Did you know Kankakee County is the perfect place to plan your next day trip, overnight stay or long weekend group trip? That’s right! Groups large and small will love the activities that Kankakee County offers any time of the year. Come along with us as we dive into two seasonal options for your group.
For days when the Midwest weather doesn’t quite cooperate, let’s take a trip to learn about the rich history of Kankakee County. Start your morning with a tour of the Kankakee County Museum. Take in the beauty of the museum campus and breathtaking column garden. The museum houses many interesting exhibits that will provide a peek into our county’s history. Side note: our favorite exhibit is the George Grey Barnard Sculpture exhibit! After an early morning history session, it’s time to warm up with a hot cup of coffee and a delicious treat! One of our favorites is Stefari West Avenue. With their exclusive house espresso and creative recipes, they’re sure to satisfy even the pickiest of coffee drinkers. After fueling up, spend some time exploring downtown Kankakee. There are so many storefronts lining Schuyler Avenue, including Madame Saint Vintage, Moon Cookie Gallery and many shops & boutiques inside the Majestic Theater building. Finish up your afternoon with a tour of the B. Harley Bradley House, designed by famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The B. Harley Bradley House is Wright’s first Prairie-Style home that paved the way for one of his most famous design techniques. Finally, wrap up your day with dinner at The Bennett-Curtis House. The Bennett-Curtis House offers themed dinners such as a Murder Mystery dinner, wizard-themed dinners, Holiday dinners and also private dining for large groups.
When your groups visits Kankakee County in the spring and summer months, be prepared to take in the natural beauty of the outdoors. Start your morning with a stroll along the Kankakee River at the Kankakee River State Park. The park’s trail system stretches 11 miles along both sides of the Kankakee River. A 3-mile route along Rock Creek lets hikers enjoy the beauty of limestone canyons and a frothy waterfall. For a less strenuous trail, head to Perry Farm Park, where the paved walking paths have little elevation and take you through many different scenes of prairie, forest and river. At Perry Farm Park, you can also visit the historic farmstead, including the farmhouse, barns, farm buildings, animal pens, gardens, Centennial Orchard, Durham Memorial and Millennium Garden. After all that walking, we’re sure you’ve worked up an appetite! Head over to BrickStone Brewery, an Illinois Made Maker, for lunch. BrickStone offers a delicious menu as well as brewery tours where you can see where and how their award-winning brews are made. 
After lunch, head to one of the local bakeries like Nana’s Cakery & Bake Shoppe to pick out the perfect cookie or cupcake for dessert! Afterwards, the group could spend some time exploring one or more of the many antique shops in Kankakee County. The Indian Oaks Antique Mall is an 18,000 square foot flea market-style antique mall, with a vast number of items displayed in over 150 individual booths. The items are vastly diverse, including high-quality furniture, rare books, costume and fine jewelry, beautiful glassware, one-of-a-kind country crafts, including Amish-made furniture and Amish country kitchen items--and is "topped-off" with a fine selection of gift items, candles and potpourri. There are even historical items of Kankakee County, like the ceiling tiles from the old Kankakee Hotel. If your group would rather go on another tour, our team can schedule a tour at Restoration Works. Gayle and her team have been restoring historic windows for well over a quarter century and in 2017, received the Illinois Sustainability Award for the development of the Light Wave Stripper and green restoration practices. 
Finally, round out your day with dinner at Locavore Farm, another Illinois Made Maker. Their signature Dine on the Land experience is a four-hour dining retreat. Guests check in at the outdoor bar to raise a glass to the quiet life. With a locally crafted beer, wine or seasonal cocktails in hand, Farmer Jones will take you on a walking farm tour to learn about their passion for land, food and community. After seeing where much of the dinner is grown, you will be seated at a 110-foot wooden table on their pasture where you can take in a beautiful Midwestern sunset as you enjoy your multi-course dinner. Finish off your night by roasting homemade marshmallows around the fire, surrounded by friendship and conversation.
These seasonal itineraries are just two options that our team can offer. Each itinerary is completely customizable, and new itineraries can be designed to fit the needs of any group interested in visiting Kankakee County. For more information on all the adventures awaiting in Kankakee County, go to visitkankakeecounty.com or contact one of our team members at [email protected].
