St. Charles, just one hour west of Chicago, is near enough to start your "Getaway Right Away!" This historic city on the Fox River is known nationally for its antiques shops and spectacular antiques shows, held throughout the year. Make it a total weekend of treasure hunting by combining your getaway on the first Sunday and preceding Saturday of any month for the Kane County Flea Market. Opening in 1967, the monthly event has never been cancelled and features up to 1,000 dealers throughout the Kane County Fairgrounds in St. Charles. Click on www.visitstcharles.com for more information on special events and great getaway overnight packages.

Area Attractions

Canoe & Pedal Boat Rentals: Pottawatomie Park Enjoy the scenery from the waters of the Fox River! Rentals: Mid-May through Mid-August. All rentals launch from the River View Miniature Golf Complex within Pottawatomie Park. Deposit required. Children age 15 and younger must be accompanied by an adult (age 18+). All rentals are subject to safe river & weather conditions. Sorry, no boat rentals on July 4th. Admission Charge. For more information on the St. Charles area, visit their website. Attraction Type: Recreation.	8 North Ave. St. Charles, IL 60174 630-584-1028
Century Corners A group of shops in historic buildings along the Fox River. Free. For more information on the St. Charles area, visit their website. Attraction Type: Shopping Center.	Main St. and 2nd Ave. St. Charles, IL 630-377-6161
Downtown St. Charles Plenty of bike racks and lots of eateries and quaint shops to enjoy. Bike Trail runs both on the west and east side of the Fox River. Pottawatomie and Mount St. Mary Parks are ideal, scenic locations to have a picnic. For more information on the St. Charles area, visit their website. Attraction Type: Biking.	Downtown St. Charles St. Charles, IL 630-377-6161
Fine Line Creative Arts Center Open: Mon-Sat. Come take a trip to the country. Located just minutes off the beaten path, the Fine Line Creative Arts Center offers classes in Weaving, Watercolor, Surface Design, Spinning, Pottery, Pastels, Painting, Knitting, Metals, Glass, Dyeing, Drawing, Crochet, Collage, Ceramics & Baskets. Our supply shop is located in the barn & carries beautiful yarn, books & other class supplies - well worth the trip. The Dempsey Gallery is located on the 1st floor of our 100+ year old renovated barn & features our members' works for sale. The Kavanagh Gallery is located in the newer Kavanagh Building & hosts 6-7 exhibits per year. Shows range from national & regional juried shows to one person & group events. Please visit our website. Free. For more information on the St. Charles area, visit their website. Attraction Type: Museum.	6N158 Crane Road St. Charles, IL 60174 630-584-9490
Fox River Trail 32 miles of biking along the Fox River. Trail is paved and smooth-surface limestone. Features some of the most scenic trails of the Fox River. Points of interest include Carpenters Dam, Fox River Shores, Tyler Creek, Voyageur Landing, Shoemaker Nature Center, Fabyan Forest Preserve, Villa Museum, Japanese Garden, Fabyan Windmill, Les Arends and Glenwood Park. For more information on the St. Charles area, visit their website. Attraction Type: Biking Trail.	Trail Start: Algonquin Trail End: Aurora 630-377-6161
Fox River Trail 32-mile paved trail along the Fox River offers scenic views, parks, and playgrounds through Aurora, Batavia, Dundee, Elgin, Geneva and St. Charles. Free. For more information on the St. Charles area, visit their website. Attraction Type: Recreation.	Rt. 31 and 25 Geneva, IL 630-232-2631
Fox Valley Segway Tours Experience the natural charms of St. Charles while gliding on the Segway Personal Transporter. Prior to your tour, you'll be given a safety demo (it's EASY!) and then a guide well-versed in St. Charles' facts and history will lead you throughout our beautiful city! Admission Charge. For more information on the St. Charles area, visit their website. Attraction Type: Tour.	Downtown St. Charles St. Charles , IL 60174 847-489-6559
Great Western Trail This 17 mile trail replaces the abandoned mainline of the Chicago Great Western Railroad. It is a flat easy ride connecting the communities of St. Charles and Sycamore. The 100 foot corridor through the varied terrain of western Kane County is home to interesting bird and animal life as well as native wildflowers. The trail is a smooth surface of limestone with sections of asphalt. For more information on the St. Charles area, visit their website. Attraction Type: Biking Trail.	Trail Start: St. Charles Trail End: Sycamore 630-377-6161
Historic Downtown Antique Shopping A dozen antique shops including Antique Market I, II & III with over 75 antique dealers. Free. For more information on the St. Charles area, visit their website. Attraction Type: Shopping Center.	Main St. & 3rd St. St. Charles, IL 800-777-4373
Hotel Baker Hotel Baker, located on the Fox River, was constructed in 1928 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its unique, oval-shaped ballroom features a lighted floor - one of only four IN THE WORLD constructed in the 1920's. Each of the 53 guest rooms is just a little bit different - as hotel builder/owner "Colonel" Baker wanted each visit to be unique for guests to his St. Charles landmark. The Colonel had the hotel constructed to house overnight guests who traveled to St. Charles to experience the Arcada Theatre - built two years earlier, in 1926. Free. For more information on the St. Charles area, visit their website. Attraction Type: Special Interest.	100 W. Main Street St. Charles, IL 60174 630-584-2100
Kane County Cougars Baseball Class A minor league baseball affiliated with the Florida Marlins franchise. Admission Charge. For more information on the St. Charles area, visit their website. Attraction Type: Event / Sports Venue.	Elfstrom Stadium 34W002 Cherry Lane Geneva, IL 630-232-8811
Kane County Flea Market The "Best in the Midwest or Anywhere", this flea market attracts thousands of visitors every month. Admission Charge. For more information on the St. Charles area, visit their website. Attraction Type: Special Interest.	Kane County Fairgrounds Rt. 64 and Randall Rd. St. Charles, IL 630-377-2252
Norris Cultural Arts Center This art gallery also has a 1,000-seat theater for the performing arts. Free. For more information on the St. Charles area, visit their website. Attraction Type: Theater / Performing Arts.	1040 Dunham Rd. St. Charles, IL 630-584-7200
Old St. Charles Landmark buildings filled with unique shops and restaurants. Free. For more information on the St. Charles area, visit their website. Attraction Type: Special Interest.	Main and 3rd St. St. Charles, IL 630-584-7200
Pheasant Run Resort NobleFool Comedy Theater Complete resort with a convention center, 18-hole golf course, dinner theater, children's theater, comedy club, fitness club, spa, shops and pools. Free. For more information on the St. Charles area, visit their website. Attraction Type: Theater / Performing Arts.	4051 E. Main St. St. Charles, IL 630-584-6300
Pottawatomie Park Historic park offers swimming pools, picnic areas, shelters, playgrounds, volleyball court, Seasonal canoe and pedal boat rentals available May through the fall season. Nine hole golf course, 18 hole miniature golf course. Located along the Fox River Trail. For more information on the St. Charles area, visit their website. Attraction Type: Biking.	8 North Avenue St. Charles, IL 630-513-6200
St. Charles Belle and Fox River Queen Relax on these replica steamboats as they travel along the Fox River for a sightseeing tour. Admission Charge. For more information on the St. Charles area, visit their website. Attraction Type: Tour.	Pottawatomie Park 2 North Ave. St. Charles, IL 630-584-2334
St. Charles Farmer's Market Old-fashioned Farmers' Market held every Friday from 7am-1pm. All markets include fresh harvested and locally grown fruits, vegetables, bread, meat, fresh cut and potted flowers and garden art. Open June through October For more information on the St. Charles area, visit their website. Attraction Type: Farmer's Markets.	East Main at 4th Ave. St. Charles, IL 630-584-6680
Steel Beam Theatre Live theater presentations in an intimate, historic setting. Special performances for groups can be arranged. Admission Charge. For more information on the St. Charles area, visit their website. Attraction Type: Theater / Performing Arts.	111 W. Main St. St. Charles, IL 630-587-8521
Tekakwitha Woods Nature Center Only 8 minutes north of downtown St. Charles. Nestled in the woods along the Fox River. The Tekakwitha Nature Center offers nature programs and activities for all ages. The center contains lively exhibits, a wildlife observation room and a discovery corner for children. For more information on the St. Charles area, visit their website. Attraction Type: Biking.	35W076 Villa Marie Road St. Charles, IL 847-741-8350
The Arcada Theatre The Arcada Theatre is a unique 1926 vaudeville house located in the heart of downtown St. Charles. With recent renovations the Onesti Entertainment Corporation is proud of this "Gem of the Fox Valley," that has its original state of elegance, complete with the original pipe organ that rises from within the stage floor. Some of the biggest names in entertainment perform in front of the nine-hundred enthusiastic audience members. Admission Charge. For more information on the St. Charles area, visit their website. Attraction Type: Theater / Performing Arts.	105 E. Main Street St. Charles, IL 60174 630-587-8400
Zanies Comedy Nite Club We'll make you laugh! Featuring the funniest comedians from accross the country. Admission Charge. For more information on the St. Charles area, visit their website. Attraction Type: Special Interest.	Pheasant Run Resort & Spa 4051 E. Main St. Charles, IL 630-513-1761

Upcoming Events

Scarecrow Festival Oct. 8, 2010 - Oct. 11, 2010 Straw will fly in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the St. Charles Scarecrow Festival held on Oct. 8-10, 2010 in downtown St. Charles. Over 100 whimsical hand-crafted scarecrows will show-off their stuff in hopes of being chosen the best in the ever popular Scarecrow Contest. Entries are constructed with care by creative families, clubs, businesses and individuals for festival guests to view and vote for their favorites in seven categories. The festival activities include a huge riverside arts & craft show, live entertainment, lots of free kids activities, petting zoo, carnival and the popular make-your-own scarecrow where friends and families can make a scarecrow to take home. Join us in celebrating twenty five years of scarecrow fun with new events planned including an amazing indoor Lego Train exhibit featuring an out of this world Star Wars display . So much to do and see . . . make it a weekend in charming St. Charles, Illinois. Free. For more information on the St. Charles area, visit their website. Event Type: Festival.

Downtown St. Charles St. Charles, IL 800-777-4373