Is there anything in Illinois outside of Chicago? (Peoria, Springfield: how much, big house)

[Swampmonster]

Originally Posted by lighthearted grin

One (out of many) great places to visit is the historic town of Galena. It's in the upper NW corner, across from Dubuque. Red brick houses and shops, many good places to eat and to stay, and unique stores and art galleries, all worth a visit. It was the home of President U.S. Grant, and his home and other sites are worth touring. Galena was known for it's lead mines during the Civil War, when the need for lead for bullets was huge. At one time, Galena was a larger city than Chicago.

There really are lots of worthwhile places in Illinois. But if you truly prefer Chicago - make us an offer. Please! Those of us from downstate would love it if you would take Chicago off our hands!

[JerichoHW]

I don't think there is just division between the state and Chicagoland, but also between the different areas around Chicagoland. But if were talking strictly state wise, then it appears the division is pretty large. One of the chief reasons would probably be political if Chicago did not exist there would be no Blago as governor, or Senate Candidate #____. To be quite honest, I prefer the living conditions in Central Illinois to those up here, but for many reasons I live here anyways.

[Steve-o]

What is there outside of Chicagoland? Hmmm, where should I start?

Apple River Canyon State Park
Castle Rock SP
Nachusa Grasslands
Starved Rock SP
Buffalo Rock SP
Mattheissen SP
Garden of the Gods SP
Shawnee National Forest
Mississippi Palisades
Illinois Beach SP
Chain O' Lakes SP
Braidwood Dunes savannah/grasslands
Galena
Fults Hill
Cahokia Mounds
Feryne Cliff SP
Illinois Caverns
Lowden SP
Volo Bog Natural Area
Lake Shabbona

Many, many, many others Im forgetting. That should be a good base, though...

[Swampmonster]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

What is there outside of Chicagoland? Hmmm, where should I start?

Apple River Canyon State Park
Castle Rock SP
Nachusa Grasslands
Starved Rock SP
Buffalo Rock SP
Mattheissen SP
Garden of the Gods SP
Shawnee National Forest
Mississippi Palisades
Illinois Beach SP
Chain O' Lakes SP
Braidwood Dunes savannah/grasslands
Galena
Fults Hill
Cahokia Mounds
Feryne Cliff SP
Illinois Caverns
Lowden SP
Volo Bog Natural Area
Lake Shabbona

Many, many, many others Im forgetting. That should be a good base, though...

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

I lived in the Quad Cities area for a while and loved it over there. Seems to be what many would call a city. Maybe not as cosmopolitan as the Chicago area, but still a lot happening for the average person. Kind of thought it was cool living on a steet made of bricks. They just don't build roads like that out in Arizona or California. It has been a while for me since I was out there. Maybe those brick roads are gone now.

Also a cool place to visit is Nauvoo. Lots of Illinois History down there. Cool restored buildings that you can tour and learn about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints early history before they ever heard of Utah.

Saying all that I live 60 miles north west of Los Angeles and can undestand why someone would think that their is little to see between Des Moines and Chicago. At the same time their are things that the rest of the world misses out on because they don't take the time to see what is between here and there. Lots of cool little areas that are fun to visit. You don't get to see all that when you are 30,000 feet up flying between the west coast and the east coast or stopping off at the big cities in between.

[linicx]

I live in the middle of the state mid-way between Bloomington. Peoria and Springfield. There is an old joke told by Chicagoans, "Everything south of State and Madison ls Southern Illinois." It isn't any more true than the notion that Illinois is nothing but flat, boring farmland. Iowa and Illinois are in the heart of the Grain and Livestock Belt. We feed the world and Chicago, too. If you drive exclusively on Interstate roads Illinois will look a lot like Iowa. It is what thousands of acres of corn and beans look like. However there is more than corn and beans in Illinois and Iowa. Ottuma is one of the most charming towns I ever visited. Amana Colonies are interesting but they are too commercial for me, anymore.

Did you know Illinois is home to the two oldest zoological parks in the nation? Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago is one of the two, and Miller Park Zoo in Bloominton is the other.

If you are a history buff you might like Springfield as it is the state political center, and home to the newly opened Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. Lincoln's log cabin is located a new miles east in New Salem.

Central Illinois has a rich native history. Dickson Mounds Museum at Lewistown is one of a few active archaelogical digs in the nation. Mason and Fulton Counties share a common border. Fourteen thousand acres in the two counties are being reclaimed and developed into a natural habitat where camping, fishing, hiking, etc will be available..Nearly half is open now. And we expect to see a new eaglet appear next spring. The Eagle Watch in Havana in late winter is a lot of fun and educationall.

In Mason County near Manito you can tour Jake Wolfe Fish Hatchery, visit a winery or studio where pottery is designed and made by hand. Havana is the seat of Mason County, There is a nice riverfront park with camping, playground, covered picnic areas, boat ramp, pump-out station and marina. The city is ready to let bids for a Water Park and other facilitiies. You'll find golf, bowling, shopping, swimming, hiking, camping, Indian mound at Rockwell Park, and one of the oldest continuous use libraries in the state. Havana also hosts the annual Oktoberfest the last weekend in September. The next twoo weekends in Fulton County is where Spoon River Drive is held annually.

Not far from Havana is the town of Bath where the largest fish fry in the world takes place in the summer. It follows the 'Red Neck Fishin' Tournament.

If you visit Tazewell County in the late summer you can join in the fun of the Medallion Hunt and Marigold Festival at Pekin. The medallion is worth a lot of prizes and cash to the finder. Morton is also in Tazewell County, It's claim to fame is Pumpkin Capital of the World. East Peoria in Tazewell County is home to FOLEPI - one of the largest night time christmas displays and parades in the nation.

If you leave Iowa and cross IL on 1-80 at Princeton turn south on IL 29s and experience an Illinois that is nither flat nor borning for you will soon enter gently rolling hills that are forrested with farms intersperced along the way. The rolling hills give way to high bluffs that over look the Illinois River in Peoria.

Peoria reminds me of a miniture Cnicago. It's sprawling, it's busy and it is a river town. If you are looking to shop, Peoria has two malls, six or more strip malls plus shopping at quaint Peoria Heights. It is is home to the Grandview Drive that President Roosevelt called the "Wrold's most beautiful Drive" for its breathtaking views of the Illinois River Valley and Peoriia, Lake. I like to grab a pizza at the Penguin Tap and take it to one of the cutouts where I can see the river and eat. Peoria Heights also has a lookout tower to climb and see the valley. On a clear day you can see forever. You can do the same thing from fondulad Drive in East Peoria, but it doesn't have the Grandview charm Roosevelt was talking about.

Peoria has a nice riverfront park with fountains and carriage rides. Not far away you can find a jazz club, glassblower and hand rolled cigars. Peoria also has an observatory, live theater, upscale dining and shopping, botanica, art gallery, symphony, museums, top rated zoo and a park district that manages more than 60 parks. If you want something really different to experiece, try the state owned Wildlife park north of Peoria just off IL 29 You can tour it and also let the wolves and big cats sing you a lullaby in complete safety. Launches for both power and sail are in Peoria. And there are river cruises. Cross the river to East Peoria and just upriver of Peoria on IL 116 is the parA Dice casino and hotel. It is the only one in central Illnois.

The Woodford County seat is Eureka. Eureka College houses the Ronald Reagan museum and Reagan Rose Garden. It is part of the "Reagan Trail"; the particulars are on the Internet. If you continue east to Goodfield you'll find a dinner theater in an old red barn.

The only things central Illinois does not have is Trader Joe's, COSTCO, Peacock Jewelers and ethnic neignborhoods where you can find authentic European food made from family recipes.
There are times when these foods are available during special events in Peoria.

If you visit on Sunday central Illinois a diverse religious community that is truly of many faiths as is Chicago. In additon to the most well known Christian churches, Peoria is home to Federalist, Unitarian, Greek Orthodox, Ba'hai, Methodist M E and two Jewish temples.

It is no understatement to say you can live a lifetime in Illinois and not see everything - evem of you travel a lot for business purposes as my father did for many years.

Eastern Central Illinois is where Champaign is located. If you like computers, the U of I houses one of the many backbone arrays located around the world. The Amish community is located sw of Champaign at Arthur, Illinois. And the southern most tip of Illinois is where the Ohio and Missouri Rivers meet.

I specifically did not mention Bloominton-Normal for thee are folks on here that can tell you more about the area than I. What I remember most is the free corn boil in late summer. I don't know if it is still going after all these years or not.

I hope the information on this thread has given you plenty of food for thought for your next foray into the Land of Lincoln. .

[Mamama Mia]

Chicagoans think that anything south of I-80 is southern Illinois.
I love all of Illinois. Springfield is historic and a great place to spend time.
Southern Illinois is so beautiful, the lakes, Garden of the Gods, Giant City State Park - gorgeous and nothing at all like Iowa.

[linicx]

Before I-80 was a dream in some drunk's nightmare, the standard joke for out-of-towners was the "everything south of State & Madison is Southern Illinois". I'm sure my grandkids think I-80 is the dividing line between the North and the South, too. There are a lot of similarities between farm land and river cities on the Mississippi In Illinois and Iowa.

If you liike quaint towns, Havana still has the brick streets, old-fashioned street lights and an ice-cream parlor.

[Banx]

Being born n raised in Chicago, I can honestly say...



...I have no idea...

[linicx]

Originally Posted by JoeisSweet;6494579
[COLOR=black

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? [/color]

Come to Central Illinois in the late spring when you don't need a winter coat or air conditioner. You will enjoy the outdoor activities more. If you're going north, take the coat.