Education
McHenry County College is a rapidly growing community college which serves the majority of the county residents with nearly 8,000 students.  The county is served by a variety of public school systems and several private schools.

Recreation
The county is home to several lakes including Crystal Lake, Wonder Lake and McCullom Lake.  Appropriately, there is a Chain O' Lakes State Park which resides among the waterways and is home to many outdoor activities including boating, fishing, swimming and other water activities.  Major ski areas are also found within the county including areas for Nordic Ski Jumping.  Hot air balloon rides over the scenic Fox River Valley are also offered.

Culture
Theater and history are major characteristics of the county.  The Woodstock Opera House is a historic auditorium, which was built in the late 1800s to also house the library, council room, justice court and fire department.  The Opera House still operates today as one of the nation's oldest theaters and hosts concerts, dance performances and lectures year-round.  The Illinois Railway Museum is the largest museum in the United States and has over 400 pieces of prototype equipment.  The museum's purpose is to demonstrate the essential roles that the railroads have played in the development of the Chicago area and the U.S.  Visitors can enjoy rides on some of the museum's varied trains.