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Home >> Travel Destinations >> Top Vacations and Spots in Illinois

Top Vacations and Spots in Illinois

Illinois is one of the states in the Midwest that often gets overlooked (besides Chicago, of course), which is why I decided to include some of my favorite spots in Illinois for vacations.

Chicago. Let’s start off the with most obvious. Chicago is an incredible city that is among the highlights of the USA. Currently the third largest city in America, Chicago got its name from the Native Americans (which means “onion” in local language). It is also known as the Windy City, which was a reference to the hot air of local politicians rather than the weather. Outside of Ireland, Chicago is the place for St. Patrick’s Day, when they dye the entire river green!  Chicago is also the birthplace of the skyscraper, the deep dish pizza and the Twinkie, though not necessarily in that order.

Take time to walk the magnificent Mile before stopping to rest on the beach overlooking Lake Michigan. If you plan on visiting during the summer, you should check out Millenium Park as well. On the weekends there is usually some sort of festval, from blues to wine to Shakespeare.

Galena. As you work your way east from Chicago, take an afternoon to visit this small town from another era. You’ll be charmed by the old world shops and restaurants that Galena offers; it is very much like the picturesque old towns on the east coast, with a distinctively mid west flavor. One of my favorite vacation spots in Illinois.

Spoon River Valley. I’ve driven across the United States more than most folks, and have to rank this as one of the most beautiful drives in the country. Located in Fulton county, this is the ideal place in Illinois to drive during the fall, as the leaves turn vibrant shades of red, orange and purple.

Gateway International Raceway. For those interested in NASCAR, you can’t miss out on this speedway. The stadium is huge, with a capacity that exceeds 140,000 people.  In addition to NASCAR, Gateway also features drag racing throughout the year.

Not only for vacations, spots in Illinois are great for driving across country as well: from the big city to the town that time forgot, Illinois has something for everyone.