Aurora · Batavia · Big Rock · Hinckley · Montgomery North Aurora · Oswego · Plano · Sugar Grove · YorkvilleV AURORAAREA GoGuide Live entertainment in the Aurora Area! page 22 NONSTOP THRILLS, STARRING YOU! COME FOR THE FUN. STAY FOR THE REWARDS! Enjoy the benefits at two Chicagoland casinos featuring MyChoice®. You don’t want to miss out on the newest slots, live entertainment and all the excitement the two local casinos have to offer. 1 W NEW YORK ST « AURORA, IL 60506 777 HOLLYWOOD BLVD « JOLIET, IL 60436 Some restriction may apply. Must be 21 to enter the casino. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537). Head to Aurora’s newest culinary delight — Stolp Island Social. Opened by restaurateur Amy Morton in 2019, this inventive steakhouse is located next to the Paramount Theatre in downtown Aurora. Photo Credits: More Polish Pottery, My Place Hotel North Abbey Farms, Air Classics Museum, Amanda Aurora, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Leutenberg, AmericInn by Wyndham Oswego, Nora Parker, Northfork Farm, Paramount Amy Nelson Photography, Arella Swan, Ashley Theatre, Paul Burd, Plano Molding, Quality Farm, Atrevete Confections, Aurora Area Inn, Que Brava, Raging Waves Waterpark, Red CVB, Aurora Downtown, Aurora Regional Fire Oak Nature Center, Reidar Hahn / Fermilab, Museum, BALAXI Play, Ballydoyle Irish Pub Rodeway Inn North Aurora, SciTech Hands On Aurora, Bari Baskin / Time Stops Photography, Museum, Sky Zone Aurora, Southbank Original Batavia Depot Museum, Batavia MainStreet, Barbecue, Steve Buyansky /BYOPhoto, Stolp Batavia Park District, Belle Salle Banquets, Ben Island Social, Sugar Grove Family Fun Center, Harding, Best Western Oswego, Bob Lockwood, Super 8 by Wyndham Aurora/Naperville, Super Both/And Pictures, Bountiful Blessings Farm 8 by Wyndham Yorkville, Susan May Romano, Produce, Branch Gardens, Brittany Tripp, Tap House Grill Oswego, The Conservation On the Cover: Candlewood Suites, Chicago Premium Outlets, Foundation, The Growing Place Aurora, The Chicago bluesman Lurrie Bell plays Comfort Inn & Suites, Company 251, Crusade Homestead 1854, The Venue, Thomas King, 43 W. Galena Blvd. to an adoring crowd at Aurora’s Burger Bar, Dusty Roads Vintage, Emerson Tim & Lisa Trudell /The Walking Tourists, newest spot for live music, The Venue. Creek, Energy City Brewing, Esther’s Place, Two Brothers Brewing Company, USDA ARS, Aurora, IL 60506 Photo by Lisa Green for the Fox Valley Farnsworth House, Flip Design Studio, Fox Velvet Grace Oswego, Village of Montgomery, Music Foundation. Valley Mall, Fox Valley Park District, Francis Village of Oswego, Water Street Studios. 630.256.3190 Wallers, Funway, Gillerson’s Grubbery, Hampton enjoyaurora.com Municipal Partners: Inn & Suites Aurora, Hampton Inn Yorkville, © 2020 by the Aurora Area Convention City of Aurora; City of Batavia; Hardware Sustainable Gastropub & Brewery, and Visitors Bureau. All rights reserved. Village of Big Rock; Village of Hearth & Hammer, Holiday Inn Aurora-North Reproduction in whole or part without the Cort Carlson, Executive Director Hinckley; Village of Montgomery; Naperville, Holiday Inn Express & Suites written permission of the AACVB is prohibited. Pete Garlock, Director of Sales Village of North Aurora; Village of Aurora-Naperville, Holiday Inn Express & Suites 5/1/20 40M. Every attempt has been made James Cardis, Director of Marketing Oswego; City of Plano; Village of Yorkville, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Invisible to verify the information contained in this Sugar Grove; and the United City Cartoons, James Cardis, Jason Crane /The publication. The AACVB assumes no liability Lisa Wisner, Group Sales Coordinator of Yorkville. Voice, Jeff Goldberg, Joshua T. Schultz, Julie Ap for incorrect, omitted or outdated information /Open Wide The World, Lisa Green, Liz Lauren, contained herein. To assure a safe and happy Loft 28 West, Mang-Kuk Restaurant, Marissa trip, please call ahead to confirm information. Amoni, Mary Beth Nolan, Mary Blanchflower, 4 EXPLORE SHOP 6 12 WAYS TO #ENJOYAURORA 42 MALLS Destination outlet shopping 8 OUR COMMUNITIES 44 BOUTIQUES & SPECIALTY Find just what you need SEE 46 ANTIQUES & VINTAGE 22 SHOW STOPPERS Discover hidden gems Award-winning live entertainment 26 MUSEUMS EAT Internationally renowned and locally treasured 48 STEAKS & CHOPS For date night or dinner with friends & family DO 51 BREW PUBS & WINERIES 30 HIKE & BIKE Small batches and big flavors Trails and parks 52 WORLD’S FARE 32 PADDLE Making dining out fun! The Fox River 53 COFFEE & SWEETS For dessert or just because 34 SPRING & SUMMER EVENTS Festival season and community celebrations 36 FALL & WINTER EVENTS STAY Home for the harvest and holidays 54 HOTELS 38 THE KID ZONE Cozy accommodations and warm hospitality await Entertainment and activity centers 58 BOUTIQUE RETREATS 40 SPLASH & PLAY Exceptional accommodations for special events Rides, slides and fun for all ages 59 WEDDINGS Event and reception spaces Take advantage of Aurora Area visitor discounts at restaurants, Savings retailers, and attractions throughout the region. To get started, text Tip EnjoyAurora to 223344 enjoyaurora.com 5 12 WAYS to #ENJOYAURORA There are dozens of fun things to do in the Aurora Area of Illinois— start with these 12 and discover more in the pages ahead. EnjoyAurora.com/LetsGo 1 2 3 AWARD-WINNING COOL OFF See your faves Broadway AUSSIE STYLE under the stars Paramount Theatre Raging Waves RiverEdge Park Experience professionally produced, Make a splash this summer at the Set against the scenic backdrop of the critically acclaimed Broadway shows largest waterpark in Illinois! Exciting Fox River, RiverEdge Park is home to that will take your breath away but new features offer fun for all ages to Blues on the Fox and an action-packed won’t break your budget. enjoy—parents, too! lineup of summer concerts. 4Get up close 5Indulge in a To the craft Dining Destination Two Brothers Roundhouse Hardware Two Brothers Roundhouse crafts “Farm to table” and “locally sourced” get new meaning at this sustainable gastropub & outstanding beer and coffee, but did brewery with an onsite orchard, greenhouse, and hop farm. A living wall of greens you know they make spirits, too? welcomes you into an intoxicating space covered in reclaimed materials. Over 400 Take a free distillery tour any Friday whiskeys line the shelves behind the bar, one of the largest collections in Chicagoland. evening or Saturday afternoon. Try their version of a deconstructed Chicago hot dog and thank us later. 6 12 WAYS to 6 7 Country Chic FLOAT DOWN THE FOX #ENJOYAURORA Emerson Creek Fox River It doesn’t get more charming than this rustic chic getaway. Farmhouse style Paddling is a treasured outdoor activity meets modern hospitality for barn weddings, tearoom dining, and seasonal here, especially in the summertime. vintage markets. Visit the Country View Shop for artisan gifts and goods to Enjoy scenic views from your kayak, canoe, take back home and add a touch of the country life to your quarters. or paddleboard. 8 9 SIP & SAVOR TOUR AN AMERICAN DESIGN ICON ILLINOIS WINE Farnsworth House Fox Valley Winery Sleek and modern, with signature glass windows, the Farnsworth House is visited Award-winning Illinois wines in signature by thousands of international travelers each year. The house was designed and built by varietals are on offer at this Tuscan style Mies van der Rohe for Dr. Edith Farnsworth—their creative and emotional entanglement winery in Oswego. is the source material for a planned film production about this iconic home. 10Celebrate 11Get an Outdoor 12SAVE ON DESIGNER Summer’s Education BRANDS Longest Days Red Oak Nature Center Chicago Premium Outlets Summer Solstice Festival Nestled on the east bank of the The largest outdoor outlet shopping Summer Solstice is one of the best Fox River, Red Oak Nature Center mall in the Midwest is right here, with festivals in the Midwest combining connects you with the joys, lessons, exclusive deals on designer labels at craft beer & indie music, with an electric and wonders of nature, including a over 140 brand name outlets. lineup of artists and an eclectic array of limestone cave! ground-to-glass beverages. enjoyaurora.com 7 AURORA Food trucks line the Benton Street Bridge in Aurora during First Fridays, a monthly occasion during which a vibrant arts community collaborates to produce gallery exhibits and pop-up events like the Aurora Food Truck Festival, pictured here. The second-largest city in Illinois, Aurora is home to Chicagoland’s best Broadway series, destination shopping malls, and this revitalized downtown district where you’ll find some of the region’s most acclaimed new and tried-and-true restaurants. EnjoyAurora.com/Aurora Downtown Aurora 8 Downtown Dining Alley Art Festival Phillips Park Paramount Theatre Society 57 Look for this icon that indicates Aurora Downtown locations. enjoyaurora.com 9 North Aurora Days Commerce, community, and nature combine in August in North Aurora, where you’ll find perfect options for a hearty meal after working up an appetite exploring scenic Fox River Trails. EnjoyAurora.com/NorthAurora Antiques and more at Past and Present Shoppes Brew tanks at Hardware Sustainable Gastropub & Brewery NORTH AURORA Valley Green Golf Course 10 enjoyaurora.com 11 BATAVIA Water Street Studios Herds of bison and particle physics collide at Fermilab, Fermilab Natural Areas a Department of Energy site where group tours, cultural events,