Illinois—the Land of Lincoln, the Prairie State, home to vast farmlands, rolling hills, and one of the biggest cities in the country, is a must-visit state.
It’s a place with something for everyone, from sports and clubs to museums and natural attraction sites. Truth be told, you can’t visit all of Illinois’ beautiful places in one day.
You need a week or a month to truly enjoy the Prairie State.
But we understand. You probably have a day or weekend at most. Yet, you want to relish the Land of Lincoln.
Luckily, this article focuses only on the most popular, entertaining activities people do while in the state. Let’s dive right in.
1—Checkout the Millennium Park
The Millennium Park is Chicago’s most visited attraction site. While unique and majestic, there’s plenty you can do besides sightseeing.
Let’s start with water splashing at the Crown Fountain. Next, you can take a selfie with the imposing Cloud Gate popularly known as the Bean.
For the uninitiated, the Bean is a glistening archway that attracts selfie-aficionados from all parts of the world.
If you’re looking for something to race your heart, try rock climbing at the Maggie Daley Park.
It’s separated from the Millennium Park by a footbridge. And it also features thrilling activities for kids like ice skating during the winter.
On the flip side, you can have a pitch-perfect musical experience at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion.
It’s hard to miss structure thanks to its metallic canopy design. If you visit the park during the summer, head there’s during a festival for blues and jazz.
2—Enjoy a Night Out at a Local Illinois Casino
Clubbing might sound fun if you just turned 21.
But guess what else you can also do in Illinois if you’re over 21? Visit one of its top-rated casinos for a night out at roulette, blackjack or slots games.
In this age of detailed maps at your fingertips, use the right map of casinos in Illinois and you won’t need to ask anyone for directions.
That being said, consider one of these three establishments:
- Hollywood Casino Joliet
- Hollywood Casino Aurora
- Casino Queen Hotel St. Louis
All of the three casinos are top-rated and jam-packed with gambling games. But they are also unique. Visit Hollywood Casino Joliet if you love live concerts.
Visit the casino at Aurora for its delicacies while tour Casino Queen for its luxurious rooms, food and free amenities.
3—Stand on the Skydeck Chicago
A trip to Chicago isn’t complete without an experience on the city’s highest observation desk.
Located on the Willis Tower (formerly Sears), the deck invites thrill-seekers to stand on an enclosed glass ledge that slides outside of the main building—at the 103rd floor.
The best part is that it’s affordable.
Admission tickets start at $30, allowing you to not only experience Chicago from 1353 feet above the ground but also to relish up to 50 miles of Illinois and neighboring states.
4—Attend the Lollapalooza
The last couple of years almost spelled death for Lollapalooza. But with the pandemic easing, Lollapalooza came back last year.
And it was as thrilling as ever before.
Last year’s event brought the likes of Miley Cyrus, Tyler, the Creator, Megan Thee Stallion, and Canadian producer Kaytranada.
The festival takes place in the first or second week of August and runs for four full days. Unlike many festivals, Lollapalooza tries its best to include all genres of music: Rock, pop, country, R&B, Hip Hop, dance and Folk.
The only downside is that the event organizes concurrent bands and artists. A rock band could be performing on one side of the park while country musician could be singing at a different stage.
5—Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
Ever wanted to learn the history of Illinois? Take an hour off your schedule and visit the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library.
Launched in 2004, the library features tons of history books and documents showing the history of Illinois and President Abraham Lincoln.
The Presidential Library is located in Springfield.
It’s operated by the state of Illinois but explains so much about the Lincoln and Illinois that it’s one of the most visited libraries in the state.
Basically, you can expect a diorama of Lincoln’s childhood home.
There are original artifacts from his era, a signed emancipation proclamation, and other memorabilia.
6—Attend a Show at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance
As the name suggests, the Harris Theater for Music and Dance hosts a series of movies and concerts weekly.
The theater has a seating capacity of 1500 people and headlines popular theater companies in the state.
If you’re lucky, you can catch a show from nationally acclaimed performers like the New York City Ballet.
It’s a beautiful place with unique glass walls and serene views.
7—Art Institute of Chicago
If you love art, don’t leave Illinois without a trip to the Art Institute.
The institute has over 100,000 artistic expressions, drawings, sculptures, and paintings from 5000 years to the 21st century.
Officially launched in 1893, the Art Institute of Chicago is one of the oldest art institutes in the country. It’s also expansive with a lot of rare expressions of art.
For example, one wing of the institute—Terzo Piano—offers a bespoke menu inspired by the Italian culture.
8—Visit Rock State Park
Located Southwest of Chicago, the Rock State Park spans 13 miles along the Illinois river and features scenic waterfalls, trails, guided hikes, and canyons.
It’s an amazing place to visit if you want relish natural beauty while in the Prairie Sate.
And if you have enough time, you can camp overnight and go on boat riding or horse riding the following day.
9—Check out Lincoln Park
Lincoln Park has nothing about the country’s 16th president but everything to do with exotic animals from all major kingdoms.
Think of African Lions, sloths, and red pandas.
If there’s an animal or bird you’ve always wanted to see in real life, you have a fair chance to find it at this park.