The perfect group tour for lovers of history, arts and culture. Discover the rich heritage of the Northern Fox River Valley and enjoy boutique shopping, fine dining and entertainment with this three day tour.
Please contact the Elgin Area Convention and Visitors Bureau to check on availability and rates for your group.
Day One
As you arrive in Chicagoland’s Northern Fox River Valley, we begin our journey through the area by shopping at one of its finest and largest shopping centers, Algonquin Commons. Featuring large national retailers, local boutiques and great restaurants, Algonquin Commons is a great place for your group to stroll, discover great bargains and meet new friends.
Today we will enjoy lunch at Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano (located at Algonquin Commons), one of the many unique dining options the Northern Fox River Valley has to offer. Biaggi’s is an outstanding Italian restaurant set in a fun, casual, comfortable white-tablecloth atmosphere. They offer an extensive menu featuring a full selection of house-made and imported pasta, soups & salads, pizza, fresh seafood, chicken, veal, steaks and desserts.
After lunch and more shopping, our next stop this afternoon takes a nostalgic trip back to an era when the electric trolley car was a vital part of American life. Board a genuine old-time trolley car at the Blackhawk Forest Preserve and enjoy the sights and sounds of this unique part of American history while it transports you over a two-mile trip to the Fox River Trolley Museum. The museum operates a variety of antique trolleys, many from lines long vanished, over trackage that once connected Carpentersville, Elgin, Aurora, and Yorkville.
Following this fun-filled afternoon, check into the hotel of your choice to relax, freshen up, and prepare for an evening of great dining. (Be sure to contact the Elgin Area Convention and Visitors Bureau for available rooms and rates at all of our area hotels.)
Tonight your group will enjoy the evening at the Grand Victoria Casino. Here they will delight in fine dining at its very best at the award-winning Buckinghams Steakhouse and Lounge. Sip on a signature cocktail in the lounge before enjoying a hand-chosen menu of exquisitely prepared beef, poultry, lamb, and seafood dishes, premier wines and decadent desserts in their elegant dining room. And after dinner, board the Grand Victoria Casino riverboat which boasts over 1,100 exciting slots, a countless variety of Vegas-style table games, and acclaimed gaming promotions and giveaways. Also be sure to check their entertainment schedule for which group may be performing during your stay.
Day Two
This morning enjoy a truly unique breakfast at Benedicts Eggs & More, where you will enjoy breakfast in this old charming renovated homestead! This place is a must-see for every group.
The first stop on today’s busy schedule will be at the Elgin Public Museum. Almost 100 years old, the Elgin Public Museum is the only natural history museum in the Elgin area. The museum offers exhibits and educational programs with natural history and cultural themes for anyone who wants to have fun while learning about the Elgin area. A natural history and anthropology museum, Elgin Public Museum is located in municipal Lords Park, home to real-life bison!
Next we move on to the Elgin Historical Society, home to five permanent exhibits that tell the rich history of our city’s beginnings, its architecture, the storied road race, and of course the Elgin National Watch Factory and industry.
A visit to State Street Market is next on our itinerary. A unique variety of quaint shops located in a 1920’s millworks building, this charmingly transformed Shoppers’ Delight holds over 35 shops and is a stop the shoppers in your group will certainly love.
Lunch today will be at the Walnut Speakeasy. Return to those thrilling days of yesteryear in the sophisticated yet casual dining atmosphere of the Walnut Speakeasy.
Our first stop after lunch is truly a one-of-its-kind attraction, the Illinois Railway Museum. The largest railway museum in the United States, here you will find yourself traveling back in time as you wander past historic streetcars, interurbans, steam and diesel locomotives.
Following another fun-filled afternoon, you return to the hotel to relax, freshen up, and prepare for another great evening.
Dinner tonight will be at the Anvil Club, located in historic East Dundee. Established in 1956, The Anvil Club is Chicago’s Premier Private Dining Club, renowned for great steaks & seafood and unsurpassed service. Contact the Elgin Area Convention & Visitors Bureau for special day passes into this exclusive dining experience. A special tour featuring the history of the club can also be arranged.
Day Three
After checking out of your hotel and boarding the coach, breakfast this morning will be at Alexander’s Restaurant, where your group will enjoy a scrumptious, home-cooked breakfast made fresh!.
Our final visit in the area is to the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Muirhead Farmhouse. The Muirhead family was among the first settlers in Kane County, establishing their farmstead on its current site in 1860. By the late 1940s, then owners Robert and Elizabeth Muirhead felt they had outgrown the original farmhouse and wanted something better suited for their growing family of five children. The result was a Usonian-style home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Mr. Wright thought a house should be designed to reflect the individual requirements of its occupants. The Muirheads had many discussions with the architect as to what they wanted and needed in a farm home. The Muirhead home remains in the family today and in 2003, underwent extensive restoration. In addition to the home, the surrounding 800 acres of farmland is also being restored. Purchased by the Kane County Forest Preserve, the land is being re-developed with native prairie wildflowers and grasses. Now known as the Muirhead Springs Preserve, the land features a 4 mile limestone trail loop that can be used by walkers, bicyclists and horse enthusiasts. An amazing ending to a wonderful visit to Chicagoland’s Northern Fox River Valley Area.
For lunch we will enjoy the Red Ox Restaurant, Hampshire’s favorite place to eat and have fun for the whole family, serving the best steaks in Hampshire and pizza with a full menu & weekly specials.
Depart for home.
