McHenry County, about an hour’s drive northwest on I-90, likes to point to its glory days. Pick up a copy of its tourism-council brochure, and discover these little-known facts:
In 1962 Chuck Hiller of Johnsburg hit the first grand slam homer in World Series history when he played for the Giants against the Yankees.
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But its past splendor notwithstanding, McHenry County, full of lush farmland, is also full of natural charm. Drive along its back roads and you’ll pass through towns with names like Harmony and Coral. Signs advertising fresh eggs dot the landscape. Towns like Marengo look as though they haven’t changed in a century, with hash houses downtown that sell breakfast for under $3. Woodstock has a town square restored to its 1890s appearance, and more antique shops than you could visit in a week.
Toward the end of the summer, stop by the Thunder Grove Orchard (3016 Deer Pass Road, Marengo) for a taste of the season’s first apple crop. Over 300 varieties are planted every year.
Other points of interest: The Fox River winds its way through the eastern edge of the county from the Chain o’Lakes, which offers more than 6,500 acres of lakes and waterways. Moraine Hills State Park (914 S. River Road, McHenry) has more than 1,750 acres of parkland for picnics, fishing, boating, cross-country skiing, and nature walks.
