barely used (because a critical link connecting it to other parts of the city was never built), has become a setting for filming movies, such as Batman Begins. Nestled between two cities with big personalities - Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Chicago, IL - Waukegan is a cozy getaway with its eclectic mix of art, history, and a variety of recreational activities.