Crystal Lake

With over 40,000 residents, Crystal Lake manages to maintain its small-town charm. Visit the local businesses where owners know your name, or stop by the local breweries where the staff remembers your favorite drink. Community is at the heart of everything in Crystal Lake. Here, festivals are put together to raise funds for the schools and local charities, independent shops and restaurants are highly supported by residents and tourists, and the neighborhood is well maintained and peaceful. They even have an award-winning public library!

The farm-to-table 1776 Restaurant is owned by Crystal Lake native, Rhianna McCain. Her team brings locally sourced, organic ingredients to 1776 and provides Crystal Lake residents with an upscale, fine dining experience. Try their rotating homemade soups, like sweet potato and carrot bisque, or their 18-ounce bone-in strip steak with baked potatoes. Their menu items list where each dish was sourced – like Nichols Farm and Broadview Farm near Crystal Lake.

Duke’s Ale House is home to over 100 different craft brews and Belgian ales. Each brew is carefully chosen to pair with its menu items, which range from artesian sandwiches to fresh entrées. Duke’s has also been a Certified Green Restaurant since 2012, implementing over 70 environmental steps to reduce their footprint and introduce sustainable practices.

Serving a “healthy dose of local pride,” Crystal Lake Brewery creates a quality beer with excellent taste. Their attention to detail with each brew is unparalleled, and local brews are crafted over time, ensuring each flavor is unique and special to the Crystal Lake community. Their imported brew list is also extensive and rotates with the seasons. Co-founders John O’ Fallon and Chuck Ross are committed to producing the highest quality and approachable brews, which encourages guests to try new concoctions. Stop in to try new flavors in an awesome and energetic atmosphere with a staff who truly cares about the Crystal Lake community!

Wear Did U Get That is a fun, women’s clothing boutique located on Williams Street in downtown Crystal Lake. With a constant flow of new inventory, the shop features new items every time you visit. Find designer brands along with the racks, and browse their selection of high-end accessories and handbags. Wear Did U Get that proudly stocks items in all sizes for all events. Whether you’re going out to dinner with friends or running errands, they have the perfect outfit for you!

Three Oaks Recreation Area is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Crystal Lake. Bring your fishing pole and enjoy a morning on the water, or plan a picnic with the family and enjoy the scenic views of the lake in the distance. There’s a fun spray park for kids, an outdoor dining area, and a Scuba Zone for private scuba lessons.

The crown jewel of the Crystal Lake neighborhood is Veteran Acres Park. The Crystal Lake Park District Nature Center is located on-site, along with the Rotary Building and Oakwoods Lodge. The park offers recreational fields for sporting events, two picnic shelters, a playground, sledding hills for the winter months, a fishing pier, and dozens of walking and hiking trails.

Each week, Crystal Lake holds a concert at Main Beach. The Tuesday Night Concert Series encourages families to pack up their picnic gear and spend a summer evening outdoors with the community. Local vendors set up along the beach and provide samples of their popular dishes, and the concert series offers occasional trivia nights and raffle prizes.

Johnny Appleseed Festival is held annually on the last Saturday of September. Meet Johnny Appleseed as he strolls through downtown telling his story! This fall festival offers an apple scavenger hunt, a huge craft fair, a scarecrow decorating contest (and a juggling scarecrow), and live music all day. Held downtown, the entire Crystal Lake community comes out to support the neighborhood and celebrate the beginning of fall.