We attended a wedding here last weekend and thought it was both a beautiful venue and a very…read moreconvenient setup for the wedding party. It has beautiful green fields and a long driveway, making the event space private and remote. A large parking lot to accommodate plenty of guests made getting anything you needed to leave in your car easy to access. I thought the idea of bungalows on site for the wedding party was a neat idea, and it was great to see our friends let loose, drink and have fun, and know they could get to their room safely. It also was convenient for those families with little ones who needed to retire early. Ceremony and reception spaces were both large and beautifully decorated in a chic rustic barn look. The staff was great about adjusting games, ceremony times, and events to some unexpected rain. We even had some umbrellas brought out and chairs dried prior to starting the ceremony. Bartenders and waitstaff were great, and music was able to be played at the perfect noise level to get people in the mood (I hate venue restrictions with subtle soft jazz noise levels for weddings..impossible!). The event time was generous and more than enough to party everyone out. Lovely location.

Excellent wedding venue! Beautiful building. Large spacious main floor and cozy upper balcony…read more Nicely landscaped grounds.

This is a unique event space for small to medium size events. There were about 40 guests at the…read moreparty I went to here. The location is very attractive, the place is over the drawbridge so it's got water on two and a half sides, pretty views all the way around. The re-purposed building is at once old and renovated. The minimalist sensibility was artistically designed which suited the party of artists and art patrons at my party quite well. Very convenient location close to campus, downtown and openly supportive of LGBQT human beings. Fear no Art.

The barista was very king, love the atmosphere ( cute vintage pieces) and a great latte!read more

Smiley's has been our go-to venue for the Adult Prom Fundraiser that our dog rescue (Little…read moreCharlotte's Rescue) throws each year. The banquet hall looked very nice. They were very accommodating and professional. We appreciate their services so much!

I have never tried their food offerings however my review is regarding the venue…read more One year ago, my husband and I rented the banquet hall for a small party and the facilitators were so helpful. They offered to bring in tables and chairs for the event. They even provided a bartender. It only cost $250 for the whole day; Saturday. Affordable and open space for at least 100 to bogey down. The only downside is it's outdated. It reminds me of a 70's basement. The ladies bathroom stalls are limited. Plus there's an arcade in the bar area. It takes people alway from the event.

My husband and I were in the area Tuesday night and fortunate enough to be there for their Tuesday…read moregrill out. Ribeye steak and jumbo shrimp done on charcoal grill with all you can eat grilled asparagus, pasta, onion rings, scalloped potatoes and soup and salad bar. Absolutely delicious! Waitress was very friendly and owner visited our table several times to check on us. Hoping to get back soon. AND I might add the price was more than reasonable!!

Good food and service. I recommend the hot chips. Been there twice and enjoyed both their Reuben…read moreand their Cuban sandwich. Nice selection.

A little cold today and it wasn't quite the summer season yet, so everything was indoors…read more But this looks like a great place for summer drinks and activity. Located in the center of the Chain O' Lakes area, I'm sure this is a hot spot in summer. An amazing menu for this sports bar. They had a little (or a lot) of everything. I had the salmon with a bowl of one of their many soups. I wouldn't expect a bar to make great salmon, but they did not disappoint. I'd come back just to have it again. As far as the soups, I think they offered at least four. I ordered the Loaded Veggie (or something like that!). It was very good. Friendly staff, everything prepared well. Lots of interesting locals to talk to at the bar.

Very nice banquet hall and wedding venue. Very scenic outdoor grounds set in a vineyard for…read moreoutdoor wedding ceremonies. Nicely maintained grounds.

I love this place! Tom and Holly are beyond sweet and have so much passion for their winery. The…read moregardens are beautiful and it is always an awesome time with friends. The chickens are too cute. If it is for Wood fired pizza night, food trucks or a wine pairing. Always am impressed and all the employees truly just want you to have a good time. If you haven't checked them out--- you NEED too!

Enjoyed a three day weekend of camping at Hartman Creek and loved every minute of it…read more We stayed in site 12, which was perfect. It felt secluded with enough trees and undergrowth that we couldn't see our neighbors. There are pit toilets located throughout the park as well as plumbed toilets and showers in a central location. I exclusively used the plumbed toilets and found I never had to wait for one, which was nice. There is a camp store where we were able to pick up some memorabilia and they have a self-serve wood shed where you can purchase bundles of wood and bags of ice. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire ring, both of which we made use of during our stay. The park itself has lakes, creeks, and over 10 miles of trails. We stuck to campground walks on our most recent trip but have been there previously for day trips where we enjoyed a lovely walks. The campground is beautifully wooded (both deciduous and tamaracks) which is our favorite sort of camping atmosphere. The campground hosts were welcoming and spot on to ensure that all sites are clean and ready for their next guests. Everyone who worked there ensured our stay was as lovely as possible. Get to it!

So you feel like getting away this summer? You want to go camping, horseback riding, boating and…read morecanoeing? Have gas prices got you down and you don't want to travel too far from home? How about crowds? Does the thought of trying to get away and having to deal with big crowds frustrating to you? Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls alike, I have the answer for you. Tons and tons of outdoor fun can be found right here at Hartman Creek State Park and the surrounding areas. It is not that far of a drive from the Chicago Area (about a 4.5 hour drive). If you go up here in the middle of the summer of course there are going to be a good number of people here. Fortunately it is not going to be as crowded as a Devil's Lake or Starved Rock, which automatically give it an A plus rating in my grade book!