Say “Schaumburg,” and the first thing that often comes to mind is the world-class shopping at Woodfield Mall.  But there’s so much more to a community that’s grown from a small farming village in the 1950s to a large suburb with a population of nearly 80,000. Today, Schaumburg is the 12^th largest community in Illinois.

Schaumburg boasts a number of outdoor recreational opportunities, including forest preserves and the 3,500-acre Busse Woods. The site offers ancient upland forests, boat rentals, paved trails, and an elk pasture.

Spring Valley is considered an outdoor living museum. The park includes 135 acres of fields, marshes, streams, forests and an informative nature center, all encouraging hiking, birdwatching, photography, relaxing and learning. Its 1880s living history farm allows visitors to participate in family activities.

One of the most unique destinations is the Chicago Athenaeum’s International Sculpture Park. It is located at Robert O. Atcher Municipal Center on 20 acres of green space, including meadow, forest, and natural prairie and features abstract sculptures from around the world.

If you’re interested in professional sports, minor-league baseball’s Schaumburg Boomers call the area their home, playing just a few miles from Friendship Village. On the flip side, three Boomer players call Friendship Village their home each season. The senior living community provides housing for the young players, and the residents enjoy special events at Boomers games.

Individuals interested in the arts are near Chicago Improv, located at Woodfield Mall, Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts, which hosts local and international entertainment, and Trickster Cultural Center, which showcases contemporary Native American art and holds multicultural programming. During the summer season, Town Square holds a diverse offering of outdoor concerts and events

And yes, Schaumburg is known for shopping. Woodfield Mall is the largest mall in Illinois. It is anchored by JCPenney, Nordstroms and Macy’s and has many other popular shops and restaurants. Within close proximity, just north of Woodfield, is Woodfield Village Green, with 27 stores, including upscale outlets like Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom Rack. On the southern edge of Woodfield is The Streets of Woodfield, which features Legoland, AMC Theatres, and Belong Gaming Arenas, along with popular shops and restaurants.

One of the best things about living at Friendship Village senior living in Schaumburg is that it’s convenient to visit all area shops, recreations, and restaurant venues. But honestly, it’s not necessary. Without ever leaving our grounds, there’s access to our state-of-the-art aquatic and fitness center, fine-dining venues, medical practice, pharmacy and convenience shop, hair salon, fishing pond, and many acres of wooded paths for hiking.

Schaumburg and Friendship Village both embody the saying that “there’s more than meets the eye.” With outdoor amenities, retail, restaurants, and more, there is never a dull moment in this busy Northwest Suburb of Chicago nor in the fantastic senior living community of Friendship Village.