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Libertyville's Main Street Named Among Top In U.S.

LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. (CBS) ― Looking for a "stay-cation" destination? CBS 2's Vince Gerasole reports that one community less than a hour from Chicago has been named one of the top main streets to visit.

Amid the three pristine blocks of buildings from the turn of the last century, CBS 2 News dropped in on Steve Stromberger, a guy who says Libertyville is tailor made for a visit.

Stromberger said, "This is my kind of town Libertyville … You name it and we'll have it."

It really isn't that much of an exaggeration; Milwaukee Avenue, the main street in Libertyville, boasts a number of noteworthy restaurants. In fact, Mickey Finns' burgers have been named some of the best in the Chicago area, the Tavern Restaurant received an award of excellence from Wine Spectator magazine and Summit Ice Cream was chosen as one of the ten best ice cream shops in the country.

It is quite a different atmosphere from the Libertyville of a few decades ago.

"When I come here 20 years ago this town was kind of a ghost town," Stromberger said.

Libertyville had its heyday in the late 1800's and early 1900's. To bring the town back to its former glory days, local banks and businesses banded together to buy down loan rates and offer building owners financing to redo their façades.

Randy Nelson, executive director of MainStreet Libertyville Inc., said, "We worked with the historical society so many of the façades today are exactly as they were at the turn of the century."

The effort has worked so well that the National Trust Main Street Center has named Libertyville's central thoroughfare one of the top three Great American Main Streets to visit.

"It's almost going to vacation here," Stromberger said.

Libertyville's Marked For Dessert also won the 2007 gold medal in the National Wedding Cake Competition and Adrienne Clairisse Intimate Boutique has been nominated as best shop in the world by Intimate Magazine.

If you decide to visit, it is 35 miles north of the city; less than $20 roundtrip from the Loop for gas if you drive there, but Metra drops you off in the town center.

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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