"What Makes Your Place Great?" Contest submission Submitted by Ami S.
As I stroll along Fountain Square in Long Grove on the charming cobblestone paths through this beautiful village, my heart skips a beat to simpler times. This quaint village of shops offers so much more than many of todays modern shopping venues. The Shops of Long Grove, Illinois offer a shopping experience of yesterdays charms in todays hectic lifestyle.
As the sun glistens off the water in Fountain Square, there are ducks floating effortlessly in the Long Grove Café and Restaurant at Mill Pond. Families enjoy the event as moms peek in the Woodland Grove Gallery and children feed ducks and sample goodies from the Long Grove Apple Haus. I chat with owners of each establishment store keepers if you will---who not only offer unique foods, art, clothing and items for the home, but actually say welcome back and please visit again. Everybody enjoys the experience at a leisurely pace which can compare to the relaxing feeling of getting away. A respite from the fast pace lifestyles that we all lead is why locals and tourists alike come to Long Grove.
The shops themselves are a part of history, nestled in historic homes and buildings that date back to the 1800s, with vintage plaques sharing the historical significance of the buildings turned shops. I cannot wait to return and re-experience it, when the fall leaves turn, the winter snow re-creates a Dickens holiday scene and spring/summer are in full bloom. The Shops of Long Grove is a special place not to be missed.