KC Mag March 2018

MARCH 2018

TRAVEL WORLD'S 50 BEST BEACHES

FAIRY-TALE TOWNS OF

AZORES MAGIC

PAGE 8

PAGE 20

EUROPE

PORTUGAL’S UNTAPPED ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE

SPRING BREAK

STAY-CATIONS PAGE 26

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INSIDE

TRAVEL 8 FAIRY-TALE TOWNS OF EUROPE Quaint villages and charming hamlets right out of a storybook 12 JUST DRIVE Ten amazing road trips across America 16 THE WAY TO MACHU PICCHU Fulfilling cravings (cultural and otherwise) in Cusco, Peru

HEALTH & WELLNESS

24 THE GLASS-HALF-FULL GUY: Tips for planning a trip that’s off the beaten path

FASHION & BEAUTY

28 WORLD’S 50 BEST BEACHES Travel agents, journalists and bloggers compile this year’s list of top spots for sand and sun across the globe 34 INDUSTRY OUTLOOK River cruises, ‘Game of Thrones’ film sites make list of 2018 travel trends

FAMILY IN FOCUS 37 SUBURBAN SUPERDAD: Considering a road trip with the kids? It’s not as bad as it sounds, and gas is (relatively) cheap.

Considered the ‘Hawaii of the Atlantic,’ Europe’s best-kept secret beckons adventurers Photos by Kara Silva

4 | MARCH 2018 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

45 VOICE OF THE TOWN From reporter to Geneva City Council, Tara Burghart continues to examine community issues from every angle

20 UNSPOILED AZORES Considered the ‘Hawaii of the Atlantic,’ Europe’s best-kept secret beckons adventurers

26 SPRING BREAK STAY-CATIONS Stick around the suburbs for some no-fuss fun

20 UNSPOILED AZORES

BUSINESS & CIVIC

38 CAT AND THE FOX: Disney – it’s a little like Vegas

HOME & LIFESTYLE 40 LIVING LARGE IN THE BACKYARD Steps to making your outdoor space an at-home haven 42 ZEN GARDEN How to go from bland and blah to backyard bliss

46 DOC TALK National awareness month calls for colon cancer education 48 FIRST-CLASS FASHION Fit for planes, trains and automobiles

DINING & ENTERTAINING 50 MMM … NOODLES! Where to go to get your slurp and twirl on

OUT & ABOUT 53 AUTHOR Q-AND-A Former Batavia resident’s debut novel explores Islamophobia through the eyes of an American Muslim teenage girl 54 CHANGE OF SCENERY Upgrades and additions entice families, nature lovers to visit St. Charles parks 56 BOOK NOOK Nontraditional travel reads 57 ARTIST SHOWCASE St. Charles sculpture artist Todd Willing shares pieces created from scrap metal 58 CALENDAR See what’s happening in Kane County this month!

44 THINKING SPRING? Skyline Tree Service provides quality landscaping services at reasonable prices

www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

Editor's Note Ahhh… the travel issue! My favorite edition of the year.

Normally, by March, I’d already be pining for my next trip – fully immersed in the planning, plotting and booking process.

But not this year. This year, my calendar is wide open, which is really strange, but also intriguing. I’m allowing for spontaneity and the unknown to move into my travel forecast.

Who knows? Maybe a friend planning to go on a solo yoga retreat decides she wants some company. Maybe, on a whim, I’ll decide it’s about time I saw the Grand Canyon, and I’ll book the next flight out. Maybe the family decides its time for a reunion, and reconnecting over cruise ship piña coladas and strawberry daiquiris is how we’re going to do it. Or, just maybe, a last-minute, toogood-to-pass-up travel deal will drop in my inbox, and I’ll be a couple of clicks away from a budget-friendly escape to a place I didn’t even know I wanted to go.

Who knows?

– popped in my inbox, luring my attention away from the internet clutter with its promise of round-trip flights (from Boston), a seven-night stay at a centrally-located hotel with an ocean-view room, hot breakfast daily and airport transfers, and all for the bargain price of $749. It didn’t take much convincing beyond that price-tag.

Terceira island turned out to be a seasoned traveler’s dream, as there were no crowds; it’s easy to get around on your own; and tours with guides were intimate experiences more akin to meeting up with a friend who offered to show you around town. The island is an ideal blend of culture, beauty, good food (cheap drinks) and plenty to see and do, while the idea of hanging out at a cute café all afternoon seems equally as desirable as anything else.

I hope this issue inspires your next trip or – if nothing else – motivates you to pull the trigger the next time a great vacation deal or travel opportunity pops up.

Happy travels, and thanks for reading!

Actually, that last possibility is exactly how I ended up in the virtually-unknown Azores islands last May, which I also write about in “Unspoiled Azores,” on page 20.

Kara Silva, Editor

An eight-day Travelzoo deal to Portugal’s Terceira island – one of the nine Atlantic islands that make up the Azores archipelago

on the

COVER

The folks at Canadian-owned travel agency Flight Network consulted with travel agents, journalists and bloggers to compile this year’s definitive list of the world’s 50 best beaches. From the penguin-populated Boulders Beach in South Africa (cover shot) to the powdery white sands of Hyams Beach in Australia (pictured here), find out the top spots for sand and surf, on Page 28.

Photos provided by Flight Network 6 | MARCH 2018 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

Published by Shaw Media 333 N. Randall Road, Suite 2 St. Charles, IL 60174 Phone: 630-845-5288 www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

DIRECTOR OF NICHE PUBLISHING Laura Shaw 630-427-6213 lshaw@shawmedia.com EDITOR Kara Silva 630-427-6209 ksilva@shawmedia.com DESIGNER Carol Manderfield 630-427-6253 cmanderfield@shawmedia.com ACCOUNT MANAGERS Sandra Petti 630-313-0251 spetti@shawmedia.com Tricia Walter 630-845-5272 twalter@shawmedia.com CORRESPONDENTS Kelsey O’Connor, Kevin Druley, Allison Horne, Peter Stadalsky, Allison Manley, Jonathan Bilyk, Melissa Riske, Sheryl DeVore, Cat Battista, Shonda Dudlicek PHOTOGRAPHERS Ron McKinney, Kara Silva

Kane County Magazine is available by subscription for $24 a year. If you would like each month’s edition mailed to your home, send payment information and address to Kane County Magazine, 7717 S. Route 31, Crystal Lake, IL 60014 or via email at subscriptions@shawmedia.com.

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FAIRY-TALE TOWNS OF

EURO Traveling to major cities – like London, Paris and Barcelona – has plenty of advantages.

There’s an endless supply of things to do, see and eat, which is what makes them some of the most visited places in the world. But there’s something to be said about the tiny towns and charming hamlets off the beaten path. If their fairy-tale allure isn’t reason enough to visit, these idyllic locations also serve as a perfect alternative to waiting in lines and being stuck in a crowd, like many of the more popular thoroughfares.

Any one of these European villages could be depicted in a fairy-tale story, and – even better – in your travel guide.

8 | MARCH 2018 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

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www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

Reine, Norway Photo provided by FotoKnoff

PE Reine, Norway

By KELSEY O’CONNOR

This quaint fishing village is nestled amongst a string of islands within the Arctic Circle. The sleepy Norwegian town is framed by the sea and soaring cliffs, making it the perfect spot to escape from the rush of modern life. Visitors can enjoy days full of kayaking, whale watching and biking, then spend nights in a converted fishing cottage. Hiking up the nearby Reinebringen mountain will offer breathtaking views of the entire island chain. Or catch a ferry to neighboring villages to explore on foot, such as the surrounding Lofoten Islands. The best time to visit is September through April, when visitors will have a front-row seat to the aurora borealis. (For more information, visit visitnorway.com.)

www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

Bibury, England

The Cotswold region is a hilly, rural area sprinkled with small villages, and none is as picturesque as Bibury. Often called the most beautiful village in England, Bibury looks like a painting of a quintessential English countryside.

The town is made up of old-world stone buildings along the banks of the River Coln. One noteworthy site is Arlington Row. The 14th-century wool store has become so iconic that it appears on the inside cover of U.K. passports. Other attractions include St. Mary’s – the village church with beautiful stained glass windows – and the Bibury Trout Farm, one of the oldest trout farms in the country. Visitors can catch their own fish for dinner or enjoy a meal in the connected café. Or pick up a few snacks at the nearby Organic Farm Shop for a picnic in the bucolic hills.

-Continued on page 10

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KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | MARCH 2018 | 9

-Continued from page 9

Colmar, France

Situated in the French region of Alsace, this historic town exudes country charm. The French region is famous for its outstanding wines, particularly Riesling and Gewürztraminer varieties. Colmar is an ideal home base for winelovers who want to visit the nearby vineyards along the Alsace Wine Route. The town itself has no shortage of quaint sites and attractions.

A stroll through Colmar’s Old Town will take you back in time. The cobblestone streets are lined with medieval and early Renaissance buildings, including a 13th-century Gothic cathedral. Visit during the holidays to experience the town’s classic Christmas market.

Colmar, France Photo provided by Colmar Tourism

Giethoorn, Holland

This water village in the east Netherlands is known as the “Dutch Venice,” but with less crowds than its Italian counterpart. Built on a small island, Giethoorn is known for its scenic canal system that meanders beneath old wooden bridges and thatch-roofed farmhouses. Visitors can spend a leisurely afternoon gliding along the waterways with a canoe or small electric dinghy.

Stay at a bed and breakfast on the water and dine at one of the canal-side restaurants, such as Michelin-star awarded De Lindenhof. There’s also plenty of history to explore in the countryside surrounding Giethoorn, including ancient castles Its name roughly translates to “suspended in the air.” Another good option is the Monastery of and churches.

Holy Trinity – the most difficult to reach, but it The Meteora, Greece boasts some of the most captivating views.

The Meteora is a rock formation in central Mostar, Bosnia Greece that’s home to a collection of six monasteries precipitously perched along its and Herzegovina cliffs. Beginning in the 14th century, Greek The centerpiece of Mostar, an ancient city in monks originally built more than 20 Eastern southern Bosnia and Herzegovina, is the Stari Orthodox monasteries on rock pillars soaring Most bridge, which is considered one of the 1,300 feet above the ground. This awe-inspiring best examples of Islamic architecture. The group is all that remains. Monks originally original bridge was built across the Neretva ascended to these lofty locations via ropes and River in the 16th century by the Ottomans. It was ladders, but today’s visitors can take the stairs. destroyed during the Bosnian War, but a faithful If you’re short on time, head to Great Meteoron reconstruction of the bridge was built in 2004.

Monastery, the biggest and oldest of the bunch. The top of Stari Most offers panoramic views of 10 | MARCH 2018 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

TRAVEL

Giethoorn, Holland

the city. Those looking for an adrenaline rush can even learn how to bridge dive from the locals.

Mostar also is considered the cultural capital of Herzegovina. Throughout the city, the narrow streets are lined with bustling shops and market stalls, detailed mosques and unique street art.

Civita di Bagnoregio, Italy

On first glance, it seems as if this stunning city has been carved directly from the rock on which it sits. The Italian gem teeters on a hill of volcanic ash that rises above a vast canyon, offering sweeping views and a pleasant solitude.

The only way in and out is via a foot bridge that leads to the main entrance – a large stone passageway cut more than 2,500 years ago.

www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

The Meteora, Greece

Civita di Bagnoregio, Italy

Once inside this UNESCO World Heritage site, visitors are instantly transported to the Middle Ages. Strolling through the smooth cobblestone streets will reveal archways draped in ivy, flower-clad balconies, and elaborate Renaissance-era facades. Like many Italian towns, the main piazza is the heart of the city and the site of many festivals and outdoor cafes. Just plan your visit soon — the fate of this tiny town is threatened each year by increasing erosion.

www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

TRAVEL

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | MARCH 2018 | 11

JUST DRIVE

BLACKHILLS, SOUTH DAKOTA

Ten amazing road trips across America

By KELSEY O’CONNOR

Photos provided by South Dakota Department of Tourism

T

he open road is one of the best ways to see the country. All you need is a car, a tank full of a gas and a good route in mind.

Luckily, we’ve got the last part covered for you. Whether you’re looking to cruise along sandy beaches, wind though mountain passes or drive in dense forests, there’s a route to fit your road trip fancy.

12 | MARCH 2018 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

 BLACK HILLS, SOUTH DAKOTA This small, isolated mountain range rising from the great plains makes for an unforgettable road trip. Start the journey on I-90 and take exit 131 for the Highway 240 Badlands Loop. The road winds through Badlands National Park and will take about 60 minutes without stopping – a little longer if you linger at any of the scenic overhangs. Make sure to swing by a few classic American attractions, such as Mount Rushmore, Wall Drug and Custer State Park. Just keep an eye out for bison crossing the roadways.

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 COASTAL ROUTE 1, MAINE Also known as the Lobster Trail, this seaside route will take you through some of the most picturesque areas of downeast Maine. Begin in the picturesque beach town of Kennebunkport and head north. The route clings to the rocky coast, which is adorned with historic lighthouses and quaint New England fishing villages. Stop along the way on Sprucehead Island for a visit to McLoons Lobster Shack, where you can dine on delicious lobster fresh from the sea. Finish your trip in Bar Harbor, about 160 miles from your starting point. www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

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 BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY, VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA This almost-500 mile road connects two national parks and is the most popular road in the entire U.S. National Parks System.

The road links Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina. Starting at Front Royal in Virginia, travel along Skyline Drive for spectacular panoramic views of the national park. There’s also a 500-mile network of trails to explore on foot.

Continue south to the Natural Bridge and into North Carolina, where you’ll reach the jaw-dropping Great Smoky Mountains.  PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY, CALIFORNIA One of the most iconic American road trips, California State Route 1 stretches more than 655 miles along the Pacific coast. The highway features ocean views, soaring bluffs, sandy beaches and plenty of roadside attractions. A good route to consider is from San Francisco to Los Angeles (or vice versa) – about 420 miles.

Along the way, stop in Big Sur for photos along the famous Bixby Bridge, San Simeon to see the migrating elephant seals, and Santa Barbara for its beautiful beaches.

-Continued on page 14 www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

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KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | MARCH 2018 | 13

-Continued from page 13  JACKSON, WYOMING TO GLACIER, MONTANA Technically, this drive would only take a day, but you could easily take a week exploring this route through Big Sky Country. Careful planning will take you through about 500 miles of stunning scenery and the best geologic wonders of the Northern Rockies.

Start in Jackson and head to Grand Teton National Park, which boasts some of the most magnificent mountains of the Rockies.

Your next stop is Yellowstone National Park for massive waterfalls, volcanic peaks and explosive geysers. Do not miss the wild and majestic Glacier National Park for some of the country’s best hiking.

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 OUTER BANKS SCENIC HIGHWAY, NORTH CAROLINA This maritime route clings to a thin strip of sand along the state’s easternmost edge, skirting the many barrier islands that make up the Outer Banks. The road begins at Bodie Lighthouse and continues about 142 miles past sandy beaches, wildlife refuges and charming coastal villages. Roadtrippers also should be ready to travel by sea, as visitors will need to take their car on the Hatteras Ferry to cross the sound and connect them to the next stretch of road.

Make this trip while you still can; hurricanes and extreme weather continue to erode away parts of the highway.  HANA HIGHWAY, HAWAII What this route lacks in length, it makes up for in breathtaking beauty. The 59-mile highway hugs the eastern side of Maui and snakes past gorgeous beaches, basking seals and plunging sea cliffs covered with lush vegetation. The total drive time takes about two and a half hours, more if you make time to stop and enjoy the sites.

Pull over to enjoy local fare from roadside vendors or to admire the view from an overlook. One area you should make time to see is Waiʻanapanapa State Park, which features black-sand beaches and hiking trails leading to sea caves and lava cliffs.

PARKS HIGHWAY, ALASKA

 PARKS HIGHWAY, ALASKA Stretching from Anchorage to Fairbanks, this northern road trip is unlike anything you’ve experienced in the lower 48. The highway extends 358 miles through the country’s rugged wilderness. Drivers enjoy spectacular views of Denali, the nation’s tallest mountain, which lies about halfway along the route. The best vantage point is in Willow, the official start of the Iditarod sled dog race and a perfect example of smalltown Alaska. You’ll also want to explore Denali National Park. It is comprised of more than six million miles and is home to dizzying peaks, placid lakes, glaciers, grizzly bears, caribou and more.

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KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | MARCH 2018 | 15

THE WAY TO

Machu Picchu

Fulfilling cravings (cultural and otherwise) in Cusco, Peru

By SHERYL DEVORE Photos provided by SHERYL DEVORE AND STEVEN D. BAILEY

As we exited the plane at the Cusco airport in Peru, we noticed a large vat overflowing with coca leaves. Chewing these leaves from trees grown along the eastern slopes of the Andes is said to relieve altitude sickness and increase energy. We tried them immediately – ready to immerse ourselves into Peruvian culture.

My husband, Steve, and I were stopping in Cusco before visiting the famed Incan city of Machu Picchu, and the Manú National Park. It was late summer, and we had two weeks at our disposal.

We soon would learn the city of Cusco (population 449,000) and the small town of Aguas Calientes (population 3,000) – both considered gateways to Machu Picchu – offered a glimpse into the ancient, as well as modern-day, culture of Peru, which visitors to the country likely cannot get by visiting Machu Picchu alone.

The city of Cusco, situated more than 11,000 feet above sea level, sits within a river valley in the heart of the Andes Mountains. It once

16 | MARCH 2018 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

TRAVEL

was run by the Incan Empire, which covered much of the Andes region during its heyday in the 15th and 16th centuries. Incans built beautiful, well-engineered temples, which were destroyed, in part, when the Spanish conquistadors came to the country, building their own cathedrals atop the temples.

Today, the fusion of these two cultures, and their architectural styles and belief systems, can be seen throughout Cusco.

Cusco, just like Machu Picchu, is a UNESCOdesignated World Heritage Center. As we got out of the taxi in front of our hotel, we had barely any time to grab our luggage before cars began honking. The old one-way, but well-made, brick-paved streets are so narrow that pedestrians (and even stray dogs) must hug the walls of the buildings to avoid the vehicles passing by.

Once inside the Spanish colonial-style Antigua Casona San Blas, we found comfort in the hotel courtyard with a wood-burning fire pit. Staff brought cups of coca tea and threw a warm alpaca blanket over my lap.

www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

Tips for your visit TRIP FORECAST Avoid the rainy season (January through April) when floods can close roads and cause mudslides. The best times to visit are April through October, but June through August can be extremely crowded. Cool evenings in Cusco require jackets, but it can be quite hot in the sun during the day.

FIND A GUIDE Find a tour guide to lead you through Cusco and Aguas Calientes – both of which can be tricky to navigate – or work with concierges at the more expensive hotels.

EARLY BIRD Make sure to book hotels and train rides early, as this is a very popular tourist destination.

Though there are plenty of places to eat in Cusco, we dined at the hotel’s restaurant where we had homemade chicken soup, a mainstay in Peruvian fare. Later, at the bar, we sipped pisco sours while chatting with two young men from Australia. Pisco is a Peruvian brandy used in many local alcoholic beverages.

We visited Koricancha, the Golden Temple of the Sun, built by Incas likely about year 1400.

The Incas hauled calcareous rocks from at least 30 miles away to build the temple. They used trapezoidal shapes, rounded edges and specific inclinations so the buildings would withstand earthquakes.

Another day, Steve ordered another Peruvian classic – a guinea pig. Considered a Peruvian delicacy, guinea pigs often are saved for special occasions. Though I decided against dining on what Americans largely consider to be a cuddly childhood pet, my husband assured me that it was delicious.

When the Spaniards came, they destroyed part of that temple and built a Catholic church over it.

An earthquake later destroyed part of the church, while the Inca structure below remained intact.

We wandered the temple into various chambers learning about all of the gold once laden within its walls. The temple also was built to capture the sun’s rays in a way that could indicate the time of year, such as the spring equinox.

Temples and cathedrals Our guide through the city of Cusco was Nilo Zambrano, an architectural historian and college professor, who occasionally was greeted with hugs and hearty handshakes by former students as we walked the old city’s streets.

He took us up and down steep pathways into an open plaza, pointing out Spanish versus Incan architecture and telling tales of mummies, ancient royalty and astronomy. www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

the Cusco Cathedral in the shape of a cross. The cathedral sits atop a sacred Inca site, and was built in Gothic and Renaissance style with some baroque features. Inside, visitors will find ornate chapels and 17th-century artwork and artifacts relating to Spanish religious beliefs and culture – including a painting of “The Last Supper” with guinea pig set on the table.

San Pedro Market You cannot come to Cusco without visiting the San Pedro Marketplace. No explanation can prepare you for what you’ll see inside.

In the center, Peruvians flash menus offering soup, fresh juice, tea, breakfast and lunch.

Surrounding them are rows and rows of vendors offering donkey heads, whole fresh fish with Colorful gardens surrounded the temple heads and eyes intact, hundreds of kinds of outdoors. Our guide pointed out a grassy space grains, chuspas (hand-sewn pouches to carry with the symbols of a condor, puma and snake. your coca leaves), brightly decorated pastries, These symbols were said to link heaven with corn with kernels as large as quarters, woven earth and the underworld, and were prominent in baskets of different shapes stacked from the Inca culture. floor to the ceiling, wooden spoons and more kinds of breads than you’ve likely ever seen.

When the Spaniards came, they brought with Nearly 4,000 kinds of potatoes grow in Peru and them Christianity, which is why they designed -Continued on page 18 TRAVEL

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | MARCH 2018 | 17

Train to Aguas Calientes

(On the way to Machu Picchu) A shuttle bus leaving from Aguas Calientes will take travelers to Machu Picchu. Getting to Aguas Calientes involves a three-hour train ride from Cusco.

-Continued from page 17 many can be found in the market, each with its own taste and flavor, and some of which need to be aired out for months before they can eaten. Many Europeans, including the Irish, learned to grow potatoes from the Peruvians.

Ladies wearing hats, purple or other hued leggings and billowing skirts, sat on the floor in front of fresh herbs and other wares. Tall glasses that look like they’re filled with flavored gelatin actually contain prepared cow parts and are touted as having medicinal purposes.

Visiting Cusco offered a blend of all that’s natural, wild, lost, modern and ancient in Peru.

Aguas Calientes is settled in a valley beside the rushing Urubamba River, which is laden with natural stones the size of trucks and orange flowers with blooms the size of trumpets.

Peruvian pizza and Inka cola (akin to cream soda). While we were there, a flutist and guitarist performed traditional music, including the Peruvian folk song “El Condor Pasa,” which was made famous by Simon and Garfunkel.

If there is time, it might be worth planning a trip to the hot springs for which the town is named.

However, these small, square concrete pools have been given It’s not an old city by South American standards. It was settled mixed reviews.

You can stay in extremely in the early 1900s by a small expensive or middle-of-the-road group of indigenous people. It was only after Hiram Bingham III hotels in Aguas Calientes. Some rediscovered Machu Picchu in the can cost upward of $500 per 1920s that the train was built and night. We opted not to splurge, the city grew to become a tourist but – in retrospect – perhaps we should have. The Inkaterra Hotel attraction. is purported to be a slice of nature In Aguas Calientes – where train and peace amid the sometimes, tracks bisect the town – try Inka noisy town.

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Unspoiled

Azores Considered the ‘Hawaii of the Atlantic,’ Europe’s bestkept secret beckons adventurers Story and photos

by KARA SILVA

“Ready?”

He can’t be serious.

I glance at my friend for reassurance, but – instead – I’m met with the same panicked expression plastered across my own face.

I don’t remember seeing THIS in the brochure! Do I resemble one of those happy helmeted tourists posing with my rent-a-bike in front of a sweeping pastoral setting on a sunny, 70-degree day? No – not quite.

Within seconds of pedaling, I’m blown sideways and off of my bike. I guess a poncho operates more like a parachute under the wrong conditions.

Lesson learned.

We pedal on.

Then we learn that cycling with some speed combats the wind, but it also makes attempting Instead, we’re two terrified tourists being whipped to stop a sure way to end up on your butt with a bruised ego – among other things. around by wind and rain, while on top of a mountain encased by fog. The perfect confluence After a few near calamities with sharp turns of elements for some downhill mountain biking on wet cobblestone, and – yes – my friend’s in the Azores. Slippery roads and zero visibility breaks did betray her as expected, but – on the should make for a fun story when our breaks give bright side – instead of barreling off the side of a out and we accidentally ride off a cliff à la “Thelma mountain, she almost got hit by a car instead. and Louise."

Once out of the clouds, we are finally met with There is only one way down the mountain, and

20 | MARCH 2018 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

since our tour guide Andre Jesus will not be able to namedrop his way into the good graces of the weather gods today, we saddle up.

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sunny, 70-degree weather, pastoral views of www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

Our guide could have abandoned us at that point, but decided to stick around to chat the afternoon away over bread and wine (and cheese, of course). Yes, we broke bread and sipped wine with Jesus.

Cycling in the Azores was one of many unexpected, yet welcome, adventures that I experienced during an eight-day stay on Terceira island – one of the larger islands in the Azores volcanic archipelago.

electric green patchwork reminiscent of Ireland, and ocean visibility from nearly every vantage point.

After a half-day of cycling, our tour ends at Queijo Vaquinha – a local cheese factory that happens to serve libations, too. Having completed the "perilous" two-wheeled adventure on tarmac, there was only one way to celebrate our survival: a block of cheese, carbs and a drink (or two). www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

The Azores are a commercially untapped piece of Portugal situated in the North Atlantic Ocean, about 1,000 miles from mainland Europe. The nine islands that comprise the Azores are split up into three groups: the eastern (Sao Miguel and Santa Maria islands), central (Terceira, Graciosa, Sao Jorge, Pico and Faial islands), and western (Flores and Corvo islands).

Travel industry heavy-hitters have called the still virtually unspoiled Azores islands the Hawaii of the Atlantic, Europe’s best-kept secret, the next big travel destination – I could go on.

Until recently, the Azores islands remained TRAVEL

an uncharted territory – inaccessible for international tourism – but flights from hub cities, like Boston and London – are making it easier for travelers to get to Azores shores.

Boasting flight times under five hours (leaving from Boston), Terceira island’s pristine landscapes and culturally-rich city center has yet to be affected by oversaturated tourism.

Terceira, which is home to UNESCO World Heritage site and historic city center Angra do Heroísmo, is teeming with possibility for travelers of all types. It’s an adventurers paradise, a foolproof jumping-off point for those considering traveling outside of the U.S. for the first time, and a perfect trip for tourists on a budget. (As someone coming off of a trip to Southeast Asia – a budget-conscious backpacker’s paradise – this place was cheap!

For example, a bottle of wine, two entrees, an appetizer and dessert at a restaurant that also boasts oceanfront dining cost us about 35 Euro – total!)

-Continued on page 22 KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | MARCH 2018 | 21

"There is only one way down the mountain, and since our tour guide Andre Jesus will not be able to namedrop his way into the good graces of the weather gods today, we saddle up."

– KARA SILVA

-Continued from page 21 Locals are hospitable and welcoming. Many of the tour operators with whom I came in contact aimed to give travelers a more intimate experience of the island. The line between professional tour guide and friend was often blurred by our guides who – refreshingly – seemed to care more about getting to know us than maximizing profits or tour group sizes.

Though scattered with beaches, the part of Terceira really worth delving into is its adventurous side. From ample hiking trails and ropes courses to whale watching and horseback riding, exploring the lush local flora of Terceira island is well-worth the effort it takes to get there.

For their stark contrast in terrain, we opted to hike Baías da Agualva and the Rocha do Chambre trails, which meander along the coast and through the interior of the island, respectively.

Classified as easy, the 2.5-mile linear route of Baías da Agualva takes hikers along the north coast of the island, past cow farms encased by stone walls, lush emerald landscapes and peaceful meadows. It also offers consistent sea views and cliff overlooks. After two hours of being lured by the sea, why not go for a swim at nearby Piscina das Quatro Ribeiras. The bathing site consists of natural sea pools formed by volcanic rock fit with a maze of stairways for easy access.

Given a “medium” classification, the 5.7-mile circular route of Rocha do Chambre trail is as diverse as it is beautiful. Flanked by Azores junipers, the trail sweeps through enchanted forests filled with Japanese Cedar woods, over wooden bridges and lava rocks, and through a valley before ascending a steep, rope-led “stairway” that takes you up to the trails highest point at 2,300 feet. There you’re met with unobstructed valley views, rolling hills and the mesmerizing vastness of the land before you.

A more easily accessible trail is Monte Brasil, which is walking distance from the island’s seaside city center – Angra do Heroismo. The remnants of an underwater eruption, Monte Brasil offers panoramic views of the historic city Hiking and its bay, as well as close encounters with the The seven vast and varied hiking trails of Terceira deer that call this volcano dome home. are extremely well-marked, so hiring a guide is completely unnecessary. Instead, use the money to rent a car for a couple of days or utilize the islands bus system to get you to the trailheads.

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Canyoning I took it as a good sign when our canyoning adventure kicked off with the musical stylings of Creedence Clearwater Revival. The greatest hits album, I assume, because we listened to the classic rock band for the entire duration of the drive, from Angra do Heroismo in the south to Praia Vitoria in the northeast.

Bald, bearded and tattooed, our guide was just the man you want for the job when you’re about to repel down cliff faces in the remote wilderness. Opting for the “Adventure” trail, www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

Horseback riding Mónica Vieira, a transplant from Portuguese-speaking Mozambique in Africa, is the proprietor of Basalto Horse Experience. Slight, kind and soft-spoken, but with an unrelenting strength about her, Vieira’s passion for horses was calm yet palpable.

Situated at the end of a long, winding dirt road, the farm is a magical place. A wound-up Jack Russell Terrier patrols the stables and the horses are treated like family.

No horse-riding experience was necessary, and Vieira taught us the basics with patience and ease. We rode two pure white steeds, fit with refined Spanish saddles. The horses were docile and sweet, and the riding experience was intimate – just three people total.

(For more information on Basalto Horse Experience, visit www. basaltoclubedecampo.com.)

Whale watching

the five-hour tour included hiking; climbing up, over and through boulder-littered streambeds (sore muscles guaranteed); repelling down innumerable canyons; and epic zip-lining over treetops.

As we had grown accustomed to in Terceira, our tour guided treated us to a cool beverage at a local bar, which – of course – overlooked the ocean. (For more information, visit ropeadventures.pt.)

www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

Situated in the migratory pathway of an estimated 27 species of whales and dolphins, the Azores are a prime location for Whale watching. The ocean activity is year-round, but the time of year that you visit will determine the species viewed.

Many whale watching tours can combine with other oceanic adventures, for example tour outfitter Ocean Emotion offers packages that include responsible swimming with dolphins (they’re wild), sunset cruises, snorkeling and islet-hopping. (For more information, visit www. oceanemotion.pt.)

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KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | MARCH 2018 | 23

The GlassHalf-Full Guy:

TIPS FOR PLANNING A TRIP OFF THE BEATEN PATH

By PETER STADALSKY

People often ask how I find myself being invited into stranger’s homes for dinner in foreign countries or how I get offered free room and board when traveling, like the time an Irish women offered me her castle to sleep in for a night.

Ask your hosts where their favorite hangout is, and let them introduce you to their friends.

Be open to a little local advice, and you won’t believe the places you’ll find yourself.

 DON’T PLAN TOO MUCH

This is the biggest killer of getting the fivecourse experience. And I get it; there is a lot of fear in leaving things open-ended or loosely planned. But I’ve found that if I book up every There are many ways to travel. If your main single day with activities and reservations than objective is to put your feet up and be catered to, it’s rare that you’ll find yourself in the midst of it’s nearly impossible to accept a new friend’s invitation. the local experience.

It boils down to how you plan your trip and how you travel.

If you want to get past the trinket booths and would rather get to know new people and places when traveling, then here are a few tips to get you started:

 DON’T STAY AT HOTELS If you want to be treated like a tourist and seen as a dollar sign, then book your stay at a hotel or resort. There’s nothing wrong with vacationing like this, but it puts you in the “visitor” zone.

I think it’s also good to stay away from hostels because that’s where all the other travelers hang out. You won’t meet any locals in a hostel, just some dude named Carl from Georgia.

Some of the best ways to experience a culture is to find a bed and breakfast or use Airbnb.

Another option is to peruse websites like Couchsurfing, where you can stay with locals in every country on Earth. I know it sounds like a setup for disaster, but my friend, who is in her ’60s, got me into couchsurfing, and I’ve had only amazing experiences.

Typically, these options will get you off of the main drag – maybe even out into a small village – and you’ll have the opportunity to have a “behind-the-curtain” look at a culture.

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Less is more in that doing less leaves more time to be spontaneous. It also forces you to explore and ask around for suggestions. Get out of the guidebooks and off Google’s “Top 10 places you have to see in Costa Rica.”

I like to have a loose plan written in pencil, with a huge eraser ready, so I can say “yes” to an impromptu invitation.

 BE WILLING TO MAKE FRIENDS Sure, mountains, beaches, ruins, museums and old churches are beautiful, but nothing can compare to meeting new people and making connections.

Making friends is such an enriching element when visiting new places. It’s hard to compare sitting in someone’s home and getting to know that person – what he or she values and how that person enjoys life.

The pleasure also comes in the form of offering to host that person if he or she wishes to visit your country or state in the future. Part of the deal, in a metaphysical sense, is to be willing to invite people into your own home. Return the favor, in essence, so that you’re not just a taker, TRAVEL

but also a giver. People’s generosity and kindness always blows my mind, and I am always eager to repay that kindness.

It’s amazing to have friends all over the world; you only need be willing to strike up a conversation and be yourself!

 WHAT ABOUT WEIRDOS You may be thinking, “So, Pete, you think I should just walk up to a stranger and shouldn’t be worried that they’ll rob me or take advantage of me?”

My answer is “yes!”

Believe it or not, most people are gracious, kind and loving. Traveling only requires a reasonable amount of street smarts and intuition. If you can survive a trip to Chicago for the day, you can go anywhere.

In the 10 years I’ve been traveling the world, sleeping on couches and in cabins, I’ve encountered less than 10 weirdos and thousands of wonderful people. If something seems suspicious or unnatural, just say “No thank you,” and walk away. But I can’t imagine letting the fear of weirdos spoil my desire to explore the world and meet it’s beautiful people.

I think people deserve a little trust, and when we can grant that, it’s absolutely incredible what follows. u Peter Stadalsky is an Aurora resident and adventurer. He shares his travel experiences with a “glass-half-full” view of the world. www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

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The Herrington Inn and Spa in Geneva Photo provided

Spring break stay-cations STICK AROUND THE SUBURBS FOR SOME NO-FUSS FUN

By ALLISON HORNE

F

orget that expensive out-of-state spring break trip, and – instead – head to one of the exquisite hotels or boutique bed and breakfasts right here in the ’burbs. Enjoy what the local communities have to offer for some nofuss fun! So, pack a (small) bag and treat yourself to some local R&R.

The Victorian Rose Garden Bed and Breakfast in Algonquin Photo provided

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Rest, relaxation and rejuvenation For those who like the finer things in life, boutique hotels and bed and breakfasts offer personal attention not often found in bigger hotel chains.

The Victorian Rose Garden Bed and Breakfast in Algonquin was transformed into a bed and breakfast in 1995 after owner Sherry Brewer got the idea while visiting a B&B on her own. Brewer raised her children in the home after purchasing it in 1974. The house now has four bedrooms with private bathrooms for guests who come from all over the world (as well as from down the street).

If they want to talk, we talk. But we also let them have their privacy.”

Another vibrant B&B that has been drawing guests from all over since 1987 is the Harrison House in Naperville. Located in the heart of downtown Naperville, the historic home dates back to 1904 and offers six private guest rooms with a massive wraparound porch. It also provides access to the riverwalk, Naper Settlement, plenty of bars, restaurants and the Metra train.

“The ambiance of the B&B, even if you’ve never been here before, just permeates through the place,” says Debbie Browning, owner and innkeeper. “It’s just so “The property itself is amazing,” Brewer says. “Even though it’s from 1886, it’s got a lot of amenities and a peaceful and content and happy. The guests love it lot of wood. It’s very quiet, and we like to have a nice here.” aroma of chocolate cookies when guests come in.”

Aside from the breakfast served daily, there is a refrigerator filled with soda, water, beer, wine and While The Victorian offers a personal touch, it also milk, as well as three different complimentary is in close proximity to plenty of activities in town. snack baskets. The Harrison House also offers a There are five restaurants within walking distance, complimentary tandem bicycle for guests to take including Cocina Bella, Bold American Fare and Port Edward Restaurant, while the River bottom Ice Cream around town.

Company and Scorched Earth Brewing Company also “We’re very blessed to have a property like this,” says are nearby.

Diane Baldus, assistant innkeeper and manager of special events. “It’s surrounded by restaurants, and The house is even located across from the Fox River shopping, and other beautiful sites to go to.”

Trail, which provides miles of trails for biking or running, and spans from Aurora to Wisconsin.

It often gets special event bookings, such as business meetings, showers, bachelorette parties “Some people have never stayed at a B&B, and it’s just a different experience from a hotel,” Brewer says. and wedding receptions. It also offers special packages for couples or guests staying for other “Beyond the property, it’s the personal attention.

We’re very attentive, but give them their space, too. special occasions, as well.

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www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

“A lot of times, when you go to hotels, everyone’s in their own frame of mind,” Baldus says. “Being that it’s so intimate, people just feel comfortable here amongst friends.”

The home also has a couple of furry friends that hang out around the house: Beau Jangles and Bella – the hypoallergenic “mascots” of the house.

For anyone hoping for a close-knit feeling with more of a traditional hotel experience, then look no further than The Herrington Inn and Spa in Geneva.

There are 61 rooms with fireplaces, luxury baths and balconies overlooking the Fox River. The building itself was a creamery in the late 1800s, and the Europeanstyle inn is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

Harrison House in Naperville Photo provided

bands, while Zanies hosts comedians, such as Chris Franjola and Larry Reeb.

Accommodations range from For those looking to spend time relaxing, the Herrington whirlpool suites and executive Inn has an on-site spa that offers massages, facial suits to bi-level family suites treatments and body treatments. It also offers in-room and loft suites for larger couples massages, and even shoe-shining. parties. For those seeking an “We offer very different amenities,” says Lisa Landers, upgraded stay, the penthouse director of sales and marketing. “[It’s] a hotel with provides a beautiful view of the so much character, and our team is so friendly and countryside. helpful.”

Don’t forget the restaurants While the Herrington Inn offers means of rest and and bars – while staying at relaxation, it can also provide a bit of adventure for Pheasant Run, Barth says that those looking to get out around town. stopping at Bourbon Street is a must.

“We are located in downtown Geneva in walking distance to shopping, dining and the river trails,” The Harvest restaurant, which is housed in a historic Landers says. “Many people like to rent bikes in the dairy barn, also is a top spot for dinner. The restaurant spring and ride these nice trails.” serves quality farm-to-table fare – think dry-aged steaks, grain-fed poultry and seasonal produce.

The Metra station also is nearby, so having a car isn’t necessary.

For anyone looking for more outdoorsy activities, the newly-renovated Waterfront Hotel and For the adventurous vacationers Marina in Johnsburg provides a riverside spot to For those who get a little stir-crazy at the thought of hang out, eat and relax after a long day of boating. sitting cooped up in a room or hotel for a weekend, Conveniently located near the marina, there are spots there are plenty of places to stay with access to along the Fox River to grab a bite to eat, or visitors can activities on-site. dock a rental boat for the day while staying at the hotel.

There’s no shortage of things to do while staying at “It’s a fun place to come to,” says Gary Guy, general Pheasant Run in St. Charles. The hotel is located manager and son-in-law of Mario Arcari, the owner on 250 acres in the Fox River Valley with 293 diverse responsible for the new vision and remodel. “There’s a rooms, and most guests don’t even need to leave the lot of hustle and bustle, whether it’s music outside or grounds to have a good time. people sitting on the patio.”

“We have a host of things you can do,” says Hal The hotel also features the Wave Bar and Grill, which Barth, director of sales and marketing. “From golf, the provides the perfect hangout spot for trivia, live music Mainstage Theater, iPanic Escape Rooms, restaurants, Zanies, Spa Vargas, and indoor/outdoor pool – open all and outdoor games (during the warmer months). year – plus another indoor pool; we have activities all year round.”

The Mainstage Theater offers performances from the likes of American English, and Garth Brooks cover www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

From B&Bs with a comforting Midwestern vibe to hotels that offer extravagant event-filled weekends, one thing is for sure – a spring break stay-cation in the suburbs sounds pretty good.

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Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles Photo provided

 IF YOU GO

The Victorian Rose Garden Bed and Breakfast 314 Washington St., Algonquin 847-854-9667 victorianrosegarden.com Waterfront Hotel and Marina 3309 N. Chapel Hill Road, Johnsburg 815-344-3131 waterfronthotelandmarina.com Harrison House 26 N. Eagle St., Naperville 630-420-1117 www.harrisonhousebb.com The Herrington Inn and Spa 15 S. River Lane, Geneva 630-208-7433 herringtoninn.com Pheasant Run Resort 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles 630-584-6300 www.pheasantrun.com

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World’s 50 BEST BEACHES Travel agents, journalists and bloggers compile this year’s definitive list of top spots for sand and sun across the globe.

By KELSEY O’CONNOR

If you’re planning a tropical vacation, why settle for any old beach when you can visit one of the best?

The folks at Flight Network – one of the largest Canadian-owned online travel agencies – consulted with travel agents, journalists and bloggers to compile this year’s definitive list of the world’s 50 best beaches.

Beaches were scored on their remoteness, sand and water quality, annual days of sunshine, average annual temperatures, and – of course – their sheer untouched beauty. The result is a diverse collection of both world-renowned spots and hidden gems representing nearly every corner of the globe.

Without further ado, here are the world’s 50 best beaches:

-Continued on page 30

www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

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The best beach in the world is less than a four-hour flight away. The legendary Grace Bay boasts remarkably clear and serene waters thanks to the colorful barrier reef that protects the shores from debris and large ocean swells. People come from all over the world to swim in the warm waters and luxuriate on the plush sands. A short boat ride will take visitors to the coral reef for an underwater adventure. Snorkelers can spot an array of wildlife, including stingrays, turtles and seahorses jetting about the reef. With roughly 319 days of sunshine a year, there’s never a bad time to visit Grace Bay.

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www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

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1. Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos 2. Whitehaven Beach, Australia 3. Anse Lazio, Seychelles 4. Pink Sands Beach, The Bahamas 5. Navagio Beach, Greece 6. Baia Dos Porcos, Brazil 7. Playa Paraiso, Mexico 8. Hyams Beach, Australia 9. Hidden Beach, Mexico 10. Trunk Bay, Virgin Islands 11. Maya Bay, Thailand 12. Pig Beach, The Bahamas 13. Blue Lagoon, Fiji 14. El Nido, Philippines 15. Muri Beach, Cook Islands 16. Salt Whistle Bay, St. Vincent & Grenadines 17. Half Moon Bay, Antigua 18. Lucky Bay, Australia 19. Flamenco Beach, Puerto Rico 20. Reynisfjara Beach, Iceland 21. Île aux Cerfs, Mauritius 22. Fulhadhoo Beach, Maldives 23. Vaeroy, Norway 24. Cayo Coco, Cuba 25. Seven Mile Beach, Cayman Islands 26. Anse Source d’Argent, Seychelles 27. Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda 28. Honokalani Beach, Maui, Hawaii, U.S. 29. Turquoise Bay, Australia 30. Elafonissi Beach, Greece 31. Champagne Beach, Vanuatu 32. Tunnels Beach, Kauai, Hawaii, U.S. 33. Kaputas Beach, Turkey 34. Dhigurah Island, Maldives 35. Île aux Nattes, Madagascar 36. Cala Goloritze, Italy 37. Los Roques, Venezuela 38. Long Beach, Canada 39. Grand Anse, Grenada 40. Boulders Beach, South Africa 41. Lanikai Beach, Oahu, Hawaii, U.S. 42. Cala Mitjana, Spain 43. Shoal Bay, Anguilla 44. One Foot Island, Cook Islands 45. Ao Nang, Thailand 46. Radhanagar Beach, India 47. Eagle Beach, Aruba 48. Ageeba Beach, Egypt 49. Diani Beach, Kenya 50. Cannon Beach, Oregon, U.S.

-Continued on page 32 www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

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5 Navagio Beach, Greece Nestled in a rocky cove on a remote island, this Greek oasis will dazzle any visitor who makes the trek. Also known as Shipwreck Beach, the first thing you’ll notice is the crumbling remains on a smuggler’s shipping vessel settled on the pristine shores. The stunning contrast of the ancient wreckage, soaring golden cliffs and aquamarine waters creates an enchanting atmosphere. Visitors can explore the ruins, lay on the warm shores or climb the surrounding cliffs for panoramic views of the beach and surrounding sea.

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12 Pig Beach, The Bahamas

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You’ve probably seen plenty of photos from this Instagram-famous beach, but there’s nothing quite like seeing in the flesh. Pig Beach is home to world-class diving, pristine sands and some very cute locals. Beachgoers will be greeted by a group of friendly, spotted pigs, the island’s sole inhabitants. They’ll happily swim alongside you as you explore the turquoise waters of this Caribbean paradise. As far as burdensome, longdistance traveling goes, this one’s an easy trip. It’ll take about four hours in the air and usually includes a quick layover. Once you’re there, the only way to access the island is via boat, adding to the beach’s peaceful, remote vibe. www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

Thursday to Sunday,

19 Flamenco Beach, Puerto Rico The top U.S. beach on the list, Flamenco Beach, has everything you could want in a seaside getaway. This secluded, crescent-shaped beach is located on the tiny island of Culebra. With a mile of silky sands wrapped around a sheltered bay, the shallow waters of Flamenco Beach are the perfect spot to swim, dive and snorkel. Float over untouched coral reefs, explore U.S. naval tanks left from the 1970s, or just sit back and enjoy the silky white sands with a piña colada in hand.

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Tucked away within Wai‘anapanapa State Park, this volcanic beach is unlike any other in the world. The jet black sands, cerulean waters and lush greenery all combine to create an unbelievably stunning natural wonder. It’s comes as no surprise that the area is considered sacred by the Hawaiian people. The striking black sands were formed by lava flows that cooled and hardened, then eroded into tiny pieces by the pressure of thousands of years of ocean waves. Save time to explore the park surrounding the beach, which includes 122 acres of sea caves, blow holes, steep cliffs and Hawaii’s largest temple.

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KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | MARCH 2018 | 33

Industry River cruises, ‘Game of Thrones’ film sites make list of 2018 travel trends

By ALLISON HORNE

Some people are happy to park their butt in the sand for a week and call it a vacation, while others consider a vacation as a time of discovery and exploration, from experiencing different cultures and site-seeing to scaling a mountainside and hiking in the woods.

Either way, vacations are what you make them. Many current travel trends, including cruises, adventure travel and unique destinations, have people itching to mark some PTO on the calendar.

“I book a lot of cruises,” says Pat Turkot, owner of Dunham Travel Associates. “It is an easy vacation. Get on board, unpack once, all your meals are taken care of and see several different places. You get a taste of a destination, and you can decide if you would like to come back and stay for awhile.”

Cindy Brown, president of Oui Travel in

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Batavia, says she also books a lot of cruises and vacationers often choose trips based on the amenities of the cruise ships.

“The ships have so much to do that sometimes the ship in itself is the destination,” Brown says. “There’s ice skating, zip-lining, rock climbing – it’s almost like a floating city.”

Another new popular cruise-esque vacation that has been becoming more and more popular is river cruising. River cruises generally allow vacationers to enjoy the culture of smaller cities while still partaking in the service and amenities of a cruise ship.

“River cruises are anther great way to see different places without the stress of a tour,” Turkot says.

Brown agrees that river cruises are “a lovely way to go.” www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

outlook “River cruising is definitely on the uptrend,” Brown says.

Turkot went on a trip to Croatia last summer on a “Windstar” ship – a cruise-like ship with a smaller masthead, which allows it to travel to smaller ports and other smaller towns.

“It was wonderful,” Turkot says. “It was a wonderful experience not only seeing Dubrovnik and Split, but the smaller islands and ports, such as Zadar and Piran, and the wonderful island of Korula.”

One of the reasons Croatia and other parts of Europe have become hot spots is due to the popularity of the show, “Game of Thrones.”

“Scotland and Croatia, and other places that have those ‘Game of Thrones’ elements, have really been on the up and up,” Brown says.

Other places that Brown has seen become www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

more and more popular are Cuba, Iceland and basically every part of Europe – especially Italy and Germany.

“I really enjoy the Europe experience,” Brown says. “Life is different there. It’s definitely a nice place to go and see a different side of life. We think we’re old as a country at 200-something years old, but we’re so young in the world.”

While many people automatically pair the word beach and vacation together, vacations aren’t necessarily all about relaxing anymore. Many people are booking vacations based on their own interests, whether that be adventure-based, history rich or health-conscious. Solo trips also are gaining in popularity.

“That’s always something that is popular,” Brown says. “You follow your interests and do something that just makes sense. I’m not a ‘lay on the beach’ girl, but that doesn’t mean that TRAVEL

laying on a beach is wrong.”

Both Turkot and Brown, who are interested in history, have followed their interests and taken historic river cruises through Europe to some of the WWI and WWII historic sites.

“History drives me,” Brown says. “I want to learn, and see, and experience the culture to see how it became what it is today.”

Turkot made sure the trip she took stopped at the Normandy beaches so that she could honor her father, who served during WWII. Whether it is a historic trip or even a wild safari (Brown just got back from a safari in Tanzania), there’s so much of the world to see, and sometimes the hottest travel trends are trends for a reason.

“Go see the world!” Brown says. “Don’t be afraid.”

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | MARCH 2018 | 35

KIDS KORNER

Red Oak Nature Center

2343 S. RIVER ST. | BATAVIA | 630-897-1808 WWW.FOXVALLEYPARKDISTRICT.OG Maple Fest | March 17 Nestled on the east bank of the Fox River, the Red Oak Nature Center is surrounded by 40 acres of lush forest and wildlife habitat – an ideal setting for visitors to learn about the great outdoors through direct interaction with nature. At its annual Maple Fest, naturalists from Red Oak will lead visitors to various stations in the woods to view demonstrations of how maple sap is harvested and turned into delicious maple syrup. Each group will tap a maple tree, then witness the process of how sap is boiled and converted into syrup. Tastings follow with maplethemed treats and hot beverages available for a small fee.

SciTech Hands-On Museum

18 W. BENTON ST. | AURORA | 630-859-3434 WWW.SCITECHMUSEUM.ORG

Aurora’s interactive science and technology center, SciTech HandsOn Museum is celebrating its 30th year offering immersive exhibits demonstrating the principles of everything form electricity and weather to astronomy and nuclear energy. Come and explore over 200 interactive STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) exhibits which inspire education and imagination.

SciTech sparks young minds of all ages to discover the world around them. SciTech also offers group field trips, overnights, scout programs, birthday parties and day camps. SciTech Summer Camps are full of adventures and led by certified teachers with a cap of 15 campers per session. Programs available for children in 3rd-8th grade. Early registration discounts apply before March 31.

Xcelerate Camps

WAUBONSEE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, COMMUNITY EDUCATION | 630-466-2360 WWW.WAUBONSEE.EDU/XCELERATE June 4 through Aug. 3 Registration for Waubonsee Community College’s popular Xcelerate summer camp program for kids ages 4 to 14 will begin on March 5. This year, kids can choose from 42 camps and 95 sections with more science, technology and art options than ever before. Parents will be excited about the new Early and Extended Care options. These options allow kids to spend the entire day on campus. The Xcelerate summer enrichment program is developed by the staff, instructors and select partners of the Community Education department at Waubonsee. For more information, visit www.waubonsee.edu/Xcelerate or call Community Education at 630-466-2360.

36 | MARCH 2018 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

FAMILY in FOCUS

www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

Suburban Superdad:

Considering a road trip with the kids? It’s not as bad as it sounds, and gas is (relatively) cheap.

By JONATHAN BILYK

F

rom my earliest memories, flying has always held its grip on my imagination.

Growing up in the northwest suburbs, the ability to watch a big silver bird’s wing, with its dull roar overhead and the sun glinting off its frame, always made me wonder where it was going and marvel at the technology that allowed something like that to soar so effortlessly.

As a kid growing up in the lower middle class, I was born to parents with several mouths to feed and feet to shod. So, the opportunity to actually fly anywhere remained an elusive dream.

While family vacations still happened every summer, they involved a van full of kids and a road trip somewhere in the U.S. – usually Pure Michigan (And, before that, “Yes! Michigan.” Illinoisans of a certain age will get that reference.) – but sometimes to points significantly more distant, including Maine, Montana and the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.

Then, one day, I grew up. I earned some money, and – with excitement – bought my first airline tickets, plunging headlong into the cattle call of the modern international airport.

Certainly, there’s something to be said for the time-saving convenience (for lack of a better word) of air travel. Leave your home in the western ’burbs and be somewhere on the West Coast in a few hours? Nice.

However, there’s not a thing I would trade for the road trips I’ve taken with my wife and our two kids, chewing up the pavement between our flatlands and the Pacific Ocean en route to Oregon and Washington, and, most recently, to southern California. www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

I know for many, the only vacation nightmare more horrifying than the thought of being stuck in an airport or on an airliner with screaming kids, is to be stuck in a car with them for dozens more hours.

atop Oregon’s Mt. Hood, a chilly dip at Cannon Beach amid the quirkiness of Portland, and up the coast to Seattle and Olympic National Park – about as far as you can drive and still be in the U.S.

But you know those electronic pacifiers (i.e. smartphones) that work so well in airports and airplanes? They also work in your car, too! And, in my experience, the most incredible thing eventually happens – they will eventually, and voluntarily, set the devices aside, and – amid fleeting periods of sweet sleep – even begin to talk with you.

(More real talk: Visit Olympic National Park before you die. Just do it. You’re welcome.)

Shocking, I know.

A couple of years ago, we were somewhere in Utah, when my eldest first set down her screen and began to look around. Beginning with a low, “Whoaaa” from the backseat, amid a setting of soaring red rocks amplifying the hues of a mid-summer sunset. She and I had a long talk stretching over a few hundred miles about geology, biology, evolution, humanity, civilization and American history.

This summer, no matter where you decide to go, try to give the kids something they’ll remember for the rest of their lives. For all the epic scenery on tap in so many places in the U.S., it’s the moments of serenity that stir the soul.

Take that road trip you’ve been daydreaming about. It’s worth those moments when the kids fall asleep in the backseat, and leave you to your thoughts as the miles roll by; or, even better, when they’re so inspired by something outside the window that they can’t help but ask questions; or so bored, that talking to good ol’ pop seems exciting (beggars can’t be choosers).

It’s a big reason why, today, even with two kids, it’s still the open road that calls my name. Or, actually, it may be the toddler in the backseat more likely, because it would be awfully weird I think she emerged from the chat generally for the road to call me “daddy” and ask to go to unscathed, and perhaps even a bit enlightened by a few coherent nuggets of knowledge gleaned the bathroom. Again. from the recesses of my memory of high school  Jonathan Bilyk writes and college courses, and more than a few about the triumphs National Geographic magazines. and travails of being a

(Real talk, though: If you ever get the chance, drive through Utah. Sure, it’s mostly empty, and, culturally, it’s still Utah – but even YOU would appreciate the sheer movie-set quality of such geological eye-candy.)

From there, our epic trip – fueled by $2-a-gallon gasoline, even more gallons of caffeine and bags of apples, pretzels, cheese puffs and popcorn – took us, eventually, to a summer snowball fight FAMILY in FOCUS

modern-day dad who legitimately enjoys time with his family, while tolerating a dog that seems to adore him. He also doesn’t really like the moniker “Superdad” because it makes it sound like he wants to wear his undergarments on the outside of his pants.

(Also, the cape remains on back order.)

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | MARCH 2018 | 37

Cat and the Fox:

DISNEY - it's a little like Vegas

By CAT BATTISTA

T

he first time I went to Las Vegas, I was advised to take it slow.

On the last day of our trip, Jeff and I found some respite on a bench as our girls got their faces painted. Our middle daughter came up to us – her face painted bright pink with lots of glitter – looked at us, and proceeded to poop. Right there.

She had been potty-trained for a year.

The lights, cocktails and slot machines can take a toll on even the most seasoned partygoer. So, being the overachiever that I am, I scheduled a four-day trip. And by the end of day two, I barely made it out of my hotel room – the victim of overstimulation and too many cocktails.

We have not been back to Disney to say the least and will probably not attempt another trip until our kids are older. For those of you still planning to venture to the House of Mouse (despite having read this column), here are my recommendations (you brave souls):

• Book your trip at least one year out.

• Keep your first trip short – no more than three days.

• Pick the “Top Two” spots that you MUST see while at each park. If you make it to those two, However, a few years ago, we decided to travel consider yourself a success. outside of the Midwest borders and take the • Invest in planning guides. already made a number of mistakes. I did not kids to Walt Disney World. Halfway through our • Keep expectations low. book our trip far enough out. I did not reserve a Orlando “vacation,” Jeff and I lay on the floor of • If you do too much, you and the kids will our hotel room – completely defeated by Disney time for the Princess Breakfast, and now every become overwhelmed and meltdowns will “slot” to eat pancakes with Cinderella was taken. princesses. ensue.

The hotel we reserved did not offer “Magic Park Disney – as it turns out – IS like Vegas.

Disney can be a magical experience, and we Hours” or earlier and later access to the parks certainly made some special memories during than regular visitors.

Don’t let the words “Magic Kingdom” fool you. our trip. However, visiting Disney is not for Walt Disney World can be more “beast” than I had been played by the Mouse. amateurs. And – unlike Vegas – the cocktails “beauty.”

I found myself refreshing the “Fast Pass” don’t flow as freely.

When I told a friend that we were going to “Do reservation page, praying a time slot would open Disney,” she asked me if I had checked the up so my girls could meet Elsa and Anna from  Cat Battista is a “crowd calendars.” Since I had never heard of “Frozen.” wife and mother of a “crowd calendar,” she filled me in on how I Desperate, I told my husband that I would arrive three children. She needed to review the estimated traffic flow for at the park early before the gates opened. Then, celebrates faith, family the day we would be there and plan our visits I would position myself to sprint to Fairytale Hall and friendship in the Fox to each park accordingly. Oh, and did I make Valley, and writes about reservations for all of the rides we wanted to try? to secure a spot in line so our daughters could get face time with their beloved princesses. food, DIY, entertaining, The short answer – no. I had not.

I later discovered my idea was not unique. In the home decor and style.

Follow her on Instagram @FaithFamilyFete or Panicked, I bought every travel guide I could find Disney travel “biz,” this plan of attack is called visit catbattista.com. and started doing research. I learned that I had the “Frozen 5k.”

As a mother of three, I no longer take trips to adult playgrounds, like Vegas. My husband, Jeff, and I travel to more exotic destinations – like Wisconsin.

38 | MARCH 2018 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

FAMILY in FOCUS

www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

YOU DON'T DON'T NEED NEED A A SILVER SILVER FORK YOU FORK TO TO EAT EAT GOOD GOOD FOOD. FOOD. paul prudhomme prudhomme paul

Living large in the

backyard with MEAGAN PROVENCHER

with MEAGAN PROVENCHER

Y

our backyard is an extension of your home. It’s a place for friends and family to gather when the weather is warm and the days are long. And it’s easier than you think to transform a backyard space into something easy to maintain, enjoyable, functional and, most of all, beautiful.

Whether it’s a quick addition to screen a view or a complete overhaul, here are three steps to making your backyard a place you want to come back to:

1. EVALUATE THE SPACE Take a long look at your backyard. Does it flow nicely from your back door? Do you have an unsightly view? Is your hardscape (i.e. patio or deck) in good shape? Do you have enough room to entertain your family for dinner or your friends for drinks around the fire pit? Do you have overgrown shrubs or blank patches of dead grass? Do you need space for children or pets to play? Is there shade for when the strong western sun that beats down on your patio?

Make a list of the pros and cons of your backyard space. Be brutally honest with yourself. You’d do the same if you were remodeling your kitchen or bathroom. This list will help in the planning stages.

2. MAKE A PLAN Work with a reputable landscape designer and contractor to hammer out the details.

Even if it’s a simple spruce up, it helps to have a plan in place to work from so that you don’t get overwhelmed and end up with a hodge-podge mess.

40 | MARCH 2018 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

HOME & LIFESTYLE

A good landscape designer will see the space clearly and be able to transform it to your needs and wants – not just plunk down a few plants and hope they grow.

You can even divide the project into phases to help with timing, budget and needs.

Low maintenance plantings can easily be achieved and allow you more time to entertain and enjoy the space if you plan ahead. Even if it is just a tweak here and there, enlisting the professionals will reward you in the future.

3. STAY ON BUDGET It’s easy to get carried away with great ideas. So, having a realistic budget is vital to executing your vision.

As I mentioned, the yard is an extension of your home. Adding items like a patio, outdoor kitchen, fire pit, trees, shrubs, perennial gardens or water features are no different than replacing cabinets, countertops, lighting fixtures or painting the inside of the home.

Make sure you plan the details, which www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

include knowing the future maintenance requirements. Details can add up quickly, so it’s helpful to talk to a professional so that budget doesn’t get wasted.

Often we see plants being planted too close together; varieties planted that aren’t hardy; patios hastily installed; and companies that make promises only to disappoint the homeowner later. This can all be avoided if you know what you are getting into. Even if you have no idea what a landscape should cost, a reputable professional can easily work with you to accommodate your needs – no matter the budget – and educate you along the way.  Meagan Provencher is the senior landscape designer at Wasco Nursery in St. Charles. Provencher can be reached at 630-584-4424 or design@wasconursery.com. www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

2017

HOME & LIFESTYLE

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | MARCH 2018 | 41

Zen garden How to go from bland and blah to backyard bliss

By ALLISON HORNE

A

backyard doesn’t have to be a chunk of grass you dread cutting or a place for the neighborhood rabbits to wreak havoc. Rather, it can become an extension of your home and turned into usable living space.

Many homeowners are turning to local landscape designers to create a beautiful living space just steps out the back door.

“People are looking for resort amenities,” says James Tait, designer and salesman for County Wide Landscaping in Elburn. “They’re going for backyard resorts.”

From outdoor kitchens and living room sets (complete with TVs) to fire pits and Zen gardens, people are investing in their own sanctuary instead of seeking it in other places.

“Instead of wanting to leave, an oasis in the yard is more exciting,” says Matt Ewert, owner and designer for Escapes Landscape Design, Inc., in St. Charles.

42 | MARCH 2018 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

Many backyards can be transformed into an oasis with something as simple as a fire pit or as extravagant as an ecosystem pond with an outdoor kitchen, but with so many options, it’s difficult to hone in on where the money is best spent.

“A lot of people don’t know what they want,” Ewert says. “You have to think about how you’re going to utilize the space.”

Typically, how landscape design works is that a designer will visit a property to see the space, and a homeowner will share his or her budget (projects can range from $5,000 on the small side to well over $100,000 for a full-blown remodel) and describe what he or she is looking for. Most landscaping businesses charge for a design layout, but will do a consultation and home visit for free.

For those who entertain guests often, an outdoor kitchen and bar area with an outdoor television and surround-sound system are trendy options, while lounge areas – on a smaller scale – are great for immediate families. Cabanas and HOME & LIFESTYLE

pergolas also have been a popular addition to a landscape design, as they provide some shade in sunny areas of the yard.

“It seems like people are becoming more willing to make those outdoor spaces a further connection of their home,” Ewert says. “They’re increasing their living space and tying it all together.”

Both Tait and Ewert note that, right now, large paver bricks and stones instead of smaller more intricate designs are popular. Ewert says he’s also seeing a lot of natural stone, such as bluestone or limestone.

While water features come in and out of style regularly, they’re a staple for those who don’t mind the extra time and effort to maintain a water element.

Water features can be as small as a selfcontained pond-less fountain that requires little maintenance or a full-blown, hand-dug pond.

Ewert’s company is a certified Aquascape contractor, and has really gotten into the ecosystem ponds in the past two years. The www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

The Right Choice, Right in Your Neighborhood. Proudly Serving the Tri-Cities Area Since 1985.

hand-dug and designed ponds can be altered to any specification and can be created to provide shelter for fish, such as koi.

“Those are becoming pretty trendy because everyone wants an oasis,” Ewert says. “The water is calming, and it’s nice to have one in your own yard you can escape to.”

If a full-blown backyard remodel isn’t in the budget, something as simple as outdoor lighting to highlight the architecture and walkways can change the look of an entire house and yard.

630.791.0679

Whether it’s a simple lighting change or a backyard overhaul, an outdoor living space may be the key to making the most of the warmer months this year.

“A lot of people prefer being outside than inside, especially if they had that nice area to sit in out there and enjoy nature,” Tait says.

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HOME & LIFESTYLE

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | MARCH 2018 | 43

THINKING SPRING? Skyline Tree Service provides quality landscaping services at reasonable prices

In recent years many of Illinois trees have faced threat from diseases, pathaogens and insects.

Skyline Tree Service staff is trained to evaluate trees and advise on the care needed.

By MELISSA RUBALCABA RISKE

With the staff’s tree care knowledge, Skyline Tree Service & Landscaping employees can guide homeowners, providing suggestions to enhance a property.

Whether homeowners want to update their property with stateof-the-art maintenance or they are searching for a new look to improve their home and increase the property’s value. Skyline Tree Service staff can create custom designs to meet any budget.

For 30 years Skyline Tree Service & Landscaping, Inc. has provided residents in and around the Fox Valley with top of the line services at reasonable prices.

The full-service family-owned business offers tree trimming, tree removal, stump grinding, cable bracing systems, property monitoring, tree risk assessment and plant health care.

Additionally it provides residential, commercial and municipal snow removal services, including special attention for brick paver driveways.

All of the staff is trained in the most current programs in trimming, removal as well as plant health care applications. On staff are certified arborists with all of the current training and certifications in the tree care industry including chipper operation and safety; bucket truck use; removals, rigging and properly trimming per species. Skyline Tree Service is fully licensed and insured.

Periodic tree trimming is healthy for the tree and addresses potential safety concerns. Tree trimming helps to stimulate growth hormones within the tree’s vascular system and promotes a more lush appearance.

44 | MARCH 2018 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

further damage to the tree, surrounding property, buildings and personnel; and with a fleet of modern and up-to-date equipment the staff has the tools to insure perfect results.

With its Complete Tree Management services, homeowners and commercial property owners can rely on SkylineTree Service for plant health care programs and much more. Skyline Tree Service provides spring and fall cleanups as well as pruning. In the winter months, along with tree service and emergency tree services, expert snow removal and ice management is available as the staff specializes in brick pavers and plowing.

Time and again clients praise the professional, reliable services. From the staff’s first consulation to the final cleanup, Skyline Tree Service's staff is committed to the highest quality service while providing reasonable pricing.

Clients can create a Tree Maintenance Program to fit thier needs and budgets. Skyline Tree Service also provides support for round the clock emergency services, such as fallen or damaged trees. The trained staff can access a situation and provide solutions to prevent

 SKYLINE TREE SERVICE 630-584-2221 www.skylinetreesvc.com

HOME & LIFESTYLE

Since launching its business in 1988 customer service, satisfaction and positive results are the main priorities.

www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

VOICE OF THE TOWN From reporter to Geneva City Council, Tara Burghart

continues to examine community issues from every angle

By MELISSA RUBALCABA RISKE | Photo by RON MCKINNEY

A

s a reporter, Tara Burghart shared countless stories about the lives of others. But when she decided it was time to voice her own thoughts and ideas, she stepped away from journalism and toward local government. She exited her comfort zone, added her name to the ballot and nabbed a seat on the Geneva City Council.

Burghart, as alderman for the 1st Ward of Geneva, now represents neighbors in the historic district of Geneva, as well as business owners in the downtown area. The former reporter sits with her fellow aldermen, examining both sides of an issue, considering her constituents and helping to shape the community.

“It was really fun and helped fill the hole that leaving journalism had left,” Burghart says. “I felt a real obligation to my readers, and I got to know a lot of new friends.”

The site became an online resource for families.

It featured a detailed calendar listing of events and suggestions on places to play and learn. As the site grew, she incorporated other writers and advertising, too. Burghart managed the editorial and business side of the website, putting in long hours to support it.

“It’s rewarding,” Burghart says. “It’s community service at its best.”

In the last few years, as her daughter began to outgrow storytime, Burghart says she struggled with maintaining the website. Last fall, she accepted a full-time position in communications and, after much deliberation, decided that the time had come to close the “mom blogger” chapter in her life.

Friend Naomi Krodel of Batavia says Burghart always tries to understand every angle to the issues she reviews.

“That was really tough,” Burghart says. “It was so tied to my daughter and all the fun we used to have.”

“I wish every politician could be as fearless as she is,” Krodel says. “She is such an inspiration.”

Burghart says her readers responded with compassion, wishing her well and thanking her for the ideas through the years.

Burghart grew up in Rochester, Ill., a small town near the state capital. When she and her husband settled in Geneva several years ago, she was eager to explore the Tri-Cities and neighboring communities. Through her yearning to explore and experience as a writer, she launched the website “Go West Young Mom” in 2010.

She honed a casual writing style and began sharing her reviews, advice and suggestions for playgrounds, water parks, sled hills and nature centers with research based on the daily experiences she and her young daughter had as they ventured out each day.

www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

“I thought there would be angry readers,” Burghart says. “I really appreciate that people were so warm and lovely.”

Burghart’s writing career started when she was a freshman at the University of Illinois, where her friend encouraged her to write for the The Daily Illini.

“I immediately knew it was for me,” she says.

Burghart spent four years at the award-winning student newspaper, including her senior year as editor-in-chief. After graduation, she landed work with the Associated Press as a general

BUSINESS & CIVIC

assignment reporter, which gave her the opportunity to work in several cities, including Portland and New York. She had been living in New York just six months before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and vividly remembers covering the events following the collapse of the World Trade Center towers.

“It was such a unique time,” she says, recalling the event. “And that it can just happen out of nowhere. It was a regular day and something of that magnitude and life changing can happen.”

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | MARCH 2018 | 45

Mind your body Get educated about colon cancer

With DR. TARUN MULLICK

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. So, to learn more about how to stay healthy, gastrointestinal health specialist Dr. Tarun Mullick – who has offices in Geneva and Sycamore – took the time to answer some questions on the third most common cancer in the U.S.:

Q:

Do men and women need a colon cancer screening? Or is it just men? or just women?

Dr. Tarun Mullick: Colon cancer screening with a colonoscopy should be done for both men and women. It is a cancer that leads to a lot of deaths and affects both sexes.

So, no matter who you are, you need colon cancer screening at the appropriate age of 50, unless you have first-degree relations that have colon polyps or cancer. This brings the age down to 40.

Q:

What is the trend towards getting younger people screened?

Mullick: The American Cancer Society recently found that new cases of colon cancer and rectal cancer are happening at an increased rate in young and middle-aged adults. If you were born in 1990, you would be 27 years old. The risk of colon cancer is double when compared to those born in the 1950s.

Even more startling, the risk of rectal cancer has increased four times in the same age group if you are 27. So, it seems that colon and rectal cancer screening is trending towards earlier ages.

46 | MARCH 2018 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Q:

If I have a screening that is normal, what other symptoms or signs should I look for to know that I should come back earlier for my next screening?

Mullick: A change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation or narrowing of the stool that lasts for more than a few days.

A feeling that you need to have a bowel movement that is not relieved by doing so.

Rectal bleeding, dark stools or blood in the stool. Cramping or abdominal (belly) pain.

Weakness and fatigue. Unintended weight loss. There are new therapies for all of these symptoms if they are not colon cancer.

Q:

Do you need a symptom to get colon cancer?

Mullick: No. The reason colonoscopy is recommended for everyone in the above categories is because the most common symptom of colon cancer [is that there] is none. You can have colon polyps or cancer even without any other issue.

www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

“…It seems that colon and rectal cancer screening is trending towards earlier ages.”

– Dr. Tarun Mullick, gastrointestinal health specialist in Geneva

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Dear Dr. Mullick, My family never had polyps or cancer. Do I really need a colonoscopy? Jane Dear Jane: Great question. Colon cancer can affect anyone, regardless of family history.

Everyone over age 50 should get a colonoscopy. If you have family history you should start at age 40 or 10 to 15 years before the youngest relative with a problem. Screening helps reduce risk.

Dr. Mullick, I’ve got bloating and gas. Sometimes I have diarrhea or nausea after I eat.

Could I have food allergies? My doctor said it’s IBS (irritable bowel). Kristen

Q:

What is done at a colonoscopy?

Mullick: The colon is examined to look for and remove colon polyps. Colon polyps are growths that can lead to cancer and should be removed to prevent cancer.

Q:

Does it take 10 years for a colon cancer to

form?

Mullick: That is an old theory … . It is hard to know the exact timeline since new genes are being discovered [all of the time] that make cancers quicker or slower.  For more information, visit the Colorectal Cancer Alliance at www. ccalliance.org. To schedule a screening, contact Dr. Mullick at 630-232-2025 or visit www.mullickmd.com. His office is located at 2631 Williamsburg Ave. in Geneva.

Dear Kristen: Yes, food intolerances to lactose, sucrose and fructose are common, so you may need to avoid those. We have tests in the office for that. The symptoms of IBS and food allergies are often similar, so testing for food allergies is reasonable. We can test for that, too. We have helped many patients diagnosed with food allergies, so it’s not all IBS.

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S. from Geneva. “I am glad I had my colonoscopy done at the American Colonoscopy and Endoscopy center. I had some polyps removed and that will likely prevent a cancer.

The facility was wonderful and it saved me money.”

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www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

HEALTH & WELLNESS

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KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | MARCH 2018 | 47

First-class

FASHION FIT FOR PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

By SHONDA DUDLICEK

T

ired of looking like a tourist when you travel? Here are some fashionable, yet simple, tips to dressing better during transit and when reaching your final destination, too:

“For shoes, you’re always good with a ballet flat,” Michalec says, adding that Versatile pumps and a casual boot with a heel also are good choices to pack for a trip.

Waterson recommends wearing a specific brands for flight travel.

 MATCHING PIECES YOU CAN LAYER

“The wide base of Naot, and Taos, and Birkenstock – all are known for comfortable foot beds, says Waterson. “You can get fashion with comfort. They don’t look like Great Aunt Matilda’s walking shoes.”

Leslie Waterson, buyer for The Little Traveler in Geneva, says that the boutique carries the Caribe clothing line – printed tunics and pants in lightweight knit fabric.

“They have separate pieces you can mix in,” Waterson says. “Lots of customers buy one piece and come back for more. The tunic tops have a three-quarter sleeve. And they’ll buy a tank top or shell and pants to mix solid colors, jackets, tops, T-shirts and pants – all in navy, black or brown.”

Waterson advises layering in order to create different looks.

“One customer I know buys wool embroidered vests and takes two with her and changes tops,” Waterson says. “You’ll pack less if you bring one color and plan around it. People don’t want to haul around a lot, or lose their luggage, or pay a checking fee.”

Nanette Michalec, owner of Nanette’s boutique in Sugar Grove, says that incorporating a minimalistic style is best.

“Most people wear simple things over a tank dress and you’re good to go,” she says. "You look comfortable and fashionable. Leggings and 48 | MARCH 2018 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

 A LIGHTWEIGHT BAG Photos provided by Nanette's in Sugar Grove

wraps. A shift dress is an easy one to pack. A jean jacket/poncho can take you from casual to dressy. For jewelry, a cuff and simple hoops, wrap a couple of bracelets. You don’t necessarily need very much.”

And don’t forget to pack that staple item that can easily transition from transportation to destination.

“When traveling, one excellent piece to always have is a pair of black ponte pants; they can be worn on the plane, and then to the office, and out to dinner without ever looking messy,” Michalec says.

 COMFORTABLE SHOES Flats are the best shoes for the airport, because they are easy to remove when going through security.

FASHION & BEAUTY

For purses, backpacks and luggage, lightweight materials are best. Waterson recommends Vera Bradley bags with microfiber pieces in solid colors.

“They have lots of pockets and are known for their durability,” says Waterson. “And they’re lightweight to start. Vera Bradley is known for its prints, duffel bag, microfiber weekender. And the [Radio-Frequency Identification] all-in-one cross body. A lot of people are doing that RFID for ID protection. Vera Bradley wallets and wristlets and zippered compartments.”

Waterson also recommends the Brighton line.

“You can take a leather purse; it’s a lightweight bag to start,” she says. “The rolling suitcase and super tote – you can put the world in there.”

No matter what you plan to pack for you trip, you’re probably bringing too much.

“Lay everything you packed on your bed and put three things back because you probably overpacked,” Waterson says. “Versatility is very important, but – really – you’re never going to see these people again.”

www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

MMM… NOODLES! Where to go to get your slurp and twirl on

By KEVIN DRULEY

The stretched or rolled dough that is flattened and cut into various shapes and lengths has helped satiate many different cultures for centuries. And, to this day, noodle-lovers continue to enjoy the results of what many cultures have spent years perfecting.

From Italian eateries to Japanese gems, here are 10 restaurants (in no particular order) for top-notch noodles in Kane County:

50 | MARCH 2018 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

1. BANGKOK RESTAURANT (119 W. State St., Geneva): The Thai soup dish Goong Ob Mardin is the perfect accompaniment to a chilly night out.

Shrimp is cooked in a Thai clay pot with thin vermicelli noodles, two kinds of cabbage, ginger, green onions and oyster sauce. $12.95 2. CHAMBER RED CHINESE BISTRO (1554 E. Main St., St. Charles): Spice up your palate by trying the Singapore Mei Fun. Thin, round rice noodles are stir-fried with egg and fresh vegetables, then integrated with chicken, pork and shrimp with spicy and delicious curry. $9.95 3. CRAFT URBAN (211 James St., Geneva): You can’t escape the dietary staple of your college days, nor should you want to – especially if Craft Urban is involved. Craft Urban amplifies the Ramen noodle experience for the late-night crowd by offering special ramen dishes after 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Half-priced canned beer specials DINING & ENTERTAINING

accompany the noodle dishes – and likely augment the nostalgia.

MENU CHANGES WEEKLY 4. EDDIE GAEDEL PUB AND GRILL (117 N. Main St., Elburn): Named after the shortest player in Major League Baseball history, Eddie Gaedel Pub offers a favorite dish among its many pintsized patrons (the kids!) – macaroni and cheese. On Mondays, enjoy a crock piled high with the beloved comfort food and sprinkled with add-ins of your choosing.

5. GAETANO’S (15 E. Wilson St., Batavia): Gaetano’s fresh Italian fusion is Zagat-rated, and has inventive flavors sure to tantalize the taste buds. Tagliatelle Con Aragosta in Agrodolce brings diners one step closer to the shorelines of the old country. Tagliatelle pasta – a narrower version of fettuccine – is tossed with lobster tail and shrimp sautéed with shallots. The dish is flamed with cognac and topped with sweet and sour tomato cream sauce. $29 www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

NOW OPEN IN GENEVA 6. ISACCO KITCHEN (131 S. 1st St., St. Charles): While chef Isacco Vitali rotates his menu regularly, handmade noodles remain a constant through all seasons. Handmade potato and ricotta gnocchi comes with arugula-basil pesto and grilled chicken.

Or if you’d prefer to twirl your noodles, try the angel hair pasta with spring tomato marinara, basil and mozzarella. $21; $17 7. OSTERIA BIGOLARO (317 W. State St., Geneva): A recent addition to Geneva’s dining scene puts the spotlight on handmade pastas in a casual atmosphere. The Not Your Average Carbonara dish is fit with smoked pasta with pork jowl, olive oil and an egg yolk. $16 8. PHO 95 (2770 E. Main St., St. Charles): The strip mall restaurant’s namesake dish, Pho – a popular street food in Vietnam – consists of broth, rice noodles, meat and herbs. There are plenty of Pho options on the menu, so take your pick! $8.50+ 9. SZECHWAN RESTAURANT (117 W. Main St., St. Charles): The familiar spot overlooking Main Street offers several house specialties, including Double Fried Noodles. The noodles are fried on both sides to give the dish a crispy base then covered with seafood, chicken and vegetables. Pair it with one of Szechwan’s amazing cocktails, like the Mai Tai or a Flaming Volcano. $18.95 10. THAI VILLAGE RESTAURANT (4 N. Batavia Ave., Batavia): Thai Village uses spices grown in Thailand with every dish, including the Pad Kee Mao – stir-fried wide noodles served with tomatoes, carrots, mushrooms, bell peppers, bean sprouts, jalapenos, eggplant and basil. $10.95+ www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

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KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | MARCH 2018 | 51

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QA &

WITH AUTHOR SAMIRA AHMED

Former Batavia resident’s debut novel explores Islamophobia through the eyes of an American Muslim teenage girl

By KEVIN DRULEY

A

uthor Samira Ahmed’s family emigrated from India to Batavia when Ahmed was around 18 months old. It wasn’t long before pleasant memories of, what she calls, an “idyllic” community began taking root. Little changed as Ahmed moved around the country during adulthood, working as a high school English teacher and in nonprofit education.

And I think that was utterly shocking to me. I had never heard language like that. And I was confused. I was only 7 or 8 years old and I was like, ‘What does he mean, go home? Does he know that we live in Batavia? Because Batavia is my home.’ … You know, kids try to rationalize things in their own way within their own worldview, and – for me – I came away with like, “Wow, racists are really bad at geography.”

Ahmed’s parents, Mazher and Hamid, still live in Batavia – the fictionalized version of which serves as the setting of her debut novel, “Love, Hate and Other Filters.”

Now based in Chicago, Ahmed, 46, recently spoke with Kane County Magazine writer Kevin Druley about her upbringing and the book, which tells the story of a teenage girl who experiences Islamophobia and cultural divide among the usual rites of adolescent passage.

The following is an edited transcript of the interview:

DRULEY: What do you hope readers take from the novel?

DRULEY: How did that shape the novel?

AHMED: Maya, my main character, also is growing up in a kind of fictionalized version of Batavia. ... But she’s also one of SAMIRA AHMED: Overall, Batavia is the only students of color at the school, and generally filled with really good memories for me she experiences Islamophobia, which is not – I mean, for most of my schooling. something that I experienced in a very direct or I think that only as I got older, and started to overt way in school specifically. I mean, there notice things more, I realized that, you know, were definitely moments growing up where I ‘Wow, I’m really one of the only brown people in was sort of bullied by kids. my class.’ I think it was something more that I … Probably the most overt experience I had of became more keenly aware of – not something Islamophobia was actually not in Batavia, but that affected every single moment of my was in Chicago when I was a little kid. It was existence in Batavia. during the Iran Hostage Crisis, and we were But it’s definitely something that I noticed, and in the city on Michigan Avenue and this man, I think it’s something that any kid would notice like an adult man … pointed at me and had this when you were a little different or when people glaring face of anger and said, ‘Go home, you make you feel a little bit like another. [expletive] Iranian.’

KEVIN DRULEY: What stands out in the memories of your upbringing?

www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

OUT & ABOUT

AHMED: I hope this book can be both a mirror and a window for readers – especially kids. I hope some kids can see themselves reflected on the page through their experiences. Know that they’re not alone. And I don’t think they need to be either Indian American or Muslim to see themselves on the page. I think a lot of kids have that feeling of being ‘othered’ or feeling a little bit out of place or having expectations [of themselves] that don’t exactly match the dreams that they have for themselves.

And I also hope, for other readers, it can be a window into a world that maybe they haven’t thought about before. … No kid should have to feel that way, and I hope readers can relate to that.

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | MARCH 2018 | 53

An extended walking trail. A wildlife viewing area. An elegant riverside esplanade. A dynamic neighborhood playground.

CHANGE OF SCENERY Upgrades and additions entice families, nature lovers to visit St. Charles parks

By CAROL HAGGAS

These are just a few of the renovation and restoration projects recently undertaken by the St. Charles Park District. Some are essential, but not evident – the installation of safety equipment at Otter Cove Aquatic Park, for instance. Others take place on a larger scale. All are part of the ongoing mission of the St. Charles Park District to be responsive to the needs of its constituents and innovative in the ways it accomplishes those projects.

Take the extensive revamping of Fairview Park, for example. The neighborhood park, situated at Oak and 19th streets on the city’s west side, serves a densely populated area dominated by apartments and rental housing. The playground was past its prime, but instead of simply replacing old equipment with new equipment, the park district created a master plan that involves three phases of construction that includes an interactive water runnel, a ping-pong table, shelter with a grill and picnic tables, a half-basketball court, and a pergola with bench seating.

And all of it was done with community input – the most the park district has ever received on a project, according to Laura Rudow, superintendent of Parks and Planning.

After receiving presentations on three different concepts, local residents chose a concept by a nearly unanimous vote. More than 150 people came out to celebrate the park’s renovation at a grand-opening event July 26, 2017.

“The residents communicated excitement over the new park; ‘this has changed our neighborhood,’ was heard more than once,” says Rudow.

A changing neighborhood can occur one dogwalker, one cyclist and one person at a time.

And a great place to meet local residents can be on a walking trail, if your neighborhood is lucky enough to have one.

The trail that served residents surrounding Fox Chase Park was fine, but it didn’t go far enough.

Originally installed about 20 years ago, the asphalt path started at the park’s parking lot but abruptly stopped after about a quarter of a mile.

“It was frustrating,” says Rudow. “If you were riding your bike or walking your dog, you could only go so far and then you’d have to turn around.”

So, last year, the park district added another 1,400 linear feet to the trail, completing a loop that would create about a half-mile walking trail.

“Within a day of finishing it, people were calling and sharing how happy they were to have a legitimate walking loop,” says Rudow. “They said it was ‘life-changing’ and, when you think about the spirit of health and wellness, and getting your steps in, and wanting to walk and meet your neighbors and be out in the community, I guess it is.”

Trails for walking and biking, such as the one at Fox Chase Park, are among the most requested amenities mentioned by respondents on annual surveys conducted by the park district. And no trail is more prominent in the park district’s domain than the pathway that runs in front of the pavilion at Pottawatomie Park. As a destination for festivals and weddings, and as the backdrop for photos of family gatherings and official marketing materials, the pavilion is the hallmark of the St. Charles Park District.

But years of weather damage and the footsteps of more than 100,000 visitors a year were taking their toll. The original asphalt walkway was deteriorating, and additional decomposed granite, limestone and grass screenings needed to be brought in every time the area flooded.

Working with Landscape Architects from Upland Design and contractor Hacienda Landscape, the park district removed approximately 650 feet of the old, crumbled asphalt and ancillary materials and replaced them with one continuous stamped concrete surface. The pathway runs in front of the pavilion and connects the parking lot at Pottawatomie Community Center to the riverwalk path that leads toward city hall. At its widest point, the path is 21 feet, and can accommodate 4 people walking abreast with room left over for bike traffic. www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

The remodeled and restored Pottawatomie Pathway is unique among area riverside trails.

at Fine Line Creative Arts Center

“We were focused in the design phase on not looking like every other interlocking brick paver walkway,” says Rudow, adding that the brick color is specific and custom made for the park district, and is reminiscent of a terracotta flowerpot. “We wanted our own identity.”

Best kept secret in St. Charles...

In fact, the whole project was so sitespecific that Butterfield Concrete named the color and brick combination “Pottawatomie Red.”

Come out and see what you’ve been missing!

“If a visitor decides they really like what we’ve done and wants to duplicate it, they can order the ‘Pottawatomie Red’ from distributor Butterfield,” says Rudow.

“We wanted to bring recreational paddle sports to the river,” says Rudow. And thanks to an OSLAD (Open Space Land Acquisition and Development) grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the park district received funding to add a lowprofile dock suitable for kayaks, canoes and 60-foot rowing sculls at Ferson Creek Park.

There’s also a covered boat storage rack for those who don’t want to transport their watercraft every time they use the river.

A new playground and rental shelter for parties join an outdoor riverfront classroom for nature programs and camps.

But maybe the most educational part of the Ferson Creek renovation is a new “herp” (for herpetofauna, or reptiles and amphibians) viewing area in the lagoon area where the old fishing pier used to be.

A concrete walkway imprinted with the footprints of animals native to Illinois leads visitors to a limestone outcropping where they can view the various “herps” that call the lagoon home. A large cottonwood tree will span the lagoon, offering a sunning area for turtles and frogs.

“The lagoon is an amenity for nature lovers,” says Rudow. “With this and other new upgrades, we hope visitors will get out and explore some of the off-the-beaten pathways in the park district.”

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OUT & ABOUT

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | MARCH 2018 | 55

Book Nook

NONTRADITIONAL TRAVEL READS

By ALLISON MANLEY

Finding an interesting travel guide or travel memoir is pretty easy.

Visit your local bookstore or library, find the travel section, and pick from hundreds of wellwritten books on the subject.

But what about books that aren’t traditional travel stories?

If you have the travel bug but you’re tired of reading the same old books, check out these nontraditional travel reads.

 ‘THE WOMAN IN CABIN 10’

By Ruth Ware “The Woman in Cabin 10” is an addictive thriller about Lo, a travel writer who lands a highstatus assignment onboard an extremely luxurious cruise ship.

A brief interaction with the woman in cabin 10 seems innocent enough, until – shortly after Lo’s trip begins – she witnesses the woman falling to her death into the sea. Or that’s what she thinks she sees.

As Lo puts her investigative journalism skills to work, the tension in the story slowly but steadily builds. The missing woman and her death moves “The Woman in Cabin 10” forward, but Lo’s personal life creates its own kind of drama, adding to her confusion while onboard the ship.

Even though the story is set in the present, the affluent characters and the lavish cruise ship setting give the book an exquisite 1940s Agatha Christie quality.

Ruth Ware shows that the art of the murdermystery is far from dead in this original and engrossing novel.  ‘‘LOVECRAFT COUNTRY’

By Matt Ruff

Allison Manley was born in Georgia and raised in Island Lake. She graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in creative writing. She loves opera, craft beer, and (of course!) reading.

“Lovecraft Country” is a novel about three African-American families living in Chicago in the 1950s. It’s also about mysterious centuries-old cults, Lovecraftian monsters and ghosts, and the horror of the Jim Crow laws in the U.S. Atticus Turner’s trip from Florida to Chicago spurs an adventure that ends up involving his closest loved ones, modern-day alchemy and his own family’s history.

cult-leading ancestors, each chapter could be its own standalone story, since each one features a new creature, ghost or terror. Characters make peace with the ghosts living in a haunted house; mysterious potions and spells change (and hurt) the protagonists and their enemies; and wormholes take characters to secret, dark places that shouldn’t be visited.

Ultimately, “Lovecraft Country” shows that humans are just as capable of being monsters as the creatures you find in horror stories. But the novel does this by letting you see how the main characters cope with and defeat the monstrosities that are trying to hurt them.  ‘‘ASTROPHYSICS FOR PEOPLE IN A HURRY’

By Neil deGrasse Tyson While space travel isn’t accessible like travel is on Earth, Neil deGrasse Tyson’s “Astrophysics for People in a Hurry” comes close to emulating the experience of traveling through the cosmos. Tyson concisely explains all the esoteric astrophysics terminology with jokes that only he can pull off.

His effortless humor (and his ability to make the science behind the cosmos understandable) make this set of essays readable and enjoyable.

Some of the essays focus on the solar system and beyond, but others travel down to the atomic level and describe the physics that makes the universe work. And even though these concepts may seem dull to people who don’t work for NASA, Tyson puts the science in context and answers the question, “What does this have to do with me?”

A sassy and engaging collection, “Astrophysics for People in a Hurry” is a unique must-read for science fans and newbies alike.

While the whole book centers around Atticus’s 56 | MARCH 2018 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

OUT & ABOUT

www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

Artist SHOWCASE

TODD WILLING | ST. CHARLES SCULPTURE ARTIST

T

odd Willing, a St. Charlesbased contemporary sculpture artist, uses the garage behind his house as a metal working studio. There he specializes in recycling scrap steel and turning it into pieces of art. Much of the steel he has from working as a metal fabricator.

For Willing, art is about abandoning inhibition.

“Creating art is about being free, not inhibiting myself,” he says.

as part of the Sculptures in the Park program.

“Art is a wonderful experience,” says Willing, who also paints with oil and acrylics.

“When I create art, it can lead me in so many different thoughts and feelings about my life and the world, about materials and the handling of them.”  For more information or to view more of Willing’s work, go to @toddwillingart on Facebook.

The artist’s work has been displayed locally at Mt. St. Mary’s Park in St. Charles

To submit an entry to Artist Showcase, email artwork, title of piece, name and village of residence of artist, a two- to three - sentence description of the piece, short bio and artist photo to KaneCountyMagazine@shawmedia.com, subject head “Local Artist Submission.”

www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

OUT & ABOUT

KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE | MARCH 2018 | 57

CALENDAR MARCH 2018

ST. PATRICK'S PARADE WHEN: 2 p.m. Saturday, March 10 (activities take place from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

WHERE: Main Street, downtown St. Charles The St. Patrick's Parade travels down Main Street, from 6th Street to 4th Ave. The parade will feature Irish dancers, authentic Irish music, floats and more. For more information, visit downtownstcharles.org/ stpats.

61ST SPRING FOX VALLEY ANTIQUES SHOW AND SALE WHEN: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 10, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 11 WHERE: Kane County Fair Grounds, 525 S. Randall Road, St. Charles

(available online); or free for attendees 25 years old or younger (or with a current student I.D.). Parking is free. The event will benefit local historical and educational groups. For more information, visit www. csada.com.

Produced by the Chicago Suburban Antiques Dealers Association, the Spring Fox Valley Antiques Show and Sale will feature 55 dealers (from 15 states), offering authentic antiques. Admission is $10; $8 with a coupon

’50S NIGHT AT CLUB ARCADA WHEN: 7 to 10 p.m. March 22 WHERE: Club Arcada Speakeasy and Restaurant, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles

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BATAVIA RESTAURANT MADNESS WEEK WHEN: Sunday, March 25, through Saturday, March 31 WHERE: Various restaurants in Batavia

Call 847-640-0402 today!

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Restrictions apply. Discounts may vary. Not available in all states. See your agent for details.

Insurance is underwritten by Farmers Insurance Exchange and other affiliated insurance companies.

Pixies On Main

Batavia Restaurant Madness Week gives locals and visitors alike seven days of discounted dining at Batavia restaurants.

Diners should present an ad/coupon at one of the participating restaurants between March 25 and 29 to receive 20 percent off of the bill. Some restrictions apply. For a list of participating restaurants, visit the Batavia Restaurant Madness Week Facebook page.

Home & Garden Decor – Gifts – Antiques – Furniture – Jewelry – Fashion Accessories Items from Local Artisans and much more In the Berry House 227 S. Third St., Suite 101, Geneva 630-457-5587

SCOTTY MCCREERY CONCERT WHEN: 7 p.m. Sunday, March 25 WHERE: Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora

Experience

Scotty McCreery will perform at Paramount Theatre for one night only. He is one of country music’s hottest rising stars with nearly three million albums sold. After winning “American Idol” in 2011, McCreery debuted his first album at No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard Top 200 Albums chart.

Tickets start at $40. For tickets or more information, visit paramountaurora.com.

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9 North River Street Batavia, IL | 630-708-SALT (7258) | www.thesaltescape.com OUT & ABOUT

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The perfect setting to get away from it all to relax and rejuvenate.

58 | MARCH 2018 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE

Grab your saddle shoes and poodle skirts and swing into spring with ’50s Night at Club Arcada. The St. Charles History Museum invites you to don your best ’50s attire and enjoy a performance by Rosie and the Rivets. The event will include a costume contest, heavy appetizers and dance lessons.

Attendees also will have the opportunity to take pictures in the Flash Party Photo Booth, get a caricature sketched of themselves or try and play the mystery wine-and-dine bag game. For more information, visit www. stcmuseum.org.

www.kcchronicle.com/magazine

IT’S HERE. WE MADE IT. IT’S FINALLY MARCH!

By Anderson Animal Shelter Featured Sponsor DePaw University Canine Campus

The long, dark days of winter are almost over and for most of us, the first day of spring can’t come soon enough. And if you’re feeling the excitement of spring, chances are, your pet is too. That’s why this year, in addition to our annual St. Pat’s Day 5K, we’ve added a 1K pet parade as well!

Join us on Sunday, March 11th at 9am for a run/walk along the scenic Fox River Trail.

Runners, walkers, and dogs are all invited to participate! The 5K event is chip-timed and includes overall and age group awards, t-shirts, and finishers medals, while the 1K pet parade includes a swag bag filled with St. Patrick’s Day goodies and discounts, and of course, a bunch of adorable dog photo-ops!

Our St. Pat’s Day 5K and 1K pet parade is hosted

by LoMar Events, a company that strives to help raise awareness and support for local nonprofits.

“We look forward to this event! I have adopted several of my pets from Anderson and foster/ volunteer when I can, so it feels great to help them in an even bigger capacity,” said Lori Nelson, CoOwner of LoMar Events. “The shelter can never get enough support!”

Visit runwalk.events to register today!

This annual event is also made possible through the following sponsors: Bentley’s Pet Stuff, Wise

Guys Pizza, Total Body Chiropractic & Massage, Century 21 New Heritage (Agent Mary Sagan), Dick Pond (St. Charles), and the South Elgin Dairy Queen, Massage Envy, and Orange Theory.

If you are interested in joining the event as a sponsor, please contact the Anderson Animal Shelter Development Department at development@andersonanimalshelter.org

Not able to bring your pet on your vacation?

Let DePAW care for your furry family member like our own! 2017 Best of the Fox Winner of the BEST Kennel & Trainer!

BOARDING

TRAINING

DAYCARE

EDUCATION

GROOMING

100 S. Glengarry Dr., Geneva, IL 60134 • 630-232-8663 • depawK9campus.com