Illinois is a state that is highly underrated. It has a lot more to offer than many people tend to believe. Those that want to visit Illinois with an RV will be happy to learn that there are many places that you can go. Most of the facilities are of high quality but the biggest problem is the fact that they are not really well known. Here are some things that you should think about when planning an Illinois RV Vacation.
Illinois is truly a diverse state. Here you can find anything you might imagine from tremendous lake activities like sunbathing and boating to going through a huge city in just minutes. Add different other miscellaneous activities like skiing, casino gaming and golfing and we are in front of an interesting diversity that we need to take advantage of. Illinois is a great family vacation destination. Next to most amusement locations that you might want to visit you can find places to camp with your RV. The problem actually lies in deciding on a place to start the journey.
Most of the tourists will start their Illinois RV adventure in Chicago, the largest city in the state. Here you can start off with many great tourist attractions like the Children’s Museum around Lake Michigan. In the area you are going to find many RV facilities, making your stay in the area highly affordable. Most facilities will give you the possibility to take advantages of discounts in the event that you want to stay for longer periods of time.
We warmly recommend the special Windy City Campground and beach, which is found in Tinley Park, Illinois. This is the closest RV campground to Chicago and it perfectly combines the beach atmosphere with a RV park. As opposed to many of the facilities in the state, here you will be happy to find the park always open on every day of the year. With every RV camp that you set you will get access to sewer, water and even electricity. The whole place is secured.
You might also want to visit the Yogi bear Jelly Stone Park, located in Millbrook, Illinois. This is just one of the many Jelly Stone Park facilities that can be found in US and comes with many amenities. Full hookups are provided together with a playground, a campfire area, a gift shop and a recreation room. There are even 2 heated pools, one kid pool and different nature and bike paths.
There are many other great RV facilities that you can visit if you plan such a trip in Illinois. Although the ones in Chicago are the most known, this does not mean that you will not find the same quality in other locations. All that you need to do is do a little research and find great RV campgrounds to stay at in Illinois. Make sure that you plan a good itinerary so you can take advantage of everything that this wonderful state has to offer while being able to take advantage of the huge diversity that many enjoyed so far.
The US definitely has some weird tourist attraction sites that are scattered around the country. In Illinois you would expect to go to a nice Cubs game or go to Chicago and visit Sears Tower. Few people know about the many odd attractions that are unique and are quite attractive for tourists from all around the world. Let us think about some odd Illinois attractions that you might want to visit.
Funeral Home Mini Golf
This is definitely a strange place located in Palatine, Illinois. Every funeral package also includes a free golf round and the entire course is quite creepy. Formaldehyde can be felt in the air and you should know that the entire course is filled with tombstones, coffins and other funeral based memorabilia.
The Grave of the World’s Heaviest Man
This site is located in Benville, Illinois. It is very close to the first ever McDonald’s Restaurant and although there is no connection between the two sites, the irony is quite enjoyable for most tourists. Robert Earl Hughes once weight 1041 pounds and now his grave became a tourist attraction. This is definitely a weird place to visit in Illinois.
The World’s Largest Bagel Parade
You need to get ready for a carbohydrate rich launch and parade when you travel to Matton, Illinois. This event is highly special even if it is really weird. When attending, you will get a chance to watch great street performers and really big name musicians. This is definitely a unique event in the world.
Leaning Tower of Niles
There already exist a highly well known leaning tower in Pisa, Italy but why go there when there is one in Illinois too? The Leaning Tower of Niles is located 15 minutes away from Chicago and brings in tourists from all around the country, eager to see this odd attraction.
These odd attractions are really attractive even if they are, well, odd. Most people that visit are simply drawn in by curiosity. The good news is that all of them are offering high quality and tourists do feel very well in the areas. They are not just oddities and they do have a memory to offer.
Keep in mind that most of these attractions are not put into regular travel packages because there are not many that want to see them. Most people will opt for travel packages because of the extra discounts that can be gained. Even so, if in the area, you can opt to visit any of these although your package does not include a trip there. If not and you still want to visit you will need to plan your vacation alone. In this case we recommend that you do a proper research in order to see all that Illinois can offer you. Create your own perfect vacation. We are sure that you are really going to enjoy everything that the state offers. You can go on an adventure vacation or simply get some much deserved relaxation after a long period of work. It is your choice, but Illinois has something for everyone.
Illinois is really popular because of the many medical facilities and cultural attractions it boasts. One fact that is not so well known is that there are also some very interesting zoos that are highly popular. Once you visit them it is really easy to understand why.
Our list needs to start with The Lincoln Park Zoo, located in Chicago. It was founded in 1868 and stands out as the oldest United States zoo. Every single year around 3 million visitors walk through the doorways of the zoo that is opened every day of the year. It features a lot of educational programs and many classic family fun activities. You can get really close to the animals and enjoy the many modern technical facilities or the attractive architecture. We recommend the LPZoo Express ride, the Safari Audio Tour and the 4D Virtual Safari simulators. You will love to hear that the entrance to the zoo is completely free but you will need to pay small fees when taking part in special attractions.
You might also want to visit the Brookfield Zoo, located in Brookfield, Illinois. It was built in 1934 and is also open every day of the year. Here you can view around 2000 animals, spread over 200 acres, all beautifully landscape to recreate natural habitats. What is interesting is the fact that this zoo will not use cages. Instead you will see different natural barriers and moats that will separate the animals from you and each other. If you are visiting the Brookfield Zoo in Illinois make sure that you also look at the world renowned Tropic World, which basically recreates the rain forest area. There is even a breathtaking thunderstorm simulation that you can enjoy.
If in the area, take a trip to Cosley Zoo. It is located in Wheaton, Illinois, and is tailored for domestic farm animals. There are also some native wildlife animals, characteristic of the state of Illinois. Here you will have a great family adventure. There are different areas where you can have a nice picnic and you can enjoy the present eating concessions and gift shops. If you are looking for a similar experience make sure to also travel to the Wildlife Prairie State Park, 10 miles west of the city of Peoria. Here you will visit 2,000 acres of zoological gardens that showcase black bears, bison, cougars, otters, elk, wolves, waterfowl and a lot of other species.
In Peoria, you can also visit the Glenn Oak Zoo. You can view over 100 animal species from different regions across the globe. There are also special sea lion performances if you are looking for a little fun.
Before you visit any of the zoos mentioned above make sure that you research them properly and see what to expect. You wouldn’t want to visit a high quality Illinois zoo and miss on an animal that you really love or have never seen before in your life. Also, see if your travel package includes a visit to any of them and if not, maybe it can be arranged. We are sure you are going to love it.
Wilmington is definitely a highly picturesque small village that is located near the Kankakee River, just 52 miles below Chicago. Due to the great location, Wilmington offers tremendous outdoor recreational activities and this brings in many visitors from all around the country. You can go boating or fishing on the Kankakee River and you can also visit the Des Plaines Conservation Area, which covers over 5,000 acres of hunting grounds. Wilmington Illinois appears as a combination between suburban and country lifestyles. This includes great public services, rich farmland and a business community that is thriving. Also, here you will find high quality healthcare that is recognized around US. This is definitely a great place for retirees that go on a trip.
It was the Potawatomi tribe that first settled in Wilmington. The tribe was a part of Nation of Three Fires together with Ojibway and Ottawa. At that point in time the Kankakee River stood out as an American highway that saw main Indian Paths that were crossing the river through Wilmington. In 1762 the chief of Ottawa, Pontiac, settled in this area. Because of the fact that he had to maintain tribal rights he eventually left and rejoined the tribe. Unfortunately Pontiac was murdered in 1769 and this led to huge conflicts between the tribes. The result was the extinction of the Illini tribe.
Shabonna was the most known Native American in the history of the region. He was born in 1774 near Wilmington. His father was Ottawa tribe war chief. Shabonna managed to go through peace talks that led to his tribe being allowed to settle in the area.
Whites settled in Wilmington around the thirties. Thomas Cox was among the first settlers and he bought 400 acres in 1834 from the government. He there built a corn cracker, a sawmill, a gristmill and a carding machine. All the farmers of the time that were located in the area ended up bringing corn and wheat to the mills that Cox built. He eventually went on to be the founder of Winchester in 1836. Two years later the name of the establishment was changed to Wilmington.
The rest of Wilmington, Illinois’ history was not with many highlights. The town stood out as a way-station for the Underground Railroad that conducted slaves towards freedom in Canada, right before the Civil War. Wilmington, Illinois, still features a lot of the historic buildings that date back to the middle of the nineteenth century. Included you will find a hospital that is among the oldest in the state. The city stands out for the antique shops it offers (there are over 20) and this attracts many collectors to the area.
If you are looking for something different you should seriously consider visiting Wilmington, Illinois. This town is filled with history and due to the great location it offers a wonderful vacation possibility. Although many will argue that retirees are the only ones that will feel at home here, this is not at all true. Wilmington definitely has something for everyone.