Aurora

Introduction

Aurora sits in northeastern Illinois along the Fox River, within easy reach of the wider Chicago region. It is a substantial city in its own right, and the most populous place in the state that is not a county seat.

Three days in Aurora

Day one: Start in Aurora, Illinois, and get your bearings along the Fox River, which runs through the city and shapes its layout. Use the river as your spine for the day, walking its banks and crossing where the bridges let you, so you can see how downtown Aurora sits against the water. Keep the pace easy and let the river set the rhythm rather than trying to cover everything at once.

Day two: Give the day to downtown Aurora, where the streets and riverfront connect in a compact area you can cover on foot. Wander without a fixed route, stopping when a block or a building catches your eye, and take your meals in the centre rather than ranging far. If you want a change of scale, remember that Chicago is within reach, but the day works best if you stay and let Aurora fill it.

Day three: Return to the Fox River for a slower finish, choosing a stretch you did not walk on day one and following it as far as you like. Use the morning for the water and the afternoon for any part of Aurora you passed over earlier, then end near the river as the light goes. Three days is enough to see the city through its river and its downtown rather than to exhaust it.