This is an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliated sites without extra cost to you. The Market Street Bed & Breakfast has a few beautiful buildings to customize your getaway. Illinois prides itself on embracing visitors with a warm welcome, which you can experience at one of its many bed-and-breakfasts on your next couples retreat. Close to Pere Marquette State Park, Grafton is blessed with amazing autumn foliage and stunning rock formations within easy reach. Order a copy of Enjoy Illinois and also receive the Illinois State Park Guide and an Official Highway Map. Head out to quaint downtown Alton to shop the boutiques, dine at the family-owned restaurants, or sip cocktails at the local bars. This 170-acre park and prairie's guided tours give context to Indigenous communities that lived here up to 11,000 years ago. As the biggest city in Illinois and home to a wide variety of art and culture, Chicago is a great starting place for any trip to Illinois. If you click one of them, we may receive a small commission (for which we are deeply grateful) at no extra cost to you. Less than 10 miles south of Cloran Mansion sits the grand Goldmoor Inn near the Mississippi River. Some of the golf courses found in Illinois also have a long history, such as Chicago Golf Course, ranked as the top golf course in Illinois, and first built in the 1890s. If you are interested in visiting a zoo while on holiday, Illinois has you covered with a number of zoos in different areas. Visitors to the grounds recommend a tour to see the beautiful garden and original furniture. Best Things to Do in Illinois for Couples. Past Sybaris guests approve of the serene and private atmosphere, with some saying it brought their romantic getaway to another level. Grafton is often seen as a small, unassuming town in southern Illinois, but is actually a vibrant hub of culture surrounded by beautiful scenery. Many of these places have been turned into small museums or historic pieces, which is a great way to explore the history of the city as well as the daily life of our ancestors. As mentioned previously, the area around Cloud Gate in Chicago is also turned into an ice rink in winter each year and is another very popular spot. in There's no better place for romance than Chicago. From the tallest president to the tallest man, memorials and statues in Alton commemorate Abraham Lincoln and Robert Wadlow, respectively. If you prefer something a bit more local and community-based, Makanda Boardwalk may be a better option. You can read our complete privacy policy here. Activities. Travelers can always walk off an indulgent meal at one of Champaign-Urbana's many art galleries; the Wandell Sculpture Garden; or the contemporary Spurlock Museum, which focuses on world cultures. Many of the state parks feature amazing waterfalls, such as Cascade Falls in Matthiessen State Park and St Louis Canyon in Starved Rock State Park. Another more picturesque bridge is the Camelback Bridge in Normal, while another feat of engineering is the Clark Bridge in Alton. Bunk with the bison and stay here in one of 13 unique lodging rooms or 20 tent campsites. I enjoy helping adult individuals of all ages and couples that still want to work things out, providing a safe place for you to find clarity, seek healing . Canopy Tours are an exciting and unique way to experience the forest from a different point of view. There are over 200 different species, each living in an environment designed for them. If you're both looking for a true romantic escape in nature, you're in luck: Pharaoh Campground has a dozen campsites open year-round for a small fee. Allowing the both of you to enjoy some pampering together is a great way to connect without any stresses of daily life interfering. When visiting Chicago, Navy Pier is a must-go spot, ideal for catching some landscape and cityscape photos in one place, relaxing and enjoying the good weather, and taking part in some interesting local events. U.S. News rates the cheapest travel insurance options, considering expert and consumer recommendations. The Cloran Mansion Bed & Breakfast is an Italianate mansion designed by Irish immigrants John and Ann Cloran in 1880, where today guests can enjoy cozy rooms with fireplaces and whirlpool baths, complete with a gourmet breakfast daily. Enjoy some finger sandwiches and then take a look around to see what you can find; shoppers say Little Traveler sells lots of decorative items, especially for Christmas. You and your partner may find yourselves hiking to the heavens at the Garden of the Gods, swimming the shores of Lake Michigan or barreling down the Great River Road scenic byway. A CityPASS, for example, bundles admission to several top Windy City attractions at a significant discount, whether you want to see the Art Institute of Chicago, Shedd Aquarium, The Field Museum, SkyDeck Chicago or select others. Illinois has a range of scenic drives, including roads following rushing rivers, historic drives, cultural drives, and forest drives. From the Queen Anne mansion to the carriage house, all of the rooms on this property come with breakfast, access to a social hour with free beverages, cheese, and fruit. Learn more about this architectural marvel on a guided tour. The cabins are located less than 3 miles from the Garden of the Gods. Starved Rock has many miles of hiking trails, as do many other state parks. Springfield is only 80 miles from the lodge. The Art Institute of Chicago is well-known as one of the best art museums in the world, with over 300,000 works in its collection. Winter hiking can prove to be a very different experience from hiking during the warmer months, with stark landscapes and frozen scenery. Chicago River dyeing. Just trying to get away from the cold? Welcome to your guide to Chicago attractions, outdoor adventures, arts, history, road trips, tours, sports and shopping. Illinois has a great range of beaches available along both Lake Michigan and various other lakefronts in the state. Modern comforts are combined with historic decor for a unique and romantic experience. We're a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates program. Lincoln Park Zoo is located inside the beautiful Lincoln Park and is a great addition to a day at the park. The National A. Phillip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum goes into further depth about the struggles of African Americans in the community and how they worked to gain representation and rights. The Burpee Museum of Natural History is an amazing three-floor museum full of interactive exhibits and unique pieces of history. If you take a peek, you can still see the ruins of the original chimney. The latter contains presidential artifacts found nowhere else and a theater that shows educational films and living history performances to immerse you in the time of Lincoln. Follow these steps (and allow plenty of time) to get your child a passport. Many of these breweries provide unique craft beers which are both locally produced and delicious. Hotel guests say the location on Lake Michigan can't be beat, and Zion sits conveniently halfway between Chicago and Milwaukee. For some more options on the different bike trails to try out, check out our post on biking in Illinois. The Ledge is a glass balcony or glass box that extends 4.3 feet from the edge of the building. Upgrade your tour to include three pours of local . Visiting Illinois at different times of the year can bring to life different aspects of the states nature, culture and attractions. Outdoor enthusiasts will embrace this scenic driving route for its proximity to hiking, mountain biking and fishing hot spots like Pere Marquette State Park in Grafton or Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site. Featuring indie artists, Pitchfork Music Festival is a great way to support up-and-coming music talent and discover new artists. For more details on Ohio Street Beach, click here. Wolff's Flea Market 6920 N Mannheim Rosemont, IL 60018 (847) 524-9590 Wolff's Flea Market in Rosemont, IL is open every Sunday featuring about a hundred vendors selling everything from antiques to fresh produce, and more. Address: 200 North Main Street, Bloomington, Illinois. See and be seen at these stunning natural wonders. You could spend the 14 weekends between Memorial Day and Labor Day exploring Ill Fresh Picks The McCormick Tribune Ice Rink in Chicago is one of the most popular with over 100,000 skaters each year. Find the best travel insurance for you with these U.S. News ratings, which factor in expert and consumer recommendations. Recreate some iconic movie romance with a tour of the North Shore and keep an eye out for the many places used as filming locations. The town's Shiloh House is a 25-room mansion built in 1901 for the city's founder curious passersby can take a tour of the restored property on Sundays or by appointment. For more information on Rockford, see our previous post here. Sip some wine and take in the view of Galena Cellar's Vineyard (Galena). Additionally, The Beall Mansion offers massage packages and breakfast in bed is available to truly make your stay a memorable one. The Underground Railroad passed through here, and visitors can explore Alton's abolitionist and Civil War history with nine self-guided stops through town following the Lincoln Legacy Trail. Starved Rock State Park is known for its sandstone canyons several of which have waterfalls. Reserve a two-top for an intimate meal at Epiphany Farms, a farm-to-table restaurant on East Front Street. Article Discover Local Meet the makers, the creators, and the artisans of Illinois. This Asian-fusion restaurant brings a modern twist to fusion cuisine with craft cocktails, nigiri, four different types of mac 'n' cheese, Thai doughnuts and burgers. This 45-mile trail follows a former rail line and passes through beautiful forests, and abandoned towns, and crosses stunning ravines. If you are interested in small towns in southern Illinois, see our list here, or if you are interested in seeing the best small towns across all of Illinois, see here. Originally constructed as a permanent monument to the Worlds Columbian Exposition in 1893, the Field Museum still stands with 20 permanent exhibits featuring items from the Ice Age, Ancient Egypt, and even the time of dinosaurs. Sybaris Pool Suites are unusual themed rooms that all come with an en suite indoor pool. It also houses 5 acres of botanical gardens to explore and the area surrounding the Cloud Gate becomes an ice-skating rink in winter. To see more unique historic mansions in northern Illinois, see our comprehensive list here. This beach is very popular for playing beach volleyball and similar activities. Rather than taking in nature slowly, canopy tours create a fast-paced and adventurous activity. There are other things to do besides sightseeing, of course. Despite the somewhat strange name, this festival regularly attracts 80,000 visitors to enjoy the country-style food trucks, antique tractor shows,s, and live entertainment. 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