Chicago is one of the most romantic cities in the American Midwest. If you click one of them, we may receive a small commission (for which we are deeply grateful) at no extra cost to you. The giant silver bean is embedded in the public consciousness. Explore the top ways to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with events and things to do in Chicago. Illinois is blessed with many beautiful State Parks featuring a variety of different ecological phenomena. February 13, 2019, Courtesy of Greater St. Charles Convention & Visitor Bureau, Home 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 . Other top sights here to check out are the Air Combat Museum, Frank Lloyd Wright's Dana Thomas House, and the Camp Butler National Cemetery. Just trying to get away from the cold? If you are interested in abandoned places, history, or urban exploration, Cairo is an ideal place to visit. At 1353 ft from the ground, this is the highest observation deck in the US and the glass box allows you to see straight through to the ground below. Activities. Rockford, also known as Forest City, is ideal for those who enjoy nature and history. 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. A fun schedule of events at the museum includes film series like the Richard Pryor Film Festival and activities like Yoga Under the Stars. While fall foliage can be beautiful anyway, something about the cool, windy weather and ambient atmosphere of Illinois makes it ideal for really appreciating the stunning colors. There are many beaches and lakes in Illinois where kayaking is available as an activity, and many of these offer guides or lessons, making it accessible to all experience levels. The African American communitys legacy emerges through exhibits and events at t Find unexpected ways to enjoy Illinois in this biannual magazine that explores every corner of the state. Cloran Mansion Bed & Breakfast offers all types of rooms, from honeymoon suites to rooms that can accommodate pets! The Most Romantic Weekend Getaways in the U.S. We take your privacy seriously and will never sell your data to anyone. in For more information on the best beaches in Illinois, see our previous post here. This 170-acre park and prairie's guided tours give context to Indigenous communities that lived here up to 11,000 years ago. With the use of zip lines, aerial bridges, rappelling, and more, canopy tours explore the forest in a new way. 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. Shuttle transportation is available to all of the local wineries, so exploring the area is easy and seamless. To see a full list of the best breweries in Illinois, see here. The center also offers visitors the chance to operate machinery simulators and learn about how real engineers work at the company. The beach has space for swimming, kayaking, and canoeing and is a popular spot on weekends. Have a look at the best things to do in Illinois: 1. You can also visit the original State Capitol Hall, first built in 1837. Recent visitors rave about the inn's polite, friendly service and elegant ambiance. Many of these places have been turned into small museums or historic pieces, which is a great way to explore the history of the city as well as the daily life of our ancestors. 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. There are hundreds of different animals at the zoo, including many endangered species. Despite the somewhat strange name, this festival regularly attracts 80,000 visitors to enjoy the country-style food trucks, antique tractor shows,s, and live entertainment. Also potentially of interest in Herod is a roadside park on U.S. Route 34 that leads to a cave once home to the Fairy Cliff Caf. Ottawa calls itself "The Middle of Everywhere," a motto that rings true for this destination and for much of Illinois. Stroll through downtown Chicago on this walking food tour. 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. Set just outside Chicago you'll find the affluent suburb of Northbrook, where filmmaker John Hughes once called home and which inspired the setting for many of his cult classics such as "Sixteen Candles," "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" and "The Breakfast Club." Best Things to Do in Illinois for Couples. From exhilarating roller coasters to costumed characters, these parks offer fun for everyone. There are a number of biking trails available in Illinois, with the Tunnel Hill State Trail as one of the most popular. There are a range of trails available to suit all levels of hiker, from casual beginners right through to experienced hiking enthusiasts. For a more unique theme park experience, you can check out Boo Castle Park, originally built as a memorial park for Jeremey Boo Rochman after a car accident but themed around a childhood love of dragons, wizards, and role-playing games. There are many buildings and places throughout the city that are important to the life and times of Abraham Lincoln and have been preserved as historic places. There are many other options of places to go hiking in Illinois. If you're looking to make it a full lakefront retreat, book a stay at the Illinois Beach Hotel, which reopened in July 2022 and features an indoor pool, sauna, health spa and Wi-Fi though being here might make you want to unplug. Another top pick is Matthiessen State Park, which is located close to the aforementioned Starved Rock. Check out Chicago's observation decks. For couples looking for this experience, our post on romantic cabins with hot tubs is ideal for finding your ideal accommodation. To see more information, see our post here. Edwards Place Historic Home 100 Historic Sites By 866TaylorB Edwards was brother-in-law of Mary Todd Lincoln's sister Elizabeth. For more information on Six Flags Great America, see here. 28, 2023, Holly Johnson and Ann HensonFeb. There are many wineries in the area, and going on a winery tour while enjoying the beautiful scenery is a great way to support local businesses while also experiencing the area. Three of the rooms in this once-school are set up as romantic luxury suites, and you can treat yourself to extras like wine, roses or candle lighting in your room. The festival always includes a range of live entertainment and events for kids and adults alike. To see our full list of the best waterfalls in Illinois and how to plan your visit to see them, check out our post here. 30 Things Seoul is Famous For, Driving in Sweden in Winter: All You Need To Know, Globetrotters in heart and soul. Illinois' lakeshore offers couples the chance to unwind on the waterfront. 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. For those more interested in the history of Lincoln, following the Lincoln and Civil War Legacy Trail in Alton could be a fun and informative activity. If you prefer to stick to the tried and true, Six Flags Great America is another great option among the amusement parks of Illinois. From Wildcat Canyon, the deepest canyon in Starved Rock Park at 90 feet to LaSalle Canyon, where you can stand behind the waterfall, there are many canyons to explore in Illinois. Admire The Chicago Skyline From The Oak Street Beach. For more information on the Field Museum, click here. Head out to quaint downtown Alton to shop the boutiques, dine at the family-owned restaurants, or sip cocktails at the local bars. It is top of the list for many who enjoy Illinois state parks. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content. You can also try Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant in nearby Wheeling for walk-in wine tastings in addition to an extensive food menu. To make your choice of which state park, or parks, to visit, see our post on the top state parks in Illinois here. In Illinois, you can make such a journey along the Great River Road. A large portion of the city has been added to the historic register, meaning they are preserved as a piece of history. There are also a number of food and drink festivals held in Chicago, such as Ravenswood on Tap, a festival celebrating various craft beers, and the Lincoln Park Wine Festival, which is ideal for sampling a variety of wines from around the world. The Cahokia Mounds were the original site of an ancient Native American city dating from 1050-1350CE. 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. If youre looking for something a bit more adventurous than basic swimming and sunbathing, kayaking might be for you. Holly Johnson and Erin EvansMarch 1, 2023, Holly Johnson and Erin EvansFeb. While shopping may seem like something you can do anywhere, there are often unique and interesting aspects to shopping in a new place and Illinois is no different. The Shoppes at Grand Prairie is an open-air shopping plaza with more than 20 specialty stores exclusive to the Peoria market. There are also many breweries that are working towards a good cause, such as Black Horizons Brewing Company, the only black-owned brewing company in the state, which also donates a portion of the proceeds to various causes. Chicago, Illinois, is an amazing city to visit, offering a diverse selection of museums, tours, and Italian, and other restaurants.Enjoy a bird's eye view from 360 Chicago or the Skydeck, spend an afternoon at the Art Institute of Chicago, explore the famous Millennium Park, listen to an orchestra performance, and go for a romantic walk in one of the beautiful parks. There are a number of restaurants nearby offering a range of cuisines, making Navy Pier ideal for an extended stay. Located right in front of huge skyscrapers, the landscape is very unique. Learn more about coverage options for frequent travelers and those with multiple upcoming trips. [See more of Chicago:Things to Do | Tours | Hotels | When to Visit | Photos]. For those interested in the paranormal, visiting a haunted place around Halloween in fall is a unique and fun activity. It can also be a fun activity for adults, making it a great bonding experience. George L. Luthy Memorial Botanical Garden Address: 2520 N Prospect Rd, Peoria, IL 61603 Website: George L. Luthy Memorial Botanical Garden Opening hours: 10am - 5pm (daily) Price: Free 8. Open every day of the week, McLean County Museum of History offers free admission to its visitors every Tuesday. Watch the birds with a cup of coffee in hand or rent a canoe for a different view of the river. Read Enjoy Illinois magazine online or download the PDF and start exploring trip ideas For something more modern, you can try sampling the various wineries that surround the area. Looking to leave your room and explore? The main building offers a choice of eleven guest rooms while the Bell House has two more suites. About 35 miles south of Belleville, cozy up at The Conner House Bed and Breakfast in nearby Prairie du Rocher; this B&B serves home-cooked breakfast specialties like crepes and locally made sausage. To see the best beaches in Illinois, check out our guide here. Luckily, many buildings and sites have been preserved from this history and are now available to be observed and learned from in the modern day. From here, the nearly 400-acre Chicago Botanic Garden is just 10 miles away in Glencoe and makes for a scenic way to pass an afternoon; look for special nighttime events like Lightscape, an after-dark illuminated trail ideal for hand-holding during the winter holiday season. Grafton is a great place to experience nature as there are also a number of wildlife sanctuaries and bird- and wildlife-watching enthusiasts regularly gather. Spread the trail out over multiple days and stay overnight in one of the wineries that offer accommodation or choose the wineries youre most interested in and make an afternoon of it. Rice, Daniel Lee. See all Things to Do Chicago Outdoor Adventures Events Arts & Culture Eat & Drink Road Trips The theater is multifaceted, showing first-run films, concerts by the Belleville Philharmonic and other live stage performances. And not only is the architecture of the building itself impressive but there is an entire architecture section of the museum, that explores the intersection of architecture and art. The property hosts weekly events such as a barbecue and wine pairing dinner in the summer. Illinois, area. Centennial Beach 162 Beaches By litttlelaura75 Stroll through Chicago Botanic Garden. in Visiting Illinois at different times of the year can bring to life different aspects of the states nature, culture and attractions. Illinois has a great range of beaches available along both Lake Michigan and various other lakefronts in the state. If you're in Bloomington with your honey during the summer, consider what light through yonder window breaks and book tickets for the Illinois Shakespeare Festival, held here annually. From Ridge Cemetery, the cemetery to a ghost town, located at the highest point of a mountain to the Woodstock Opera House, an architecturally beautiful building supposedly haunted by the resident ghost Elvira. With a virtual ride in a Caterpillar mining truck and the opportunity to design your own Caterpillar machine, this is a great museum for exciting imagination and curiosity. originated from an 1890 novel but later became popular on the vaudeville circuit the idea was that if your show was a hit in Peoria, it would be an overall success. Surrounded by the Shawnee National Forest, this region is lush with trees and vineyards. Tandem bike along the Chicago lakefront trail. Some examples include Gradys Family Fun Park in Bloomington, a small park with rides, go-karts, and mini golf, or Enchanted Castle: Lombard which features laser tag, go-karts, bumper cars, and an arcade. Starved Rock State Park is known for its sandstone canyons several of which have waterfalls. There are also extended-stay suites available for between one and six months. This national scenic byway follows the Mississippi River for 3,000 miles from Canada to the Gulf, tracing the entire western border of Illinois on its way south. Experience Illinois with your significant other by exploring Chicago, driving the Great River Road, hiking in Ottawa and more. For a getaway within a getaway, head to Galena's year-round Chestnut Mountain Resort, which offers skiing and snowboarding in the winter or zip lining and river cruising in the summer. If you prefer a day trip to the spa mixed in with other activities, visiting one of Illinois many day spas could be perfect for you. 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. The beach is open from 6 am 11 pm, with swimming allowed while a lifeguard is present. For more details on Ohio Street Beach, click here. When you're done exploring for the day, retire to the Champaign Garden Inn, a bed-and-breakfast with six guest rooms inside a Victorian Queen Anne-style mansion. The London House boasts a tri-level rooftop bar, as well as a inhouse restaurant, with a terrace overlooking the river serving a fresh take on regional cuisine.. It features 11 unique wineries, each with a different focus or main product. We've got all the big city glitz and glamour, plus candle-lit restaurants, cozy hotels, and one-of-a-kind date night activities. While exploring some of the state parks above, you may want to take part in some hiking. 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