Take it outside–there's plenty of opportunities for sporting, golfing, biking, canoeing, and other types of outdoor activities throughout the Northern Kane County area.

Mount your bike and pedal along a long or short stretch of the 36-mile Fox River Bike Trail that connects our villages to Aurora to the south and the county line to the north. The trail crosses county lines at Algonquin and becomes the McHenry County Prairie Trail, which stretches another 26 miles northward through Crystal Lake, McHenry, and Richmond. Crossing the river at West Dundee, the beautifully maintained Fox River

Trail attracts bicyclists, joggers, hikers, and those out for a peaceful stroll during the warm weather months. Travelers down the trail are likely to spot a variety of wildlife, including white-tail deer, beaver, muskrat, red-tailed hawks, indigo buntings, and great blue herons. Winter, spring, summer, or fall, be sure to schedule a rest-and-refreshment stop at The Depot on River Street in East Dundee. Home to the Dundee Township Visitor's Center, the conveniently located information center and concession stand offers drinking water, restrooms, snacks, and cold drinks. For ice-cream-based treats, park your bike near the Dairy Queen at the corner of River Street and Route 72.

Amateur and established duffers find a wealth of driving and putting opportunities around our section of the Fox River Valley. The Dundee Township Park District operates two public 18-hole golf courses, Randall Oaks and Bonnie Dundee. Bonnie Dundee Golf Course boasts rolling contours and medium-sized greens, a pro shop, banquet facilities, and schedules league play and special outings. Randall Oaks, outfitted with medium-sized, curvy greens, also features a practice range, pro shop, snacks, and schedules league play and special outings. Other top-notch local private and public courses challenge the most avid golfers.

If canoeing or kayaking is your sport of choice, launch your vessel into the easygoing currents of the Fox River from launches at South End Park and Island, the Carpentersville Dam, Fox River Shores Park, and Voyager's Landing. Fox River anglers, either perched on shore, wading in the water, or afloat in a boat, pitch lures or cast baited hooks in search of lunker bass, walleye, catfish, and northern pike. Local campsites, found in Kane County Forest Preserves located in Elgin and other nearby preserves, supply affordable accommodations for campers of all ages.

On rainy days, head indoors and work your muscles. Grab a friend for a visit to one of our public or private health clubs, where a pleasurable and beneficial workout is always on tap. The Dundee Township Park District's Recreation and Fitness Center, at 665 Barrington Avenue in Carpentersville, houses an exercise room outfitted with a variety of aerobic and weight equipment, three racquetball courts, a gymnasium, jogging track, indoor pool, whirlpool, and sauna. Sign up for aerobic classes, lap swimming times, and sessions with personal trainers to get the most out of your quest for health and wellness.

Prefer to watch someone else break a sweat? Pull up a bleacher seat for some gridiron glory. The Kane County Eagles, a team in the Mid Continental

Football League, plays eight games during their summer/fall season. The title-winning Eagles play their home games at Mooseheart Stadium, located off Route 31 between Batavia and North Aurora.

Two minor league baseball teams–the Kane County Cougars and the Schaumburg Flyers–provide close- to-home and affordable sporting action at ball diamonds in Geneva and Schaumburg, respectively.

The Old Dundee Farmer's Market, running Saturday mornings from mid-May through October, offers old-fashioned, country-style fun, stocking its tables with plants, vegetables, baked goods, crafts, and assorted trinkets and recycled stuff, bringing an old-fashioned, country feeling to the suburbs.

When temps drop, opportunities for "taking-it-outside" fun continue. Clip on your skis, grasp your ski poles, and skim across snow-packed bike trails and cross-country ski trails in Raceway Woods, off of Route 31. Lace up your skates and practice figure-8s on outdoor rinks maintained by the park district or at the Polar Dome

Ice Arena in Santa's Village theme park. Hit the downhill slopes at Villa Olivia Country Club, located about 20 minutes to the east in Bartlett.

No matter the season, you'll always find a reason to head out of doors or flex your muscles in Northern Kane County.

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