Elgin Getaway Full of Nature, Architecture, History and Small Business Discoveries

 

Adventure Exploring Local Eateries, Architecture, History and Nature in the Elgin Area

Disclosure: Thank you to Explore Elgin Area for hosting our visit.

Last weekend we visited Elgin, Illinois and the surrounding cities for a getaway and certainly picked the most magnificent weekend while the tulips downtown were fully abloom. The brilliant red, orange, and yellow blooms dazzled us and gave us a glimpse of the spirit that is alive in the Elgin Area. Although we do not live far from Elgin, our weekend exploration welcomed us to so many incredible sites, preserves and businesses that we had yet to uncover. Our weekend of discovery was just what we needed to rejuvenate. In my next series, I will share more about the spots we enjoyed in Elgin. Enjoy a little preview of our getaway below.

Brilliant tulips added magic to downtown Elgin.

Exploring the History and Architecture of the Elgin Area

Scrolling through Instagram last year, I spied several gorgeous Victorian homes in Elgin. I soon learned that Elgin holds a remarkable collection of historic homes. At that point, I knew I had to head to Elgin to admire these beautiful homes. Last weekend, the day to appreciate these amazing architectural treasures arrived! On this trip, my husband and I embarked on the historic home walking tour. Since it was raining on the first day of our visit, we drove the tour which worked out perfectly. The history we learned along the tour amazed us as much as the gorgeous structures. 

Historic homes throughout Elgin dazzle.

We also explored the perfect place to learn Elgin history, the Elgin History Museum, which not only holds an incredible range of artifacts but is housed inside of a historic building itself -- 1856 Old Main once part of the Elgin Academy campus. Inside the museum, we learned about the founders of Elgin, residents that fought in the Civil War, city industry including the Elgin National Watch Company, Elgin's past as the dairy capital of the world, road races in the early 1900s and much more. 

The Elgin History Museum presents the history of Elgin with a plethora of
intriguing artifacts and engaging exhibits.

Taking a little time for reflection, we marveled at the beauty and intricate design of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Chicago. Hand-carved Italian marble and Turkish sandstone help make visiting the Hindu site of worship awe-inspiring while introspective. The breathtaking mandir is a bit tucked away in Bartlett but is worthy of exploration. The grounds are spectacular as well.

The intricate hand-carved design of  BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Chicago is breathtaking!

We also spent a morning wandering the award-winning Gail Borden Public Library. The library holds incredible exhibits including the current hands-on The Wizard of Oz Educational Exhibition and another displaying artifacts found as local structures are being restored. Outside, we marveled at beautiful sculptures.

Visiting Scarecrow as part of Gail Borden Public Library's 
The Wizard of Oz Educational Exhibition.

Nature Experiences Await

A range of Elgin Area outdoor experiences welcomes nature adventurers. Opportunities to meander along the lovely Fox River, hike through the woodlands alive with wildlife like Hampshire Forest Preserve, admire the manmade nature haven Walton Island or savor pausing at the pond at Lords Park, unfold precious nature moments for all to enjoy. We packed a lot of unique nature experiences into our trip and I look forward to sharing them all. We particularly reveled in a tranquil walk at Eagles Forest Preserve spotting birds and wildflowers while pausing at gently flowing Tyler Creek.

Tyler Creek gently flows through the woodlands of Eagles Forest Preserve in Elgin, Illinois.

Small Business Exploration 

The Elgin Area includes a range of cities each with its own vibe and cache of small businesses. Whether you are visiting for the day or spending a bit longer in the region, many small business adventures await. We meandered a bit at several spots during our visit and talked to several owners. During our adventure, we explored a tattoo parlor and art gallery blend, Funky Rooster. We shopped from local makers at Meraki Market. We delighted in a sweet adventure at Cook's Sweet Boutique. So much to experience!

Tasty Adventure Through the Food Scene

We visited the Elgin Area during Elgin Area Eats Week and had fun choosing local eateries with specials on the foodie list for the week. We also managed to hit a few more spots as well. On a rainy afternoon, we relaxed with an adorable coffee flight at Eastside Cafe. Elgin Public House tempted us with scrumptious burgers. Birdette's Cracklin' Chicken treated us with a spin on comfort food with delicious gluten-free chicken wings. Peru Caters had us licking the plate clean with a creamy, Peruvian chicken. We also tried Elder + Oat's famous focaccia! On our sunny Saturday afternoon, we relaxed sipping brews out on the lawn at Plank Road Tap Room. So many flavors to explore!

Exploring the tasty finds of local eateries in the Elgin Area.

Overall Adventure

Our weekend adventure to the Elgin Area provided us the nearby escape we needed, amazing us with so many experiences not too far from home. We have visited the region before, yet my husband and I marveled at how much more there was to discover. We actually already have ideas on our list for our next visit -- there are so many treasures to experience! Follow me over the next couple of weeks as I go more in-depth into our finds. I will also link to them below so you can have easy access to create your own Elgin Area adventure.

• Elgin History Museum
• Elgin Historic Home Walking or Driving Tour
• Elgin Area Eats
• Hampshire Woods Forest Preserve
• Eagles Forest Preserve
• BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir
• Elgin Small Business Discoveries
• Gail Borden Public Library
• Walton Island