Is there anything in Illinois outside of Chicago? (Peoria, Springfield: suburbia, station)

[BUalumni]

Originally Posted by Frank the Tank

I've been to Peoria and I'm sure that it's a perfectly fine place to live for many people while having an economic impact with the presence of Cat. However, I just wouldn't put Peoria on a list of places that an out-of-state visitor would find to be a vastly unique place compared to other towns that are of a similar size. Even the old line about "How will it play in Peoria?" for marketing and politics is a reference to how the town is a representative of average and middle-of-the-road America. This sincerely isn't a knock on the place - living in a place that's a tourist attraction doesn't necessarily equate to a great quality of life, either. I've been fortunate to travel to a lot of places due to my family's penchant for road trips while I was growing up, so saying that a place is merely "nice" is a whole lot different than calling a place "unique".

You misuderstood what I said. You stated that really outside of Chicago there wasn't any other place that tourists would be interested in, besides Galena or Springfield, in downstate Illinois. That is simply untrue and rather on the ignorant side. Now I am not about to try and argue that nationally Peoria's history is more of an attraction for tourists than Springfield's. But Galena? Come on! I understand that for you Chicagons, Galena has become this sacred place, free from the ills of Chicago. We all get that. But I doubt Galena experiences anywhere close to the amount of tourism that all of the stunning natural beauty of extreme southern Illinois. At least the ones that 'The Idiot ' didn't shut down!

If someone really wanted to understand what it means to be an Illinoisian, and experience a true midwestern lifestyle, than Peoria would be that. If you think that Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Bettendorf, Council Bluffs, or Waterloo can out-do Peoria at anything, than I would seriously like to see how in the world you could substantiate that claim. I mean, my gosh, Peoria (the city proper) is on the smaller end in terms of population, when compared to even other Illinois cities. But that doesn't make it any less of what it is. The Peoria market is hot right now for tourism. That is why you see things like this popping up around town:

Build the Block

East Peoria / Downtown 2010

Downtown hotel project 'the answer,' some say - Peoria, IL - pjstar.com

Get Behind the Zoo! Expansion

Maybe when it warms up you should come visit again. For the city of our size, we offer a great deal to the community, and we don't pay outrageous taxes for them. You clearly were just passing through the last time...

[Milwaukee City]

If you get bored in Chicago instead of going south just come up to Wisconsin with the rest of Chicago on the weekends. See Wisconsin Dells and Door County!!! but as soon as you cross the state border into Wisconsin slow down to 70mph because the police target ILL drivers!!!

[BUalumni]

Originally Posted by Milwaukee City

If you get bored in Chicago instead of going south just come up to Wisconsin with the rest of Chicago on the weekends. See Wisconsin Dells and Door County!!! but as soon as you cross the state border into Wisconsin slow down to 70mph because the police target ILL drivers!!!

You say that as if Chicago doesn't already flock to Wisconsin every weekend. By the way, I never quite understood the whole Door County thing, and the Dells still boggle my mind!!

[JoshB]

Originally Posted by BUalumni

You say that as if Chicago doesn't already flock to Wisconsin every weekend. By the way, I never quite understood the whole Door County thing, and the Dells still boggle my mind!!

The Dells is really nothing. Door County has natural beauty. That's why y'all come up here. Can't forget about Bayfield and Minocqua et cetera.

Any ways back to IL. I agree IL doesn't focus enough on the southern portion of the state when it comes to advertising.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by ihynes

...the architectural diversity of Quincy, which includes pre-Civil War buildings that Chicago cannot boast of....

Well that is because of course most buildings in the city limits (the limits at that time) burned in the fire.

I still think there are more pre-civil war buildings in the present Chicago city limits than Quincy however.

[Milwaukee City]

I actually hate going to the dells or door county and I'm from Milwaukee. I'd rather go to florida.

[STLCardsBlues1989]

Check out this site:
A Complete Guide to Southwest Illinois Attractions

Those are just the attractions on the Metro East (Illinois) side of St. Louis metro.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by BUalumni

You say that as if Chicago doesn't already flock to Wisconsin every weekend. By the way, I never quite understood the whole Door County thing, and the Dells still boggle my mind!!

The Dells, yeah, its a tourist trap with some nice scenery here and there. But the Door Peninsula is amazing, how could you NOT see attraction there? Peaceful farms, vinyards, wineries, Lake Michigan and Green Bay, sailing, fishing, camping, hiking, sand dunes, beaches, picture-perfect towns, incredible restaurants, gorgeous state parks, hills and bluffs, etc, etc, etc. Door County is the Cape Cod of the Midwest and an incredibly beautiful and peaceful place.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by coldwine

You'll find in Illinois everything you find in every state, including Alaska.

I didnt know IL had endless mountain ranges (including the tallest mountains in the US), fjords, glaciers, black bear, elk, etc.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

I didnt know IL had endless mountain ranges (including the tallest mountains in the US), fjords, glaciers, black bear, elk, etc.

As long as we have a bunch of Sarah Palin look alikes that is all I care about.