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There's no need to go far for summer fun. Just 50 miles northwest of Chicago, you'll find a vacationland: beautiful McHenry county.
From outdoor recreation to Wild West entertainment, WGNTV's Julian Crews is on the trail to adventure.
The Illinois Railway Museum in Union and it's amazing collection of cable cars, trains and buses is a museum in motion. The museum is manned by volunteers who spend years refurbishing trains like a 1928 North Shore car.
"It's just something that's in your blood," said Joe Stupar of the Illinois Railway Museum. "You just feel it."
Frank Sirinek of the Illinois Railway Museum said, "Every block one could catch a street car and get anywhere in the city."
The museum is $12 for adults and $8 for kids, and is your all-inclusive ticket to ride. It's classic Americana.
Also in McHenry county is the McHenry Outdoor Theater, one of the last drive-in's anywhere.
If music feeds your soul, enjoy recording stars like John Hegner at the historic Woodstock Opera House.
You can also get a taste of the Wild West in McHenry.
It's high noon at Donley's Wild West Town. It has shows, canoe rides and carousels designed for young kids. But adults love the steakhouse, a great place to eat.
At Glacial Park's 3,300 acres, you can slip into Nippersink Creek with the help of Flatwater Canoe & Kayak rentals.
Starting at $40, they'll drive you to the launch and scoop you up when you're done.
"I had some people out on Saturday," said Ed Erickson of Flatwater Canoe & Kayak Rental. "One lady was about 65 or 70 years old. She loved it."
You'll marvel over weird mounds known as "kames." These majestic kames are a thousand feet above sea level. Scientists say they were formed by the melting glaciers about 18,000 years ago.
And if you can muster up the energy to climb up to the top of these beautiful hills, what a panoramic vista you will have of McHenry County.
Illinois Railway Museum 7000 Olson Road
Union, IL 60180
815-923-4000 or 1-800-BIG-RAIL.
Donley's Wild West Town Route 20 & South Union Road
From outdoor recreation to Wild West entertainment, WGNTV's Julian Crews is on the trail to adventure.
The Illinois Railway Museum in Union and it's amazing collection of cable cars, trains and buses is a museum in motion. The museum is manned by volunteers who spend years refurbishing trains like a 1928 North Shore car.
"It's just something that's in your blood," said Joe Stupar of the Illinois Railway Museum. "You just feel it."
Frank Sirinek of the Illinois Railway Museum said, "Every block one could catch a street car and get anywhere in the city."
The museum is $12 for adults and $8 for kids, and is your all-inclusive ticket to ride. It's classic Americana.
Also in McHenry county is the McHenry Outdoor Theater, one of the last drive-in's anywhere.
If music feeds your soul, enjoy recording stars like John Hegner at the historic Woodstock Opera House.
You can also get a taste of the Wild West in McHenry.
It's high noon at Donley's Wild West Town. It has shows, canoe rides and carousels designed for young kids. But adults love the steakhouse, a great place to eat.
At Glacial Park's 3,300 acres, you can slip into Nippersink Creek with the help of Flatwater Canoe & Kayak rentals.
Starting at $40, they'll drive you to the launch and scoop you up when you're done.
"I had some people out on Saturday," said Ed Erickson of Flatwater Canoe & Kayak Rental. "One lady was about 65 or 70 years old. She loved it."
You'll marvel over weird mounds known as "kames." These majestic kames are a thousand feet above sea level. Scientists say they were formed by the melting glaciers about 18,000 years ago.
And if you can muster up the energy to climb up to the top of these beautiful hills, what a panoramic vista you will have of McHenry County.
Illinois Railway Museum 7000 Olson Road
Union, IL 60180
815-923-4000 or 1-800-BIG-RAIL.
Donley's Wild West Town Route 20 & South Union Road
