Things to do in North Aurora, Illinois

The Village of North Aurora is home to some of the Aurora Area's most celebrated restaurants, perfect options for a hearty meal after you've worked up an appetite exploring the Fox River Trails, seeing Chicagoland's best Broadway Series at Paramount Theatre, or touring holiday light displays. Whether you're dining family style or celebrating a special milestone, you'll find a great meal to begin or end your day in North Aurora. 

After enjoying family-friendly attractions or a night out in the Aurora Area, enjoy destination dining in North Aurora, Illinois! Top-rated restaurants include The Turf Room, three-time winner of Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence for its extensive wine collection matching up to a seasonally rotating menu of eclectic American cuisine. Hardware, a sustainable gastropub and home to the B.B.G.B. Brewery and Hop Farm, has made a splash on the Chicagoland dining scene for its inventive menu of locally sourced ingredients—some of which are grown on-site at Hardware's greenhouse, orchard, and living wall—and the depth of its classic cocktail program, backed by shelves stocked with over 400 different whiskeys. Intimate, fireside patio dining is available at both locations and a perfect way to enjoy an evening with friends, family, or that special someone. 

Harner's Bakery and Restaurant has been kicking taste buds into high gear since the 1960's. This idyllic location on the Fox River has been a family favorite for decades, offering fresh-baked donuts and pastries along with hearty, good old-fashioned home cooking. Follow your nose down the Fox River Trails to this Aurora Area institution. 

Red Oak Nature Center is a prized piece of Fox Valley Park District property snug against the eastern shoreline of the Fox River. Home to the area's storied limestone cave, the Red Oak Nature Center offers outdoor educational programming for children and families year-round, with popular events like Maple Fest in spring and Bug Fest in the summer. In winter months, Red Oak is popular with birdwatchers aiming to get up-close views of the majestic migratory American bald eagles that nest in tall trees on the islands of the Fox River and along its shores.

The North Aurora River District Alliance's (NOARDA) beautiful Riverfront Park is where you can enjoy free concerts, festivals, and fun for the whole family in the summer months. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, and a picnic basket to watch 4th of July fireworks over the Fox River, or delight in local favorites like pizza from Raimondo's and beer from Brother Chimp Brewing. 

North Aurora's distinctive collection of retail shopping includes unique specialty shops like Cremer Guitarworks, where for over 30 years musicians from all over Chicagoland and beyond have trusted their beloved instruments to the expert treatment and care of this modest guitar store tucked into a mid-century style building on a busy stretch of the Lincoln Highway. 

North Aurora is also home to an impressive collection of vintage, antique, and boutique retailers. The Vintage Marketplace Company, conveniently located on Route 31 just north of I-88, is a premier antique furniture and vintage furniture store, with a large selection of decor from every decade sold by as many as 60 vendors. The Past and Present Shoppes, located in a cozy nook of North Aurora's riverfront near Harner's Bakery & Restaurant, is a unique collaboration of cottage businesses offering a variety of vintage, new, and repurposed furniture and home decor.

The Rustic Fox Furniture & Decor is a destination for shopping curated boutiques that range from vintage furniture to upcycled decor, handmade gifts, and stylish apparel. Check out their popular outdoor artisan markets, featuring over 200 vendors plus food trucks, sweets, and more! Last but not least, check out Scott's Vintage for some truly off-beat vintage shopping: Scott's has a treasure-trove of vintage horror, comics, collectibles, music gear, and more in an unassuming retail location on Route 25 / River Street. 

The Rustic Fox Furniture & Decor is a destination for shopping curated boutiques that range from vintage furniture to upcycled decor, handmade gifts, and stylish apparel. Check out their popular outdoor artisan markets, featuring over 200 vendors plus food trucks, sweets, and more! Last but not least, check out Scott's Vintage for some truly off-beat vintage shopping: Scott's has a treasure-trove of vintage horror, comics, collectibles, music gear, and more in an unassuming retail location on Route 25 / River Street.