Geneva, Illinois
Geneva, as Laura likes to say, is Illinois’s capital of cute. Set along the Fox River, with a quaint main street full of bakeries, coffee shops, and boutiques specializing primarily in whimsical knick knacks, it should provide enough entertainment for a day or two of window shopping and breaking your diet. These are a few of our favorites:
Breakfast and sweet treats
Graham’s is a Geneva classic. Go to the original for ice cream, or Graham’s 318 down the street for more of a cafe vibe.
All Chocolate Kitchen. The celebrity chef behind this aptly called All Chocolate Kitchen has multiple Guiness World Records for various chocolate-related feats. Don’t be surprised if you find a full size chocolate astronaut or some other chocolatey surprise.
Egg Harbor. A classic breakfast spot decorated with roosters on roosters on roosters.
Buttermilk. The millenial version of the above.
Nosh. Same.
Food
Bien Trucha - always listed as one of the best Mexican restaurants in Chicagoland. Be ready for a long wait, and for Robb to roll his eyes when you tell him you went to that place that all the city folks make a day trip for.
Atlas Chicken Shack - It is, as the name spells it out, just a shack with nowhere to sit. But they have fried chicken sandwiches worth standing for.
Walrus Room - mark your visit to the great MidWest with a visit to this “modern supper club”
Gia Mia - an Italian restaurant perhaps less hip than some of your other options… but what can we say? we love it.
Activities
Go for a walk or rent a bike along the Fox River Trail. If you head south from Geneva along the trail, you’ll find all sorts of things to explore, including a full size windmill, some Japanese Gardens of the beautiful Fabyan Estate, which is open for tours at somewhat unpredictable times.
Rent a kayak or a paddle board and get on the water!
Chicago
In case you don’t already know this… Chicago is hands down one of the most incredible cities in the world*, and you should absolutely make some time to explore while you are here.
The city is very easily accessible from Geneva. The Metra, or commuter rail, departs about once an hour and is only $10 for an unlimited weekend pass. There are too many incredible museums, neighborhoods, restaurants and things to do to list them all, but these are some of our very favorite:
*terms apply in summertime only
Food and Drinks (or the Robb & Laura experience):
The Darling for fancy cocktails in a “speak easy” hidden behind a flower shop
The Robey Hotel for a great rooftop cocktail at the Up Room, where we got engaged, or for a midcentury pool side drink, at the Cabana Club
Dove’s Luncheonette for a delicious and inexpensive hip diner meal
The Purple Pig for delicious, delicious small plates near the Magnificent Mile and other touristy attractions
For the best burger of your life: Au Cheval (or its more accessible younger sibling, Small Cheval). Do plan ahead, they take no reservations but wait times can be hours long… just get on their list then walk around fun Fulton Market until your name is called.
Sightseeing
For a fantastic walk (yes, again with the walking. There are many bars along the way, we promise) The Riverwalk.
For the view: skip the Sears Tower and head to Cindy’s Rooftop bar for an overpriced cocktail with a view. Bonus: you get to walk through the Chicago Athletic Association, a converted men’s only country club that’s now a very cool hotel with what the Groom would describe as “satisfying fonts”.
Get on the water: Forget about the red tour buses, you gotta see Chicago from the river. Take the Chicago Architecture Foundation’s River Boat tour for a truly top notch guided tour. If you’re more into exercise than nerdy architecture facts, then go for a kayak tour.
The Art Institute. Yes, we know, not the most original recommendation. But you gotta do it, it really is that good.