People hear “Chain O’Lakes” and think boats. Fair enough — this is the busiest inland recreational waterway in the United States, after all. But the Fox Chain O’Lakes and the towns that surround it have a lot more going on than what happens on the water. Whether you’re visiting for a weekend, spending a week at a vacation rental, or just looking for something new to do on a Saturday, here are ten things worth checking out around the Chain.
Hit the water (obviously)
You can’t come to the Fox Chain O’Lakes and skip the lakes. Nine interconnected lakes and the Fox River create nearly 7,100 acres of open water with almost 500 miles of shoreline — and in summer, it feels like every square foot of it is in use. If you’re new to boating, check out our first-timer’s guide to boating the Fox Chain O’Lakes before you go. If you’re new to boating, check out our first-timer’s guide to boating the Chain before you go. Rent a pontoon from one of the dozens of marinas in Fox Lake, Antioch, or Johnsburg, or bring your own boat and launch from Chain O’Lakes State Park for free. Kayakers and paddleboarders can put in at the Oak Point launch off Route 173 or at Turner Lake inside the state park, where only electric motors are allowed and the water stays calm. If you don’t own a boat and don’t want to rent one, the shuttle to Blarney Island from Port of Blarney gets you out on Grass Lake without any of the hassle.
Explore Chain O’Lakes State Park
The state park is the anchor of the whole area, covering nearly 2,800 acres of parkland plus a 3,200-acre conservation area. It borders three lakes — Grass, Marie, and Nippersink — and contains Turner Lake, a quiet 44-acre lake tucked inside the park boundaries. There are six miles of hiking and biking trails, including the Badger and Goldfinch Trail Loop that gets consistently high marks from hikers for its mix of meadow and forest scenery. Eight miles of equestrian trails wind through the property if you want to explore on horseback — the Stables at Chain O’Lakes runs guided rides. The park also has over 230 campsites across two campgrounds, seven picnic areas with shelters, an archery range, a disc golf course, and a concession stand that rents kayaks, canoes, paddleboats, and motorboats from roughly April through October.
Spend a day at Fox Lake’s Lakefront Park
Fox Lake poured $12.5 million into renovating Lakefront Park, and the result is one of the best free public spaces in the region. Sitting on the shore of Nippersink Lake, the park now features a state-of-the-art playground, an interactive splash pad, the only public swimming beach on the entire Chain O’Lakes, outdoor pickleball courts, a nature play area with a mud kitchen for kids, and a brand-new outdoor amphitheater where the village hosts its summer Friday Night Concert Series. The beach opens Memorial Day through Labor Day. It’s unguarded, so swim at your own risk, but the views across Nippersink are worth the trip even if you just want to sit on the sand.
Catch a movie at the McHenry Outdoor Theater
One of the last surviving drive-in theaters in Illinois, the McHenry Outdoor Theater has been showing double features under the stars since the golden age of drive-ins. Located on Chapel Hill Road in McHenry, it runs from March through December — a longer season than most drive-ins anywhere in the country. Two movies for less than the price of one at a regular theater. Bring your own snacks or hit the concession stand for popcorn, brats, and nachos. Dogs are welcome. Tune in on your car radio or rent a Bluetooth speaker for five bucks. On a warm summer night with the screen glowing against the tree line, it’s about as perfect an evening as you’ll find around here.
Get lost at Richardson Adventure Farm
Every fall, Richardson Adventure Farm in Spring Grove opens what it bills as the World’s Largest Corn Maze — 28 acres of corn with over ten miles of trails carved into an elaborate new design each year. But the maze is just the starting point. The farm has a 700-foot zip line, a 50-foot observation tower, giant tube slides, jumping pillows, pedal karts, pig races, a carousel, a train ride, and 13 acres of sunflower fields in season. There’s a craft beer tent, food trucks, and the farm’s own fresh-made donuts. It opens in September and runs through late October, with flashlight maze nights on weekends. Richardson is about six miles west of Fox Lake on Route 12, and it draws visitors from all over Chicagoland.
Fish the Chain
The Chain O’Lakes is one of the best inland fisheries in Illinois, and anglers come from across the Midwest to work these waters. Largemouth bass, walleye, muskie, northern pike, crappie, bluegill, catfish, and channel cat all swim here. Grass Lake and Pistakee Lake are popular for bass. Nippersink is known for its walleye population. Turner Lake inside the state park is a quieter option with good panfish action. You’ll need an Illinois fishing license and a Fox Waterway Agency sticker for any motorized boat. Several local bait shops and marinas sell both. Need help getting your gear ready for the season? We’ve got you covered. And once you land something worth keeping, here’s how to clean and fillet your catch.
Walk the small towns
The Chain O’Lakes isn’t just water — it’s surrounded by small towns with real character. Downtown Antioch has a walkable Main Street with antique shops, boutiques, coffee houses, and restaurants including the new Pop’s Uptown Supper Club and 15 Lakes Prime Steakhouse. For more on where to eat, see our local’s dining guide. Fox Lake’s Grand Avenue corridor has been growing with new businesses and the renovated Lakefront Park as a centerpiece. McHenry’s downtown stretches across three commercial areas along Main Street, Green Street, and Riverside Drive, connected by the Fox River Riverwalk — a scenic waterfront path lined with restaurants, bars, and shops. Richmond, a few miles west, is a small farming town known for its antique shops and the annual Groundhog Day festival. Spring Grove is home to Richardson Farm and The Grove Pub and Grill. Each town has its own personality, and none of them takes more than an afternoon to explore.
Visit Stade’s Farm and Market
On the McHenry side of the Chain, Stade’s Farm and Market has been operating since the 1970s, starting as a dairy farm before Vern Stade gradually introduced pick-your-own fruit and vegetable crops. Today you can pick strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, tomatoes, peppers, apples from over 20 varieties across their 8,000-tree orchard, and pumpkins in fall. The farm market sells produce, homemade specialty foods, and seasonal goods. In autumn, Stade’s transforms into a family theme park for eight weekends with a corn maze, petting zoo, carnival rides, giant slides, hayrides, and pumpkin picking. It’s the kind of place where you come for a quick stop and end up spending the whole afternoon.
Drink local
The craft beverage scene around the Chain has grown fast in recent years. Black Lung Brewing Company operates out of the historic Randolph Hotel right on Nippersink Lake in Fox Lake, pouring hazy IPAs and fruited sours in a prohibition-themed taproom with a lakeside biergarten. McHenry Brewing Company revived a name that dates back to 1860, brewing small-batch beers at the same Brewery Corner location where the original operation ran an underground pipeline to a speakeasy during Prohibition. Their taproom is open Wednesday through Sunday with a beer garden and rotating food trucks. Chain O’Lakes Brewing and Fox River Distilling round out the local options. If wine is more your speed, a short drive puts you within reach of several Lake County wineries and tasting rooms.
Come back for the events
The Chain O’Lakes calendar stays busy from spring through fall. Fox Lake’s Celebrate Fox Lake festival brings live music, food vendors, carnival rides, and fireworks every summer. The Pumpkin Jubilee and Festival of Lights extend the season into autumn and winter. Venetian Night in August is a beloved boat parade on Fox Lake with elaborate decorations, a block party, and fireworks over the water. Blarney Island runs themed events and live music every weekend from May through September, including the weekly Thursday night drag boat races — the only regular drag boat racing venue in the world. The Friday Night Concert Series at Lakefront Park’s new amphitheater has become a weekly draw. And every spring, typically late March to mid-April, American White Pelicans migrate through the Chain, drawing birdwatchers from across the region to catch one of the most unexpected wildlife sights in northern Illinois. Learn more in our wildlife and nature guide.
The Fox Chain O’Lakes has been drawing people for over a century, and the reasons keep multiplying. The water is still the main attraction, but the parks, farms, small towns, breweries, and events around the Chain have turned this into a genuine destination — not just a place to launch a boat. Whether you’ve got a weekend or just an afternoon, there’s more here than you’ll get to in one trip. Planning a stay? Check out our visitor’s lodging guide, and follow Lake Life for the latest from the Chain.