Illinois

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

Illinois has a way of surprising you when you think you already know its food scene, especially once…

By Clara Peterson · Jun 4

Illinois has a way of turning an ordinary day trip into something that feels deliciously memorable, especially when…

By Clara Peterson · Jun 2

If you still think of Champaign as just a college town in central Illinois, 2026 is the perfect…

By Clara Peterson · Jun 2

In Southern Illinois, a really good fried catfish dinner still has the power to turn an ordinary drive…

By Abigail Cox · May 30

Illinois is home to plenty of beloved dessert spots, but Petersen’s Ice Cream in Oak Park feels like…

By Clara Peterson · May 29

Illinois has no shortage of classic comfort-food restaurants, but Sawa’s Old Warsaw in Broadview offers the kind of…

By Clara Peterson · May 29

Mid-century modern treasure hunting in Illinois is the kind of hobby that quickly turns into a full-day obsession…

By Abigail Cox · May 28

Illinois is filled with classic roadside restaurants, but Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket in Willowbrook stands out as one…

By Clara Peterson · May 28

If you think you have Illinois figured out because you have done Chicago weekends, state fair trips, and…

By Clara Peterson · May 28

If you think Illinois is all flat roads and familiar stops, Sangchris Lake State Park is ready to…

By Clara Peterson · May 28

Illinois holds some of the Underground Railroad’s most important stories in places many travelers pass without realizing their…

By Abigail Cox · May 25

Sorelle Italian Market in Long Grove has a way of completely changing the mood of an ordinary suburban…

By Abigail Cox · May 23

When warm weather finally settles into Illinois, the whole state feels like it wakes up at once. Late…

By Abigail Cox · May 21

Chicago gets plenty of food attention, but some of Illinois’ most satisfying meals are waiting well beyond the…

By Abigail Cox · May 19