DAY?

12+ hours of dining, destinations & activities around Kane County

Lunch

For lunch, head out to GIA MIA pizza bar, in Geneva or St. Charles, for its “chef-driven, farm-to-fork food concepts” such as Neapolitan style wood-fired pizzas, fresh pasta, antipasto, and hand-made mozzarella. GIA MIA also has a mixology bar with specialty craft beers and an exclusive wine list.

Afternoon

After lunch, make tracks to the FermiLab in Batavia where you can tour the U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory. This is where researchers explore the fundamental nature of matter and energy, space and time. You can also tour the grounds where you’ll see Fermilab’s buffalo herd. There are monthly events to attend as well. Find out more by subscribing to Fermilab Frontiers, Fermilab’s community newsletter.

MID-AFTERNOON

After absorbing the wonders of physics, why not relax with a 50-minute boat ride on a St. Charles Paddlewheel Boat up the river and back. There’s even a sunset boat ride.

Dinner

For dinner, Stockholm’s Restaurant and Brewery in Geneva offers a step above your typical brewhouse fare. Their beer is handcrafted onsite. Teetotalers, please note they brew their own root beer, too. Their seasonal from-scratch menu includes favorites like mouthwatering ribs, brisket grilled cheese sandwiches and a great seafood selection.

Evening

After dinner, it’s back to St. Charles, where you’ll spend an evening at the historic, beautiful Arcada Theatre. Take in a live show with just about any genre of rock, oldies, and Hollywood nearly 200 days a year, plus occasional silent movies for old movie buffs. Upstairs, enjoy Club Arcada, a Roaring 20s-themed restaurant and bar for late-night libations.

There you have it: your Kane County day trip. But know there are way more sights to see, activities to enjoy, and places to eat throughout the county. You can start your search with Google and local tourism bureaus.

By Patti MacMillan

The Children’s Garden at The Morton Arboretum

4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle 630-968-0074 | www.mortonarb.org

Nestled safely within 1,700 acres of woodlands, wetlands and prairie is the Children’s Garden. The four-acre space provides a variety of activities and plenty of room for imaginative play, meaning everyone from toddlers to preteens is bound to have fun. Kids can explore the natural world by clambering atop giant acorns or whizzing down tree root slides. A ropes course leads to the top of Evergreen Lookout, where visitors can enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the surrounding area. Outside the Children’s Garden sits a large hedge maze and beyond, miles upon miles of hiking trails lined with trees and the first of spring blooms. The Morton Arboretum is open year-round.