- Plan Your Trip
Plan Your Trip
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Things to Do
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Events
Events
Find out what's on in Illinois and Chicago with your guide to events, festivals, markets, music, theater, sport and more.
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Trip Ideas
Trip Ideas
- Fall Road Trips in Illinois
- Eco-Friendly Hotels and Green Getaways in Illinois
- College Football in Illinois
- Fall Colors on the Great River Road
- Journey Along the Lincoln Highway
- Illinois Shopping
- Route 66
- IL ♥ LGBTQ
- Golf Illinois
- Chicago Neighborhoods
- Family Fun in Illinois
- Everybody Outside!
- Bike Illinois
- Outdoor Adventures in Illinois
- Chicago to Alton
- Chicago to Carbondale
- Illinois Scenic Byways
- Chicago to Quincy
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Places to Go
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Road Trip
Stories & Highlights
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Amazing is...
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Seasonal Adventures
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Places to Stay
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Maps & Visitor Guides
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Getting Here & Getting Around
Getting Here & Getting Around
Find out how to get to Illinois by plane, train, bus and driving. Getting around Chicago and Illinois is easy with our guide to ways to travel around the state.
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My Favorites
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Around Illinois by Amtrak
Around Illinois by Amtrak
Step back in time to the golden age of train travel and settle in for a peaceful ride to discover some of Illinois’ most charming towns and hidden treasures.
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- History
History
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Historic Sites
Historic Sites
Visit the many historic sites in Illinois, from the Land of Lincoln, to the site of an ancient Native American city at Cahokia Mounds.
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Presidential History
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History Museums
History Museums
Visit the History Museums of Illinois. From the vast collection of the Chicago History Museum to small town historical museums, you’ll discover the stories and heritage of our towns and our people.
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Historical Reenactments
Historical Reenactments
History comes alive at Illinois historical reenactments. Meet Abraham Lincoln in the flesh, experience colonial life, or take a canal boat ride with a period costumed storyteller.
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Frank Lloyd Wright Trail
Frank Lloyd Wright Trail
One of America’s greatest architects, Frank Lloyd Wright called Illinois home—and filled it with some of his best works.
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- Taste Illinois
Taste Illinois
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Places to Eat in Illinois
Places to Eat in Illinois
Taste your way through the state with our guide to the best and closest places to eat in Illinois. Experience everything from fine dining to shared plates and takeaway fare.
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Bars and Nightclubs in Illinois
Bars and Nightclubs in Illinois
Put your dancing shoes on or unwind at one of the many bars and night clubs in Illinois. Locate the best cocktails, the perfect beer, local DJs, international artists and more.
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Illinois Wineries & Vineyards
Illinois Wineries & Vineyards
Taste the regional characteristics in our locally produced wines. Browse our guide to the closest and best Illinois wineries and vineyards for your next celebration or trip.
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Illinois Breweries & Distilleries
Illinois Breweries & Distilleries
Fancy a pint? Hunt down major Illinois breweries and distilleries for the best beers, ciders and spirits in the state. Support local production and taste your way through Illinois.
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Food Tours in Illinois
Food Tours in Illinois
Taste your way through the best of the state with food tours in Illinois. Enjoy everything from fine dining and wineries, to craft beer and pizza tours.
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Things to Do
Events
Trip Ideas
Places to Go
Road Trip
Amazing is...
Seasonal Adventures
Places to Stay
Maps & Visitor Guides
Getting Here & Getting Around
My Favorites
Around Illinois by Amtrak
Historic Sites
Presidential History
History Museums
Historical Reenactments
Places to Eat in Illinois
Bars and Nightclubs in Illinois
Illinois Wineries & Vineyards
Illinois Breweries & Distilleries 
Food Tours in IllinoisAutumn Kicks off with a Splash of Fall Color
Autumn has officially arrived in Illinois, bringing beautiful fall colors for leaf-peepers to discover! There are plenty of festivals, attractions and events throughout the state for you to celebrate the season. Here’s what you can expect:
Chicago & Beyond
This time of year, the Chicagoland area is just beginning to see fall colors. Maples are among the first to turn, combining beautiful shades of orange and red colors, but don’t expect to see many oaks or hickory trees turning just yet!
Check out these fun-filled experiences for the whole family:
- Get lost at the Jonamac Orchard and Corn Maze, now through November 1
- Take a leaf-peeping hike and grab lunch at Starved Rock Canyons
Vote for your favorite straw man at the 30th Annual St. Charles Scarecrow Festival, October 9-11.
Great Rivers Country
The yellow, red, orange and purple hues of leaves in Great Rivers Country are as varied as the communities themselves. Along this 500 mile stretch of Illinois you’ll see a wonderful color palette revealed on hackberry, hickory, sumac, sassafras and white ash.
Make a fall drive with stops along the Great River Road:
- Witness history and heritage at De Immigrant Dutch Windmill in Fulton
- Paddle along the Mississippi River with the Celebration Belle paddleboat in Moline
See the leaf colors change at Pere Marquette State Park in Grafton.
Trails to Adventure
The Trails to Adventure region is typically among the first to show vibrant fall colors. The goldenrod flowers along the area’s winding roads are an autumn sight to see with new ones blooming bright for contrast and variety. The white ash, green ash, sumacs and sassafras together create delightful combinations of reddish orange, yellow, purple and red.
Enjoy the fall scenery in southern Illinois:
- See Illinois like you never imagined at the Garden of the Gods in Karbers Ridge
- Get a different perspective canoeing through the Cache River State Natural Area in Belknap
- Kick back in your personal treehouse at Timber Ridge Outpost & Cabins in Elizabethtown
Love the Story?
Chicago's Bird Watching Experience
Chicago's Bird Watching Experience
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Outdoors,
Chicago,
Activities
Writer Annie Turek shares the prime bird watching opportunities of a Chicago fal...
Crafted with Character
Crafted with Character
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Activities
Homemade canoes made especially for you.
The 2017 Solar Eclipse
The 2017 Solar Eclipse
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Family Fun,
Regional Getaways
On August 21, 2017, Southern Illinois will go dark for longer than anywhere else...
