Nestled in the heart of McHenry County, just a short drive from the bustling streets of Chicago lies the picturesque town of Woodstock, Illinois. This enchanting destination is not only famous for being the backdrop of the classic film “Groundhog Day” but also for its timeless charm, historic architecture, and vibrant arts scene.
On a Wednesday morning during the summer, my mom and I found ourselves shopping the historic Woodstock Square. The heart and soul of the town, it is a picturesque town square surrounded by historic buildings, boutique shops, and delectable restaurants. It also serves as the perfect venue for the community, hosting numerous events throughout the year, from farmers’ markets to music festivals.
Here are a few recommendations from our mother-daughter day!
Shopping in Woodstock
Walking into Read Between the Lynes you can smell the sweet combination of ice cream and coffee. In the cafe section, there is a cute seating area to enjoy a cone or a cup of joe. The walls remain full of purchasable items like honey, jams, candies, and more! On the other side of the store lies story books and fun gifts including unique candles and book-inspired socks!
The window display of Sewing Concepts beckoned and ultimately welcomed us in. The selection and collections of fabric were mostly softer patterns or solid colors.
Rocket Fizz is a candy paradise. Their buckets and shelves hold unique and specialty candies, like Hogwarts Frogs and giant candy bars (bigger than a “King!”) The shop also had an endless supply of bottled Soda Pop. There was a section of several different brand Root beers. However, it was the unique flavors that caught my eye, like birthday cake! Next time I go I’ll have to get a few flavors and try creating my very own soda pop flight!
Shop the racks at Hattie & Myrt for fun fashion finds. This woman’s clothing boutique store had a breezy bohemian style.
If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind treasure, The Peacock Shoppe offers vintage and homemade merchandise. The crochet vegetables were a great find!
Lunch on the Square
One thing to note is that Woodstock Square has many bars and pub spots. Unfortunately, my mom and I were shopping mid-morning and were seeking lunch, not dinner and drinks. At 11 am on a Wednesday, those joints remained closed.
Ultimately, we ended up at one of the few restaurants on the square, Mary’s Mexican Grill offered a great early lunch spot. As one of their first diners of the day, we walked into an empty restaurant and had to make our presence known for someone to come up to the front.
Soon though we were served chips with a delightful salsa! And we both put in our order.
In no time our burritos came out. For under $10 I had a large and very filling burrito! The salsa sauce was incredible as well. For a mild, it seemed like it had enough heat and a generous amount of flavor. I literally covered my burrito in it!
The Art Part
Around and behind the Classic Cinema, you will find a “pedestrian alley” with murals and statues. This is a great place to capture those Woodstock Selfies! When we went the area was quiet and we had the spot to ourselves! Giving me the opportunity to indulge in a photoshoot. The murals, painted by local artists, included “Groundhogs Day” and “Dick Tracy.”
The historic Woodstock Opera House is a gorgeous piece of architecture that is simply a must-see. Dating all the way back to 1889, the Victorian-style building was declared a landmark in 1972 and still hosts events, concerts, and shows to this day! Tickets usually sit in an incredibly reasonable price range of $10-$25, and I cannot recommend the venue enough.
Transportation in Woodstock
We took the car out there that day. There is plenty of parking and most of it is free.
Metra’s Union Pacific North Westline also goes out to Woodstock. The train station is located near Woodstock Square and the area is very walkable!
With that said, not every train makes the journey, as sometimes the trains stop finish at Crystal Lake, a stop or two ahead of this town. My only advice is to check the schedules to ensure that you know how to get there and back and when those times are.
If Woodstock seems like your speed, you can keep an eye out for upcoming events in and around the area on my suburb event calendar!
What a fun story to read! Woodstock is very quaint and I always enjoy going there and walking the square to shop or just enjoy the day with a loved one…or two or three
One little side note, it was 11:00 am and not pm 😉
Thank you so much for reading and catching our error. The time has now been changed in the story to reflect 11:00 am.