Location: Harvard
Top Things to do in Harvard
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10 Things to Do in Harvard That You Shouldn't Miss
Harvard is a city located in McHenry County, Illinois, approximately 7 miles (11 km) south of the Illinois/Wisconsin border. The population was 9,447 at the 2010 census. The city is 63 miles (101 km) from the Chicago Loop, and it is the last stop on the Union Pacific/Northwest Line.
Restaurants in Harvard
1. Yerkes Observatory
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 252 reviews
Yerkes Observatory is owned and operated by the University Chicago, Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, and located in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. Built between 1895 and 1897 in the classic Romanesque style, Yerkes is home to the largest refracting (lens-type) telescope in the world and two other research-grade reflecting (mirror-type) telescopes. The building is beautifully preserved and ornamented with Roman brick and terra cotta, has three telescope domes (the largest is 90 feet in diameter and 10 stories in height), and is situated on 77 acres in a park-like setting. Tours of the building and the refractor are available Monday through Saturday. The cost is $10 per person age 18+ and $8 per person age 6 - 17. Weekday and Saturday hours vary by season. Consult the website for the most current tour schedule. Saturday tours are held for the public at 10 and 11 am, and 12Noon (11 am and 12Noon only from January 1 to mid-March). Reservations are not required. Saturday visitors are asked for a donation of $10 per person for adults and $8 per person for ages 6 - 17. The grounds are open every day, during daylight hours, for self-guided walking tours, free of charge. Photography is permitted. Professional photographers are required to contact the Observatory in advance during weekday hours to obtain permission for any photo shoot. The staff also hosts public observing sessions with the 40-inch refractor and the 24-inch reflecting telescopes many evenings throughout the year. Reservations are required and there is a charge for participation. Visit the Yerkes website for more information. The Observatory contains a lovely museum, many interesting displays concerning its construction, history, architecture and the science of astronomy, and a beautiful new gift shop with many unique items.
Reviewed By Zhenhao S
This place is amazing and the tour is wonderful. My wife and I were not expecting much before the tour, but we felt surprised and impressed by what we received. The tour guide provided us a very meaningful tour, including the description of the architecture details. There were many symbols embedded in the architecture details. The tour guide gave very interesting interpolation and explanation about how these symbols may be related to the founder and the functions of this historic observatory. The director Dan showed us how the amazing telescope operates in its usual working status. What impressed us the most is the enthusiasm of people who work in this observatory. We can feel they really love this place and this job. We are very grateful what they have done, not only maintaining this old facility, saving this site with historic meaning, but also educating and exciting people who have ever visited this observatory.
2. Royal Oak Farm Orchard
Overall Ratings
4 based on 43 reviews
Famous for apple picking, hay rides, pumpkins, train rides, carousel, bakeshop, petting zoo
Reviewed By TheHoff44 - Chicago, Illinois
My now-former wife and I started going to Royal Oak right after they opened, when they were smaller. I have taken my kids and many friends to Royal Oak. They all agree with me that it is the best orchard around. Many activities for adults and children. Reasonable prices. A LOT of parking, even for the busiest days of the busiest seasons.
3. Edwards Apple Orchard
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 159 reviews
Reviewed By julieM3474MT - Chicago, Illinois
We went this past Saturday and the experience was so nice. The people that run it are all so pleasant! They have made it beautiful and welcoming with the flowers and well-kept grounds. Everyone goes for the apple cider donuts which are very good. I had the apple pie too which was delicious. The shop upstairs had nice food and decor items for sale. I purchased quite a bit! Including a bag of apples (we didn't go on the wagon out to the orchard, unfortunately) and a 1/2 dozen donuts. People were buying 6 - 10 dozen at a time! It was amazing to watch! I have never had an apple cider donut before so nothing to compare it to - but from everyone's reaction/conversation about them, I probably had the best first! They also have a petting zoo, a maze (made of fencing - not corn fields) that had a bit of a challenge, a barn with an order and sit with trays restaurant (hot dogs, bbq sandwiches type stuff) filled with antique farm equipment which was interesting. They have live music too which was very good and fit the experience! I will definitely go back - and probably this season.
4. Woodstock Opera House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 63 reviews
Reviewed By Calmac3 - Crystal Lake, Illinois
The Woodstock Opera House is a beautiful venue--an intimate theater that brings northwest Illinois a multitude of speakers, comedy, singers, dance companies, youth groups, traveling shows and community theater shows. There are two resident community theater groups (WMTC and TSP) and one resident dance company (Judith Svlander) that present quality seasons of shows. The box office may be a little unreliable at times, but staff are always friendly and helpful and the ushers even seem to enjoy being at shows. Balcony seats may be a little tight physically--leg room in that first row-- and views may be restricted at the sides, but prices reflect that. There are discounts for seniors, Students, and groups. Free Parking is available on the street, all along the Square, and there's a small free back lot as well. Stage Left Cafe is attached (enter behind the box office) and serves drinks and small snacks as well as hosts small events. There's a large community reception room that usually presents local art (although December featured the beautiful Christmas tree walk) and the women's bathroom has a gorgeous setee and antique mirror on the main floor and a modern one outside the auditorium. There is an elevator to the main floor but none available to the balcony-just steep stairs. A great entertainment destination not to be missed!
5. The Waterfront at The Abbey Resort
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 73 reviews
Reviewed By mangia007 - Schaumburg, Illinois
This was our second time we spent at the Abbey this year. We didn't try the waterfront for dinner so we had lunch there this time we did dinner. We each a had a burger vey good.
6. Belfry Music Theatre
Overall Ratings
5 based on 105 reviews
The Belfry Players, Inc., also known as the Belfry Theater and Belfry Music Theater, is a theater facility and acting company in the town of Delavan, adjacent to the village of Williams Bay. Established in the remains of an historic and deconsecrated Mormon meeting house, the Belfry was the first summer stock theater in Wisconsin.
Reviewed By bnelsonr - Rockford, Illinois
We purchased tickets for Aug 6. All that was left was back reserved section. It was row 13! The theater has seating for 250 so there is no bad seat. The show was as good as it gets. Cookies & water when entering and a Dove bar when leaving!
7. Highfield Farm Creamery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5 reviews
Reviewed By Ky55 - Wisconsin
Super friendly! So nice to be able to support a local, small town business that makes awesome cheese! Was able to get see the milking barn and where the cheese is actually made with an explanation of how it works. Best part is sampling the cheese.
8. The Dancing Horses Theatre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 235 reviews
Enjoy a day full of experience at Wisconsin’s own Dancing Horses, Animal Gardens. You day begins with The Dancing Horses Theatre presentation of an enchanting NEW performance that is unparalleled anywhere else. From the moment the show opens until the finale, the audiences of all ages sit spellbound, applauding each equine performer and trainer, exclaiming in wonder, chuckling at the humor and even wiping the occasional tear when a moment of connection touches a heartstring. Get up close with the trainers with our newest park feature: the Backstage Tour. During the tour, you are given a demonstration about liberty-style horse training and then you will be invited into the stables to meet the equine performers. Next, as you exit The Dancing Horses Theatre, you enter the 30-minute Exotic Bird Show which follows. Meeting our Exotic Birds is a delightful treat. This performance features several different species of exotic birds that will amaze you with their incredible abilities and antics. Your experience continues with more, a visit to the Baby Animal Barn. The Baby Animal Barn is filled with both domestic and exotic baby animals that children can hold and feed. Our staff is there to answer any questions you may have about our baby animals. In close proximity is an outside petting zoo and several charming rides children will enjoy.You can then take a walk or ride through our Wildlife Exhibit, a natural-setting zoo where you can see animals, many of which are indigenous to Wisconsin. The exhibit culminates in the Deer Park where you can pet and feed white tail deer. You can experience a tractor-pulled wagon ride though the park, where larger animals are available for viewing. You won’t want to miss the train ride though our Indian Village; complete with teepees, Native American art, and oral history lesson about the area’s indigenous people.With the two stunning performances, The Dancing Horses and the Exotic Bird Show, and our animal attractions, this will be a day you will not soon forget and will want to share with everyone.
Reviewed By dutchgirl8 - Janesville, WI
Every young girls dream! Brought out my inner 10 year old, even as a grandma bringing the granddaughters. Start by purchasing tickets at concession stand, glad we arrived early so we could enjoy the petting zoo and baby barn before the show. My granddaughters love animals and couldn't get enough of them. And the animals out in the yard were so much fun! Goats, donkeys, miniature ponies, calf, emu's, etc.You don't really have to arrive too early for the 1:00 show, seating is general and there isn't a bad seat in the house. To keep kiddos occupied while waiting for the show to start, there is face painting and $3 pony rides (very reasonable). They lead the child/pony around the arena one by one so they feel like the star of the show. Light concession stand food available you can bring in and eat (hot dog, big pretzel, pop corn, soda,etc). The show was great! Several different numbers with nice costumes, talented riders. The bird act started at 3, the kids were a little restless by then and frankly it couldn't compete after seeing the horses. Kids wanted to go back and pet the animals some more. Easy to spend 3-4 hours there, I felt it was well worth the money. My only complaint was that during intermission, the host felt it necessary to bless "our new president"; politics don't belong here. I respect your right to support who you want but this wasn't a Trump rally and offended me (a lot)
9. Black Point Estate
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 160 reviews
This mansion was once the summer estate of 19th-century beer magnate Conrad Seipp.
Reviewed By Jerry B - Branson, Missouri
We were on a road trip through Wisconsin with HQ at the Dells in a Time Share. Black Point Estate (Mansion) has all the elements of historical reviews of the local Very Rich inhabitants and their struggles through good and bad times. You'll love coming here and also driving around the lake and seeing other estates around the area. Great "green" healthy restaurant in town. They even have a book box outside the restaurant. Take a book. Leave a book. Novel idea (No pun intended)
10. Jerry's Majestic Marine
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 11 reviews
Reviewed By lamaral1968 - Chicago, Illinois
Rented pontoon boat for an hour. Price was very reasonable. At first thought that paying extra for fuel was not appropriate but then realized that depending on how fast you go will strongly affect how much gas you spend
Service was great. Boat was great. Everyone had a lot of fun and pontoon boat was perfect for swimming.
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