A road trip from Chicago through Northern Illinois to Starved Rock State Park in Utica, picturesque Galena and historic Rockford with specific travel tips!
Illinois
Travel blogs, travel photos and stories from the Midwestern state of Illinois
Road trip through Illinois
Illinois Travel Guide
The ultimate guide to the coolest things to do and see in Illinois
Much more than just Chicago, the Prairie State is full of surprises. Birthplace of of the Twinkie, ice cream sundaes, Abraham Lincoln and Oprah Winfrey, Illinois has had a long and colorful history and nowadays has some surprisingly cool places to visit. Start here with my basic Illinois travel tips, or jump down below to read my latest Illinois travel blogs.
When to Visit
The weather in Illinois can be extreme. In summers, it gets very hot while winters can be bitterly cold with heavy snowfall, which is great if you enjoy skiing and other winter sports! In summer, things definitely get busier and prices rise slightly, so early fall can be a good alternative time to come to Illinois.
With a strong German heritage, it’s perhaps no surprise that many Illinoisans celebrate Oktoberfest, and there are various celebrations from September right through till the end of October all over the state. Keep this in mind when planning a trip to Illinois, as these events can mean that hotel rooms sell out and towns get a lot busier than usual!
Top Things To Do
Visit the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum – Prepare to brush up on some history at this cool museum, not only about the eponymous president but also about the Illinois itself in the state capital, Springfield.
Stay in a treehouse – What more could you want than to spend a night up in a tree? Well at the Timber Ridge Outpost and Cabins in Shawnee National Forest near Elizabethtown in southern Illinois you can! It’s the perfect place for something a bit different and for everyone from honeymooners, hikers, bicyclists, bird watchers to star gazers.
See dinosaurs and Japanese gardens in Rockford – The cute city of Rockford in northern Illinois is the third largest in the state but only has 150,000 inhabitants. Nonetheless, it has some cool and unusual sights such as the Burpee Museum of Natural History famous for housing the best-preserved and most complete young Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton anywhere in the world and the Anderson Japanese Garden.
Illinois Tours
Taking a tour in Illinois will save you time and money as you’re guided by someone with local knowledge to take you to all the best places to see.
LGBTQ – Gay Illinois Travel Guide
Often regarded as one of the most liberal states in the Midwest, Illinois has a reputation for being tolerant and progressive on LGBT issues. With Chicago, the state’s largest city, as one of the gayest cities in the US and a long history of queer counterculture, it’s no surprise that Illinois is so gay-friendly. Here are some of the best places to know about in gay Illinois.
Club House Station, Springfield – This friendly neighborhood gay bar in the state capital is always a good time, and probably the best bar, gay or not, in Springfield. Come on Wednesdays for karaoke and Saturdays for drag shows.
Office Niteclub, Rockford – Deceptively disguised as a dive bar with screens showing sports and dart boards, this friendly and cozy gay bar has a fun atmosphere and the spacious dance floor is definitely inviting!
Chicago Pride – Of course Chicago has hundreds of gay establishments all over the city, but the biggest event of the year on the gay calendar is without a doubt pride, which has been taking place at the end of June each year for almost half a decade and involves almost the whole city.
More gay travel resources here.
Illinois Hotel Deals
Outside of the large cities, hotels are often less busy in Illinois, but can still fill up during seasonal events, such as Oktoberfest. In the big cities, booking in advance is always a good idea.
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Illinois Travel Blogs
Much more than just Chicago, the Prairie State is full of surprises. Birthplace of of the Twinkie, ice cream sundaes, Abraham Lincoln and Oprah Winfrey, Illinois has had a long and colorful history and nowadays has some surprisingly cool places to visit. Illinois is a beautiful state with plenty of attractions to explore. From Chicago’s …
Story from visiting the Burpee Museum of Natural History in Rockford, Illinois. And for what it’s worth, dinosaurs are awesome.
Photo essay & restaurant guide to Chicago places to eat & drink — With only a weekend in Chicago, and just 3 meals a day (okay—sometimes 4), I only had so much time to eat. But eat I did!