Welcome to the bigroads.com travel guide to Illinois! Hopefully this page helps provide some inspiration and tips to help you plan your next trip to Illinois.
Take note that I build and maintain this website as both a hobby and public service. I take joy in performing travel research and sharing my experiences and adventures. I currently do not make a profit from this website, and you will see no invasive or annoying ads on it. Your constructive feedback about this site and its content is encouraged. Please email me if you have any suggestions or ideas for improvement.
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The major tourist draw of Illinois is, of course, the city of Chicago. I encourage you to ignore the garbage you hear on social media and certain news networks because Chicago is still the #1 large city to visit in the U.S. in my opinion. Its downtown area is extremely walkable, and no more dangerous than those of other major cities (in fact, it's probably safer).
Beyond the city, Illinois has natural scenery that will surprise you, especially in the central and southern sections of the state. There's also the town of Casey, which I believe is the wackiest town in the country, filled to the brim with "world's largest" type roadside attractions.
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TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS IN ILLINOIS
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Are you short on time or struggling to choose something to do or see in Illinois? Here are my selections for the top 10 attractions or experiences in Illinois, in no particular order:
✮ Explore downtown Chicago, my #1 favorite major city in the U.S.
✮ Wander the lively historic district of Galena
✮ Visit the Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio in Oak Park
✮ Patron some of Chicago's world-class museums (e.g. The Field Museum, the Museum of Science & Industry, the Art Institute of Chicago, etc.)
✮ Eat some hot dogs and deep dish pizza in downtown Chicago
✮ Catch a ballgame at Wrigley Field in Chicago
✮ Visit the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum in Springfield
✮ Head to the rugged and scenic Starved Rock State Park, Illinois's best state park
✮ Embrace the madness of the roadside attraction and "world's largest" sculptures and statues in the town of Casey
✮ Hike among 320-million year old cliffs in the Garden of the Gods Recreation Area in southern Illinois
If I could select only one place to visit in Illinois, I would choose Chicago. It's my favorite city in the country, and the downtown area has always felt perfectly safe to me. Many of the finest museums in the U.S. are here, and it's a wonderfully walkable city.
For a list of 10 great attractions in each U.S. state, click here.
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5-STAR ATTRACTIONS IN ILLINOIS
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Here is my opinionated list of 5-star attractions in Illinois. I believe each of these attractions should be on your Illinois bucket list since they are all noteworthy from a national perspective:
Northwestern Illinois (including Galena and Rockford)
✮ Anderson Japanese Gardens, Rockford - small but attractive Japanese gardens
✮ Blaum Bros. Distilling Company, Galena - a top-rated family owned craft distillery; one of Galena's top attractions
✮ Discovery Center Museum, Rockford - an excellent children's museum
✮ Galena - a small town with historic red-brick buildings; many boutique shops and art galleries;often touted as the "best small town in IL"
✮ Galena Historic District, Galena - lively tourist district with many boutique shops, art galleries, and restaurants
✮ Ghost tours in Galena - popular paranormal tours
✮ Historic Auto Attractions, Roscoe - an eclectic museum with historic and famous vehicles, military & NASA exhibits, and much more
✮ John Deer Pavilion, Moline - a small but engaging John Deere exhibit hall
✮ Bally's Quad Cities Casino & Hotel, Rock Island - the best casino in northwestern Illinois
✮ Ulysses S. Grant Home, Galena - visit the home of the former Civil War general and 18th president of the U.S.
Northeastern Illinois (including Chicago suburbs and Naperville; see below for Chicago)
✮ Accelerate Indoor Speedway, Mokena - fun indoor electric go-kart racing track
✮ Baha'i House of Worship, Wilmette - visit an impressive Baháʼí temple
✮ Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield - large zoo with more than 2,300 animals
✮ Cantigny Park, Wheaton - large public park with gardens and history museums
✮ Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe - has more than 25 spectacular gardens
✮ Chicagoland Speedway, Joliet - famous NASCAR racing track
✮ Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio, Oak Park - guided tours of the home where the famous architect F.L. Wright lived for 20 years
✮ Home Alone House, Winnetka - see the exterior of the actual home used in the Home Alone movies
✮ Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, Skokie - one of the finest Holocaust museums in the world
✮ Leaning Tower of Niles, Niles - roadside attraction of a half-size replica of the famous Learning Tower of Italy; one of IL's top roadside sites
✮ Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament, Schaumburg - fun dinner theater with staged medieval-style games; one of several locations in the U.S.
✮ Morton Arboretum, Lisle - enormous green space with beautiful gardens and 16 miles of trails; one of the best arboretums in the U.S.
✮ Paramount Theatre, Aurora - historic theater with Broadway shows, concerts, comedy shows, and more
✮ Riverwalk, Naperville - attractive and popular riverwalk along the West Branch of the DuPage River; 1.75 miles of trails
✮ Santa's Village Amusement & Water Park, East Dundee - a good medium-sized, holiday-themed amusement park
✮ Six Flags Great America, Gurnee - large and famous amusement park with 17 rollercoasters
✮ Volo Museum, Volo - awesome museum on 30 acres with historic and famous vehicles, plus many other "mechanical marvels"
Chicago
✮ 360 Chicago - this 94th floor observation deck offers what many would say are the best views in Chicago
✮ Art Institute of Chicago - most would probably agree that this is the #1 or #2 art museum in the U.S.
✮ Blue Man Group - one of several locations in the U.S. where you watch a blend of music and visual effects by blue-skinned performers
✮ Buckingham Fountain - one of the largest water fountains in the world; great views of Chicago and close to other great green spaces/parks
✮ Chicago Cultural Center - a beautiful building with two stained-glass domes; holds many events and exhibitions throughout the year
✮ Chicago Magic Lounge - a small live performance theater with focus on magicians
✮ Chicago Riverwalk - see some of Chicago's amazing architecture from this 1.25 mile paved path along a branch of the Chicago River
✮ Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier - a small theater focusing on Shakespeare plays
✮ Cloud Gate / The Bean - a beautiful, 66-foot long, 33-foot tall stainless steel bean sculpture; the most famous photo-op in Chicago
✮ Crown Fountain - two large video screen sculptures in Millennium Park that feature interactive art and a water fountain
✮ Field Museum, The - one of the premier natural history museums in the U.S.; one of Chicago's very best attractions
✮ Guided boat tours in downtown Chicago - e.g. architectural tours, sunset cruises, kayak tours, etc.
✮ Guided food tours in downtown Chicago - several companies offer food tours; Chicago is of the best places for food tours in the U.S.
✮ Guided walking tours in downtown Chicago - several companies offer guided walking tours in downtown Chicago
✮ Holy Name Cathedral - a beautiful Roman Catholic Church in the middle of downtown Chicago
✮ Lakefront Trail - walk or cycle over 20 miles of paths along Lake Michigan's shoreline
✮ Lincoln Park - a public park with greenspaces and many tourist attractions, including a zoo, indoor garden, and good views of Chicago
✮ Lincoln Park Zoo - a free zoo with more than 1,100 animals from 200 different species; one of the oldest zoos in the U.S.
✮ Maggie Daley Park - awesome children's playground near Millenium Park; likely one of the best major city playgrounds in the U.S.
✮ Medieval Torture Museum - a grim and gory museum with more than 100 unique items on display (e.g. torture devices)
✮ Michigan Avenue / Magnificent Mile - one of the world's most famous shopping districts
✮ Millennium Park - a public park renown for its two amazing art sculptures (e.g. Cloud Bean and Crown Fountain); close to other green spaces
✮ Museum of Science & Industry - one of the largest science museums in the world
✮ National Museum of Mexican Art - a museum focusing on Mexican, Latino, and Chicano art and culture
✮ Navy Pier - a famous (and touristy) lakefront park; calls itself "Chicago's Waterfront Destination"; has a giant Ferris wheel
✮ Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum - a good natural history museum
✮ Richard H. Driehaus Museum - visit a Gilded Age palatial home
✮ Shedd Aquarium - visit the largest indoor aquarium in the U.S.
✮ Start of Route 66 - take a photo of the sign that marks the start of the famous Route 66; go to 78-98 E. Adams Street in downtown Chicago
✮ Symphony Center - home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
✮ Willis Tower & Skydeck Chicago - score great views of up to four states from 1,353 feet (103rd floor) above downtown Chicago
✮ Wrigley Field - old-time ballpark and home of the Chicago Cubs; 90-minute guided tours are available
Central Illinois (including Casey, Peoria, and Springfield)
✮ Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum, Springfield - "the most complete Lincoln experience in the U.S."
✮ Casey - a small town with dozens of roadside attractions (probably the biggest cluster of them anywhere in the U.S.)
✮ Caterpillar Visitors Center, Peoria - excellent exhibits on heavy equipment
✮ Dana-Thomas House, Springfield - tours of a Prairie School-style home built by famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright
✮ Giant Cross, Effingham - see one of the tallest religious crosses in America
✮ Grandview Drive - a 2.5-mile paved route in Peoria featuring beautiful homes and fine views of the Illinois River
✮ Hot Dog Muffler Man Statue, Atlanta - famous route 66 roadside attraction statue of a tall man holding a hot dog
✮ Illinois Route 66 Association Hall of Fame & Museum, Pontiac - one of several great Route 66 museums in the U.S.
✮ Illinois State Capitol, Springfield - guided tours of the IL state capitol building
✮ Kaskaskia Dragon, Vandalia - a run roadside attraction where you put a coin in a giant metal dragon and it shoots real fire
✮ Lincoln Home National Historic Site, Springfield - visit the historic home of Abraham Lincoln (the only home he ever owned)
✮ Lincoln Tomb & War Memorials State Historic Site, Springfield - the final resting place of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the U.S.
✮ Matthiessen State Park, North Utica - see beautiful deep canyons, tall sandstone bluffs, and waterfalls
✮ Nauvoo Historic Sites, Nauvoo - restored historical buildings built by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
✮ Old State Capitol State Historic Site, Springfield - visit a Greek Revival style capital building built in the mid 1800s
✮ Starved Rock State Park, North Utica - the best state park in IL; features canyons, waterfalls, unique geology, and scenic views
✮ World's Largest Catsup Bottle, Collinsville - roadside attraction of a water tower painted like a catsup (ketchup) bottle
✮ World's Largest Mailbox, Casey - one of the best of the dozens of awesome roadside attractions found in the small town of Casey
✮ World's Largest Rocking Chair, Casey - one of the best of the dozens of awesome roadside attractions found in the small town of Casey
✮ World's Tallest Man Statue, Alton - measure up against this life-sized statue of the world's tallest man (Robert Wadlow - 8ft, 11in)
Southern Illinois
✮ Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, Collinsville - visit the remains of a pre-Columbian Native American city
✮ Cave-In-Rock State Park, Cave-In-Rock - walk inside a 55-foot wide limestone cave on a bluff overlooking the Ohio River
✮ Garden of the Gods Recreation Area, Herod - hike among beautiful 320-million year old cliffs
✮ Giant City State Park, Makanda - see unique canyons and fascinating rock formations
✮ Jeremy "Boo" Rochman Memorial Park (Boo Castle Park), Carbondale - roadside attraction-type park with dungeons and dragons
✮ Rim Rock National Recreation Trail, Findlay - offers some of IL's best scenery; hike thru a rock passageway and walk along the edge of a bluff
✮ Shawnee National Forest - beautiful forests with scenic views, sandstone cliffs, wilderness areas, and many hiking and backpacking trails
✮ Superman Statue, Metropolis - famous roadside attraction of a 15-foot tall Superman statue
Are you aware of any other 5-star attractions in Illinois? If so, please email me at gparsons66@hotmail.com.
For a list of 5-star attractions in neighboring states, click on any of these links:
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BEST TOWNS & CITIES TO VISIT IN ILLINOIS
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These towns and cities in Illinois are generally regarded as the most interesting to travelers:
✮ Casey - a small town with dozens of roadside attractions (probably the biggest cluster of them anywhere in the U.S.)
✮ Chicago - a major city that is among the very best cities in the U.S.; famous for its architecture, food (e.g. deep dish pizza, hot dogs), cycling paths, green spaces, professional sports teams/stadiums, and many world-class museums
✮ Galena - a small town with historic red-brick buildings; many boutique shops and art galleries;often touted as the "best small town in IL"
My favorite city in Illinois is Chicago - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 4-5 days there. You could even spend a week if you wanted to visit many of the world-class museums that are in the city.
My favorite small town in Illinois is Galena - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least a full day there.
If you have four days to spend in Chicago, I would consider this itinerary:
Day #1: Visit the Art Institute of Chicago, one of the very best art museums in the U.S.
Day #2: Visit the Field Museum, one of the top natural history museums museums in the country
Day #3: Explore the sites of downtown Chicago on foot, including Michigan Advenue (including the Magnificient Mile shopping district), Millenium Park (including Cloud Gate and Crown Fountain), and Grant Park/Buckingham Fountain
Day #4: Catch the views from 360 Chicago (94th floor observatory) and then take a guided sunset architectural boat cruise on the Chicago River
While in Chicago, make sure to try at least some of these foods: (a) a deep-dish Pizza from Lou Malnati’s; (b) Chicago-style hot dogs from Portillo’s; (c) Chicago-style popcorn from Garrett Popcorn; and (d) Italian beef sandwiches from Al’s Italian Beef. There is so much more amazing food in Chicago, but this is a good start.
Click here if you'd like to see a complete list of towns and cities that I find interesting across the entire U.S.
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WHAT IS ILLINOIS FAMOUS FOR?
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Here are some things that Illinois is famous or well-known for:
✮ Abraham Lincoln
✮ Chicago blues
✮ corn dogs
✮ deep-dish pizza
✮ first McDonald's location
✮ first U.S. state at abolish slavery
✮ Frank Lloyd Wright architecture
✮ presidential birthplaces
✮ pumpkins
✮ Route 66 (including the start of the route in downtown Chicago)
✮ skyscrapers
Click here if you'd like to explore what other U.S. states are famous for.
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NATIONAL PARKS IN ILLINOIS
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While there are currently no national parks in Illinois, there are several other federally-managed parks and properties in the state, including:
National Monuments
✮ Pullman National Monument
National Forests
✮ Shawnee National Forest
National Historical Parks / Other National Parks & Properties
✮ Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail
✮ Lincoln Home National Historic Site
✮ Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail
✮ Trail of Tears National Historic Trail
For more information on Illinois's national parks, visit the Illinois page of the National Park Service. For an overview of all U.S. national parks, click here.
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Illinois manages more than 100 state parks and other similar nature/forest/wildlife areas. Many would agree that these represent Illinois's finest state parks:
✮ Cave-In-Rock State Park, Cave-In-Rock - walk inside a 55-foot wide limestone cave on a bluff overlooking the Ohio River
✮ Giant City State Park, Makanda - see unique canyons and fascinating rock formations
✮ Matthiessen State Park, North Utica - see beautiful deep canyons, tall sandstone bluffs, and waterfalls
✮ Starved Rock State Park, North Utica - the best state park in IL; features canyons, waterfalls, unique geology, and scenic views
My favorite state park in Illinois is Starved Rock State Park. I love hiking, and this state parks offers some of the best hiking in the state.
To see my list of the top 100 state parks in the country, click here.
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BEST WATERFALLS IN ILLINOIS
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Illinois has roughly 20-30 natural waterfalls, although many of them are considered "seasonal" meaning you'll want to visit after recent rains. Many of the best waterfalls in the state can be found within the outstanding Starved Rock State Park. Here are the best waterfalls in Illinois:
Northern Illinois
✮ French Canyon, Starved Rock State Park
✮ Giant's Bathtub Falls, Matthiessen State Park
✮ LaSalle Canyon,
Starved Rock State Park
✮ Ottawa Canyon,
Starved Rock State Park
✮ St. Louis Canyon,
Starved Rock State Park
✮ Thunder Bay Falls, The Galena Territory (privately owned, but the public is currently welcome)
✮ Tonti Canyon,
Starved Rock State Park
✮ Wildcat Canyon,
Starved Rock State Park
Southern Illinois
✮ Burden Falls, Shawnee National Forest
✮ Cedar Falls, Camp Ondessonk (privately owned, but the public is currently welcome)
For a listing of all known waterfalls in Illinois, visit the World Waterfall Database.
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BEST SCENIC DRIVES IN ILLINOIS
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Here is a list of the best scenic drives in Illinois:
✮ Grandview Drive - a 2.5-mile paved route in Peoria featuring beautiful homes and fine views of the Illinois River
✮ Great River Road - a 2,069-mile paved route along the Mississippi River that travels from Minnesota to Louisiana; 550 miles are in Illinois
✮ Illinois River Road National Scenic Byway - a 150-mile paved route from Ottawa to Havana; includes travel on both sides of the Illinois River
✮ Lake Shore Drive - a 16-mile paved route along the shoreline of Lake Michigan with great views of the lake and Chicago; best driven S > N
The Ohio River Scenic Byway may also be worthy of inclusion in the list above, but I haven't driven it yet.
LaRue Pine Hills Road in Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois may also be worth a look. It's possible there are other roads in Shawnee National Forest that have scenic views and/or scenic outlooks as well. It seems like most views in Shawnee National Forest require at least some sort of walk and/or hike though.
For a list of great scenic drives in each U.S. state, click here.
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BEST RAIL TRAILS IN ILLINOIS
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Here is a list of the best rail trails (or similar cycling paths) in Illinois:
Northwestern Illinois (including Galena and Rockford)
✮ Great River Trail
Northeastern Illinois (including Chicago and Naperville)
✮ Chicago Lakefront Trail - often rated one of the best rail trails in the U.S.
✮ Des Plaines River Trail - often rated one of the best rail trails in the U.S.
✮ Fox River Trail
✮ Illinois Prairie Path ("IPP") - often rated one of the best rail trails in the U.S.
✮ Millennium Trail
Central Illinois (including Casey, Peoria, and Springfield)
✮ Constitution Trail
✮ Rock Island Trail
Southern Illinois
✮ Tunnel Hill State Trail
For detailed information on all known rail trails in Illinois, visit the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy website.
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BEST AMUSEMENT PARKS IN ILLINOIS
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There are a few notable amusement parks in Illinois:
Northern Illinois (including the Chicago area)
✮ Magic Waters Waterpark, Cherry Valley
✮ Santa's Village Amusement & Water Park, East Dundee
✮ Six Flags Great America, Gurnee
Central Illinois (including Casey, Peoria, and Springfield)
✮ Knight's Action Park, Springfield
✮ Raging Rivers, Grafton
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Illinois has many excellent museums, including some world-class museums in Chicago. I would say that Chicago, New York City, and Washington D.C. are the three best cities in the U.S. for museums. The best museums in Illinois include:
Northwestern Illinois (including Galena and Rockford)
✮ Discovery Center Museum, Rockford
✮ Historic Auto Attractions, Roscoe
✮ John Deer Pavilion, Moline
✮ Ulysses S. Grant Home, Galena
Northeastern Illinois (including Chicago suburbs and Naperville)
✮ DuPage Children's Museum, Naperville
✮ Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio, Oak Park
✮ Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, Skokie
✮ Volo Museum, Volo
Chicago
✮ Adler Planetarium
✮ American Writers Museum
✮ Art Institute of Chicago, The - the most visited museum in Chicago and one of the world's best art museums
✮ Chicago Architecture Center
✮ Chicago Children’s Museum
✮ Chicago Cultural Center
✮ Chicago History Museum
✮ DuSable Museum of African American History
✮ Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
✮ Field Museum, The - the second most visited museum in Chicago
✮ Medieval Torture Museum
✮ Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
✮ Museum of Science & Industry
✮ National Museum of Mexican Art
✮ Oriental Institute Museum
✮ Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
✮ Richard H. Driehaus Museum
✮ Smart Museum of Art
Central Illinois (including Casey, Peoria, and Springfield)
✮ Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum, Springfield
✮ Dana-Thomas House, Springfield
✮ Illinois Route 66 Association Hall of Fame & Museum, Pontiac
✮ Lincoln Home National Historic Site, Springfield
✮ Nauvoo Historic Sites, Nauvoo
✮ Old State Capitol State Historic Site, Springfield
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BEST DAY HIKES IN ILLINOIS
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Illinois has several interesting hiking trails, many of which lead to geological formations you may not expect from a Midwestern state. Here are some of the best day hikes in Illinois:
Northern Illinois
✮ Dells Canyon & Bluff Trail, Matthiessen State Park
✮ Glacial Park Loop, Glacial Park Nature Reserve
✮ La Salle Canyon, Starved Rock State Park
✮ Morton Arboretum and Big Rock Trail, Lisle
✮ Ottawa Canyon, Starved Rock State Park
✮ St. Louis Canyon Trail, Starved Rock State Park
✮ Walking around downtown Chicago
Southern Illinois
✮ Garden of the Gods Observation Trail, Garden of the Gods Wilderness
✮ Giant City Nature Trail, Giant City State Park
✮ Indian Creek Trail, Giant City State Park
✮ Indian Point Trail, Garden of the Gods Wilderness
✮ Little Grand Canyon Trail, Shawnee National Forest
✮ Rim Rock Recreational Trail, Shawnee National Forest
I also love walking around downtown Chicago (including its riverwalk). You can easily get 5-10 miles (or more) of walking in without going into any undesirable areas. Despite the garbage you may see on social media, the downtown area of Chicago is generally very safe. It's the suburbs of Chicago that are dangerous. I last visited Chicago in 2021 and it remains my favorite city in the U.S.
The highpoint of Illinois is Charles Mound (1,235'), found in Scales Mound Township in northwestern Illinois. A short hike is required to reach the top.
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BEST BACKPACKING TRIPS IN ILLINOIS
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Illinois offers a few great backpacking opportunities. Some of premier backpacking routes/areas in Illinois include:
✮ Giant City State Park
✮ River-to-River Trail
✮ Sand Ridge State Forest
✮ Shawnee National Forest
If you are aware of any other backpacking areas in Illinois, please email me at gparsons66@hotmail.com.
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CLASSIC OUTDOOR ADVENTURES IN ILLINOIS
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Illinois offers many outdoor adventures, including these classics:
✮ Backpacking the River-to-River Trail
✮ Bouldering at Holy Boulders in Shawnee National Forest
✮ Canoeing/kayaking the Cache River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking the DuPage River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking the Fever River (aka Gelena River)
✮ Canoeing/kayaking the Illinois River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking the Kankakee River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking the Kishwaukee River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking on the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking on the Rock River
✮ Cycling the Bloomingdale Trail ("The 606")
✮ Cycling the Chicago Lakefront Trail
✮ Cycling the Des Plaines River Trail
✮ Cycling the Fox River Trail
✮ Cycling the Illinois Prairie Path ("IPP")
✮ Cycling the Tunnel Hill State Trail
✮ Day hiking in Starved Rock State Park
✮ Kayaking the Chicago River in downtown Chicago
✮ Mountain biking the Big Marsh Bike Park
✮ Mountain biking the Farmdale Reservoir Recreation Area
✮ Mountain biking the Kickapoo State Recreation Area
✮ Mountain biking the Palos Forest Preserve
✮ Mountain biking the Saw Wee Kee Park
✮ Rock climbing at Jackson Falls in Shawnee National Forest
✮ Skydiving in Greenville, Ottawa, and Rochelle
✮ Tubing the DuPage River
✮ Tubing the Lower Fox River
✮ Tubing the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River
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There are only a few ski resorts in Illinois, and they are all fairly small. The largest is Chestnut Mountain, which has 19 trails and a vertical drop of 475 feet. There is certainly some fun skiing in the state, but nothing that's really nationally significant.
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UNIQUE / SPECIALTY FOODS TO TRY IN ILLINOIS
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Here are some unique / specialty foods to try while you are in Illinois:
✮ chicken vesuvio
✮ corn dogs
✮ corned beef sandwich
✮ deep-dish pizza
✮ flaming saganaki
✮ horseshoe sandwich
✮ Italian beef sandwich (w/sweet peppers)
✮ jibartito sandwich
✮ pizza puffs
✮ popcorn (e.g. Garrett's)
✮ rainbow cone
✮ shrimp de jonghe
✮ Vienna beef hot dog (e.g. Chicago hot dog)
For a list of unique foods and mom-and-pop type eateries and restaurants in Illinois (or any other U.S. state), visit the Roadfood.com website.
For a list of unique foods to try in each of the 50 U.S. states, click here.
For a list of the top-rated beers to try in Illinois (or any other U.S. state), visit the Beer Advocate website.
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OTHER KEY ILLINOIS INFORMATION
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Here is some helpful key information about Illinois:
State Capital:
Springfield
Major Airports:
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) and Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Largest Cities:
Chicago (2,756,546), Aurora (177,070), Naperville (151,078), Joliet (150,948), Rockford (147,811), Elgin (116,119), Springfield (114,022)
Primary U.S. Interstates:
I-24, I-39, I-55, I-57, I-64, I-70, I-72, I-74, I-80, I-88, I-90, I-94
State Highpoint:
Charles Mound (1,235') in Scales Mound Township in northwestern Illinois; a short hike is required to reach the top
Professional Sports Teams:
MLB: Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Fox
NBA: Chicago Bulls
NFL: Chicago Bears
NHL: Chicago Blackhawks
WNBA: Chicago Sky
Funny or Unique Town/City Names:
Goofy Ridge, Normal, and Sandwich
Take note that in general this travel guide intentionally excluded restaurants, lodging/hotels, breweries, wineries/vineyards, and certain other types of attractions (like arcades, ax-throwing, bowling alleys, and escape rooms). These types of places tend to come and go, and keeping up with that would be too challenging. I encourage you to use Google Maps, Tripadvisor, Yelp, and other travel sites that have reader reviews to find the latest and greatest places that I haven't covered here.
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The Bean! in Millennium Park in downtown Chicago, Illinois
World's Largest Catsup Bottle in Collinsville, Illinois
Millennium Park in downtown Chicago, Illinois
downtown Chicago, Illinois
downtown Chicago, Illinois
Home Alone house in Winnetka, Illinois
Leaning Tower of Niles in Niles, Illinois
Giant Taco in Casey, Illinois
Giant Antlers in Casey, Illinois
World's Largest Rocking Chair in Casey, Illinois
World's Largest Mailbox in Casey, Illinois
Maggie Daley Park in downtown Chicago, Illinois
take a seat with Roger Ebert in Champaign, Illinois
St. Louis Canyon in Starved Rock State Park, Illinois
In addition to the information found on my website, I personally recommend purchasing these road trip/travel-related guidebooks. Click on any book cover to read reviews and/or purchase these books on Amazon.com.
 
 
 
 
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MORE U.S. STATE TRAVEL GUIDES
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Did you enjoy this state travel guide? If so, here are links to more of my comprehensive U.S. state travel guides:
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As an Amazon Associates affiliate, this website contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase any products after clicking any Amazon.com link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. I only endorse products that I have personally used or those that come highly recommended by trusted peers.
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