Navy Pier

On Lake Michigan’s shoreline, Navy Pier is an all-in-one waterfront destination with restaurants, shopping areas, museums, and movie theaters. You will also find a children’s museum and the popular Ferris wheel. There are plenty of things to do here throughout the year; however, most visitors come to the Pier during summer.

Starved Rock State Park

The park is located on the Illinois River and is known for its beautiful waterfalls and sandstone canyons. Guided hikes are arranged in the park for educational and safe hiking experiences. Some of the activities in the park include horseback riding, fishing, camping, and picnicking. The park is also one of the National Historic Landmarks. From the Lover’s Leap Overlook, you will be able to have views of the river and Starved Rock Dam.

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site

Cahokia Mounds is the site of the largest prehistoric Indian settlement north of Mexico. The site includes some of the greatest concentrations of mounds. Multiple indigenous groups occupied this place from 700 to 1400 AD. Cahokia is a National Historic Landmark and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the Interpretive Center, you will find more about the history and culture of the people who used to live here.

Art Institute of Chicago

The institute was founded in 1879 and is one of America’s most famous and prestigious cultural institutes. Located in the heart of the city, the museum contains more than 300,000 works of art, including post-Impressionist paintings and ancient sculptures. Apart from that, you will find various exhibitions and a collection of medieval and Renaissance armor, African art, and textiles.

Anderson Japanese Gardens

Located in Rockford, Anderson Japanese Gardens was designed by Hoichi Kurisu, a famous landscape designer from Japan. Kurisu has also designed other gardens in the US, including the Portland Japanese Gardens. The gardens’ ponds, rock formations, waterfalls, and vibrant colors provide a relaxing retreat for tourists. Inside the gardens is an on-site restaurant, ‘Fresco,’ which serves innovative breakfast and other dishes.

Some other notable places and attractions:

Ulysses S. Grant Home State Historic Site in Galena
Lincoln Park
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
Magnificent Mile in Chicago
Willis Tower Skydeck