Is there anything in Illinois outside of Chicago? (Champaign, Urbana: land, MLS)

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

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

I tried to give you reps for that, but I have to spread some around first.

[JoeisSweet]

Well I just got done reading through the entire forum. Thanks a lot for all of the suggestions. Our family is thinking about visiting Springfield and Peoria before we visit Chicago. Thanks a lot!

[linicx]

Good luck.. You'll enjoy Peoria if you stop and look around.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by JoeisSweet

Well I just got done reading through the entire forum. Thanks a lot for all of the suggestions. Our family is thinking about visiting Springfield and Peoria before we visit Chicago. Thanks a lot!

When are you coming out, again? If in the fall, be sure to drive the high road out of Peoria. I forget its name (Skyline Road or River Road or something like that...), sorry! The locals can point you in the right direction. Anyways, the road winds along the river up on the bluffs, offering nice views of the valley and fall colors, its gorgeous. I believe it was Teddy Roosevelt who called it the "prettiest drive in all America".

[linicx]

It's Granview Drive. Access it from Prospect Avenue in Peoria Heights. Theres a tower there in Peoria Heights where, on a clear day you can see forever. Teddy Roosevelt called it the 'World's Most Beautiful Drive" His statement is where a new radio station got the idea for the call letters for WMBD AM radio. If you are a camera bug and have a good long lens, you can take some awesome pictures of the Illinois River Valley.

[ihynes]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

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.

I'm well aware that Chicago's buildings burned in the fire, but you go ahead and find me a list of all the PRE-Civil War buildings here! I can't wait!!

[Avengerfire]

Whatever. Why dont you find a list to prove me wrong?

[justalicious6989]

Originally Posted by southernnaturelover

That seems to obvious from reading this board.

it very much so is, ive been to southern illinois once, oleany i think, im not sure how to spell it.
wont do it again!
un-urban, un-cultured.

[JerichoHW]

Originally Posted by ihynes

I'm well aware that Chicago's buildings burned in the fire, but you go ahead and find me a list of all the PRE-Civil War buildings here! I can't wait!!

Probably are more in Quincy.

[LoneStar76]

Originally Posted by JoeisSweet

Hi I'm from Iowa, an extremely rural state, the only place in my state that would be considered a "city" would be Des Moines.

I went to Chicago this summer and loved it, but the whole ride there it seemed eerily similar to Iowa, endless farmland and no cities.

This spring we're going to go to Illinois again. So I guess what I was wondering is there anything worth seeing in Illinois outside of the Chicago area that we should go visit?

Basically, no. If you like flat land, overcast skies, and boring suburbia after suburbia, the whole 2+ hour radius of Chicagoland is your kind of place. If you like corn field after corn field, long flat dirty highway, the rest of Illinois is the place for you. That's not to say that there aren't pretty towns amongs all the bland scenery, but for the most part, if you're from somewhere even remotely scenic, you'll die in this boring place. Just go enjoy Chicago, and sleep all the way there and back.