Get your bright lights and culture fix in Illinois' largest metropolis, Chicago. Fill your weekend with shopping, shows and museums in the Windy City. Don't miss must-sees in the Lake Shore area like the Field Museum and the Museum of Science and Industry. At the Field Museum tip your hat to Sue, the T. Rex, and then head to the Chicago Art Institute for a healthy dose of art including the museum's impressive collection of impressionist paintings. After giving in to your weakness for Chicago's famous stuffed pizza, stroll the Magnificent Mile for some much-needed cardio as you take in all of the amazing architecture. If the thought of light exercise on a full stomach makes you cringe, grab your camera and get on board a river cruise.
Get away from it all at a charming Illinois bed and breakfast or inn. In northern Illinois book cozy accommodations in and around Galena. Tour nearby Galena Cellars and Massbach Ridge Wineries and sample locally grown wines. Scope out historic sites independently, or reserve a carriage stagecoach or trolley to see the area from a different vantage-point in time. If south is more your direction, go southwest and take in the 12 wineries along the Heartland Rivers Wine Trail.
Plan your historic route in Illinois according to your interests. In southwestern Illinois visit the state's only UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cahokia Mounds, the largest prehistoric Native American city north of Mexico, or the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site to see a reconstruction of the famous duo's winter camp. For serious Lincoln fans, Springfield, Illinois, is ideal. Explore the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, and the Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices State Historic Site.
Wherever you visit in Illinois, it's a good place to get outdoors. From walking or skating in Chicago and Chicagoland parks, to biking, hiking and canoeing in Illinois state parks like Starved Rock in northern Illinois or Pere Marquette State Park in the southwest, the largest state park in Illinois. Whatever your outdoor activity of choice is, you're likely to find a natural setting in Illinois to do it in.
