Charming Downtown Just Across the State Line

Sharon is a quiet little town just a mile north of the Illinois border and six miles west of Highway 14 on Highway 67 that has a small town charm from the past that brings up images of Mayberry from the television series. Old men sit on benches near the hardware store discussing solutions to the world’s problems. There are no stop lights in the town, and the traffic in the main business area – Baldwin Street – is very light. There’s plenty of relaxing country roads with very little traffic.

A few things have been modernized, like the hardware store and coffee shop, but many prefer the more old-fashioned draft root beer and thick hamburgers in the hometown restaurant. And don’t forget to visit the ice cream shop.

A variety of events are held throughout the year. The Sharon Main Street Association, with the help of PAC (Pacific-Atlantic Cycling) Tour, a cross-country bicycle touring organization headquartered in town, has developed a series of six bike routes, ranging from 15 to 39 miles long, for bicyclists to enjoy. A number of businesses in the town give out the free touring packets with durable plastic-coated maps and route sheets.