As the location for a zoo, science museum, water park and outlet mall, and a setting for iconic movie Wayne’s World, this city is one of Illinois’ treasures.
The charming Fox River divides the center of Aurora, one of the largest cities in Illinois. Casinos, theaters and restaurants fill a thriving entertainment district, while museums and historic institutions add character and substance. Bring the whole family for the range of fun activities in this city’s eclectic downtown zone.
The Aurora Regional Fire Museum offers a revealing window into the city’s traditions and history. Inspect the exhibits’ many artifacts and photographs in this 19th-century fire station. See model fire engines and old badges and helmets, among other items, that reveal Aurora’s firefighting past.
Rising from Stolp Island in the Fox River is the art deco tower of the Paramount Theater, another of the city’s cornerstones. Admire the Venetian features of the building when you attend a dance recital, comedy show or Broadway musical.
This 1930s theater shares the island with restaurants, hotels and the Hollywood Casino. Try your luck at the casino and take a trip to the 19th-century Grand Army of the Republic Hall, a military museum in a Gothic Revival building.
For a change of pace, bring your children to Splash Country Waterpark on the city’s western fringes. Highlights include a vast lazy river and aquatic playground. While in the area, practice your swing at Orchard Valley Golf Course and visit Blackberry Farm, a recreation of a 19th-century farm.
Aurora is in the northeastern corner of Illinois. Drive west from Chicago for 40 miles (60 kilometers) to reach the city in roughly 45 minutes. Rail service also takes passengers to the Aurora railway station in the city center. Get around the region via the Pace Bus to enjoy a city that is a diverse entertainment hub with a great range of museums and restaurants and a charming river district.
