Top 15 Activities and Attractions in McHenry, IL

This riverside city is situated on the periphery of Chicago’s northwestern suburbs, approximately ten miles south of the Wisconsin border.

The Fox River flows alongside the eastern side of McHenry and can be appreciated at various riverside parks, the modern Riverwalk promenade, and Moraine Hills State Park, where visitors can observe water traffic navigating through the lock.

Just a short distance upriver from McHenry lies the renowned Chain O’ Lakes, and during the summer months, one can rent a boat for an enjoyable excursion on this waterway.

A range of delightful small-town attractions can be found in McHenry, including an expansive Pick-Your-Own farm, a nostalgic drive-in theater, a craft brewery, and a picturesque lake featuring a sandy beach.

1. Downtown McHenry

A distinctive feature of McHenry is the existence of not just one, but three commercial districts, all in close proximity on Main Street, Green Street, and Riverside Drive.

Over the past two decades, these areas have been enhanced through Tax Increment Financing and innovative redevelopment initiatives such as the Riverwalk.

Each of the three areas warrants exploration due to their variety of specialty retail stores, dining options, bars, and service establishments.

Along these thoroughfares, you will discover a florist, jewelers, fashion boutiques, a deli, bakeries, furniture retailers, gift shops, and collectibles.

Live entertainment is available at the Vixen, and there is a cosmopolitan assortment of cuisines, ranging from Thai to Italian, Mexican, Chinese, and contemporary American fare.

2. Riverwalk

McHenry capitalized on one of its prime assets by establishing this riverside promenade that begins downtown at Green Street.

The paved and landscaped Riverwalk meanders alongside Boone Creek, leading east until it converges with the Fox River.

During your journey, you will cross a picturesque footbridge before reaching the tip of Miller Pointe, where a dock provides a beautiful view of the Fox River.

This project has significantly revitalized McHenry’s downtown waterfront and connects various riverfront dining, nightlife, and entertainment options.

3. McHenry Outdoor Theater

For a nostalgic evening of entertainment, consider visiting one of the last authentic drive-in theaters in Illinois.

Located just five minutes from downtown, the McHenry Outdoor Theater operates from June to October, providing two films for less than the cost of one at a conventional cinema.

To experience the audio, you may rent a radio for a nominal fee or tune into the theater’s FM frequency using your car radio.

The concession stand offers a wide range of snacks, including burgers, hotdogs, brats, and pizza by the slice, along with pretzels, nachos, and ice cream.

4. Chain O’ Lakes

McHenry serves as the southwestern gateway to an extensive inland waterway on the Fox River, comprising 15 lakes, 45 miles of river, and approximately 7,100 acres of water.

During the summer boating season, the Chain O’ Lakes attracts a significant number of visitors from the Chicago and Milwaukee regions and is recognized as the busiest recreational waterway in the nation, accommodating up to 100,000 visitors on weekends.

If you do not possess your own vessel, you may rent one from All Marine’s Retro Rentals located on McHenry’s Riverwalk.

This enterprise offers an array of retrofitted vintage boats reminiscent of the 50s and 60s, along with refurbished pontoons, canoes, paddleboards, and kayaks.

Family-sized pontoons can be rented for up to eight hours, providing an excellent opportunity for a delightful waterway adventure.

5. Moraine Hills State Park

Situated to the southeast of McHenry, this recreational wonderland spans 2,200 acres, with half of that area consisting of lakes and wetlands.

The abundance of water renders Moraine Hills a sanctuary for wildlife, with approximately 200 bird species recorded within the state park, including eagles and various migratory waterfowl.

The name Moraine Hills reflects the high grounds formed by gravel-rich glacial deposits from the last Ice Age, with these hills and ridges now covered by woodlands.

One of the park’s main attractions is its extensive network of over ten miles of paved and crushed stone trails suitable for walking, cycling, and winter skiing.

6. Stratton Lock and Dam

From Moraine Hills State Park, one can follow a trail leading to the eastern bank of the Fox River at McHenry Dam State Park.

During the boating season, approximately 17,000 vessels navigate through the Stratton Lock and Dam here, which acts as a connecting point between the Chain O’ Lakes and the navigable Fox River.

On a sunny day, this location provides a serene environment for watching boats pass, featuring an observation area and rows of benches and picnic tables on the eastern bank.

The dam is also a favored fishing destination, and nearby is Fish Tales Concessions, offering bait, boat rentals, bicycle rentals, and food and refreshments.

7. Stade’s Farm and Market

During the summer and fall, this agritourism destination in northern McHenry offers a wealth of recreational activities.

The farm is named after Vern Stade, who initially established a dairy farm on the property in the 1970s and later expanded to include fruit and vegetable crops, a farm market, and family-oriented activities.

Stade’s Farm and Market offers a lengthy Pick-Your-Own season, including around 20 varieties of apples from the 8,000-tree orchard, as well as strawberries, raspberries, tomatoes, blueberries, peppers, and pumpkins in the fall.

Additionally, you can purchase this produce and more at the farm market, along with a selection of homemade specialty foods.

Moreover, for eight weekends in the fall, Stade’s Farm transforms into a themed attraction, featuring a petting zoo, carnival rides, a corn maze, giant slides, hayrides (once pumpkins are ready), and much more.

8. McHenry Fiesta Days

The premier family-oriented festival in McHenry County offers ten days of entertainment, family enjoyment, and delicious food each mid-July.

Having been established over seventy years ago, McHenry Fiesta Days is organized by the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce and attracts approximately 25,000 visitors annually.

Attendees can look forward to a grand parade, carnival activities, a classic car show, an art and street fair, a weekend-long music festival, and an exclusive Cask & Barrel Night for beer and spirit enthusiasts.

9. Petersen Park

McHenry provides access to the eastern shore of the expansive McCullom Lake, where visitors can swim from May through August.

Unlike some other suburban areas, admission fees for the beach are minimal, and visitors can rent various boats, including canoes, rowboats, kayaks, and paddleboats of diverse sizes.

The beach features a children’s playground, sand volleyball court, picnic areas, and a large grassy expanse.

Petersen Park is particularly beautiful later in the day, as the sun sets over the lake, and serves as the picturesque setting for McHenry’s Fourth of July fireworks display. Additionally, a prominent event here is the three-day Blues, Brews & BBQ festival, held in late August.

10. Veterans Memorial Park

Occupying a single block, this park is conveniently located near the Fox River and features a series of war memorials along Pearl Street.

Veterans Memorial Park hosts several summer events, including the Pearl Street Market, which occurs on Thursday evenings.

This market is accompanied by a series of outdoor concerts held at the gazebo situated in the park’s center.

A picnic shelter is available for rental, as well as a well-maintained playground for children at the northern end adjacent to Broad Street.

11. Volo Auto Museum

One of the area’s prominent attractions is located just a short distance from downtown McHenry.

While automobiles serve as the main draw at the Volo Auto Museum, there are over 30 diverse exhibits, including an outdoor dinosaur park featuring realistic life-sized models and five antique malls.

The automobile collections are particularly impressive, showcasing vehicles from popular culture, such as the Ecto-1 from Ghostbusters (1984), the Bluesmobile from The Blues Brothers (1980), and the Nostromo Survey Buggy from Alien (1979).

Furthermore, other collections include batmobiles, cars owned by celebrities, horse-drawn carriages, vintage automobiles, tractors, Disney parade vehicles, antique kiddie rides, and much more.

12. Volo Bog State Natural Area

Formed over six millennia, this extraordinary natural feature close to McHenry has remained largely untouched by human activity.

As a result, Volo Bog is recognized as the only surviving open-water quaking bog in Illinois. The state natural area surrounding the bog also encompasses restored prairie, savanna, marshland, shrubland, and former farmland.

Visitors can learn about the bog’s unique ecology along a 0.5-mile interpretive boardwalk, while a dairy barn from the early 20th century serves as the visitor center since 1980.

For those seeking a longer hike, a 2.75-mile trail winds through the bird-rich wetlands and meadows surrounding the bog.

13. McHenry Brewing Company

The name “McHenry Brewing Company” has a long historical background, tracing back to a brewery founded in 1860.

In 1868, the brewery relocated to the corner of Pearl and Green Streets, establishing this area in McHenry as “Brewery Corner.”

The brewery suffered greatly during Prohibition but managed to operate an underground pipeline beneath Pearl Street to a local speakeasy.

The original brewery ceased operations in 1942, but the name was resurrected in 2017 as a small-batch brewery at the same location.

The updated McHenry Brewing Company features a selection of standard brews, including a Scotch Ale, American-style Pilsner, and a non-alcoholic root beer, as well as a variety of seasonal and innovative releases available on Fridays.

A taproom is available at the brewery, open Wednesday to Sunday, along with a beer garden and frequent food trucks.

14. Twisted Limits

This newly opened attraction in downtown McHenry merges escape rooms with a Nerf/laser tag arena.

As of the latest update, there are four intricately themed escape rooms, each with unique tones, varied difficulty levels, and distinct skill requirements.

The most challenging is the puzzle-oriented and non-linear Omega Hour, designed for 3 to 6 skilled players. For those seeking a more exhilarating experience, the arena accommodates up to 18 players for Nerf or laser battles lasting 90 minutes or more.