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Jan 31, 2024 · Illinois, a state with a rich history, culture, and natural beauty, offers an array of must-see destinations recommended by locals. Whether you're a lifelong resident or a visitor eager to explore the Prairie State, insights from those who call it home reveal 15 tourist attractions that capture the essence of Illinois.
Jun 10, 2023 · Experience the beauty of Kane County, Illinois, and don’t forget to take nice photos! With the beautiful waterparks, natural areas, farms, and gardens surrounding Kane County, Illinois, it's not surprising why it's been one of the favorite.
- Explore Rockford
- Visit Dekalb
- Explore A State Park
- Go Hiking
- Discover Waterfalls
- Stumble Upon Historic Sites
- Visit A Museum
- Visit A Historic Mansion
- Visit Galena Wineries
- Play Golf
The city of Rockford is located on the Rock River in Northern Illinois. It is the second-largest city in Illinois after Chicago. Despite having a primarily industrial past, the city has made great strides in preserving art and cultural sites and is often referred to as the Forest City for its many parks and gardens. There are many amazing museums, ...
DeKalb is the home to Northern Illinois University. It is also one of the larger cities of Northern Illinois with beautifully preserved architecture and museums. Many of the original buildings of DeKalb have been maintained in their original condition and serve as a unique way to view the changing styles of architecture over the years. This include...
Northern Illinois is blessed with a range of large, well-preserved, and beautiful state parks. It is home to Starved Rock state park, possibly the most popular state park in Illinois. With over 13 miles of hiking trails as well as areas for fishing, boating, photography, and more, Starved Rock is full of possibilities for fun and interesting activi...
Illinois is ideal for hiking with the abundance of unique nature and interesting scenery. The many state parks in Northern Illinois make it the perfect location for a hiking holiday. We already mentioned Starved Rock state park and its many hiking trails. The park will delight walkers of all levels. One of the most popular trails is the Starved Roc...
There are many beautiful waterfalls in Illinois, making for amazing views while exploring the abundant nature of the state. Several of those waterfalls are located in the Northern part of the state. You will find many types of waterfalls ranging from impressive cascading falls through to gentle stepstone waterfalls. This means exploring various wat...
John Deere Historic site
The world-famous company John Deere was first founded in Northern Illinois in the mid-1830s by blacksmith and repairman John Deere. The company was revolutionary with not only the invention of the self-scouring steel plow but also the unique (for the time) business model of manufacturing products before sales. The John Deere historic site commemorates this pioneer of the industry by preserving the original Deere family home, first built in 1836. The house has been maintained with period house...
Heritage Farm Museum
The Byron Forest Preserve is a sprawling property of prairies and woodland located on the Rock River. They aim to preserve open spaces and the natural woodland of the area while providing activities for the community. In this space is the Heritage Farm Museum, a collection of farm buildings from the mid-1800s, preserved to display what early farm life in the area was like. There are 5 different buildings, each displaying a different aspect of farm life. These include a grout house, barns (com...
Ellwood House Museum
The Ellwood House Museum is a well-preserved site consisting of three different historic buildings from the late 1800s and four beautiful gardens. These include the Ellwood Mansion, originally built for entrepreneur Isaac Ellwood and his family, the Ellwood-Nehring House, and a once multi-car garage turned into an exhibit space. The museum offers guided tours from 30 minutes to 1 hour that cover several buildings on the property. The tours end in the visitor center where detailed exhibits abo...
Discovery center Museum
The Discovery Center Museum is a fun and interactive children’s science museum spread over 2 floors with more than 300 different exhibits. The exhibits focus on various science topics, including the human body, electricity, space travel, machinery, and light. Many of the exhibits are interactive and hands-on, encouraging children to be involved in science and experience it for themselves. Behind the museum, there is also a large Discovery Park, a multi-level science park with mazes, a water p...
Illinois Railway Museum
The Illinois Railway Museum has an interesting history in itself, as it was started in 1953 by a small group of men who came together to purchase and preserve Indiana Railroad 65, an interurban car that had been retired and would soon be destroyed. Since then the museum has acquired many different historic railway pieces ranging from steam locomotives to more modern electric pieces. Some of the highlights include the inspiration for Japan’s famous bullet trains, the Electroliner train, and th...
Loveland Museum
The Loveland Museumin Dixon was founded in 1940 as a way to continue the Loveland family name, preserve the history of the area and honor the ‘father’ of the community of Dixon, John Dixon. The community house part of the property can be rented for special events and creates a beautiful atmosphere. The museum houses a range of historic items from the area’s history. There are exhibits surrounding John Dixon, the founder of the community, The Black Hawk War and Civil War, and various other sig...
Hegeler Carus Mansion
The Hegeler Carus Mansion is a unique landmark in Northern Illinois as one of the great Second Empire structures. It was designed in 1874 by renowned architect Boyington for the prominent Hegeler family. In 1887, Hegeler launched the Open Court Publishing Company operating out of the 1st floor and hired Dr. Paul Carus, a German scholar. From this location, Carus wrote over 70 books and countless other articles. The 57-room mansion is virtually unaltered from its original appearance and offers...
Colonel Davenport Historic house
Colonel Davenport Historic House is the preserved home of George Davenport, an influential figure in the area’s history. He was a prosperous trader and businessman who later also served during the Black Hawk war. As his business continued improving, he built a home in 1833 which become a Centrepoint of industry in the area. The house was considered a mansion for its time and is built using unique construction methods. It is built in the Federal style and has been well-maintained over the year...
Ulysses S. Grant home
The Ulysses S. Grant home was once home to the 18thPresident of the United States. The house was a present to Grant from the citizens of Galena after his return from the Civil War in 1865. It was designed by architect William Dennison and enjoyed greatly by Ulysses S. Grant. He described it as “a lovely villa exquisitely furnished with everything good taste could desire”. Following his election, he didn’t spend much time in the house anymore but the house was always well maintained by caretak...
In the northwest of Illinois, fall signals the start of the grape-stomping season among the many beautiful wineries in Galena. There are 4 main wineries with each offering different and unique experiences. Galena Cellars Vineyard and Winery has both fruit wines and hybrid grape wines and offers behind-the-scenes tours, overnight stays, and bike tra...
Golf is a great day trip activity for visitors to Northern Illinois. By visiting Prairie View Golf, you can take in the beautiful surroundings and natural landscape while enjoying some of the best golf experiences. The course was designed to make minimal changes to the surrounding scenery, meaning it has retained the beautiful natural atmosphere. S...
Dec 28, 2019 · 10 Exciting Things You Should Plan To Do In Illinois In 2020. Discover 10 must-visit attractions for 2020, ranging from forest preserves to theme parks and historic sites.
Jul 25, 2015 · Eleven must-see places in Illinois range from iconic buildings to natural wonders and historic sites.
Things to Do in Illinois, United States: See Tripadvisor's 2,216,818 traveller reviews and photos of Illinois tourist attractions. Find what to do today, this weekend or in November. We have reviews of the best places to see in Illinois.
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May 6, 2023 · From rolling hills to pristine lakes and towering waterfalls, the state has plenty of gorgeous spots for nature lovers to explore. Some of the most beautiful places in Illinois include Starved Rock State Park, Matthiessen State Park, the Shawnee National Forest, and the Garden of the Gods.
