Illinois

Follow a wooded path at Beaver Dam State Park and the modern world begins to disappear behind the…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 6

Sometimes the best pairing on a winery menu is not cheese or chocolate, but the landscape beyond your…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 6

Flaky pastry gives way to a savory filling, and suddenly an ordinary coffee run has become lunch. Cafe…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 5

Crack open a crawfish shell, drag a piece of bread through spicy sauce, and suddenly dinner in Illinois…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 5

The hiss of hash browns on the griddle is a pretty good welcome after an early drive to…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 5

The first crunch tells you exactly what kind of pizza night you’re having at Quonset Pizza in Waukegan.…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 4

Warm bread torn by hand, smoky kebabs arriving straight from the grill, and syrupy baklava waiting at the…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 4

Wooden boardwalks stretch across the wetlands at Heron County Park, putting visitors surprisingly close to the wildlife that…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 4

Cardamom announces itself before the first bite, filling a bakery with the kind of warm, fragrant spice that…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 3

Dessert tastes even better when finding it requires a little adventure. Across Illinois, pastry counters, ice cream shops,…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 3

Sometimes the sandwich you remember most is the one that never needed a complicated recipe. At The Igloo…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 2

The promise of a flaky crust and a still-warm filling can make an extra hour on the road…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 2

Downtown Chicago prices can climb quickly, which makes a filling meal that stays relatively easy on the wallet…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 1

Forget the plain pretzel you grab between errands. Gnarly Knots Pretzel Company in Lombard takes the familiar twisted…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 1

Choosing just one entrée feels unnecessary when an entire room of possibilities is waiting. Across Illinois, under-the-radar buffets…

By Abigail Cox · Sep 1

More than a century of Chicago history sits behind the doors of The Berghoff on Adams Street. Opened…

By Abigail Cox · Aug 31

Apple picking is only half the temptation at Edwards Apple Orchard in Poplar Grove. After wandering between rows…

By Abigail Cox · Aug 31

Meatloaf never needed a trendy comeback because some Illinois kitchens never stopped serving it. At old-fashioned diners, neighborhood…

By Abigail Cox · Aug 31

A giant steel form rising from prairie grass or an abstract figure appearing around a wooded bend can…

By Abigail Cox · Aug 30

A frosty mug of root beer is the kind of old-fashioned treat that can make summer feel simpler.…

By Abigail Cox · Aug 30

Stone walls, delicate Victorian details, and a dramatic limestone backdrop make this unusual Illinois cottage look like something…

By Abigail Cox · Aug 29

Massive stone walls rising from the Illinois countryside make Fort de Chartres feel like a piece of colonial…

By Abigail Cox · Aug 29

Follow the back roads to Jacob, Illinois, and you will find a restaurant where fried chicken gets the…

By Abigail Cox · Aug 28

Nothing breaks up a hot Illinois road trip quite like spotting an ice cream shop ahead. Across the…

By Abigail Cox · Aug 28

A worthwhile food detour should leave you talking about the meal long after the drive home. Across Illinois,…

By Abigail Cox · Aug 28

Save room for dessert at West Union Cafe, because the lemon meringue pie may be the part of…

By Abigail Cox · Aug 28

Rain can transform an ordinary Illinois trail into something spectacular. Across the state, seasonal waterfalls tumble through sandstone…

By Abigail Cox · Aug 27

Route 66 has changed dramatically over the decades, but The Ariston Cafe in Litchfield remains a delicious connection…

By Abigail Cox · Aug 27

The aroma of cinnamon, butter, and fresh dough is enough to make walking past Trefzger’s Bakery nearly impossible.…

By Abigail Cox · Aug 27