Fox River Valley - Saint Charles, IL

Potawatomi, Sac and Fox tribes first inhabited the area surrounding St. Charles until 1832. Two years later, in 1834, St. Charles was founded a full three years before Chicago. Batavia became established in 1833 and was known as "The Windmill City" because it produced large amounts of windmills in the 1800s. Batavia hosts Fermilab, the U.S. government's high-energy physics laboratory. This neighborhood experienced a population explosion in the 1990s and 2000s as Chicago's suburban sprawl moved farther west.

The 68-foot-tall Fabyan Windmill in Geneva represents one of the most unique museums in the area. The Dutch windmill served as a grinding mill in the 1850s, and the structure still works today. The St. Charles Fine Art Show occurs every Memorial Day weekend with more than 100 juried artists who display varied media for sale. Enjoy live music, food and activities for the kids all weekend.

Several restaurants lie along the downtown areas of St. Charles, Geneva and Batavia. Enjoy plenty of ethnic cuisine, local establishments, national chains, casual eateries and upscale pubs. Nightlife choices include many bars and live music venues. EvenFlow Music & Spirits in Geneva features open jam nights occasional Tuesdays and live music Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Get down to rock, jazz, blues and cover bands.

Salerno's on the Fox has been serving Italian and American favorites since 1975 in downtown St. Charles. The amazing filet Diana comes sliced and topped with brandy mushroom sauce and sauteed spinach. Seafood dishes represent the specialties of the house, including the scrumptious zuppa de mare, which contains clams, mussels, shrimp, calamari and cod tossed in fettucini and tomato basil sauce. Try the sauteed sausage gambota, a hearty combination of sliced sausage, red peppers, bell peppers, potatoes, onions, white wine garlic sauce and fettucini. Other dishes come with veal and chicken. If you don't want pasta, several great sandwiches will tempt your palate.

Taste of Himalayas, also in downtown St. Charles, features Indian cuisine. Vegetable samosas, for an appetizer, include green peas, potatoes, fresh coriander leaves with mild spice and herbs fried in a crispy layer of dough. Keema samosas have the same ingredients except minced lamb replaces the potatoes. Chicken mo mo arrives at your table with minced chicken and a special blend of Nepalese spices stuffed into a flour wrap and topped by Nepalese chutney. Khasi ko biryani contains basmati rice, bone-in goat meat, saffron and Nepalese-style spices. Choose from a wide range of heat, from completely mild dishes to those that are indescribably hot. Come for lunch Tuesday through Sunday to take part in the all-you-can-eat buffet.

FoxFire in Geneva serves steaks, pork chops and seafood in a casual, upscale atmosphere. Check out daily specials, including half-price appetizers during happy hour every Thursday. Signature FoxFire crab cakes create an appetizer with crab, peppers, bread crumbs and herbs alongside red pepper aioli. Baked goat cheese has goat cheese, roasted garlic, fresh basil and thyme topped by cherry tomato marinara sauce. Napa Valley chicken, one of the specialties of the house, contains boneless, skinless hormone-free chicken breast sauteed with green grapes and topped with white wine cream sauce. Choose from one of the delectable sides of garlic mashed potatoes, sweet potato, baked potato or french fries. Make sure to add one of several crusts, herbs and sauces to their steaks.

Filling Station Pub & Grill in downtown St. Charles has a large outdoor patio that opens during the summer and plenty of televisions to watch games of the Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls, White Sox and Cubs. Antique decor enhances the atmosphere and old-time feel of this pub, which serves a full menu for lunch and dinner. The place stays open until 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 1 a.m. the rest of the week.

Definitely bring a car to the Fox River Valley. Major cities run together thanks to numerous subdivisions, roads and shopping centers. Some, but not all, residential streets have sidewalks. Bicycles have an easy time on side roads since most houses have driveways. Several streets have dedicated bike lanes, and the Fox River Trail characterizes a bicycle trail on both sides of the Fox River among every city close to the river.

Highway 64 through St. Charles marks the major east-west thoroughfare in this neighborhood. Highway 31 goes north and south next to the river, and you can take this road south to reach I-88. Restaurants, shops and bars have plenty of free parking. Several taxi companies from Aurora or Chicago can pick you up if your car breaks down. Uber drivers serve only to the suburbs just to the east of Fox River Valley.

Metra trains on the UP-West line stop in Geneva starting at 5 a.m. until 10:37 p.m. weekdays. These trains go to downtown Chicago. PACE buses from route 801 pick up and drop off passengers at the train station from 5:41 a.m. until 6:27 p.m. weekdays. Route 802 buses stop on Wilson Street in Batavia from 5:36-8:44 a.m., and then again from 3:56-6:21 p.m., all on weekdays.

Plenty of parks and outdoor spaces dot the landscape in Fox River Valley. Several forest preserves contain natural areas for quiet hikes. Many nature walks lie along the Fox River for scenic walks with your spouse or family. Wheeler Park in Geneva features a disc golf course, multi-use field, bathroom and playground. Bring your leashed dog for outdoor canine fun. Geneva and Batavia have special parks just for dogs.

The Forest Preserve District of Kane County sponsors annual maple sugaring outings as maple trees produce sap during late winter months. This unique program allows you to join other families and embark on a quest to find the best sap for homemade maple syrup.

Living costs less in the Fox River Valley than in downtown Chicago, mostly because goods and services have lower expenses. Housing costs though are more in this area. A one-bedroom apartment runs approximately $928 per month.

A pint goes for $3 at your local pub during happy hour. A gallon of gasoline typically runs about the same as the national average or 1 percent higher. A one-way fare on Metra trains costs $7.50 to reach downtown Chicago. Regular fare on PACE buses costs $1.75 for a one-way ride.

Shopping centers exist mainly in Batavia and Geneva. Geneva Commons contains many higher-end national retailers, while the Shoppes at Windmill Place have more local choices. Two Walmart Supercenters anchor northeast and southwest corners of St. Charles for grocery stores and high-value stores in the area. Geneva Green Market represents a verdant farmers market with outdoor selling May through October, and a winter market from November through May.

Anew, in Geneva, marks a consignment shop that sells gently used, second-hand boots, shoes, purses, jewelry and clothing geared toward teens and women. Discover one-of-a-kind handbags, necklaces, shirts, and accessories any time because new merchandise comes in regularly from different consignors. Choose an entire outfit for a new look, or find one missing piece to complete your collection.