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9 Surprising Things You Never Thought About Doing In Illinois

Discover nine adventurous activities to try in Illinois, from hot air balloon rides to white water rafting.

Published Jul 11, 2015

Written by 

Laura Meli

Sick of doing the same old things? Shopping, hiking, maybe an occasional cultural event? Illinois is so much more than these things. So if you're feeling adventurous and want to cross some things off the bucket list, why don't you do one of these nine things while you're in Illinois:

1. Ride in a hot air balloon

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Rennett Stowe/Flickr

How about taking one over Chicago? What a view!

2. Learn to fly a plane

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Jim Bauer/Flickr

Try Allmond Aviation in Peoria

3. Go on a zip line

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Dan Nevill/Flickr

Soar above the trees in the Shawnee National Forest

4. Learn to blow glass

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Todd Blaisdell/Flickr

Do so at Starved Rock Hot Glass in Ottawa

5. Learn to be a sailor

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Christopher A. Dominic/Flickr

Learn at Sheridan Shore Sailing School (Wilmette)

6. Drive a real race car

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nakhon100/Flickr

Choose the Richard Petty Driving Experience in Joliet

7. Learn to scuba dive

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Heath Alsieke/Flickr

Underwater Safaris in Chicago is a good choice

8. Go parasailing

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Richard Martin/Flickr

You can go to Captain Andy's Parasail (Grafton)

9. Go white water rafting

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john mason/Flickr

You'll be happy choosing Vermillion River Rafting (Oglesby)

What other awesome things can you do in Illinois? Let us know in the comments.

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