The Definitive Guide To Uncovering Illinois’s Best Attractions — Small Towns, Gorgeous Parks, Museums, And More!
Illinois is in America’s heartland and it has plenty of things to do any time of the year. Whether you want to visit a park, farmer’s market, winery, or shop for antiques, you can find plenty of things to do in Illinois. Of course, you could always go to Chicago for some excitement, but the rest of the state is filled with fun activities from Lake Michigan to the Ohio River. You will find plenty of activities that the entire family will enjoy, like spending a fun day visiting a waterpark, zoo, safari park, science museum, or taking a train ride. Let’s explore some of the activities that you will not want to miss when you visit Illinois for an adventure.
If you want to get away from the big city and step back into a quieter life for a time, Illinois has plenty of quaint small towns that you should visit. Galena is a small town that is ranked as one of the best destinations for a honeymoon or vacation. It is home to many local wineries, breweries, and it is home to a culinary school. Foodies will love Galena. You can also rent a hot air balloon, ride a trolley, shop at a thrift store, or enjoy outdoor activities in the scenic area like hiking and biking. Whether you are planning to stay a few days or just passing through, Galena is a small town that you will want to visit.
If you are a fan of books, then Illinois has a book store you will want to put on your schedule. The Old Book Barn in Forsyth offers 14,000 square feet of used books. It is filled with bargains like books, CDs, DVDs, audiobooks, and even all your favorite series like Harry Potter at discount prices. This store is a local landmark, and bibliophiles could easily get lost among the stacks. You can find over 250,000 books in every genre, including fiction, nonfiction, self-help, biography, cookbooks, classics, romance, and anything else you could imagine. If you are a book addict, the Old Book Barn should be on the top of your reading list.
Nike Park is a unique park that is located in the small town of Addison. It might not look that unique at first, but this park has an intriguing history. It is located in the middle of a beautiful wildlife area that spans 197 acres. You can explore the meadows, forests, marshes, and wildlife in the swamps. What makes this park unique is that it used to be a missile launch site during the Cold War in the 1950s. Only the control tower remains, but you can enjoy the playground, tennis courts, and baseball diamond and know that you are standing on a piece of Cold War history. Nike Park is one to visit for history buffs and kids alike.
A trip to the small town of LaSalle will let you enjoy one of the most unique experiences in the state. The Illinois & Michigan Canal was one of the key modes of transportation in the first part of the 19th century. You and your family can enjoy a canal boat ride pulled by a team of mules that will take you back to the 1840s. Enjoy a slow ride along the scenic canal and learn about life in the early 1800s, tending mules, and listen to stories by Mary Todd Lincoln. The I & M Canal Boat is an experience you will not want to miss.
Treasure hunters will not want to miss the 100-mile yard sale that goes through the heart of Illinois. This bargain-hunting experience combines a yard sale and a road trip. It is held along State Route 34 between Galesburg and Aurora. This special event only happens for a few days and is held on the Friday and Saturday of Father's Day weekend. You never know what you will find along this journey. You can count on a great time and the fact that you will meet some interesting people along the way. Be sure to put the 100-Mile Yard Sale on your roadmap for some great family fun.
There is something nostalgic and magical about seeing the sights by train. For railroad lovers, the Monticello Railway Museum will be an unforgettable experience. Your trip leaves from an old railway terminal and takes you on a one-hour trip through the scenic countryside. Get a feel for what it was like to travel by rail, enjoying the calming rocking of the car and watching the beautiful landscape pass by. You might want to plan this trip for fall when the trees are putting on their full show. Many people like to ride in the open-air Nickel Plate Road flat car. Everyone will love the Monticello Railway Museum, so be sure to visit it soon.
Illinois has some beautiful country chapels and covered bridges that make you feel like you've stepped back in time. There's just something about a covered bridge that adds to the natural beauty of the landscape. The Cumberland County Covered bridge is the longest one in the state at almost 200-feet-long. You can find this little historic bridge crossing the Embarras River in the small town of Greenup. The original 1865 bridge, and several subsequent versions, were wiped out by floods. The new one is built to be as close to the original as possible. The
If you're a seeker of the obscure and the odd, Illinois has a few museums that might spark your interest. You could always tour the McDonald's Museum in Des Plains, Historic Auto Attractions in Roscoe, or the Superman Museum in Metropolis. If these still aren't weird enough for you, then you might want to stop by the International Museum of Surgical Science. This attraction is not for the faint of heart. It has many exhibits dedicated to historical and more recent ground-breaking discoveries in surgery. A visit to this and other unique Illinois museums will make for an entertaining diversion, so put these places on your schedule.
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