Family Circle Recognizes St. Charles in 10 Best Towns for Families!

We are very excited to congratulate St. Charles on being featured in Family Circle’s 10 Best Towns & Cities for Families! Other featured cities included Novi, Michigan; Liberty, Missouri; Germantown, Wisconsin; and several others.

So, what makes St. Charles so family-friendly? Take a look at the article below, grab the August 2011 issue of Family Circle, then check out all St. Charles has to offer here and on VisitStCharles.com! Interested in planning your own family vacation? Make sure to check out our Family Trip Ideas.

Family Circle’s 10 Best Towns for Families, 2011

St. Charles, Illinois

After searching the country for perfect places to call home, we chose these communities because of their top-notch schools, affordable housing, green space and giving spirit. By Seema Nayyar

Illustration by Peter Oumanski
Photo c/o Family Circle

Chicago residents Mike and Monica Corbett were diehard urbanites. But after visiting St. Charles on a weekend golfing trip, the couple was so smitten they decided to trade the Windy City for this town, 40 miles west. It was the right choice. “We have twice the living space plus an acre of property,” says Monica, 47, a music teacher. “And we can walk downtown and take in great culture and restaurants.” Along with their four children—Morgan, 17, Palmer, 14, Tommy, 11, and Hadley, 8—the Corbetts spend much of their time outdoors at Pottawatomie Park, which has panoramic views of the Fox River. Education is first-rate: Last year North High became the third school in the district to earn a U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon award. But Monica and Mike, 45, a finance manager, are even more impressed with St. Charles’ community spirit. “I’ll never forget the time a police officer rewarded kids who wore bike helmets with free coupons for ice cream, or when our neighbor offered to lend us his car while he was away for the winter,” says Monica. “This place is a little slice of heaven.”

Good Deeds
Every September St. Charles’ high school drill teams begin fundraising for the American Cancer Society and a local health center; the campaign, which netted an impressive $74,000 last year, culminates in October at the homecoming football game, where people line up across the field and do 100 kicks.

Full Article »

And now, a few sound bites from just a few of the individuals who make St. Charles great!

Amy Egolf • Executive Director of the Greater St. Charles CVB

“St. Charles is one of Illinois’ most appealing tourism destinations. Sixty-four percent of folks who contact our bureau for information convert into visitors, and 83% of those visitors return within three years. Family Circle’s recognition supports what economic development professionals recognize as one of tourism’s significant benefits: residents and business owners who choose a particular community often do so after first experiencing that destination as a visitor.”

Ray Ochromowicz • Director of Parks and Recreation

“Quality parks and recreation are critical factors in creating a healthy community. Residents of the St. Charles Park District can testify to that. The diversity and uniqueness of our nationally recognized parks and recreational opportunities are qualities that draw people to this community. With its vast amount of open space and recreational offerings, St. Charles is a most desirable place to live, work and play.”

Mayor Donald DeWitte

“We are thrilled to be included in Family Circle’s “Best Towns and Cities” Survey and be ranked number one in the country! Now everyone will know what we have known all along—that St. Charles is a gem among cities and a wonderful place to live. It is a great city, with many opportunities to work or have fun. We pride ourselves on maintaining a safe, affordable community and a high quality of life.”

Tags: 10 Best, Family, Family Circle, Illinois, St. Charles