Looking for an epic guys weekend? Planning a birthday or bachelor party? Just want to escape the daily grind? Just west of Chicago, DuPage County has you covered! From hitting the links at championship golf courses to savoring craft brews and feasting on mouth-watering eats, this hidden gem offers everything you need to unwind and bond with your crew. Whether you're into outdoor thrills or laid-back vibes, DuPage County is the place to be!

Step One: Book Your Hotel

A Game of Golf

Nothing says guys weekend like a game of golf. DuPage happens to be one of the top golfing destinations in the United States, with gorgeous greenery and state-of-the-art facilities. Golf Digest's 2023-2024 ranking for America's 100 greatest golf courses included three DuPage County courses on the list. Want to improve your skills? Topgolf Naperville, Elevation Golf - Burr Ridge, and Game of Irons | Indoor Golf & Bar offer lessons to elevate your game. Want to play a little game of mini golf? Puttshack is an interactive game of mini golf that tracks your scoring with every stroke you take. There's four different courses to try with modern takes on a classic game. Afterwards, grab a bite to eat and enjoy one of the specialty-made cocktails. 

Try a Variety of Brews

DuPage is an ideal setting for local craft breweries and bars that provide unique beer-tasting experiences and unrivaled cocktails. Each brewery and bar is distinct in its own way, but all value people coming together to have fun, unwind, and enjoy each other's company. Order one, or try a variety and order a flight!

Explore the Great Outdoors

DuPage is a recreational playground, and at its core are the forest preserves. Beautiful in all seasons, trek across the trails either on foot or on bike and take in the views of blooming trees and plants, sunrises, or pastel-colored sunsets. Not to be missed is the Illinois Prairie Path, which helps residents and visitors stay active year-round. The path spans over 40 miles in DuPage, and is a main artery connecting communities, quaint downtowns, forest preserves, and recreational trails. Looking for other outdoor activities? You can rent canoes, kayaks, rowboats, and paddle boats or try your hand at archery.

Activate your sense of excitement by visiting The Forge: Lemont Quarries, the nation’s largest outdoor adventure park. The park has over 300 rope climbing elements of varying difficulty so you can challenge yourself the way you want. After you climb to the highest heights, you can also take advantage of laser tagging, kayaking or canoeing, archery, or axe throwing. 

Fun and Games

DuPage is filled with adrenaline-pumping attractions! Feel the need for speed? K1 Speed is your go-to go-karting spot. Experience the thrill and excitement of racing along a winding track with quick turns to test your driving skills. See who comes out on top as the winner. 

Have you ever heard of WhirlyBall? It's a game that combines basketball, lacrosse, hockey, and bumper cars. Bring your group of friends to WhirlyBall Naperville and see which team wins. You could also try your hand at HyperBowling or Laser Tag. Grab some eats and drinks in the contemporary bar or restaurant to celebrate the wins!

Speaking of bowling, DuPage is home to Stardust Bowl, one of the largest bowling alleys in the country. You can also visit Pinstripes and combine bowling and bocce in the same day. 

Dave & Buster's, located in Yorktown Center in Lombard, is a great spot to play all your favorite arcade games. Whether it's a casual day out or competing to see who wins the most games, Dave & Buster's promises a dynamic mix of gaming, food, and fun. Want a one-of-a-kind experience? Visit Wonderverse Chicago in Oakbrook Center, the only entertainment center created by Sony. Explore the Ghost Trap Speakeasy, get lost in the jungles of Jumanji in virtual reality, try to escape all three Uncharted rooms, win big in our arcade, and much more. 

Dine with Sports Icons

At the end of the day, take your group of guys to a restaurant with a sports influence. These restaurants are inspired and named after Chicago sporting legends; a legendary coach, announcer, and player. 

• Ditka's
• Harry Caray's Italian Steakhouse

Looking for bars to watch your sports game of choice? Check our our Sports Bars in DuPage blog for ideas on where to go. 

The Friends that Cook Together Stay Together

See who can make the best pizza at the North American Pizza and Culinary Academy, a state-of-the-art interactive cooking school where you learn to make the tastiest pizza ever. Laugh, learn, cook, and share this amazing experience with a professional chef and classmates at this academy—the second official Scuola Italiana Pizzaioli school in the U.S. and one of only 20 worldwide. Don’t worry about your cooking skills; these classes offer a fun and educational experience for all levels.

Want to have a grill-off? Weber Grill offers their own cooking classes as part of the Weber Grill Cooking School. This is a custom-designed unique and dynamic learning facility dedicated to the art and skill of cooking on the grill. They offer regularly scheduled public cooking classes, interactive grilling experiences as well as guided experiences such as private parties and corporate team building events.