Travel Illinois

Introduction

It's no secret that Illinois has a lot of amazing things to see and do. From Chicago, the state's biggest city, to Springfield and beyond, there are countless reasons why people flock to this Midwestern state every year. But what many people don't know is just how much there is to explore here in Illinois outside of its major cities. Ever heard of Starved Rock State Park? Or visited Shawnee National Forest? If not, then consider this your guide! We'll take you through some of our favorite spots around Illinois so that you can plan out your next trip here:

Chicago

Chicago is the third largest city in the United States, with 2.7 million residents, and it's home to some of America's most famous landmarks. It's also known as "The Second City," which refers to Chicago being second only to New York City in terms of theater productions and comedy clubs. The city was named after a Native American word meaning "stinking water."

Springfield

Springfield is the capital of Illinois and the third most populous city in the state. It's considered to be a "state-designated cultural and geographical center" of Illinois, which means it's home to a lot of history and culture—and it should definitely be on your list if you're traveling through Illinois this summer!

Here are some facts about Springfield:

• It's also called "the Queen City," because it was founded as an early settlement by pioneers in 1819. The town grew quickly after being incorporated into Sangamon County when it became the county seat.

• Abraham Lincoln (the 16th president) was born here! You'll find several sites dedicated to him throughout Springfield, including his boyhood home museum, Lincoln Home National Historic Site; Old State Capitol State Historic Site; Old Sangamon County Jail Museum; New Salem Village Historic Site; Edgar County Historical Museum; Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site; Lincoln Memorial Park Cemeteries & Monuments Park System - Midwestern States Region (National Parks Service); National Civil War Museum at Blue Mounds (National Parks Service).

• Other notable residents include Stephen A Douglas who debated with Abraham Lincoln over slavery before becoming an American politician from Illinois who served as United States Senator from 1846 until 1853 when he lost his re-election bid against James Galyer Stephenson

Dickson Mounds Museum

Dickson Mounds Museum is a state historic site located in Lewistown, Illinois. It was built by Alanson Skinner, an archaeologist who conducted excavations at the site from 1927 to 1933. The site features a museum, an archaeological laboratory and extensive burial mounds that were built by American Indians between 1250 and 1350 A.D.

The museum has exhibits on artifacts from the Mississippian culture as well as archaeological sites throughout the region including Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle Washington State and Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site near Saint Louis Missouri.

The Great River Road

The Great River Road is a National Scenic Byway that follows the Mississippi River for over 1,000 miles. It connects the Mississippi's origins in Minnesota to its mouth at the Gulf of Mexico, passing through 10 states along the way. This is one of the longest scenic byways in America and provides an excellent opportunity to experience a wide array of natural wonders, historical sites, and cultural attractions along this great American river.

There are many fun things you can do while traveling on The Great River Road! Here are just a few:

Starved Rock State Park

Starved Rock State Park was created in 1917 and is Illinois’ second oldest state park. It's located near Utica, Illinois and is just a short drive from the city of Chicago. The area has a lot to offer visitors—from geology to wildlife to hiking trails and more!

Starved Rock State Park is famous for its Native American history, but did you know that it was once home to a glacial lake? Once this lake dried up, all that remained were sandstone formations that we see today at Starved Rock! To learn about these interesting formations, stop by their visitor center where there are interactive exhibits that show off what life was like before European settlers arrived.

After exploring the visitor center, be sure not miss out on some of their great hiking trails throughout the park! Some favorites include Trail 5 (Horseshoe Bend), Trail 7 (Big Foot Pass) or Trail 8 (Illinois River). They’re also open year round which means you can hike through snow if conditions allow it!

Kaskaskia Dragonflies

• Kaskaskia Dragonflies are endangered.

• They live in the Kaskaskia River, which flows through southern Illinois before emptying into the Mississippi River near St. Louis.

• These dragonflies are native to Illinois and have been called "the most colorful of all North American dragonflies."

Shawnee National Forest

The Shawnee National Forest is located in southern Illinois and offers over 700 miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. The forest also contains several historic sites such as Old Shawneetown, the birthplace of Illinois. In addition to these attractions, it's home to an abundance of wildlife including black bears and white-tailed deer.

The Shawnee National Recreation Trail is an 80 mile long trail running through the center of the forest that was built on abandoned railroad beds from former logging operations. It features a variety of ecosystems including wetlands as well as hardwood forests filled with oak trees and hickory nuts that are known for their sweet flavor when roasted over an open fire (bring your own roasting sticks).

Plum Island Eagle Cam

With one year of experience as a successful webcam, Plum Island has shown that it can be done. Now it's time for you to see what all the fuss is about!

To visit Plum Island and its new webcam, you'll need to hop on a ferry from New London, CT (the closest town with public transportation) or Block Island, RI. Once you've arrived at your destination and made your way through security (a small fee is required), there will be plenty of signs pointing you toward the viewing area where the eagle cam is located. While this location sometimes fills up quickly as more visitors arrive during peak season (May-October), if you arrive early enough in the morning or late enough in the afternoon then there won't be much waiting around before getting a good seat with a clear view of our feathered friends.

It takes just two minutes on average for each scene change at this camera station—but don't worry if your schedule doesn't allow enough time for an extended break: once the new photos load onto our website they'll remain accessible 24 hours per day!

There is so much to see here!

Illinois is home to some of the most beautiful scenery in the country, including some of the oldest and most historic sites. You can visit museums dedicated to all sorts of unique subjects like art, history and science. There are also a lot of events that take place throughout Illinois every year. With so much to see and do here it's no wonder people keep coming back!

Conclusion

You don't have to spend a lot of time in the state to see it all. We've only covered a few highlights here, but there are many more places to visit and things to do!