The document outlines top road trip destinations in Illinois, highlighting attractions such as Chicago, Springfield, and various state parks. It emphasizes activities related to nature, history, and culture, including visits to Cahokia Mounds and Shawnee National Forest. The text serves as a guide for exploring Illinois' rich scenery and historical landmarks.

1. Top Illinois Road
Trip Destinations

2. What Illinois Has In Store For You...
❖ Nicknamed as the Land of Lincoln & the Prairie State
❖ Rich Abraham Lincoln history
❖ Some great spots:
✓Chicago, Sprinfield, Rockford & Galena
✓Fabyan Forest Preserve
✓Anderson Japanese Gardens
✓State Parks
✓Historic Sites
✓Spoon River Valley
✓Shawnee National Forest
✓Cahokia Mounds
✓And a lot More!

3. Windy City & Neighboring Road Trip Destinations...

4. Attractions Of Chicago...
Grant Park
❖Miniature Illinois
❖Walk, jog, play baseball, or just sit and unwind
❖Natural Beauty – Wonderful views
Millennium Park
❖Art & Culture
❖Chicago Blues Festival
❖Art Institute of Chicago

5. Most Famous Activities Of Chicago...
❖River & lake cruises – Sightseeing tours
❖Best food tours - Undisclosed local spots
❖ Famous Chicago pizza

6. Anderson Japanese Gardens
Koi-filled ponds, streams, numerous
waterfalls, beautiful Pine trees, and other
colorful flora
Grosse Point Lighthouse
❖ 113 ft high National Landmark
❖ Rich history – Built in 1873
❖ Overlooking Lake Michigan
Fabyan Windmill
❖Built in 1850s
❖ 5 story windmill - 68 foot high
❖ Functions by the wind energy naturally no
man-made powering
❖Image Source: Fabyan Forest Preserve
Website

7. State Parks Near Chicago
Two hour drives from Chicago or Rockford...
Starved Rock State Park
❖Ziplining, Skydiving, Cross country skiing, Biking, Hiking,
Hunting, Camping, boating, & fishing
❖Beautiful rock formations, canyons, and waterfalls
Buffalo Rock State Park
❖Just 6 miles away from Starved Rock State Park
❖Offers similar adventure & nature activities
❖Wildlife – American Bison & More

8. Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens...
❖Several exhibits all year round
✓Orchid exhibits – February to March
✓Butterfly exhibit – entire life cycle
❖Tasting tables – Wine, Whiskey, & Beer
❖Food trucks
❖Miniature train and trolley exhibits at the
Sinnisippi Station
❖Brilliant place for family or couples -
Romantic and Educational

9. Flower City & Neighboring Road Trip Destinations...

10. Springfield – The Capital City
❖Abraham Lincoln lived here for
many years
❖ There are a lot of historic sites
here
❖ 30-minutes away is the village
now known as Lincoln’s New
Salem, where he lived & worked as
a postmaster
❖ His grave is also here

11. Washington Park Botanical Garden
❖Best reason why Springfield is known as
the Flower City
❖A greenhouse area, and a conservatory
❖ Featuring close to a 5,000-plant rose
garden, an iris garden, & outdoor cactus
gardens

12. Spoon River Valley...
❖Scenic Drive
❖Starts at the Fulton county and carves its
way till it meets the Illinois River.
❖140 miles long drive
❖Abundance of natural beauty and forest-
lined paths all along.
❖Hues of orange, yellow, and green leaves
in the fall.
❖Annual fall festival held in October –
fun, food & entertainment provided by the
local vendors and community people

13. Mississippi Palisades State Park & Other Attractions...
❖2-hour road trip from Fulton County
❖Rich with Native-American history
❖Spread over 2500 acres
❖Hiking trails, hunting, camping,
picnicking, skiing
❖Close to the state park is the town of
Galena - magic shows at the P.T. Murphy
Magic Theater
❖Beautiful landscaping of the Linmar
Gardens.
❖ West Sreet Sculpture - metal sculptures
designed by John Martinson

14. Gateway to Shawnee National Forest & Neighboring Road Trip Destinations...

15. Shawnee National Forest...
❖Spread across 280,000 acres
❖Divided into two parts - Eastern & Western
❖Years ago was covered with Laurentide Ice
Sheet - now it is full of grassy patches, wild trees,
thick forest and rocks, and stone formations.
❖Biking trail of Garden of the Gods - unique
sandstone rock formations, similar to Colorado
springs
❖Bigfoot statue
❖100 ft high Burden falls
❖Approximately 100 species of fish and marine
life & 500 species of wildlife

16. Cahokia Mounds...
❖3-hour drive from Shawnee
❖70 grass-covered mounds
❖Spread across 2000 acres.
❖Used to be a highly civilized
society in 700 A.D.
❖Now a historic landmark
❖The mounds are connected by a
154 steps staircase
❖Must-go for history buffs
❖True example of why Illinois is
known as the Prairie State
Image source : Ancient History Encyclopaedia

17. Thank You!
Please visit RentalTrader.com to
book your next vacation
These were only some road trips destinations, so explore
Head to Illinois!