This Midwestern Capital Sits Right on Route 66 — And It’s One of the Road’s Most Underrated Stops
Steeped in political history and rich in architectural charm, this Midwestern capital offers a compelling glimpse into the past.
Skip Chicago: This Small Town Is The Most Scenic But Underrated In The Midwest
Home to many impressive historic tourist attractions and a few interesting architectural gems, the tiny town of Galena can be found nestled away in the northwest of Illinois.
This Is the Kind of River Town America Used to Build
Perched atop a bluff overlooking the Illinois River and Peoria Lake, this historic city boasts scenic views and a rich past.
The Midwest Twin City Proves You Don’t Need Big Skyscrapers for Big Culture
Surrounded by endless stretches of fertile farmland, this vibrant twin-city area blends small-town warmth with big-university energy.
Best Cities to Live in Illinois: A Quick Guide
The summer and fall may be wonderful times to visit Illinois, but for the residents of the Prairie State, living here provides full-time access to the state’s rich history, architecture and nature.
20 Attractions You Shouldn’t Miss in Chicago
From its towering skyscrapers to the sweeping arc of its expansive lakeshore, there’s a feeling of confidence and pride that radiates from the landmark features of Chicago and from the faces of the city’s inhabitants as well.
How to Spend One Day in Chicago This Winter
Ah, the Windy City.
This Midwestern College Town Is Doing Small-City Life Surprisingly Well
This little city is cute and quaint. It has a slightly weathered and old-fashioned feel thanks to the historical buildings dotted around it.
This Suburb Has a Mall Bigger Than Some Downtowns
Best known for a massive shopping complex, this lively suburban destination offers far more than retail therapy alone.
The Midwest City You’ve Probably Driven Past — But Should’ve Stopped For the Gardens, Galleries, and Seriously Good Food
Fittingly nicknamed the “City of Gardens,” this destination is defined by its beautiful parks and carefully landscaped green spaces.
10 Best Places to Visit in Illinois
If you want to explore the American Midwest, head to Illinois. The Land of Lincoln is home to teeming cities as well as rural farmland.
Introduction
Mostly made up of endless farms and fields, Illinois is also home to Chicago; one of the largest, most-visited and most important cities in the nation. Due to its rural and urban divides, its diverse cultures, cities and landscapes and its location in America’s heartland, the Land of Lincoln is often said to be a microcosm of the entire United States.
Located in both the Midwest and Great Lakes regions, Illinois is bordered clockwise by Wisconsin, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri and Iowa. In addition, it also shares a water boundary with the state of Michigan in the northeast thanks to the large and lovely Lake Michigan. While much of it is rural, some valleys, forests and hills do break up the monotony of the plains and prairies while the Mississippi, Ohio and Wabash rivers form parts of its boundaries.
The main place that everyone heads is, of course, the cosmopolitan Chicago which is renowned for its impressive architecture, world-class museums and skyscraper-studded skyline that rises above Lake Michigan’s glimmering waters. On top of all its iconic sights and diverse neighborhoods, the massive metropolis is also famed for its jazz and blues scenes, its big sporting teams and myriad excellent restaurants and bars.
While the Windy City’s enticing attractions understandably dominate most visitors’ itineraries, the rest of the state has a lot to offer with Route 66 winding its way past many of its cities and sights. Galena for instance is packed with amazing historic landmarks while the capital Springfield boasts many monuments and museums relating to Abraham Lincoln – the city and state’s most famous son.
Nature lovers will instead want to explore Shawnee National Forest’s woods and rock formations or see Starved Rock State Park’s stunning canyons and waterfalls. One of the most fascinating places to visit in Illinois is the incredible Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site; a ginormous prehistoric city that was formed by Native Americans over 800 years ago.