Thank you for checking out the Lake County Blog. We have recently moved to a new blog, please click this link to read the new blog, http://www.visitlakecounty.org/blog/.

Thank you!
Lake County, Illinois Convention & Visitors Bureau

[+/-] click to show/hide this post

It’s the last weekend before the holidays and Lake County is the perfect winter wonderland with something for everyone to enjoy. Here are my top 5 things to do this weekend. Enjoy and have a great weekend!

1. Holiday Open House with Santa at the Cuneo Mansion and Gardens is Friday, December 16 from 6:30pm – 9pm. Kids can visit with Santa, there will also be craft stations, mansion tours, hot chocolate, the movie ‘A Christmas Story’ will be playing and much more. Cost is $5 per person.

2. This is the last weekend to take a Horse Drawn Carriage ride through the streets of Downtown Antioch. The carriage rides run from 1pm – 4pm on Saturday, December 17. It is located near Santa’s Enchanted Castle on Toft Street.

3. The City of Waukegan’s monthly ArtWauk event is this weekend starting at 5pm. Take a stroll through Downtown Waukegan, visit the art galleries, enjoy live music and entertainment; have dinner in one of the downtown restaurants. The Genesee Theatre will also be offering free tours from 5pm – 6:30pm and feature the movie ‘White Christmas’ at 7pm.

4. Toys come to life and children believe in the magic of Christmas in the Civic Ballet of Chicago ‘The Nutcracker’ at the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts at College of Lake County. Show times are Saturday at 1pm & 5pm and Sunday at 3pm.

5. Take a magical journey aboard the Polar Express from the Libertyville Metra Station to the North Pole (Fox Lake) and back again. Santa will join the Polar Express upon arrival in the North Pole. The award winning children’s book ‘The Polar Express’ will also be read.

- Anthony

[+/-] click to show/hide this post

It’s the last weekend before the holidays and Lake County is the perfect winter wonderland with something for everyone to enjoy. Here are my top 5 things to do this weekend. Enjoy and have a great weekend!

1. Holiday Open House with Santa at the Cuneo Mansion and Gardens is Friday, December 16 from 6:30pm – 9pm. Kids can visit with Santa, there will also be craft stations, mansion tours, hot chocolate, the movie ‘A Christmas Story’ will be playing and much more. Cost is $5 per person.

2. This is the last weekend to take a Horse Drawn Carriage ride through the streets of Downtown Antioch. The carriage rides run from 1pm – 4pm on Saturday, December 17. It is located near Santa’s Enchanted Castle on Toft Street.

3. The City of Waukegan’s monthly ArtWauk event is this weekend starting at 5pm. Take a stroll through Downtown Waukegan, visit the art galleries, enjoy live music and entertainment; have dinner in one of the downtown restaurants. The Genesee Theatre will also be offering free tours from 5pm – 6:30pm and feature the movie ‘White Christmas’ at 7pm.

4. Toys come to life and children believe in the magic of Christmas in the Civic Ballet of Chicago ‘The Nutcracker’ at the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts at College of Lake County. Show times are Saturday at 1pm & 5pm and Sunday at 3pm.

5. Take a magical journey aboard the Polar Express from the Libertyville Metra Station to the North Pole (Fox Lake) and back again. Santa will join the Polar Express upon arrival in the North Pole. The award winning children’s book ‘The Polar Express’ will also be read.

- Anthony

--->

This year I decided to do some holiday shopping at Westfield Hawthorn in Vernon Hills. This is one of the busiest times of the year for the mall and I found it every bit enjoyable. I like seeing the mall all decorated for the holidays and everyone in the holiday spirit. They have over 150 retailers including several new stores that my wife will like to check out. Teavanna is perfect for the tea lover in your family and offers nearly every kind of tea imaginable. Bare Escentuals offers complimentary makeovers everyday and is the perfect store all women. Akira is new store to mall and is a fun and trendy woman's boutique from Chicago. Charming Charlie is new to mall and opened in October, and features accessories for all your outfits. Guys, if you are looking for something for your wife or girlfriend, I am told that you can not go wrong with a Coach purse.

Check out the video of my shopping experience at Westfield Hawthorn.
- Anthony

[+/-] click to show/hide this post

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, as snowflakes start to fall and holiday cheer is spread throughout the county.

1. “Cherish the Ladies A Celtic Christmas” offers a unique spectacular blend of instrumental talents, beautiful vocals, captivating arrangements and stunning step dancing. This powerhouse group will be showcased on Thursday night at 7:30pm at the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts at CLC.

2. “The Magic of the Nutcracker” is the largest and most lavish production of the classic ballet in Lake County and is happening at the Genesee Theatre Saturday and Sunday at 3pm.

3. Downtown Highland Park will hold its second annual Shhh…opping 3-day outdoor festival Thursday – Saturday. The downtown streets will be transformed into a winter wonderland to create a nostalgic holiday season atmosphere. The event includes ice sculptures, open fires and roasting chestnut stations, Nutcracker dancers, FREE horse-drawn carriage rides, live reindeer and much more!

4. Take a ride on the Polar Express from the Round Lake Metra Train Station to the North Pole (Fox Lake) and back again. There will be a reading of the award-winning holiday story, “Polar Express,” caroling and snacks. Trains leave at 11:55am and 1:40pm on Saturday.

5. Richardson Tree Farm is open daily from 9am – 6pm for families to create a lifetime of memories and cut down their own Christmas tree. There are free wagon rides, hot chocolate, coffee, donuts and more.

There are many more events happening in our area, if these do not interest you, please take a look at our calendar of events. I hope to see you our enjoying our beautiful county!

-Anthony

[+/-] click to show/hide this post

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, as snowflakes start to fall and holiday cheer is spread throughout the county.

1. “Cherish the Ladies A Celtic Christmas” offers a unique spectacular blend of instrumental talents, beautiful vocals, captivating arrangements and stunning step dancing. This powerhouse group will be showcased on Thursday night at 7:30pm at the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts at CLC.

2. “The Magic of the Nutcracker” is the largest and most lavish production of the classic ballet in Lake County and is happening at the Genesee Theatre Saturday and Sunday at 3pm.

3. Downtown Highland Park will hold its second annual Shhh…opping 3-day outdoor festival Thursday – Saturday. The downtown streets will be transformed into a winter wonderland to create a nostalgic holiday season atmosphere. The event includes ice sculptures, open fires and roasting chestnut stations, Nutcracker dancers, FREE horse-drawn carriage rides, live reindeer and much more!

4. Take a ride on the Polar Express from the Round Lake Metra Train Station to the North Pole (Fox Lake) and back again. There will be a reading of the award-winning holiday story, “Polar Express,” caroling and snacks. Trains leave at 11:55am and 1:40pm on Saturday.

5. Richardson Tree Farm is open daily from 9am – 6pm for families to create a lifetime of memories and cut down their own Christmas tree. There are free wagon rides, hot chocolate, coffee, donuts and more.

There are many more events happening in our area, if these do not interest you, please take a look at our calendar of events. I hope to see you our enjoying our beautiful county!

-Anthony

--->

By Authentic Antioch

When your kids ask about Santa this year, take them right to the source! No, not the mall, head to Santa’s very own abode, right here in Antioch: Santa’s Enchanted Castle! Open now through Dec. 23 (when Santa’s activity level just goes through the roof) on Toft Avenue, Santa’s Enchanted Castle is a holiday event unto itself.

It gets even better: Santa will take a moment to make a special Christmas memory for you and yours. Parents, feel free to bring a wish list, but remember—it’s about the kids. Bring a camera and it’s free or we’ll supply the photographic memories for a nominal charge. And, as long as you’re downtown, take a ride, stop for tea, and enjoy all that Antioch has to offer!

	When The Reindeer Are Away… The holidays are here. Memories are stirred, hearts fluttered and feelings nurtured around this time of year more than any other and what better way to generate such things than a nostalgic horse-drawn carriage ride? Available Saturday afternoons, 1-4 p.m., through Dec. 7, it’s a nice ride before or after your visit with Santa at his Enchanted Castle. There’s plenty of room to stretch your legs in Antioch, but sometimes a good ride is a good ride—and the kids will love it.
	Harken Back: Holiday Tea at Infini-Tea Main Street is a place we all know in our hearts: it’s warm and fuzzy and nostalgic, and this year’s Holiday Tea at Infini-tea is all that and more. Come by on Sunday, December 18th for one of three seatings, at 11:00am, 1:30pm, and 4:00pm. You can enjoy special holiday foods, teas, and the sweet sounds of carolers. Cost is $25 per adults, $15 per child, plus tax and gratuity.
Otherwise, stop by to sample their variety of specialty teas and soothing, flavorful herbal teas, served alongside house-made “Winslow Scones” (courtesy of their masterful scone maker, Kenelm Winslow Scheske), light & airy cream and/ or lemon curd, plus finger sandwiches and an even sweeter finish, of course. Soups, salads, sandwiches, and gluten-free/vegetarian options round out the rest of the menu. This is important: it’s more fun to explore Antioch on a full stomach. For more information on Authentic Antioch continue here.

Santa’s Enchanted Castle Downtown on Toft Street between Lake and Orchard Streets.

Infini-tea 902 Main Street Antioch, IL 60002

[+/-] click to show/hide this post

The Vernon Hills Winter Wonderland Light Show at the Cuneo Mansion started yesterday. It is a drive-thru holiday light show on the magnificent grounds of the Cuneo Mansion. I take my family there every year and it has become a tradition of ours to visit. We just cannot get over how many lights there are and the displays that set up. This is one of Lake County's holiday treasures. For the younger kids in the family, Santa and his elf Buddy will make a visit to the light show on the following dates, Monday, Nov. 28th, Wednesday, Dec. 7th, Monday, Dec. 12th, Wednesday, Dec. 21st. The light show is open everyday from 6 - 10pm and is closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day. The cost is $5 per car Monday - Thursday and $10 per car Friday - Sunday. I hope to see everyone out at the Vernon Hills Winter Wonderland Light Show!

- Anthony

Here is a behind the scenes video for the light show.

[+/-] click to show/hide this post

I recently took at trip to the west side of the county to the Volo Auto Museum. Now, this was not my first time there. But it amazes me that every time I go to the Volo Auto Museum, that I am in awe of the cars that they have on hand. This is definitely an attraction that the entire family will enjoy.

I am not a big car, but it was really cool seeing all of the cars from the TVs that I watched as a child and movies. Some cars such as the General Lee from the Dukes of Hazzard and KITT from Knight Rider brought back some great memories. They also have the Batmobile and some extremely unique cars on hand such as an Elvis car. I will have to bring my nephews to the Volo Auto Museum some time to see Lightening McQueen from the movie Cars, which is probably a hit will all the kids that stop by.

But my favorite part of the museum, was their vault! This is something that you can only view if you take their trolley tour which runs on the weekends. In the vault is 2 Princess Diana cars, which are just stunning. There is also Oprah Winfrey's car, Jon Bon Jovi's car, Britney Spears car, Angelina Jolie's car and Charlie Sheen's car. But my favorite car was Michael Jordan's car, which I could stand next to and look at all day. One other thing that I forgot to mention, that my grandpa would enjoy is their military exhibit. It would be great to hear my grandpa's stories while looking at those vehicles.

Will enough about how much I enjoyed the Volo Auto Musuem, below is a short video for some of my favorite cars and what you will see when you visit. What are your favorite cars at Volo Auto Museum?

[+/-] click to show/hide this post