Route 20 Roadtrip Recommendations? (Chicago, Rockford, Oregon: house, retire, suburbs)

[cohdane]

I'm loading up a minivan with nieces and nephews this weekend to take them to Mount Carroll to see the Raven's Grin Inn (a haunted house which I highly recommend).

It's a three hour drive (cue Gilligan's Island music) getting out there from the northern suburbs and I'd like some stops along the way. We'll mostly be on Route 20, but would be happy to veer north or south if it was worth it.

The weirder the better. Think Route 66. Any non-virtual attractions, activities, restaurants to boggle the generation of iPod and Wii?

THANKS!

[karlsch]

When you get to Rockford, take route 2 along the Rock River to at least as far as Oregon. It's one of the most beautiful drives in Illinois.

The kids (and you) will love Black Hawk Statue:
Black Hawk Statue - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[cohdane]

Thanks for the idea! The nieces and nephews loved the statue (and the snake in the woods nearby). The hard-to-please uncle enjoyed the scenic drive. It was truly lovely and worth the minor detour!

[OgleCo]

It sounds like you will be headed through my part of the state-- Ogle County.

Some things to check out here, the city of Oregon, the Black Hawk Statue, a few other attractions as well.

I would MOST CERTAINLY head to Galena. Galena is the second most visited city in Illinois and seems to be where all the Chicagoans go for a weekend retreat. It is a neat, historic town, a bigger more touristy version of Mt. Carroll.

I was just in Mt. Carroll and Galena last week and I cannot get over how quaint and calm, essentially midwestern each city is.

Galena is located along US 20, about 30 minutes from Mt. Carroll, also I would possibly check out Dubuque, Iowa, only 10 miles from Galena, with the same Mississippi River flavored architecture/culture. Neat city, we go there on the weekends occasionally; festivals often. Often when we come back we stop in Galena for an hour or two and head home.

GO TO GALENA. :]

[RiverRat1964]

Did he say "GALENA"?

[debbie at bouontiful]

I love Galena. We lived in Stockton, Il for many years and were transferred to Okie land about 10 years ago. We retire in 3 and I want to go back but we bought a ranch in OK and my husband loves the ranching....Anywhere along route 20 is great. Take Blackjack Rd for fun. Thank goodness they didn't put that 4 lane freewy through that beautiful part of the world.