Have you been to downtown Long Grove lately? Last weekend we spent the day exploring Historic downtown Long Grove, and I can’t believe we haven’t been here before! Here we found quaint shops, a family-friendly brewery, plenty of sweet treats, and even sleigh rides. Spending the holidays in Historic downtown Long Grove is the perfect way to make family memories.
READ MORE: Find more holiday activities to add to your holiday calendar.
Horse-Drawn Sleigh Rides through Downtown Long Grove
For every weekend before Christmas, friends and families can get in the holiday spirit with vintage carriage rides throughout historic downtown Long Grove. Although it was only 15 minutes, everyone enjoyed every minute! The carriage ride the was the perfect opportunity to acquaint ourselves with the town and it even goes through back of Buffalo Creek Brewery.
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To ensure that participants feel safe and comfortable, the sleigh will be cleaned after every ride, and every rider is required to wear a mask (masks will be provided free to those who do not have one). In order to keep things safe, there are only 2 groups of 6 allowed.
**All the sleigh rides have been booked for the season, but feel free to add your name to a waiting list.
Tip: If you can’t get on a sleigh ride, the second best option is seeing them in action. One of best views was by the Covered Bridge Creamery in the gazebo and also at Buffalo Creek Brewery.
Quaint shops in Historic Long Grove
One of my favorite things to do is stroll through and visit different shops. And Long Grove has so many unique finds! After our sleigh ride, we walked across the street to check out the cute little buildings. Satisfy your sweet tooth with a visit to the super sweet old time candy shop, Ma and Pa’s Candy. Tons to choose from and candies that we’ve never seen before! Just outside the door, find Santa’s mailbox. There’s even pencils and paper if you need it!
Long Grove Confectionary
Viking Treasures has many unique finds from out of the country. Chocolate lover? Definitely need to stop by Long Grove Confectionary or Morkes Chocolates. For the most delicious popcorn around you cannot miss Signature Popcorn. (Get the butter and the cheddar mix!) In the mood for ice cream or hot chocolate? Covered Bridge Creamery has both! In fact, we took hot chocolate to go along with popcorn and brought it to Buffalo Creek Brewing (read more about it below) to keep the kids busy while the adults enjoyed their beverages.
Holiday Music
While we were taking our stroll around town, we were pleasantly surprised to hear festive holiday music played by a musician. A great way to put everyone in the holiday spirit.
See the Covered Bridge
I can’t resist covered bridges and you can’t go to Long Grove without checking it out. My kids fondly refer to this bridge at the “Beetlejuice Brige.”
Holiday Selfie-Station
The downtown area is all decked out with plenty of photo ops. Head across the street from the Visitor’s Center to find this cute selfie station.
Buffalo Creek Brewing
Located in Historic Long Grove, the authentic German brewery Buffalo Creek Brewing is transformed into a winter-themed Alpine Biergarten. We found plenty of fire pits and table heat lamps to try to keep warm. Although we visited during the day, I can imagine how fun it would be to see it all lit up. Make sure to dress warm and bring extra blankets to stay extra cozy! With a wonderful selection of craft beer and more than enough room to space out, this was definitely one of my favorites!
Tip: Feel free to bring in or order food.
Final thoughts
If you’re looking for a classic holiday experience that includes strolling through unique shops, picking out sweet treats, and going on a sleigh ride, look no further than Historic downtown Long Grove for your holiday fun!
