Time Travel - Northern

Get up close with nature in Northern Illinois, where you can spy soaring bald eagles, hike among icy waterfalls, ski down a slippery slope and maybe catch a glimpse of Woodstock Willie, the bashful groundhog.

FUN THINGS TO DO

Chestnut Mountain Resort
Ski the slopes at Chestnut Mountain Resort where the frosty fun includes night skiing, a snowboarding park and ski lessons.

Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa
In the winter you and your family can go cross-country skiing, sledding, ice skating and take a horse-drawn sleigh ride at this hilly resort in Galena.

Burpee Museum of Natural History
At the Burpee Museum you can meet Jane, the most complete teenage T. rex ever found, say hello to her new pal Homer, a Triceratops, and check out the hi-tech coal forest created to look like it was more than 300 million years ago.

Discovery Center Museum
At this fun museum created especially for kids, you can play weatherman in a TV studio, pretend you’re an airplane pilot in a flight simulator, and marvel at The Art of Architecture exhibit, featuring amazing Lego skyscrapers (through Dec. 31).

CoCo Key Water Resort
A water park in the winter? Why not! At CoCo Key, you can dip into the huge wave pool, zoom down water slides, and watch movies from your inner tube at the Dip-In Theater.

Starved Rock State Park
Explore icy waterfalls and snow-covered canyons that were carved out of cliffs more than 400 million years ago. At nearby Matthiessen State Park you and your family can rent cross-country skies on the weekends and zip across the miles of trails.

Grizzly Jack’s Grand Bear Resort
This wild resort features an indoor water park with a four-stories-high special effects tube slide and carnival rides at the Enchanted Forest amusement park.

GOOD EATS

Vinny Vanucchi’s Little Italy
Feast on family-style Italian dishes at this delicious restaurant that’s located up a steep cobblestone street.

Benjamin’s
This old-fashioned pub offers a huge menu with many choices for kids, and hosts Lunch with Santa Dec. 13-14, 20-21 and 24.

Kegel’s Harley-Davidson Diner
See the awesome Harley-Davidson motorcycles on display at this retro diner, and enjoy breakfast with Santa on Dec. 13.

The Stockholm Inn
Polish off a pile of Swedish pancakes with lingonberries, a favorite Swedish berry, at this popular Rockford spot.

Nodding Onion
Dig into a hearty, made-from-scratch breakfast at this cheery restaurant that’s located in a little yellow house.

Cajun Connection
Chow down on Jamba Mess, Black Cat Acadian and Jamba-Too-Fey at this authentic Cajun joint where you can eat fried alligator, frog legs and crawfish!

AWESOME EVENTS

Santa’s House
Kick off the holidays and visit Jolly Old St. Nick in Santa’s House at the Old Market House State Historic Site, Dec. 6 and 13.

Discover the Eagle Trolley Tours
Watch bald eagles in action as they soar through the sky and dip into the river to grab fish. Starved Rock Lodge hosts this trolley tour that includes lunch and a trip to the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center throughout January and February.

Groundhog Days
Find out if the famous groundhog, Woodstock Willie, sees his shadow this year. Head to the town of Woodstock, where the comedy Groundhog Day was filmed, tour film sites and watch a free screening of the movie, Jan. 29-Feb. 2.

Chestnut Mountain Winter Carnival
Catch the Winter Carnival, held Feb. 21-22, and participate in snow sculpting and carnival games, plus watch fireworks and the Chestnut/Reality Check. On Feb. 21, don’t miss the popular Snowboard Competition.

Cirque du Soleil’s Saltimbanco
Check out high-flying acrobatics and unbelievable stunts at Cirque du Soleil's Saltimbanco show, Feb. 24-March 1.