Batavia has been home for my family and I for the past 15 years. During most of that time I worked in varying capacities in home remodeling, repair and renovation. I’ve been blessed to work for some of the best folks and on some of the most beautiful homes in Chicagoland. When I shifted gears and started inspecting homes, my range expanded tremendously. Glen Ellyn and Naperville used to feel like a hike for a job, while now I’ve inspected as far North as the Wisconsin border and as far South as Joliet and Mokeena. One day my AM inspection was in Rockford and my afternoon inspection was a high-rise condo 2 blocks from lake Michigan. I’ve gotten pretty familiar with a lot of Northern Illinois. There’s a lot to love, but after having seen it all, I appreciate the Fox River Valley all the more. If you’re considering moving to the area, let me give you a brief rundown. The Fox River runs North-South. At its heart is the area I call home. From I-90, you begin in Elgin, moving downstream you’ll find St. Charles, Geneva and Batavia (aka the Tri-cities) Then to North Aurora, Aurora and onward. Each Town has it’s own perks, but I’ll just put it out there that Batavia is the best. I mean no disrespect to Geneva. It’s just science. Batavia is best. Disagree? Here are a few reasons from the perspective of my kids. 1. Ice Skating by the bullfrog. 2. The Creamery 3. Funway 4. The Windmill (Yes that’s technically Geneva, but my kids don’t know that) 5. The bike trail. Ok, that’s also not exclusive to Batavia, but from downtown you can do a loop on both sides of the river. Try that in St.Charles. 6. the paddle boats. And last but certainly not least… 7. Our Neighbors (and their dogs). Our Neighborhood is populated with by far, the very best people on the planet. There are kids and dogs everywhere and we do it all together. I love that I can offer my kids such a kind, supportive community. So there you have it. An Insider’s overview of the far Western suburbs of Chicago and an entirely biased critique of the Fox Valley.
