10 Most Beautiful Travel Destinations of Illinois

7 min readSep 17, 2021

Illinois with its beautiful travel destinations is the best vacation choice in summer.

This state and its awe-inspiring travel destinations call for a family vacation all around the year. It has extensive cultural attractions, picturesque landscape, jampacked street shops. Certainly, a place worth your time and money.

If you wish to explore the American Midwest, travel to Illinois. The Land of Lincoln or The Prairie State, Illinois is popular for all the right reasons. The state is abode to teeming cities and also rural farmland.

The natural wonders of the state never fails to amaze its visitors. It is also a great travel destination to those who enjoy city trips or love traveling around. There are too many things you can do here:

Relax in the shores of Lake Michigan
Tour the small villages filled with history
Enjoy a spectacular view from the Grosse Pointe Lighthouse
Simply stroll in the Millennium Park

In any whichever way, you are bound to get enamored by the enchanting beauty of this state.

Here is an overview of the best travel destinations of Illinois. Have a look and plan get inspired for your next vacation.

Grosse Pointe Lighthouse

Definitely, Grosse Point Lighthouse is Illinois’ one of the most beautiful travel destinations. Also, it is there on the National Register of Historic Places and holds the designation of being a National Historic Landmark. The site holds an important spot in American History. It is the place where Father Jacques Marquette first landed in 1674. He came here to visit Native American tribes. However, there are not too many firm evidences to back this event.

The lighthouse grounds are open to the public without any fee throughout the year. But the tours are held seasonally mainly because of the climatic conditions. For a tourist to get to the top of the tower, they need to climb the 141 steps. And then, they will reach the summit of the lighthouse.

Great River Road

This one is literally the complete reverse of Chicago’s rush-hour insanity. Great River Road is a peaceful scenic drive that follows the Mississippi River flow. It flows along the Mississippi river for more than 550 miles side by side to the Western edge of the state.

The long winding road is an enchanting abode to unobstructed views of the river. And also, woodlands grove. The road meanders up a notch by crossing through several pillars of magical Midwestern small towns like Alton, Galena, and Grafton.

Millennium Park

Millennium Park was erected to celebrate the turn of the 21st century. No trip to Illinois is complete without a visit to Millennium Park which is a jewel on the coastline of Lake Michigan. Located in the Loop district of Chicago, it is definitely one of the most sought-after travel destinations of the state. It stands distinctive for its most famous icon, “The Bean.” The structure is most probably a giant stainless steel bean popularly known by its official name, Cloud Gate. Cloud Gate owes its nickname for the curves in the sculpture that is able to twist and bend the famous Chicago skyline from all angles.

You will find, the Crown Fountain right next to it. These are two clear towers with video screens inside. The screen projects images of people’s visage, spitting water occasionally and many among other things. The park also houses a skating rink, a garden, and a serpentine pedestrian bridge.

The Magnificent Mile

Situated just north of the downtown area. The Magnificent Mile is the name of the illustrious stretch of Michigan Avenue. This stretch runs in a north-south direction. The most remarkable eminence on this street is definitely the John Hancock Tower. Magnificent Mile is one of the most recognizable buildings in the Chicago skyline.

There are other notable buildings in that vicinity such as the Wrigley Building, the Allerton Hotel, and the Tribune Tower. This avenue is the perfect spot for all shopaholics. When it is time for you to drop after shop, drop into swanky restaurants nearby.

Tunnel Hill State Trail

Tunnel Hill State Trail is situated in the southern tip of the state. Although it is a lesser known vacation hub but definitely an extremely incredible destination in Illinois. Don’t miss a chance to pay a visit to this amazing travel destination when you are in Illinois. Certainly, worth checking out. The trail falls short of five miles. It also passes through several long tunnels.

It is totally upto you whether you want to jog, walk or bike the crushed gravel trail. A great part of the area is covered with strip mines or agricultural land. You are bound to stumble upon some terrific scenic beauty and gorgeous ravines. If you wish to reach the trailhead, start from the Vienna town.

Cahokia Mounds

Cahokia Mounds is located just outside of St. Louis. It is there on the other side of the state border. The Cahokia Mounds State Historic Park is a heartwarming landmark formed by American Indians. These natives lived there more than 800 years ago and it is they formed this landmark. The mounds are believed to signify the north of Mexico, the largest pre-Columbian city.

Right now, the remaining 69 mounds are covered in grass. Monks Mound is the largest of these mounds. The mound is more than 100 feet tall. Woodhenge is another interesting part of Cahokia. It is a large circle formed by 48 wooden posts. They are aligned with the solar calendar. Quite similar to Stonehenge in England.

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is a rich hub for research and learning. It is located in Springfield. It is remarkable not just for Abraham Lincoln, but also holds an important place in the history of Illinois.

The year 2004 witnessed the opening of this facility. However, the collections have been going on for well over a century. It is largely a research based facility filled with significant manuscripts and many other rich materials. Do remember, not all of the collection is on display.

Matthiessen State Park

Matthiessen State Park located in central LaSalle County is nearby both Utica and Oglesby. The park has a plethora of unique and beautiful rock formations. It is also a home to dense forest, clear streams and prairies. This is quite unlike any other parks in Illinois.

Matthiessen State Park is named after Frederick William Matthiessen. He was an outstanding industrialist and philanthropist from LaSalle. There can be an abundance of flora and fauna along with animal life in this park. It also has a very large white-tail deer population.

Holy Name Cathedral

Surprisingly, Holy Name Cathedral is the only cathedral in Chicago. It falls among the largest Roman Catholic dioceses in the United States. Every week, thousands of visitors from all over the world flock to the cathedral. It has a rich history in its construction. The site is worth your time.

Hymie Weiss, a North Side Gang member was murdered across the street from the cathedral. Also, only a few years ago, a major fire damaged the roof and the interior of the church.

Galena Historic District

Galena is unabashedly tagged as one of the most charming small towns in America. Downtown Galena and its corresponding 800-property historic district is literally a breathtaking sight to behold. This spectacular beauty can be visited and enjoyed under all conditions.

A lazy walk down Main Street will make you come face to face with the Americana-soaked shops and restaurants. Stroll down the street and spend a few hours exploring the stately Ulysses S. Grant Home. From there on, retire at the DeSoto House Hotel. This one is the oldest operating lodging of the state. It is there since 1855.

10 Must See Travel Destinations of Illinois:

Grosse Pointe Lighthouse
Great River Road
Millennium Park
The Magnificent Mile
Tunnel Hill State Trail
Cahokia Mounds
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
Matthiessen State Park
Holy Name Cathedral
Galena Historic District