Trip Ideas Explore Things To Do PLACES TO EAT BREWERIES & DISTILLERIES WINERIES & VINEYARDS HISTORY Places to Stay Inn at Irish Hollow Cahokia is one of only two dozen UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the U.S., recognized for the remains of an ancient, pre-Columbian Native American city. Many of these waterfalls are seasonal, however, meaning you have to plan your visits carefully to see them at their best. 25 places sorted by traveler favorites 1. Learn more about this architectural marvel on a guided tour. Take your date to Navy Pier (Chicago)--even more stunning at night. Close to Pere Marquette State Park, Grafton is blessed with amazing autumn foliage and stunning rock formations within easy reach. Tour Chicago by helicopter. If you are planning a romantic couples trip, Illinois is an ideal place with a variety of things to do. Eat & Drink Regional Getaways Illinois Made Chicago Activities Family Fun Architecture Arts & Culture & History Outdoors & Regional Offbeat Illinois 4-5 Days 5+ Days From Local Experts 1-3 Days Top 10 Winter Events & Festivals in Illinois Skiing? Enjoy some finger sandwiches and then take a look around to see what you can find; shoppers say Little Traveler sells lots of decorative items, especially for Christmas. Chart a course for the Buffalo Rock, Matthiessen, Illini or namesake Starved Rock state parks. Make sure to sample the boutique wines of Starview Winery and experience the cozy cabin-like atmosphere of Honker Hill Winery. Lincoln Park Zoo is located inside the beautiful Lincoln Park and is a great addition to a day at the park. These include Lincolns house, the presidential library, and more. When you're both ready to tuck in, the Beall Mansion B&B will serve you well, with fireplaces, whirlpool tubs, included continental breakfast and free Wi-Fi. Past Sybaris guests approve of the serene and private atmosphere, with some saying it brought their romantic getaway to another level. Nestled in the Chain O'Lakes region of Illinois is Cypress Resort & Marine, a great escape for couples looking for a lakeside retreat. The Lincoln Home National Historic Site is located in Springfield, the hometown of Abraham Lincoln. To see our list of the top things to do in Grafton, see our post here. Look beyond the large chains to find boutique hotels, mom-and-pop shops and locally owned restaurants for a truly romantic getaway to small-town America. Illinois has a great range of beaches available along both Lake Michigan and various other lakefronts in the state. For those interested in politics, history, and architecture or who are just interested to learn more, Springfield is an ideal place to visit. This 170-acre park and prairie's guided tours give context to Indigenous communities that lived here up to 11,000 years ago. Amid all the swishing and sipping, head to the Pomona Natural Bridge Trail within the Shawnee National Forest for a 0.3-mile loop through hickory and beech trees, with an overlook to a "bridge" formed naturally from sandstone. Both options require a combination of patience and advance reservations, but they're well worth it, according to patrons. If you're looking for the best of quirky small-town America, spend some time in Alton, Illinois, especially if you're a pair of history buffs. If you are interested in small towns in southern Illinois, see our list here, or if you are interested in seeing the best small towns across all of Illinois, see here. From harvest festivals to German-themed Oktoberfests, theres something for everyone. Book your next cruise vacation on one of these floating megaresorts. Both offer boutique accommodations with tranquil views. For those interested in the paranormal, visiting a haunted place around Halloween in fall is a unique and fun activity. For more detail on the Krannert Art Museum, see our post here. Friendly, leashed dogs are welcome on the lakeshore. A CityPASS, for example, bundles admission to several top Windy City attractions at a significant discount, whether you want to see the Art Institute of Chicago, Shedd Aquarium, The Field Museum, SkyDeck Chicago or select others. The best part? There are many places throughout the state that are amazing to enjoy the autumn colors. Eagle watching? Outdoor Activities Concerts & Shows Food & Drink Events Shopping Transportation Traveler Resources Types of Attractions Nightlife Sights & Landmarks Fun & Games Nature & Parks Spas & Wellness Museums Classes & Workshops Boat Tours & Water Sports Casinos & Gambling Water & Amusement Parks Zoos & Aquariums Traveler rating & up & up & up Neighborhoods Even if you've never been there before, you've seen it in countless movies and TV shows. The festival always includes a range of live entertainment and events for kids and adults alike. We mentioned already a few museums above but here is a list of more interesting museums. Chicago Architecture Cruise. With the use of zip lines, aerial bridges, rappelling, and more, canopy tours explore the forest in a new way. Spend the day soaking in the sun with a boat tour or beach day on Petite Lake at Cypress, then head into town for a tasting at the Vigneto del Bino vineyard and winery. Here is an overview of the best fall festivals in Illinois. Willis Tower is the third tallest building in the Western Hemisphere and makes great use of the space with a range of facilities throughout the building, including cafes and restaurants. We take your privacy seriously and will never sell your data to anyone. Perhaps the most famous state park, Starved Rock State Park, is loved by many for its miles of trails, opportunities for hiking, boating, photography, and more. The name "Garden of the Gods" stirs images of a forbidden utopia but you and your special someone can easily access this celestial hike in the Shawnee National Forest, partially located in Herod, Illinois. The institute is located in one of the most well-known buildings in Chicago with two impressive bronze lions flanking the entrance. When visiting Illinois, the Science Center is perfect for children of all ages and offers both day camps as well as standard visiting hours. What is Seoul Known For? Welcome to your guide to Chicago attractions, outdoor adventures, arts, history, road trips, tours, sports and shopping. As mentioned above, playing in the water is a great family activity. For your overnight stay, check out the circa-1930s Starved Rock Lodge, which has an indoor pool and trails on the property. Recent guests of the Davie School laud the unexpected modern hotel amenities in a nostalgic and authentic setting. Another great activity to try while in Illinois is shopping. These include nature reserves, forests, natural areas, and more. To find out more about the Lincoln Home National Historic Site, click through to see our more detailed post. If you are open to venturing out, consider the Davie School Inn, an eclectic B&B in Anna just 10 to 20 miles from most of the wineries on the route. About 25 miles outside of Springfield, the Market Street Inn Bed & Breakfast in Taylorville also makes a great home base to explore central Illinois and the impact of former resident Abraham Lincoln. Book your trip. Winter is often seen as a less desirable time to travel its cold and everyone wants to stay inside in the warmth. Panoramic views of Chicago can be found from the top of the John Hancock Center or history can be explored in one of the many museums. You can also check out the Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery for farm-fresh goat cheese and goat's milk gelato tremendous additions to any picnic. Whether you prefer natural history, art, science, or something a bit quirky, there is a museum for everyone. This mansion stands as an example of Second Empire design and remains almost untouched since the time of its use by the prominent Hegeler family and the Open Court Publishing Company opened by Hegeler. Here we have some of the best places to visit while in Illinois. There are a range of trails available to suit all levels of hiker, from casual beginners right through to experienced hiking enthusiasts. With its plentiful hiking trails, flowing . The Peoria Riverfront Museum spans art, history and science exhibits in addition to a planetarium for a comprehensive look at culture and humanity. With Chicagos great location on the edge of Lake Michigan, it is ideal for going to the beach and soaking up some sun. While the Lincoln Home is only one house, there are a number of other historic houses located on the site which show parts of history from the time of Lincoln. While exploring some of the state parks above, you may want to take part in some hiking. The Lincoln Home can be viewed on a guided tour while other exhibits can be independently explored. Edwards Place Historic Home 100 Historic Sites By 866TaylorB Edwards was brother-in-law of Mary Todd Lincoln's sister Elizabeth. I enjoy helping adult individuals of all ages and couples that still want to work things out, providing a safe place for you to find clarity, seek healing . The latter contains presidential artifacts found nowhere else and a theater that shows educational films and living history performances to immerse you in the time of Lincoln. As mentioned previously, the area around Cloud Gate in Chicago is also turned into an ice rink in winter each year and is another very popular spot. Getting around Chicago and Illinois is easy with our guide to ways to travel around the state. In this travel magazine we share our best tips and adventures. Arts & Culture, Galena is a beautiful historic city in northern Illinois with a wide range of things to see and do. The Ledge is a glass balcony or glass box that extends 4.3 feet from the edge of the building. We've got all the big city glitz and glamour, plus candle-lit restaurants, cozy hotels, and one-of-a-kind date night activities. There's no better place for romance than Chicago. (Burger and Sushi House). To see some of the top scenic drives in Illinois, check out our post here. One popular example is Millennium park, located in downtown Chicago. Rich Harvest Farms is a more modern, but very unique course in that it has been designed purely to suit the whims of the billionaire owner, meaning it doesnt always fit regulation standards. Millennium Park is home to the famous Cloud Gate sculpture, more commonly known as The Bean. Rice, Daniel Lee. To see the best beaches in Illinois, check out our guide here. Travelers may want to catch a show at the Lincoln Theatre, opened in 1921 as a stage for vaudeville that welcomed stars in the making such as Ginger Rogers and the Marx Brothers. Here we have some of the best water parks in Illinois. [See more of Chicago:Things to Do | Tours | Hotels | When to Visit | Photos]. The park itself is a one-stop outing, featuring an ice rink, a 120-foot-tall bandshell designed by Frank Gehry that attracts top-notch musical talent, the seasonal Lurie Garden, staggering public art installations and a roster of free events held on the Great Lawn. Many of the wineries along the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail include on-site lodging so you don't have to wander far from your new favorite red. On a trip to Bloomington, be sure to check in to the Vrooman Mansion, a former home brimming with legacy and life since the Scott family moved into the mansion in 1873. Travelers can always walk off an indulgent meal at one of Champaign-Urbana's many art galleries; the Wandell Sculpture Garden; or the contemporary Spurlock Museum, which focuses on world cultures. It is designed in a traditional Japanese walking garden style, meaning it is intended to for the visitor to stroll around the garden and enjoy the various landscapes, almost like changing scenes in a play. Planning a trip around seeing the state parks of Illinois is not uncommon, and so staying in the areas closest to these state parks is quite popular. The Art Institute of Chicago is well-known as one of the best art museums in the world, with over 300,000 works in its collection. Find the wayside sign about Lincoln's Taylorville on West Market Street near South Main Street. If you prefer to stick to the tried and true, Six Flags Great America is another great option among the amusement parks of Illinois. Discover top travel stories and even more reasons to #EnjoyIllinois with our free magazine. Some couples may prefer an upscale resort with a range of amenities and facilities. Find out how to get to Illinois by plane, train, bus and driving. This 150-year-old mansion will transport you back in time with its Roman decor throughout the property. One of the most popular fall festivals in Illinois is the Apple n Pork Festival in Clifton. 22, 2023, Up to 60% Off + Exclusive 5% Guaranteed Priceline Coupon, Up to 50% Off Travel Plans with Top Expedia Promo Code, Discount Travel Plans with 50% Off on Hotels.com bookings, 50% Discount on Getaways with Barcel Resort & Hotels, Booking.com Promo Code Up to 50% Off + Extra 10% Off. Starved Rock has many miles of hiking trails, as do many other state parks. Get Inspired Eleven of the state's best wineries, including some of the oldest vineyards in Illinois, are dotted along a 40-mile trail for you to discover at your own pace. in He attended St. Joseph's Academy and graduated from the last class at Corpus Christi High . Its also home to many local artists and artisanal businesses. Looking for an adventure? Whether you are planning a romantic couples getaway or a fun family vacation, our guide to the best things to do in Illinois has you covered. Winter hiking can prove to be a very different experience from hiking during the warmer months, with stark landscapes and frozen scenery. Chocolate lovers are in luck more than 20 varieties are available to nibble at all times of day for Beall Mansion guests at the complimentary chocolate buffet. The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge is a great example the bridge forms an important part of American engineering history while also being unique and interesting to see. 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