chicago & beyond | great rivers Country | land of lincoln | trails to adventure
Illinois
Chicago & Beyond
I llinois might be in the middle of the map, but it's definitely not middle-of-the-road. The state has played a central role in the country's evolution, from our presidents (Lincoln and Grant to Reagan and Obama), pastimes (Wrigley Field to Route 66) and — of course — cuisine (deep dish pizza all the way).
The City of Big Shoulders dazzles with world-class art, dining and architecture. But venture beyond Chicago, and you'll find historic river towns, forested trails and prairie landscapes that make Illinois a microcosm of the Midwest itself — a region that defies simplistic labels. Small town doesn't mean small-minded here. In fact, Illinois is home to some serious cultural heavyweights, like Chicago's museum campus, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield and enough Frank Lloyd Wright buildings scattered throughout the state to warrant a dedicated road trip unto itself.
Add to that must-see spots such as the stunning sandstone formations in the Garden of the Gods in Shawnee National Forest and quirky curiosities like the world's largest rocking chair (in Casey), and Illinois offers something for every kind of traveler. So schedule a Midwest meetup with friends or family (or go solo), then check out our favorite places to visit as you plan your next adventure.
Chicago and its surrounding areas offer plenty of incentives to brave the cold during the winter months. Start with Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza, a German-inspired holiday tradition running through Dec. 24 featuring handcrafted gifts, glühwein and cozy cheer. Another seasonal event, Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light at the Museum of Science and Industry (through Jan. 6) celebrates global holiday traditions with more than 50 trees and displays.
A short drive west, the acclaimed Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio in Oak Park offers tours that reveal the architect's pioneering vision and evolution. Illumination: Tree Lights at the Morton Arboretum (through Jan. 4) in nearby Lisle transforms the grounds with festive light installations. After the holidays, Chicago Theatre Week (Feb. 6-16) offers a chance to enjoy acclaimed productions at discounted prices. Participating shows will be announced when tickets go on sale Jan. 7.
For a taste of Chicago's rich culinary history, make your way downtown to The Berghoff Restaurant. Established in 1898 (when beers were sold for a nickel and came with a free side sandwich), this family-run institution continues to dish out traditional German fare like brats and wiener schnitzel. The restaurant's quick-service menu and location make it an ideal stop during Chicago Theatre Week.
Tangled Roots Brewing Company, located in Ottawa near Starved Rock State Park, is a celebration of craft beer and Midwest charm. Known for its locally inspired brews like Devil's Paint Box IPA and the award-winning Fancy Feline bourbon barrel-aged milk stout, there are just as many lighter options (they call them "lawn mower beers") like the Starved Rock Lodge lager.
Thirty minutes north of the city in Wheeling, Bob Chinn’s Crab House has been attracting seafood lovers since 1982 with its crab legs, garlic rolls and Mai Tais. Once ranked among the nation’s top restaurants in terms of sales, the restaurant can serve up to 700 guests at one time and is infamous for its festive atmosphere and loud decibel levels.
See
Eat
For dazzling displays and seasonal cheer, visit Lightscape at Chicago Botanic Garden (through Jan. 5) or Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo (through Dec. 31). Pop-ups throughout the city like Jack Frost Pop-Up in Fulton Market (through Jan. 5) and Winterland at Gallagher Way in Wrigleyville (through Jan. 7) heighten the holiday spirit with Christmas markets, ice-skating, bumper cars, axe-throwing, curling and millions of twinkling lights.
Chicago shopping is legendary under any circumstances — and the Magnificent Mile is the perfect backdrop for finding last-minute gifts. (The Fashion Outlets of Chicago in nearby Rosemont offer up a budget-friendly alternative.) For a change of pace once the holidays are over, head to Starved Rock State Park in Oglesby for Eagle Watch Weekend 2025 (Jan. 25-26).
Do
Great Rivers Country
the middle of everything
in collaboration with:
section end
Macy's State Street Holiday Windows (through Jan. 1) have been a cherished Chicago tradition since 1897. The famed department store nestled in The Loop decorates its street-facing windows with whimsical holiday displays for all to enjoy from the sidewalk, while the Walnut Room inside houses a Christmas tree that stands 45 feet tall.
A short walk away, the marquee at Miller’s Pub on Wabash Avenue signals the arrival of the season with its annual announcement: “Tom & Jerry are here.” A reliable beacon of hope for weary holiday shoppers, the message is in reference to the warm brandy-based libation served in brown ceramic mugs — a winter tradition at this historic downtown haunt.
Icon
A landmark hotel located across the street from Millennium Park, the Chicago Athletic Association offers a welcome reprieve from both the holiday crowds and lake-effect winds. The Game Room's retro-chic details — think billiards, darts, shuffleboard and bocce ball — harken back to the building's 1890s origins, when the likes of William Mills Wrigley Jr., Charles Comiskey and Albert Spalding were members. Cindy's Rooftop, the hotel's bar and restaurant, offers sweeping views of Millennium Park, Lake Michigan and the city's iconic skyline.
The Volo Museum in Volo, about an hour northwest of Chicago, showcases over 50 Hollywood vehicles, including a Disney gallery, Batmobiles and a "Fast & Furious" collection. A nine-hole mini golf course, vintage ice cream parlor, pizzeria and animatronic dinosaur park make for a fun-filled family detour.
Hidden gem
Built in 1909 as an opera house, the Wildey Theatre in Edwardsville was once a meeting hall for the International Order of Oddfellows. At the time, the venue claimed the largest stage south of Chicago, and it later became a celebrated movie house, leading to its designation as a Local Landmark in 1986. Live concerts, theatrical performances, comedy shows and movie screenings continue to draw audiences today.
A rare example of Mediterranean architecture in the Midwest, Villa Kathrine in Quincy was built in the early 1900s by an eccentric businessman to replicate a villa he had visited in Morocco. The castle is open for self-guided tours and guided tours by appointment and features ornate tilework and vaulted ceilings.
Hidden gem
Historic Galena’s fabled Main Street — packed with restaurants, confectioners and watering holes — makes for the perfect one-road city tour. Also known as the “Helluva Half Mile,” this quintessential small-town strip is best explored on foot to appreciate the 1800s-era street with original buildings and boutique shops.
An old gas station converted into a Route 66 visitors center, West End Service Station in Edwardsville honors one of the town’s last Route 66 landmarks. The building used to be a service station for Route 66 from 1927 to 1964, and today it houses a free museum with photos and souvenirs.
Another roadside attraction, The World’s Largest Catsup Bottle stands 170 feet tall next to Route 159 in Collinsville. The repurposed water tower was constructed in 1949 and used to supply water to the G.S. Suppiger catsup bottling plant. In 2002, it was named to the National Register of Historic Places, ensuring its preservation for generations to come.
Icon
Local celebrity spotting starts looking up each December, when hundreds of majestic American bald eagles once again call this part of Illinois home for the season. The bird watching is subsequently epic, whether you're simply driving along the Great Rivers Scenic National Byway or visit for events such as the Bald Eagle Days at Pere Marquette State Park, where — after a brief indoor presentation — you'll spend most of the day on a driving tour of the most popular eagle hangouts. Tours run periodically through Feb. 16.
Chestnut Mountain Resort — one of the most beloved ski spots in the Midwest — hosts Winter Carnival in February. Whenever you visit during ski season (which typically starts the weekend after Thanksgiving), you can't help but feel merry at the sight of the Mighty Mississippi from the slopes. Check the resort's events calendar for exact dates as the season gets closer.
Do
Eat
Founded in 2011, James Beard finalist Cleveland-Heath in Edwardsville specializes in upscale comfort food rooted in Midwest ingredients. The menu includes braised beef taquitos, crispy coconut cauliflower, steak au poivre and house-made biscuits.
The Grafton Winery & Brewhaus in Grafton embraces the winter months with patio igloo rentals from December to February. Guests can dine in these heated enclosures for two hours while enjoying views of the Mississippi River.
Log Cabin Steakhouse in Galena is the longest operating eatery in town. Try the bone-in ribeye to see why this local haunt is a crowd favorite. If you manage to abstain from dessert there — or even if you don’t — you’ll have your pick of sweet shops on the town's historic Main Street.
See
Illinois' Great Rivers Country — an area of the state that encompasses 33 counties hugging the Mississippi, Illinois and Ohio rivers — offers a wealth of enriching experiences outside Chicago. The National Great Rivers Museum in Alton tells the history and significance of the Mississippi River. Take a free guided tour of Melvin Price Locks & Dam to see towboats and barges navigate the waterway from eight stories up.
Perched on a hill in Galena, the Ulysses S. Grant Home State Historic Site preserves the home the Civil War general was gifted after the war. Today, visitors can tour the home to see original furnishings, personal artifacts and exhibits highlighting the 18th president's legacy.
Illinois does its best North Pole impression in the Champaign County village of Rantoul, where you’ll find Hardy’s Reindeer Ranch. While the fall tours are an experience unto themselves — think hayrides and moonlit corn mazes — wintertime gives you the full Santa’s backyard effect, complete with five acres of fragrant Christmas trees on offer. Don’t miss the reindeer experience tours, which let you feed and even kiss the namesake cuties who live at this restored, century-old barn.
In fact, this part of the state is full of barns that lean into the seasonal hygge vibes, as you’ll discover on a drive along the Barn Quilt Heritage Trail — a series of more than a dozen structures that display beautifully painted renderings of quilt squares in celebration of the local arts, crafts and farming heritage.
Hidden gem
While the legacy of Lincoln looms large around Springfield, the history of Route 66 is arguably just as iconic. While in the area, you can walk on a restored brick road laid by hand over an original 1.4-mile segment of the Mother Road. Or, take a selfie with the 20-foot-tall Lauterbach Giant, one of many of the state's oversized roadside attractions.
Tie it all together with a stop at Motorheads (you can't miss the sign, it's the world's lagest Route 66 shield). This one-stop spot is a bar, grill, museum and entertainment complex with vintage memorabilia, classic cars, antique gas pumps and neon signs.
Icon
Honest Abe’s home turf is filled with historic stops, from his family’s pew at the First Presbyterian Church to the Lincoln Tomb, where he and his family are laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery. But one of the loveliest is the Lincoln Home National Historic Site, where the Lincolns lived until just before Abe’s presidency.
Though fun to see under any circumstances, the dining and entertaining spaces are maximally merry come holiday season, when 19th-century decorations lend to the atmosphere. Annually, the site holds a special, candlelit tour as well as a performance of the free, one-act play Message at Midnight in December.
Do
Eat
Founded in 1884, Maldaner’s restaurant invites guests to envision what the dining experience might have been like for prominent figures of the 19th century. Today, the oldest continually operated restaurant in Springfield puts a Mediterranean spin on local ingredients.
Located inside a 19th-century mansion in downtown Springfield, Incredibly Delicious is a French-inspired bakery that specializes in pastries, layer cakes and artisanal bread. Breakfast and lunch are on the menu, but you're really here for dessert — founder Patrick Groth’s pride and joy.
Recognized by Bon Appétit as one of the nation’s most eco-friendly restaurants, Firefly Grill in Effingham crafts seasonal fare in a rustic-chic dining room. This is legit farm-to-table dining — they run their own farm. The restaurant is worth the trip downstate, sharing the spotlight (and an exit off Interstate 57) with a giant 198-foot-tall cross that's hard to miss.
See
While most Americans know something about the nation's 16th president, a trip to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield offers a deeper dive into the man behind the iconic stovepipe hat and chinstrap beard. Take a photo with the Lincoln family figures in front of a White House backdrop before exploring various exhibits, such as Lincoln’s boyhood years in Kentucky, artifacts from the Civil War and Lincoln’s letters.
One of Frank Lloyd Wright’s largest (and most beautiful) Prairie-style designs, the Dana-Thomas House in Springfield was completed in 1904 and features 35 rooms, more than 100 pieces of original furniture and 250 examples of art glass light fixtures and lamps. This lavish building was built for Springfield socialite Susan Lawrence Dana, who was famous for her grand parties. The barrel-vaulted dining room and ballroom are celebrated as some of the most remarkable interior spaces in American architectural history.
Trails to Adventure
In the fitting location of Metropolis, Illinois, stands a 15-foot statue of the Man of Steel himself, Superman. Metropolis (population: 5,969), whose newspaper calls itself The Planet, was the proposed site of an “Amazing World of Superman” theme park that never materialized — but the statue nevertheless stands valiantly for truth, justice and the American way in the town square. An additional statue of Lois Lane waits nearby, while the Super Museum, showcasing rare memorabilia and selling super souvenirs, is located across the street.
You'll find a different kind of Americana in the robust collection of 19th- and 20th-century American artists — including Mary Cassatt, Thomas Eakins and John Singer Sargent — featured at the Cedarhurst Center for the Arts & Mitchell Museum in Mount Vernon.
Hidden gem
Explore Southern Illinois’s blend of history and whimsy with a visit to the Liberty Bell of the West in Kaskaskia. Presented to the local Catholic church by King Louis XV of France, the Kaskaskia Bell is in fact older than the Liberty Bell. An inscription reads, “For the Church of the Illinois, by gift of the King across the water.” Once the state capital, Kaskaskia is now home to roughly 20 people, making it the state's second-smallest incorporated town. (It's also the only part of Illinois that's west of the Mississippi River.)
Cave-in-Rock State Park offers a peculiar slice of history and natural beauty in Southern Illinois. Perched along the Ohio River, the park's namesake — a massive 55-foot-wide limestone cave formed by erosion — has captivated visitors for centuries, from Native Americans and pioneers to notorious river pirates. Today, the cavern and surrounding park are a haven for explorers who come for hiking, picnicking and spotting local wildlife like deer and the occasional bald eagle.
Icon
To get a feel for the variety of villages in Southern Illinois, check out Makanda — an 1845 boarding house and railroad construction camp turned unofficial artist colony, where seemingly every resident is a creative of some kind and secret gardens and alpaca herds are par for the course.
The newly opened Walker's Bluff Casino Resort in Carterville offers a luxurious escape in the heart of Southern Illinois. With a Vegas-inspired casino floor and hotel amenities that include spa service and an indoor/outdoor swimming pool, the resort is equal parts relaxation and excitement. Nestled near the Shawnee National Forest and the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, Walker's Bluff is also an excellent base for exploring the area.
Do
Eat
Southern Illinois’ oldest winery, Alto Vineyards has won over 1,000 state, national and international awards since releasing its first vintage in 1988. A member of the aforementioned Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, Alto Vineyards has two tasting rooms, in Alto and Champaign, both of which feature packed events calendars that include live music from local musicians, goats and yoga, sip and paint classes, and drag show brunch.
On the other side of the food spectrum, where the motto is "praise the lard," sits Murphysboro's 17th Street BBQ. Another local institution that's gained national fame, this pilgrimage site for ribs lovers has been heralded among "favorite barbecue gurus" by Bon Appétit, "food treks worth taking" by Grub Street and "best restaurants in America" by the Daily Meal, for starters.
See
The Shawnee National Forest is home to two decidedly different kinds of trails, both well worth exploring in the coming months. Fans of winter hiking will want to hit — for starters — the hike to the Little Grand Canyon through rock walls, craggy bluffs and eroded sandstone. A subsequent 365-foot climb from the canyon floor pays off with panoramic views of the Mississippi River and flood plain.
Then there’s the iconic Garden of the Gods hike, where winter-denuded trees provide a particularly clear view of the unique rock formations from which the hike takes its name. As for the other kind of trail you’ll find in this national forest, there’s an entire Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, with 11 wineries and a winter winery passport that helps enthusiasts sample the goods at a major savings from Jan. 2–Feb. 28.
BACK TO
THE TOP
BACK TO
THE TOP
BACK TO
THE TOP
BACK TO
THE TOP
Land of Lincoln
Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo
Eagle Watch Weekend 2025
Christkindlmarket
Plan your trip
Tangled Roots Brewing Company
The Berghoff Restaurant
Chicago Botanic Garden
Jack Frost Pop-Up at Fulton Market
Ulysses S. Grant Home State Historic Site
Macy's State Street Holiday Windows
Log Cabin Steakhosue
Chestnut Mountain Resort
The World's Largest Catsup Bottle
Wildey Theatre
Dana-Thomas House
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
Incredibly Delicious
Lincoln Home National Historic Site
Shawnee Hills Wine Trail
Garden of the Gods
Walker's Bluff Casino Resort
Makanda Boardwalk
Superman statue in Metropolis
Hardy's Reindeer Ranch
17th Street BBQ
Cave-in-Rock State Park
Motorheads
Cindy's Rooftop
chicago & beyond | great rivers Country | land of lincoln | trails to adventure
chicago & beyond | great rivers Country | land of lincoln | trails to adventure
chicago & beyond | great rivers Country | land of lincoln | trails to adventure