Aurora (Illinois)

Aurora is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of Illinois, located about 35 miles west of Chicago. It's at the very edge of Chicagoland and, situated on the Fox River, has many opportunities for urban, suburban, and rural recreation. Often overlooked, Aurora in fact has many surprisingly interesting attractions and a downtown unlike that of a typical suburb. It is probably best known for being the setting of the "Wayne's World" movies.

By car
Aurora is just off the East-West Tollway (I-88) in Illinois. Take the Route 31 exit south for downtown and most other things, and take the Farnsworth exit south for Phillips Park Zoo, Aurora Transportation Center, and the Two Brothers Roundhouse (formerly Walter Payton's Roundhouse.)

By train
Aurora is part of Chicago's Metra commuter rail system, the last stop on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe line which leaves from Union Station in the Loop.



By bus
The Aurora train station is a local hub for Pace, the Chicagoland suburban bus service.

By plane
Aurora has a small municipal airport of its own, but the best way to go is to fly into one of the Chicago airports (O'Hare or Midway) and just take the train or a taxi to Aurora.

Get around
As is commonplace in the suburbs, the easiest way to get around is by car. However, Pace Bus also has extensive service in Aurora (it being Illinois's second largest city, after all), and multiple routes connect the Aurora Transportation Center with the rest of the city as well as Elgin, Geneva, St. Charles, Batavia, and Naperville.

Do

 * Hollywood Casino is a decent gambling experience on the Fox River downtown. Offers table games such as blackjack, craps, and roulette, as well as a variety of slot machines. Friendly staff and an expensive buffet.
 * An iPod Tour downtown is a unique way to get acquainted with the brown stone architecture. Tour brochures are available at the Aurora Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.
 * Raging Waves Waterpark in nearby Yorkville is an Aussie-themed park with 18 water slides, a wave pool, lazy river, 20 private cabanas, and more.
 * Farmers Market Saturday mornings 8am-noon June through October at the Aurora Transportation Center.
 * Summer Music Festivals downtown such as Rock on the Fox, Jazz on the Fox, Summer Jam, and Fan Favorites.
 * Oakhurst Forest Preserve, near Phillips Park, is a pleasant oasis from the suburbs, with a large hill, an even larger lake, and plenty of paths for walking, running, or biking.
 * - located in Aurora
 * - located in Aurora
 * - located in Aurora

Buy

 * Chicago Premium Outlets is an impressive outdoor mall with 66 designer clothes stores, 23 shoe stores, 17 accessories and jewelry stores, 9 gifts and specialty items stores, 7 children's clothes stores, 5 leather and luggage stores, 2 housewares stores, 2 electronics stores, and 10 restaurants.
 * Westfield Fox Valley Mall, at the eastern edge of Aurora, is one of the larger indoor malls.
 * David L. Pierce Art & History Center Museum Store is small but has many unique items related to Aurora and crafts, jewelry, and art made by local Aurorans.

Sleep




Go next

 * Chicago if you haven't already
 * Naperville for a downtown full of good, expensive restaurants and The Riverwalk
 * Lisle has the fantastic Morton Arboretum
 * Batavia and Geneva, to the north, are smaller and more quaint Fox River villages with scenic downtowns on the river and lots of windmills
 * Batavia and Geneva, to the north, are smaller and more quaint Fox River villages with scenic downtowns on the river and lots of windmills