Nerad: Let's explore hidden gems throughout DeKalb County

Unprecedented. Uncharted waters. Pivot. I feel like I hear these sayings daily since the impact of COVID-19 changed how we operate as a society. They aren’t wrong, they all imply we are someplace new that we have never been before.

Likewise, the DeKalb County Convention and Visitors Bureau is someplace it has never been before. These challenging times are requiring all of us to be more creative, more resilient, and to try new things. It’s exactly that which we hope will attract visitors to DeKalb County now: To try new things.

While the densely populated areas of the United States are experiencing the greatest struggles right now, it is the rural areas that have the greatest appeal. In DeKalb County, we are finding that people are taking day trips and weekend trips to travel the countryside, to get away from the large crowds.

DeKalb County offers great opportunities to take a peaceful bike ride, hike through any one of our 20+ forest preserves or parks, visit a multitude of scenic locations for family photos, or enjoy a meal out on a peaceful patio offered at dozens of wonderful restaurants in the county.

I’ve been on the DeKalb County CVB board since 2014 and in July of this year took on the leadership role of board chair. I’m honored to serve on a board with such active and passionate individuals. My day job is having the privilege of being the Executive Director of the historic Egyptian Theatre in Downtown DeKalb where I’ve been since 2006. As one of the premier attractions in DeKalb County, we work extremely close with the CVB.

The CVB doesn’t just promote DeKalb County to attract visitors. It helps attractions, restaurants, stores, events and more maximize their potential. The Egyptian Theatre and so many others throughout DeKalb County would not be as successful as they are without the hard work of the small but dedicated staff of the CVB. They help welcome the NIU students every semester to their new home, they help all visitors to the county make the most of their visit, they help create networks like the Bold Spirits group, they help with the efforts to entice businesses to choose DeKalb County. And when they do they help roll out the red carpet to welcome them, they help places like the Egyptian Theatre get exposure outside the immediate area that we wouldn’t normally be able to get.

Efforts of the CVB in recent months have been to highlight the many self-guided tours individuals and families can do throughout the county. There are tours of historical markers, forest preserves, barn quilts, landmarks, and more. A weekend stay at the Genoa Guest House is the perfect getaway for a couple or family. And then there are those arts groups, libraries, museums and more that have been offering virtual programming.

Arts and culture organizations and venues were one of the first to have to close down due to the impact of COVID-19 and will be one of the last allowed to reopen, let alone get back to anything close to normal. We are fortunate to have so many arts and culture organizations in DeKalb County and I am hopeful that by banding together we will make sure that every organization makes it through this.

We of course continue to encourage everyone to support locally owned businesses. But I would also encourage everyone that has the means at this time to support those organizations, institutions, and individuals that you will want to be around after this pandemic is over. Those are a lot of what make this area unique.

Let us all make 2020 the year that we explore our own backyard, discover those hidden gems we’ve driven by for years, and remind ourselves why we love to call DeKalb County home.

To learn more about the DeKalb County CVB and how you can Experience DeKalb County, visit: www.DeKalbCountyCVB.com.