Illinois

Chicago is one of America’s great food cities, but some restaurants offer far more than just an excellent…

By Abigail Cox · Jun 25

Some ice cream shops come and go, but a select few become part of a community’s identity. Petersen’s…

By Abigail Cox · Jun 25

Some restaurants become famous for fine dining, while others earn their reputation by serving portions that seem almost…

By Abigail Cox · Jun 25

For book lovers, few things are more exciting than discovering a bookstore where every aisle promises a new…

By Abigail Cox · Jun 24

Finding a peaceful outdoor escape can feel impossible when popular parks are packed with visitors, crowded trails, and…

By Abigail Cox · Jun 24

Illinois is filled with hidden attractions, but few are as unexpected as the towering Rock Men of Rockford.…

By Abigail Cox · Jun 24

Few foods satisfy quite like a plate of soul food, and Chicago is packed with restaurants that serve…

By Abigail Cox · Jun 23

You do not have to be a pilot to appreciate the thrill of standing beneath a fighter jet.…

By Abigail Cox · Jun 23

Great sandwiches can turn an ordinary road trip into a destination, and one Amish Country market in Illinois…

By Abigail Cox · Jun 22

A great beach day gets even better when your dog can come along for the adventure. While Illinois…

By Abigail Cox · Jun 22

Some bars pour drinks. Others preserve a piece of Chicago history. The Green Mill in Uptown has spent…

By Abigail Cox · Jun 22

In a city known for its rich food traditions, some of Chicago’s most beloved flavors come from family…

By Abigail Cox · Jun 21

Ask a Carbondale local where to eat, and chances are you’ll get more than one passionate recommendation. This…

By Abigail Cox · Jun 21

Designer brands, vintage furniture, and one-of-a-kind home décor are hiding in plain sight at one of Chicago’s most…

By Abigail Cox · Jun 20

Chicago offers enough attractions to fill a lifetime of weekends, but some of Illinois’ most rewarding experiences begin…

By Abigail Cox · Jun 20

Chicago is packed with famous food destinations, but one of the city’s most talked-about sandwiches comes from a…

By Abigail Cox · Jun 20

You do not need a huge budget to uncover incredible treasures at Illinois flea markets. From sprawling outdoor…

By Abigail Cox · Jun 19

Few restaurants along historic Route 66 inspire people to make a special trip just for a plate of…

By Abigail Cox · Jun 19

Visible from miles away and perched high above the rolling hills of Southern Illinois, Bald Knob Cross of…

By Abigail Cox · Jun 19

Coffee shops are everywhere in Chicago, but few offer an experience quite like The Brewed in Logan Square.…

By Abigail Cox · Jun 18

Home to one of the largest arcade game collections in the world, Galloping Ghost Arcade in Brookfield, Illinois,…

By Abigail Cox · Jun 18

Illinois has the kind of used bookstores that can completely derail your plans—in the best possible way. What…

By Abigail Cox · Jun 17

Perched directly on the Ohio River in the tiny town of Elizabethtown, The Fish Dock River Restaurant offers…

By Abigail Cox · Jun 17

The best antique stores have a way of making time disappear. You walk in looking for one thing,…

By Abigail Cox · Jun 14

Some Illinois meals ask for more than a quick exit off the interstate. They send you down bluff…

By Abigail Cox · Jun 13

If you think living on Social Security alone sounds impossible, Decatur, Illinois, might change your mind. This central…

By Clara Peterson · Jun 10

Some breakfast spots are good, and some become the reason you are willing to leave early, drive an…

By Clara Peterson · Jun 10

If you think public art is something you glance at for thirty seconds and forget, Skokie Northshore Sculpture…

By Clara Peterson · Jun 6

If you think Illinois is all flat farmland and familiar roadside stops, Jubilee College State Park is the…

By Clara Peterson · Jun 5