Nestled along the Fox River in Northern Illinois, the Fox Valley is a picture-perfect area with residential communities surrounded by nature and culture. You will never run out of things to do and see while you’re here.
Take a look at a few of the sights and activities that you can enjoy in and around the valley.
- Go biking and hiking on the Fox River Trail
Meandering through eight communities along the Fox River, this trail runs more than 38 miles and passes several historic landmarks, such as the Fox Trolley Museum, the Batavia Depot Museum, and the C.B.&Q. Roundhouse. Other trail highlights include Fox River Shores, Tyler Creek, Carpenter’s Dam, and Fabyan Forest Preserve. In the winter, the trail is a popular cross-country skiing destination.
- Explore Buffalo Rock State Park
Located a little over an hour from Greater Fox Valley, Buffalo Rock State Park provides breathtaking views of the Illinois River from a bluff that was once an island on the river. It’s widely known for its giant earthen sculptures called the Effigy Tumuli, which depicts a snake, a catfish, a turtle, a frog, and an insect – all native inhabitants of the river.
- Visit the Fabyan Windmill
The Fabyan Windmill is considered one of the most authentic Dutch windmills in the United States. Standing 68 feet tall, this 6-story structure was built in the 1850s by German immigrant Louis Blackhaus originally 20 miles from its current location in Geneva, IL. It can be accessed from the Fox River Trail, and the slope around it is a popular sledding venue in winter.
- Experience rural Illinois at the Abbey Farms
Abbey Farms was opened in the 1930s by the Monks of Marmion Abbey, who operated the 100-acre farmland until 2009 when management of the facility was turned over to a lay person. Now a non-profit eco-tourism destination that still benefits the monks, Abbey Farm features fun attractions for the family, including corn and rope mazes, giant slides, a go-cart track, and tractor rides. You can also get your own pumpkin here in the fall and a Christmas tree in the winter.
Abbey Farms is located at 2855 Hart Road, Aurora, IL.
- Go back in time at the Fabyan Villa Museum
This museum is the centerpiece of a lavish estate that served as home to Colonel George and Nelle Fabyan from 1905 to 1939. The villa is particularly notable because it was remodeled by famous American architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1907, and became a showcase of the Fabyans’ wealth and opulence. Now included in the National Register of Historic Places, the villa museum houses the Fabyans’ collection of Asian artifacts, natural specimens, historical relics, and others. The grounds feature the 100-year-old Fabyan Japanese Garden, and the Fabyan Forest Preserve is just steps away.
Fabyan Villa Museum is located at 1925 S. Batavia Avenue, Geneva, IL.
- Relive interesting moments in history at the Batavia Depot Museum
The Batavia Depot Museum is best known for its exhibit on the brief stay of Mary Todd Lincoln, President Abraham Lincoln’s widow, at the nearby Bellevue Place sanitarium, where she was sent after she was declared insane in 1875. In addition to this quirky exhibit, the Batavia Depot Museum also features artifacts and memorabilia on other notable Batavia citizens, as well as life and industries in the town throughout history.
The Batavia Depot Museum is located at 155 Houston St., Batavia, IL.
If you want to learn more the Fox Valley and the beautiful communities here, contact Miscella Real Estate here or call 630-232-1570.