What to do in Peoria? (Chicago, Pekin: motel, houses, theatre)

[Drover]

It's been about 15 years since I've been to Peoria. Back then it was still a bomb crater with the exception of one area with astonishing houses (I can't remember where this was but I seem to recall it was close to Jumers). Since then I haven't really given much thought to Peoria. But since I'm a beer geek, I've had half a mind to go to Peoria and check out the John Rhodell brewpub, as it has received pretty decent reviews from other beer geeks. Lately all the talk of Peoria on this board hints at a substantial renaissance underway and that has only heightened my curiosity about the area in general. So if I were to up and check out Rhodell, what other stuff should I be looking to do while I'm there? Should I wait until springtime when there are more outdoor activities at my disposal? I'm particularly interested in what I can pack into a day trip or weekend visit.

[jwhittak]

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm beer. I'm sorry, what was the question? Oh yeah, I would wait until summer. Wait for some festival or event along the riverfront. The Peoria Chiefs have a really cool stadium downtown now as well. My favorite thing is actually just outside of Peoria, every Memorial day weekend at Three Sisters Park. Summer Camp! The whole weekend with live jam bands and camping. Brings in a lot of hippies and makes for a real fun time. The web site is summercampfestival.

[doll lady]

Yes I agree about waiting for summer. Up through this year the I74 revamping was horrible but that has greatly improved now. The festivals along the riverfront are really nice as well as the fireworks on July 4th. And on Saturdays the Riverfront market is open. The Rib Fest and the Steamboat Festival in June are great! If you like gambling there's the casino. There's also a riverboat to cruise on. If you like to shop, there is a new mall just down the road from the old mall as well as lots of outlying stores and along the riverfront are shops in the refurbished old warehouses. Remember when Big Al's was the thing to do for men's nightlife ::::cough cough::::

The park district hosts Pioneer Days with candledipping, wool spinning, and other olden days presentations the last Sunday of every month. And of course nearby Pekin hosts the Marigold Festival each year.

Jumers is no longer Jumers. Things are always changing! East Peoria has really changed. A new Lowes, Super Walmart, Dealz, and lots of new restuarants like Texas Roadhouse for example now stand down by where the old Steak & Shake used to stand alone and a huge Kohls was built after Applebee's and the adjoining motel were torn down right at the I74 exit ramps.

If you are a history/architectural buff, the West Bluff/High Wine Historic District is great. And also the Frank Lloyd Wright house in the West Bluff area.

Avantis is still good although their portions seem to be cut down a lot. When President Bush visited Peoria this week, he ate at Louie's Sterling Family Resturant...wonder who picked that? But, of course, he only ate wheat toast and coffee......they closed the place while he was there...no one in or out.

Hope you get to visit. The city has grown but there are still rundown dangerous areas, as there are in most cities.

[Paxtonian]

Why don't you book an Illinois River Cruise from Peoria to Starved Rock? You'd enjoy it.

[ILguy]

I will bypass the comment on the bomb crater since obviously you did not see much of Peoria. It is fairly widespread - esp north to south - so I am sure you saw only a small pience of it. The area of houses you are most likely referring to is Moss Avenue and perhaps High Street. Grew up there and still very nice. Check out Grandview Drive - Teddy Roosevelt named it the World's Most Beautiful Drive - houses similar to North Shore with view of the river/lake. A must for the fall. SpringSummer/or early Fall is the best time. As people referred, there are many festivals on the River Front. Also, if you like outdoors, check out Forest Park Nature Center - beautiful trails through the bluffs. Also, Wildlife Prairie Park. For the beer lover in you, there is an International Beer Fest sometime in late summer or early Fall at Expo Gardens. Never been to it, since not up my alley. Also, some wonderful upscale restaurants in the city and Peoria Heights. (jills, red zin, rizzis on state, seven on prospect, French Toast, ponte vecchio, etc) all the suburbs will be your chain restaurants in most part. Check out www.peoria.org and www.discoverpeoria.com for more information. The Peoria Civic Center is busy throughout the year so check out their website as well. You will find sporting events, theatre, symphony, etc there. I live in Chicago, but find that I can do just as much there - also traffic alot less. Also, if you have kids they would enjoy InPlay downtown - an interactive gaming complex. Many adults like the interctive games as well and has a bar there as well. Similar to Dave and Busters.

[Explore Peoria]

I concur with ILguy - Peoria is definitely not the bomb crater many suburban Chicagoians believe it to be - they just don't know any better! If you're a beer lover and would enjoy a truly uniquely Peoria experience, check out the Hofbrau House on Jefferson (at the junction of Jefferson & Adams just south of the McClugage Bridge/Rt. 150). They have a bunch of German beers and other imports on tap plus a great variety of bottled beers too - plus great German food. It's very quaint and an iconic Peoria place.
ILguy recommended DiscoverPeoria.com for info about Peoria, but that site is currently not online (there's just a placeholder there) - but ExplorePeoria.com does have an extensive events calendar plus an e-newsletter that comes out on Thursdays with upcoming events for the weekend.