In the Northern part of Illinois you'll discover attractions that will whisk you back in time to see what the Wild West was all about! The possibilities are endless. See cowboys and gunslingers go head to head at a Wild West stunt show or take a slow ride on an old-fashioned steam train. Get up close and personal with your favorite Tyrannosaurus Rex at the Burpee Museum of Natural History. Ride horses or cruise along a canal in a horse-pulled boat. Don't get lost in time - you can't miss these cool sites, even splashy indoor and outdoor water parks.
Day One
Become a real cowboy at Donley's Wild West Town. See a shoot-'em-up stunt show, pan for gold and check out a museum filled with real cowboy artifacts. Hop aboard a restored steam train at the nearby Illinois Railway Museum. Don't miss your chance to ride the rails with Thomas the Tank Engine during Day Out With Thomas, held August 15-17 and 23-24. Come back to modern day and head to Rockford's CoCo Key Water Resort for indoor water park fun. Chomp on cheeseburgers at Beefaroo's Engine Company #1, where the restaurant looks like a fire station. Fuel up with grilled cheeses and fries and see revved-up Harley-Davidson motorcycles at Kegel's Harley Diner.
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Day Two
Go way back in time at the Burpee Museum of Natural History, where you'll meet Jane, a juvenile T. rex, and her new pal Homer, a Triceratops. Explore the Victorian village, talk to a blacksmith, check out the Old Doll's House Museum and find out where sock monkeys came from during a trip to the Midway Village & Museum Center. Spend the rest of the afternoon whooshing down water slides and bobbing in the humongous wave pool at Magic Waters Waterpark. Tackle a stack of Swedes (Swedish pancakes) at The Stockholm Inn. Dig into farm-fresh fried chicken and try the Sheddar Melts at The Machine Shed.
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Day Three
Explore waterfalls and canyons carved out of cliffs more than 400 million years ago at Starved Rock State Park. Hike the trails or hop a trolley at Starved Rock Lodge and take a guided tour of the area. In nearby LaSalle, ride a horse-pulled canal boat along the historic Illinois & Michigan Canal as the pioneer captain and crew tell exciting tales of life in the 1800s. Cool off at Grizzly Jack's Grand Bear Resort, where the indoor water park has a four-story water slide. Munch on a sandwich at the Nodding Onion or join in the Friday Night Family Style Feast at the Starved Rock Lodge Dining Room.
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