Fox River Canoe & Kayak

This is self guided river trips with canoe or kayak. The St. Charles trip takes about 2 1/2 hours.

CITY: St. Charles

The Canoe Shack

Trip 1 - So. Elgin to St. Charles. Our most popular canoe or kayak trip. Relax and enjoy canoeing or kayaking on the beautiful Fox River. This is a 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hr. 7 1/2 mi. paddle with no dams. Each canoe can hold 3 adults, or 2 adults and 2 small kids. Rental includes a canoe or kayak, paddles, life preservers and shuttle. A nice trip for families, friends and groups of up to 100. Open mid April to mid - November. Please call in advance for reservations.

CITY: St. Charles

Long Prairie Trail

This 14.6 mile paved recreational trail runs south of Illinois Route 173 and winds past the Northern Boone County towns of Caledonia, Capron, Belvidere and Poplar Grove.

CITY: Caledonia

Mill Creek Golf Club

This 18-hole championship golf course, featuring wildflowers and elevated tees, offers spectacular views of the Fox Valley region.

CITY: Geneva

Side By Side Cycle

Do you enjoy being outdoors? Do you enjoy biking or hiking on the long prairie trail? Come rent a Side By Side Cycle for use on area trails. Child trailers available. Helmets and padlocks provided.

CITY: Capron

Schmidt's Canoeing Service

Camping, trips, outfitting and instructions.

CITY: Elgin

Randall Oaks Golf Course

With undulating and quick greens, the course's front nine rolls and winds through 200-year old oak trees, while the back side is longer, with more water and strong winds.

CITY: West Dundee

McHenry County Fairgrounds

Site of Annual County Fair and other events.

CITY: Woodstock

Craig Woods Golf Course

Take a swing at this challenging par 34, scenic nine-hole course.

CITY: Woodstock

YWCA Camp Tu-Endie-Wei

Trails, fishing, cross-country skiing, skating, cabins on Willow Lake.

CITY: Elgin

Fox Valley Ice Arena & Fitness Club

Year-round sports complex with 3 ice surfaces, full-service pro shop, full-service fitness club, and on-site restaurant. Also home of The Chicago Freeze Junior A Hockey Team.

CITY: Geneva

Meadow View Corn Maze, Pumpkin Patch & More

In addition to a corn maze, Meadow View includes a two-acre pumpkin patch, hay rides, moon walks, a hay maze for younger children, food and fall decor.

CITY: Harvard

Pinecrest Golf Course

This course includes a restaurant and pro shop, and hosts the McHenry Senior Amateur (a Pinecrest special event).

CITY: Huntley

Walcamp Outdoor Ministries Family Campground

Walcamp Outdoor Ministries Family Camp would like to invite you and your family to come camping with us! Can host family reunions, company or church picnics, and many themed weekends! Situated on 177 acres of woods, fields, streams and ponds!

CITY: Kingston

Lockwood Park Trailside Equestrian Centre and Children's Farm

Forty acres of woods and meadows for riders eight years old and up; trail rides--excellent for first-time or occasional riders--offered on weekends. Also in Lockwood Park: pony ring, wagon rides, hayrides, petting farm and riding lessons. Special season opening activities in the spring and Halloween hayrides in the fall. Call for hours, rates and group outing opportunities.

CITY: Rockford

Mt. St. Mary Park

Riverside park offering paved bike trails, fishing, picnic areas, shelter & tennis courts, outdoor arboretum, skateboard park, playground, canoe launch, picturesque pond and waterfall. Located on the Fox River Trail.

CITY: St. Charles

Deer Run Golf Center

This golf center features a driving range, chipping green, putting green and adventure golf.

CITY: Woodstock

Buffalo Park Campground

62 vehicle sites. Seasonal.

CITY: Algonquin

Buena Vista Golf Course

Buena Vista is a par 32, nine-hole golf course with a driving range, pro shop and snack bar. Open seven days a week during the season, weather permitting.

CITY: DeKalb

Bowes Creek Country Club

Bowes Creek delivers a private club experience to the public golfer! It offers annual memberships for a day, or just enjoy Porter's Pub - an English inspired eatery.

CITY: Elgin

Royal Oak Farm Orchard

Apple Orchard

CITY: Harvard

Marengo Ridge Golf Club

Built in 1985, this 18-hole golf course offers a clubhouse, driving range, golf lessons, pro shop and a putting green.

CITY: Marengo

Golf Club at Timber Pointe

This 18-hole golf course is open to the public, and includes a practice facility and full-service clubhouse.

CITY: Poplar Grove

Chicagoland Skydiving Center

Jump with the best skydiving school in the United States - Chicagoland Skydiving Center now located at Koritz Field in Rochelle! Come see why more people from the Chicago area choose tandem skydiving at CSC. We service more first-time skydivers than any other skydiving center in Chicago and the Midwest. At CSC, our priority is on safety and customer service. Check out our skydive center and book your tandem parachute jump online. Chicagoland Skydiving Center in Rochelle, Illinois (formerly in Hinckley, IL) is your safest source for skydiving - period! Check out our brand new skydive aircraft and see how we maintain our safety record and reputation as the BEST!

CITY: Rochelle

Shabbona Lake State Park

Shabbona Lake State Park has 1,550 acres of rolling prairie and features a 318.8acre man-made fishing lake. Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area provides a convenient, natural haven from the hustle and bustle of daily life. With facilities for picnicking, camping, hiking, fishing, hunting and winter sports, Shabbona Lake is a convenient and comfortable retreat where you can refresh and reinvigorate yourself in a rare, unspoiled environment.

CITY: Shabbona

Ferson Creek Park

Beautiful park along the Fox River & Ferson Creek offers picnic sites, shelter, playground, fishing and and canoe launch.

CITY: St. Charles

East Side Sports Complex

A public park with lighted softball/baseball fields, basketball courts, playground, skateboard park, volleyball courts, tennis courts, dog park, fishing pond with a pier, shelter, walking trail, restroom.

CITY: St. Charles

Chicago Northwest KOA Campground

Tent, vehicle, and cabin sites. Game room, pavilion, playground, and laundry facilities.

CITY: Union

River Heights Golf Course

River Heights Golf Course is an 18-hole facility that winds along the banks of the Kiswaukee River in DaKalb County, offering a challenging mix of traditional and links-type holes for the weekend player or serious golfer.

CITY: DeKalb

Green Tree Golf Course

Our facilities include indoor meeting, banquet and reception facilities for small groups or up to 1,000 guests with full food and bar service. Our nine hole championship golf course is creative and challenging. The Executive Chip ‘n Putt course is designed to be fun and flexible.Outdoor facilities include the Tikki Hut Bar and Grille, Orchard Picnic Area, mobile sound stage, horseshoe pits, bocce ball courts, badminton and volleyball sets, table tennis and card tables. We will provide children amusements per your request.We invite and will help you mix-and-match our facilities and services to come as close to, as is possible, pleasing each and every one of your guests – from golf outings to multi-activity fun-a-thons with something for everyone!

CITY: DeKalb

Burnidge/ Paul Wolff Campground

Playground and fishing. 9 miles of hiking trails.

CITY: Elgin

Elgin Park District

Outdoor ice skating; new refrigerated skating system; warming shelters available.

CITY: Elgin

Splash Park at Campton Hills Park

The splash park has many interactive water play features for children of all ages to enjoy. Some features include spray columns, spray loops, dumping buckets, spray cannons, bubblers, geysers and water wheels. These water features are constructed on top of a safety surface. The facility has a sand play area with water and sand play toys. This facility also has deck chairs and shade structures.

CITY: St. Charles

Oney's Tree Farm

Enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride to find your perfect Christmas tree and browse the gift shop.

CITY: Woodstock

Lippold Park Family Golf Center

The mini putt courses have been designed with separate themes, including the handicapped accessible Sports-N-Courts with a sports theme, and Tees-N-Trees with a prairie theme.

CITY: Crystal Lake

Turnberry Country Club

This private member-owned golf club features an 18-hole course, along with a swimming pool and tennis courts.

CITY: Crystal Lake

Red Tail Golf Club

This 18-hole championship golf course has been rated 4 stars by Golf Digest, 4-1/2 stars by Chicagoland Golf, and has been voted one of the best values in all of Illinois.

CITY: Crystal Lake

Countryside West

This nine-hole public golf course, opened in 1966, is a par 34 at 2,465 yards. Rental carts are available.

CITY: DeKalb

Prairie Pines Golf Course

Located 2 1/2 miles west of Annie Glidden Road on Route 38 in Dekalb, Illinois. The nine-hole, par 34 facility features a gently rolling course on 53 acres surrounded by farmland. Soothing views of pine trees and beautiful fields make the experience a pleasure and prevent worries about errant shots hitting homes nearby. Water features are promenant on holes number 2 and 3 and a meandering stream through the course provides ample challenge. Thinking of an outing or a family reunion? You can rent the whole facility at a reasonable price for a few hours or the whole day. Besides access to nine holes of golf and carts, "The Pines" offers fishing in their ponds, a large outdoor barbeque and plenty of space for horseshoes, volleyball, or bag games.

CITY: DeKalb

Rolling Knolls Country Club

This 18-hole course is tree-lined, with 10 water holes.

CITY: Elgin

Rochelle Country Club

Our 18-hole golf course provides a serene backdrop to many of the course's lush fairways and manicured greens. There is a practice bunker, chipping-putting greens and well-equipped pro shop. Private and group lessons available from our PGA Professional. Clubhouse restaurant serves lunch and dinner from 11am–9pm.

CITY: Rochelle

Canoe & Pedal Boat Rentals: Pottawatomie Park

Enjoy the scenery from the waters of the Fox River! Rentals Mid-May through Mid-August. All rentals launch from the River View Miniature Golf Complex within Pottawatomie Park. Deposit required. Children age 15 and younger must be accompanied by an adult (age 18+). All rentals are subject to safe river & weather conditions. Sorry, no boat rentals on July 4th.

CITY: St. Charles

Pottawatomie Park

Historic park offers swimming pools, picnic areas, shelters, playgrounds, sand volleyball court, seasonal canoe and pedal boat rentals. Nine-hole golf course, 18 hole miniature golf course. Multi-use community center, paddlewheel riverboat cruises, tennis courts, native plant demonstration garden, paved bike trails, fishing. Located only the Fox River Trail.

CITY: St. Charles

Great Western Trail

The western-most, and older, section of the Great Western Trail is located between St. Charles in Kane County and eastern Sycamore in DeKalb County. This section of right-of-way was abandoned in 1977. The 18-mile (20km) crushed-stone path traverses unincorporated rural townships, natural wetlands, some restored prairie and farmland. The trail also passes through Virgil and Lily Lake and parallels Illinois Route 64,

CITY: St. Charles

Crystal Woods Golf Club

This beautiful par 72, 18-hole golf course in a scenic rural setting features a driving range and banquet facility.

CITY: Woodstock

Garfield Farm

Discover 19th century farming, food production and native Illinois prairie at this 1840's farm. Seminars on prairie, woodlands, wetlands management: bat, blue bird box construction and tree grafting are available.

CITY: Campton Hills

Golf Club of Illinois

Hailed by Golf Digest as "The best example of target golf yet built," the Golf Club includes pot bunkers, double greens, fescue-covered mounds and water hazards.

CITY: Algonquin

Chalet Hills Golf Club

This championship 18-hole golf course with 6,950 yards offers bent grass fairways, and beautiful rolling hills and vistas. Power carts are required Friday through Sunday and holidays.

CITY: Cary

Oak Club Genoa

This picturesque, 18-hole watered course winds through wooded and lowland areas along the meandering Kishwaukee River. Oak Club is rated among the region's top 20 courses by Chicagoland Golf.

CITY: Genoa

Lehmans

A campground nestled in Marengo.

CITY: Marengo

Pottawatomie Park Golf

This nine-hole course was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr.

CITY: St. Charles

Hickory Knolls Discovery Center

A destination unlike any other--part educational facility and part entertainment venue! LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, indoor turtle pond and wetland exhibit, live animal displays, interactive floor-to-ceiling murals, birthday parties, facility rentals.

CITY: St. Charles

Sycamore Golf Club

This par 71, 18-hole golf club offers watered bent grass fairways, a putting green, swimming pool, tennis courts and horse shoes.

CITY: Sycamore

Spartan Meadows Golf Club

This course is a challenge for all levels, with competitive rates and a friendly staff.

CITY: Elgin

River View Miniature Golf Course

Most challenging course in the Fox Valley Area! Naturally landscaped greens - multiple obstacles - sand traps - waterfall and babbling brook - windmill - lighthouse - bridges. Daily specials & discounts. Scenic views along the Fox River.

CITY: St. Charles

Primrose Farm Park

Park has ball fields, sand volleyball courts, basketball courts, tennis courts, soccer goal posts, playground, benches & picnic tables, parking lot, pavilion and restrooms. A great family and group park.

CITY: St. Charles

Boone County Fairgrounds

Location for many events including craft shows, auto shows, animal shows, softball & volleyball games, and the Boone County Fair (held in August). Also see one-room school house relocated from northern Boone County.

CITY: Belvidere

Winnebago County Forest Preserve District

Over 9,500 acres for outdoor fun in 40 locations throughout Winnebago County. 87 miles of hiking trails, 28 shelter houses, 4 campgrounds, 4 rivers, 5 education centers, birdwatching in many locations. Restored prairie and hiking paths at headquarters.

CITY: Rockford

Sandy Hollow Golf Course

A popular 18-hole course on Rockford's south side, Sandy Hollow is a tree-lined fairway course with strategically placed fairway bunkers. One of the more challenging holes on the 6,228-yard course is No. 11, which requires a tee shot over a pond.

CITY: Rockford

Swanhills Golf

This beautiful 18-hole golf course is enjoyable for all levels of golfers, located just minutes from Rockford in Belvidere.

CITY: Belvidere

Settler's Hill Golf Course

This unique 18-hole course was built on the site of the old County Farm and Home; the dairy barn has been remodeled and is now used as a clubhouse. The course is 6,449 yards, par 72.

CITY: Geneva

Lincoln Highway Interpretive Mural -- Malta

The Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition has produced Interpretive Murals along the Illinois Lincoln Highway National Scenic Byway and its corridor in northern Illinois. The Malta mural depicts the history, heritage, and events of the highway and its impact in Malta and on the communities in Illinois.

CITY: Malta

Lincoln Highway Interpretive Mural - Cortland

The Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition has produced many Interpretive Murals along the Illinois Lincoln Highway National Scenic Byway and its corridor in northern Illinois. The Cortland mural depicts the history, heritage, and events of the highway and its impact on Cortland and the other communities along the Illinois route.

CITY: Cortland

Bowl - Hi Lanes

Enjoy bowling as well as karaoke every Friday and Saturday.

CITY: Huntley

Lincoln Highway Interpretive Mural -- DeKalb

The Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition has produced many Interpretive Murals along the Illinois Lincoln Highway National Scenic Byway and its corridor in northern Illinois. The DeKalb mural depicts the history, heritage, and events of the highway and its impact on DeKalb and the other communities along the Illinois route.

CITY: DeKalb

Lincoln Highway Interpretive Mural - Genoa

The Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition has produced many Interpretive Murals along the Illinois Lincoln Highway National Scenic Byway and its corridor in northern Illinois. The Genoa mural depicts the history, heritage, and events of the highway and its impact on Genoa and the other communities along the Illinois route.

CITY: Genoa

Country Lanes

Good old-fashioned family fun.

CITY: Hampshire

Elgin Lanes

Bowling.

CITY: Elgin

Brunswick Zone

Bowling, cosmic bowling, video arcade, Pizza Hut Express and more.

CITY: Algonquin

Liberty Lanes

Bowling.

CITY: Carpentersville

Marengo Ridge - McHenry County Conservation District

The major glacial feature at Marengo Ridge Conservation area is the Marengo Ridge, from which the site derives its name. Left by the retreating Wisconsin glacier, the Marengo Ridge moraine is 40 miles long and 3 miles wide, creating one of the steepest vertical moraines in Illinois, at 1,050 feet above sea level. This rugged, fire-protected topography supported wooded communities dominated by oak species. Site features hiking trails, campground, picnic shelters, scenic views, x-country skiing, and fishing.

CITY: Marengo

Fox River Trail (St. Charles Illinois)

32 miles of biking, hiking and cross-country skiing featuring some of the most scenic trails of the Fox River. Points of interest include Carpenters Dam, Fox River Shores, Tyler Creek, Voyageur Landing, Shoemaker Nature Center and Fabyan Forest Preserve.

CITY: St. Charles

St. Charles Paddlewheel River Boats

Cruise the scenic Fox River from Pottawatomie Park in St. Charles on the Fox River Queen or the St. Charles Belle paddlewheel riverboats.

CITY: St. Charles

Fox River Trail

This 32-mile paved biking/hiking trail along the Fox River features scenic parks, picnic areas and playgrounds located adjacent to restaurants and shops.

CITY: Geneva

Sycamore Family Sports Center

Enjoy family fun at the Sports Center with a golf driving range, an 18-hole mini golf course, six batting cages from Little League to professional, go-karts and soccer kicking cages.

CITY: Sycamore

Espo's Country Lanes

Elgin's finest 40-lane bowling center.

CITY: Elgin

Wing Park Golf Course

Accessible and perfect for a quick nine, Wing Park's greens are small and hard to hit. The course is a manageable length for beginners and seniors.

CITY: Elgin

Lincoln Highway Seedling Mile and Interpretive Gazebo

Malta is home to the "first seedling mile" on the Lincoln Highway. As one of the 16 Interpretive Gazebos located along the Lincoln Highway, the Malta gazebo offers a unique way for visitors to enjoy stories of the early Lincoln Highway and its Illinois communities.

CITY: Malta

Bonnie Dundee Golf Course

Offering good par fours with difficult par threes, this course is architecturally classic and slightly rolling, with medium-size greens.

CITY: Carpentersville

Whisper Creek Golf Course

This beautiful course is set on 240 acres rich in bluegrass, protected wetland environments, and even magnificent rock formations with casading waterfalls.

CITY: Huntley

Boone County Conservation District

The enchanting charm of Boone County’s Buffalo Creek creates a picturesque scene of nature at its finest. With a mission of preserving nature for generations to come, the area offers numerous educational events and festivals.

CITY: Belvidere

Elliot Golf Course

Located on Rockford's far east side, Elliot is an 18-hole course with 6,443 yards of rolling terrain, large trees and spacious greens. A smattering of water hazards and sand bunkers make Elliot a challenging course for any golfer.

CITY: Rockford

Jonamac Orchard and Corn Maze

Bring your family out to our 65 acre site for a day of fall fun this harvest season! Enjoy the horse drawn hay rides, 10 acre corn maze (Beginning Labor Day Weekend), kid's activity area with a barn, bale pile, tractor cab and more. Pick your own apples from any of our nearly 5,000 trees (Begins late August). Stop in our store and visit the bakery for apple donuts, pies, caramel apples and fresh baked bread, and fudge. Pony rides and a petting zoo will be available in the beginning of September. Apples: Akane, Mollies Delicious, Jonamac, Jonagold, Crispin, Empire, Stabrite, Braeburn, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Granny Smith, Red and Golden Delicious, Ginger Gold, Cortland, Blushing Gold, Fuji, Haralson, Red Free, Prima, Gala, Spartan, Melrose, Rome, Cameo, Tsugaru, Gold Rush. Jonamac Orchard is your family's fall tradition.

CITY: Malta

Sinnissippi Golf Course

This nine-hole course, located in Sinnissippi Park, offers challenges for advanced golfers and novices. The 3,230-yard course is best known for its hilly layout and tree-lined fairways.

CITY: Rockford

Canoe Shack

Canoe and Kayak rentals along the Fox River. These trips offer many hiking, picnicking and wildlife observation opportunities, as well as historic sites, small lime bluffs, and the country's only waterfall. Relax and enjoy the beautiful Fox River.

CITY: St. Charles

Illinois Lincoln Highway Interpretive Gazebo - DeKalb

The Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition presents 16 Interpretive Gazebos along the Lincoln Highway, a 179-mile National Scenic Byway in Northern Illinois. The DeKalb gazebo offers a unique and interactive way for visitors to learn the significance of the highway in DeKalb while enjoying stories of the early Lincoln Highway and its other Illinois communities.

CITY: DeKalb

Natural Resource Center

The Natural Resource Center is located at Russell Preserve, and is open to the public on weekends. The Center offers a great stop for exploration and live animal viewing for all members of the family. The Center can be reserved by school groups and other organizations for outdoor educational field trips. While there, take a walk through Russell Preserve, beneath mature oaks and hickories, surrounded by woodland wildflowers. In the winter, Russell Preserve is a great place for tobogganning.

CITY: Genoa

Illinois Lincoln Highway

Take a journey on the Illinois Lincoln Highway, a 179 mile National Scenic Byway. From the Indiana border, west toward the mighty MIssissippi, you will find an adventure filled with variety, rich in history and heritage. As you travel the Lincoln Highway route across northern Illinois, take time to discover each communities' unique culture and special offerings and find a past era woven together with the present.

CITY: Belvidere

Great Western Trail

This 17-mile trail replaces the abandoned main line of the Chicago Great Western Railroad. It is a flat easy ride connecting the communities of St. Charles and Sycamore.

CITY: St. Charles

Beattie Park

Downtown park on the banks of the Rock River. Site of several Native American "Effigy Mounds," which have been preserved, and home to Rockford Artists Fair.

CITY: Rockford

Yaeger's Farm Market

Farm products available for purchase include plants, fresh fruits and vegetables, plus a wide variety of Amish jams and jellies. A pumpkin patch and corn maze are featured in the fall.

CITY: DeKalb

Royal Oak Farm Fruit Orchard

Enjoy 22 varieties of pick-your-own and pre-picked apples from August through October, breakfast or lunch in the Country Restaurant, a miniature train ride, carousel, petting zoo, gift shop and bakery, and seasonal events that include Applefest and Pumpkinfest.

CITY: Harvard

Rock Cut State Park

Beautiful Illinois state park with two lakes set off the park's 3,092 acres. Pierce Lake, with 162 acres, is a retreat for people wanting to fish, ice fish or ice skate. A second 50-acre Olson Lake is especially for swimmers. Fishing, boat launches, restored prairie and birdwatching, hiking, extensive campgrounds, paddleboat and canoe rental, horse and bike trails, cross-country ski trails and concessions.

CITY: Loves Park