Route 20 Road Trip

Morning

Country Donuts is a great spot to start the morning off right. Their menu includes the best assortment of donuts you can get, an extensive coffee menu and more filling breakfast options like breakfast sandwiches! We also highly recommend Alexander’s Cafe. Alexander’s provides ample indoor seating, great food for breakfast or lunch and it’s conveniently located near Elgin and West Dundee hotels.

We think every good road trip needs to include an experience you can’t get anywhere else, and for Elgin that is goat yoga! Enjoy a morning of outdoor goat yoga at Reverse the Kerrs Farm! This yoga class allows you the opportunity to be one with nature, one with goats, and one with your soul. Relax among beautiful wetlands, full of a variety of birds and other wildlife that provide a beautiful chorus of sounds from sunrise to sunset.

But if goat yoga doesn’t sound like your ideal activity, Elgin is home to numerous golf courses. The Highlands of Elgin is an premier golfing destination that features the original nine holes that flow over beautiful rolling terrain, while the new nine holes reclaim an old stone quarry, and take maximum advantage of the unique and dramatic land forms that were left behind, including a twelve acre quarry lake. Four holes hug the top of the bluff thirty to forty feet above the water providing golfers with incredible views and numerous shot options on each hole. There’s also Bowes Creek Country Club which has a “member-for-a-day” rate (instead of greens fees), or Wing Park Golf Course.

If you’re an architecture enthusiast, schedule a tour of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Muirhead Farmhouse. It is the only known farmhouse designed and built by Wright during his lifetime. The 3,200 sq. ft. home is an example of Wright’s Usonian architecture. Designed by Wright in 1950 and constructed between 1951 and 1953, the Farmhouse underwent an extensive restoration in 2003 and now remains in the care of the Muirhead family.

Afternoon

After your workout or home tour, you might be feeling ready for a treat. Just minutes from yoga and the farmhouse sits The Milk House Ice Cream in Pingree Grove. The Milk House Ice Cream Shop is part of the Illinois Office of Tourism’s Illinois Made program. What people love most is their delicious treats, and they are always trying new, unique, and interesting flavors, the homemade waffle cones are amazing, and the staff is incredibly friendly. The Milk House Ice Cream is a great place to take the kids, especially since they’re open year-round!

There’s also Plank Road Tap Room if your traveling party is all over 21 years old. Recently named one of Chicago area’s best craft beer bars, and voted best beer garden in the suburbs, you can enjoy a cold beer, cider, or wine on their beautiful 7 acre property.  Food trucks serve a variety of dinner options on weekends, like BBQ, toasted cheese, and tacos!

Plan on lunch at Sammy’s Mexican Grill, Sushi Station, Old Republic Kitchen+ Bar, Bennigan’s or Paul’s Family Restaurant.

And if you like shopping for fresh produce. Across the street from Plank Road Tap Room, sits Kleins Farm & Garden Market. This local farmers market features the highest quality flowers, fruits, and vegetables in the area, along with other locally sourced fare like honey! Pasek Farms shares the parking lot and can help with all of your meat needs.

Afternoon

Now that you’re caffeinated and fed, you’ll want to burn off some of that energy by taking a stroll around town.  Our Historic Districts boast 667 structures including churches, houses, flats, apartments, and businesses. Like art? Then visit some of our art galleries, shops and theatre spaces. Or take the self-guided Elgin Public Art Tour which includes murals and sculptures in Elgin’s downtown plus a map to help lead the way!

And when you’re ready for lunch we have some local favorites to recommend, like Al’s Cafe & Creamery located in an 1892 historical building. El Patio of Elgin, Elgin Public House, Walnut Speakeasy, Danny’s on Douglas, and more can be found all within walking distance of the downtown.

Have kids? You’ll find plenty to do with the kids around town.  Stop by the newly renovated Festival Park along the river and enjoy the splash pad and a playground with plenty of climbing opportunities. Or take in a movie in the park, and live entertainment during the summer and fall.  During the winter months, you can admire the animated Christmas lights throughout the park. If you’re looking to add an educational element to your trip, Elgin is home to three museums; the Elgin History Museum,  Elgin Public Museum, and Elgin Fire Barn No 5 Museum, with engaging interactive opportunities. The award-winning Gail Borden Public Library is a must-see on your trip. As the third largest public library building in Illinois, the kids will have access to a whole wing dedicated to children’s books and activities! And with a library, this big entire family is sure to find a book or experience like eagle watching that peaks their interest, like eagle watching!

If you’re looking for an active activity, Elgin’s Fox River Trails provide adventurists with more than 40 miles of guaranteed fun. Spirited cyclists, hikers, kayakers, and families will enjoy these scenic trails seeing historic sites and railroad lines, crossing six bridges, and passing through multiple nature preserves.

Test your wits at Escapade 360. Try to escape features family-friendly themed rooms. They’re fun and safe for guests ages 12 and up and since it’s located right in Downtown Elgin, it’s just a few feet from several restaurants like BeaUnique Latin Kitchen and Kubo Sushi & Sake Lounge.