Elgin, Illinois Itinerary

Exploring the Best of Elgin and Beyond

Less than an hour’s drive from downtown Chicago, the Elgin Area abounds with exciting options for tour groups. They can stroll the historic districts of Elgin, ride an antique trolley, try their luck at a popular riverboat casino and take a virtual trip to India touring a magnificent Hindu temple. Shopping, dining and sightseeing options abound in Elgin and environs.

Ready for more travel inspiration? Download the full Leisure Group Travel October edition and subscribe to the FREE newsletter to stay updated with the latest travel stories.

Enjoy These Great Attractions and More:

Elgin’s Downtown Commercial Historic District
Elgin History Museum
Fishers Nuts Outlet Store
B.A.P.S. Shri Swaminarayan Mandir
Elgin Public Museum of Natural History & Anthropology

Day-to-Day Elgin Itinerary

Day 1 of Things to Do in Elgin

Begin your exploration of the Elgin Area with a guided architectural walking tour through Elgin’s Downtown Commercial Historic District. Buildings, some of them dating to the 1880s, range in styles from Queen Anne to Art Deco. At the Elgin History Museum, learn about the Elgin National Watch Company. For nearly 100 years, its factory was the world’s largest site dedicated to watch making. Other fascinating exhibits tell stories of what makes Elgin tick.

Lunch today is downtown at Al’s Cafe, a local favorite residing in an 1892 Victorian building. Al’s is known for its comfort food and thick malts and shakes.

Your afternoon shopping whirl in Elgin starts at State Street Market Shops, where more than 30 boutiques occupy a former 1920s millwork factory. Stalls offer everything from vintage jewelry to Christmas decor. Next, visit Fishers Nuts Outlet Store and smell the aroma of roasting nuts at the John B. Sanfilippo & Son factory and corporate center. Help yourself to free samples, grind your own peanut butter, and bag bargains on monthly specials. Choose from a wide variety of nuts and trail mixes.

Tonight, dine and tempt Lady Luck at Grand Victoria Casino in downtown Elgin. This massive riverboat gaming parlor on the Fox River offers 700 slots and Vegas-style table games. Dining options include Buckinghams Steakhouse.

Explore our latest travel edition now! Download the full Leisure Group Travel October edition and subscribe to our FREE newsletter for regular updates.

Day 2 Attractions in Elgin

Begin your day touring B.A.P.S. Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Bartlett, the largest Hindu temple in North America. It dazzles visitors with its luminescent pinnacles, exotic domes, and photogenic fountains and gardens. The exhibition Understanding Hinduism sheds light on a religion practiced by one of every seven of the world’s people.

For a little trip back in time, your group can board an old-time trolley at the Fox River Trolley Museum in South Elgin. The four-mile roundtrip runs on the track of an interurban electric line that ran about 40 miles along the Fox River.

Lunch is at the Elgin Public House, a downtown standby that serves up elevated pub food.

This afternoon we head out to Hampshire to tour Muirhead Farmhouse, the only farmhouse designed and built by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Stop for a cool treat at The Milk House Ice Cream on a century-old family farm in Pingree Grove. At picnic tables out doors or in the barn, enjoy flavors like Bake Sale Lemon Bar and Fresh Cantaloupe. The waffle cones and super-premium ice cream are made fresh daily.

If you’re doing a fall trip, head to Goebbert’s Pumpkin Patch and Apple Orchard in Pingree Grove. Buy some apple cider donuts and enjoy activities like camel rides and pig races. Giraffes, prairie dogs and other animals add to the fun.

This evening, consider a performance at Hemmens Cultural Center in downtown Elgin. It stages a wide variety of entertainment, from improv comedy to Elgin Symphony Orchestra concerts.

Day 3 of Activities in Elgin

Start the day with a guided walking tour of homes and churches in one of Elgin’s historic districts. Then view the exhibits and walk the trails at Hawthorn Hill Nature Center. Next, head to the Elgin Public Museum of Natural History & Anthropology in Lord’s Park. Then pay a visit to the elk, bison and deer at Lord’s Park Zoo.

For lunch, travel to historic downtown West Dundee, home to popular restaurants like Emmett’s Brewing Co., The Village Squire, Elder + Oat and Bleuroot.