June in Illinois

We really enjoyed our week at Silverleaf's Fox River Resort in Sterling, IL. Joliet is only about 30 minutes away and there is no end of things to do there. The outdoor pool at the resort is new and was very nice, although crowded on the really hot days.

Quick Tips:

We really enjoyed going into Ottawa -- it is a nice little town, but has everything you need. We also enjoyed going to the Starved Rock State Park; if you like to hike, this is a great place to do it. We found the casinos in Joliet to be a nice diversion and they had very good food.

Best Way To Get Around:

We found the best way to drive into Joliet was to take Highway 52 instead of the interstate. Traffic on this road was not heavy and in spite of the fact that it is a two-lane road, we made much better time on this road than on the interstate.

Best Things Nearby:
Starved Rock State Park is a short, very enjoyable drive. The town of Ottawa is close and a great little town -- we were fortunate to get there on the night of their annual car cruise. There were at least 300 classic cars -- my husband was in heaven. I enjoyed just walking around listening to the "oldies" music that was coming out of the speakers on every street corner. Joliet is not that far away and, if you like to gamble, there are two large casinos. Also near Joliet is the Nascar track, where you can do a ride along or drive yourself in a real race car. It is pricy, but we were told by some who had done it that it was worth the price.

Best Things About the Resort:
They have a new outdoor pool that is very nice; the indoor pool looked nice also, but was closed when we were there for cleaning. Our son liked that you could fish in the lake without a license. You can play miniature golf and used the canoes at no charge, which is unusual.

Resort Experience:
The resort itself is not too impressive when you first see it. However, the inside of the unit is nicer than the outside. There is a large whirlpool tub in the master bedroom. There are TVs in both bedrooms and the living room, which is nice when you have several people with different tastes. There is also a golf course at the resort, miniature golf, and a lake for canoeing and fishing.

• Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
• Activities: Very Good
• Amenities: Very Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Very Good
• Family Friendliness: Very Good
• Service: Very Good

We enjoyed dining at Hank's Farm so much that we went back a couple of nights later. If you order before 6pm, there are several entrées that you can get for around $8. We especially enjoyed the salad bar, where they had at least 5 loaves of fresh bread, from which you cut your own. My favorite was the cinnamon raisin. They also had a large chunk of cheese on the salad bar, along with a nice variety of salads and, of course, greens. The drinks were a little expensive -- I think it was $4.50 for a mixed drink.

We loved the atmosphere in the restaurant -- it is, as you would imagine from the name, an old converted barn, with lots of ambience. Outside, they have a barnyard with animals, and a gift shop called Curious Good. It is not open all the time so call for the hours (call 815-433-2540 and ask for gift shop).

The casino is only 32 miles from the timeshare and is easy to find. It's right across the river from Bicentennial Park in downtown Joliet, IL. It is quite a large casino that's spacious and very nice.

This casino is just 32 miles from the timeshare and really worth seeing. It has an Egyptian motif, and the entrance is so impressive. It is really worth going just to see the casino. It is quite large, two floors, and has a good variety of machines if that is your pleasure.

This is a beautiful Nascar track (only a few years old) where you can take a ride along in a real race car around the track. Or if you're really adventureous, there are all different ranges of prices allowing you to drive a race car around the track yourself.

This is the ultimate up close experience if you are a race car fan. Prices range from $89 all the way up to $2999. Or of course if you are there on a race date you could watch a race; for race dates at this track call 1-800-23-73889. Tickets must be purchased in advance.