Illinois

Chicago’s standout urban park packs many features and attractions into its 10 hectares, including public art, gardens, an ice rink, events and free concerts at Pritzker Pavilion. Get a photo in front of the famous Cloud Gate structure, AKA “The Bean.”

Kilometer for kilometer you can discover more of Route 66 – the USA’s iconic Mother Road – in Illinois than anywhere else. Start in Chicago, where the road begins, and chart a course that takes you past kitschy roadside exhibits, diners, drive-ins, statues, landmarks and monuments.

A self-guided architectural adventure featuring 13 Wright-designed buildings, open to the public for tours. This includes two UNESCO World Heritage sites — the Frederick C. Robie House and Unity Temple.

One of the best ways to wrap your eyes around the city’s historic skyline (and downtown) is to take a cruise along the Chicago River, which puts its iconic buildings front and center. Enjoy a narrated architecture tour from the open-air boat deck as knowledgeable guides reveal the colorful history and design behind the city’s most emblematic structures.

Springfield hosts many Lincoln attractions, among them the Lincoln Home National Historic Site and the Lincoln Tomb and War Memorials. Visit one of the most substantial presidential libraries in the country to learn about the 16^th President’s life and legacy.

Stroll down this famed mile (also known as Michigan Avenue) to seize some of the city’s best shopping, dining and entertainment, as well as to see its best-known skyscrapers such as the John Hancock Building and its 360 CHICAGO observatory.

Cherished for its sweeping canyons and dizzying waterfalls, Utica’s Starved Rock State Park is the perfect place for outdoor recreation year-round. Hike scenic areas, go fishing and boating, or glide through the snow on a snowmobile or cross-country skis. A number of historic places make their home here as well.

Experience a classic American Main Street set in a historic town and surrounded by forested hills. The curved thoroughfare hosts 125 shops, galleries, restaurants and bars and is accessible by walking, trolley and – for the brave – a ghost tour. Visit historic sites and eclectic local businesses as you stroll this 19th century red-brick road.

Spend a day at this serene refuge in Rockford, where streams, meandering lanes, waterfalls, a tea house and Japanese-style gardens inspire quiet reflection and relaxation.

Discover Illinois by way of another of the USA’s most iconic highways. Running along the state’s western border and nearly always within view of the Mississippi River, the Great River Road takes visitors past dramatic rock bluffs and historic attractions, as well as through small towns that offer one-of-a-kind museums and picturesque streets.