Lake County, Illinois is Home to Hidden Treasures and Country Pleasures
Enjoy a three-day tour to amazing hidden gems just north of Chicago From the flower-filled meadows of the Lake County Forest Preserves to outdoor festivals, live events and a range of shopping options, Lake County is a fantastic destination. Lake County is home to two amusement parks, eight museums, more than 31,000 acres of outdoor fun and is just an hour from Chicago.
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Enjoy These Attractions and More:
- Shanty in Wadsworth
- Wandering Tree Estate
- Historic Downtown Long Grove
- Sanfilippo Estate
- Volo Museum
Day-to-Day Lake County, Itinerary
Day One of Lake County Attractions
Enjoy a travel day. Check into your hotel and savor the dinner of your choice. May we suggest: The Shanty in Wadsworth, which was awarded the Enjoy Illinois Delicious Destination Award from the State of Illinois and has been recognized as one of Illinois’ Top Restaurants from the State Tourism Board in Springfield. The Shanty was featured on the Food Network’s hit show, “Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, ”as well as many other national television programs which have highlight edits Whiskey Shrimp, Tequila& Orange Grilled Salmon and its Premium Hand-Cut Aged Steaks.
Day Two of Things To Do in Lake County
Start with a visit to the Wandering Tree Estate in North Barrington. Scenic railways created by renowned artist and designer Elaine Silets quietly weave paths throughout the wandering tree multi-acre estate gardens and grounds. Transporting visitors into one of the most uniquely beautiful private estates in the country, in this10-acregarden you will experience: The Shabui Garden Railway; a Japanese water and stroll garden; The Gloree and Tryumphant Garden Railway, which includes over 6,000 linear feet of track, bridges, trestles and two separate waterfalls that flow into two miniature lakes Enjoy lunch at Chessie’s Restaurant in Barrington in the train car. Chessie’s was built around Barrington’s former train station and features a unique dining experience in a vintage Illinois Central railroad dining car. The menu ranges from appetizers to salads, sandwiches, pasta, fresh fish, and USDA-choice steaks. Next, pay a visit to Historic Downtown Long Grove, home of the famous covered bridge and unique shops.
Surrounded by the charm of a small town, nestled within the cobblestone-lined streets, adventures are waiting to be explored. Festivals throughout the year including the famous Chocolate Fest, Strawberry Fest, Craft Beer Fest, Apple Fest and month-long of holiday festivities to name a few. Pay a stop to Broken Earth Winery in Long Grove, which offers a full selection of wines from its vineyard in Paso Robles California by the bottle, glass, half glass, or a variety of wine flights. Tour the Sock Monkey Museum, home of the world’s largest private collection of these unique toys. Your group may also make their own to take home. Then, shop the quaint stores and have dinner at The Village Tavern, Illinois’ oldest operating establishment. The Village Tavern has been in continuous operation since 1849. This family-owned restaurant has been a favorite ‘watering hole’ for generations. The warm and friendly ‘pub’ atmosphere of this classic restaurant attracts locals and tourists alike. There is live entertainment six nights a week. It is renowned for its great steaks, Angus beef hamburgers, hearty sandwiches and fish fry.
Day Three of Lake County Attractions
Start your day with a tour of the Sanfilippo Estate in Barrington. This private estate features one of the world’s finest collections of restored, automatic musical instruments and other turn-of-the-century antiques. The Sanfilippo Place de la Musique is known worldwide for its magnificent collections of beautifully restored antique music machines, phonographs, arcade and gambling machines, chandeliers, art glass, the world’s largest restored theatre pipe organ, the most spectacular European salon carousel in existence, street and tower clocks, steam engines and other functional mechanical antiques, displayed within a breathtaking French Second Empire setting. Next, visit Wild Onion Pub and Breweryin Lake Barrington. Savor fresh handcrafted beers from its own Wild Onion Brewery and hearty comfort food. The timber-framed bar and dining room, anchored by a massive stone fireplace, create a comfortable atmosphere that has made The Onion a local favorite since 2003.
The Great Hall banquet facility can accommodate 200 people and is anchored by a large timber-framed cathedral ceiling that overlooks a beautiful 11-acre lake. Later, your group can tour the Volo Museum in Volo, one of the nation’s largest auto museums. Experience over 50 exhibits and over 10,000 mechanical marvels. The attractions include over 50 Hollywood vehicles, Jurassic Gardens (a 15,000-square-foot indoor animatronic dinosaur park), a vintage ice-cream parlor, a pizzeria, a Hollywood train museum, seasonal trolley and double decker bus rides and one of the largest antique malls in the country with 300 vendors. To satiate your appetite, your group can then take in a dinner and musical at Lincoln shire Marriott Resort in Lincolns hire, the nation’s most subscribed theater. See the best of Broadway at the Marriott Theatre featuring five great musicals every year. The intimate arena theatre is designed so everyone has the best seat in the house.
The theatre earns lavish praise from critics, receiving a record 370 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations, Chicago’s highest theatrical honor for artistic achievement Another option is the Ravinia Festival (seasonal), North America’s oldest outdoor music festival. Ravinia is an internationally renowned not-for-profit music festival that presents outstanding performances by the world’s greatest artists. The enchanting 36-acre park boasts four venues and the popular Lawn, where picnicking is an art. On the way home, your group will be amazed while reflecting on all of the amazing sites tucked away in Lake County and be glad they didn’t have to visit a big city to be impressed. However you choose to piece together your tour, your knowledgeable Lake County coordinator Jayne Nordstrom will be on hand to assist you.
For more great travel stories, Read the Full Leisure Group Travel Magazine and Subscribe to the Newsletter for FREE
