Illinois, Land of Lincoln or The Prairie State, is popular and famous for many reasons. The state has some awesome natural wonders to be amazed by and also offers a lot to those who are into city trips or traveling around. Have a look at the most beautiful places to visit in Illinois.
Burden Falls
The Shawnee National Forest is one of America’s most famous natural locations and arguably the most beautiful sight it has to offer visitors is Burden Falls. Located in Pope County, Burden Falls is very small compared to some of the great waterfalls of the United States, but it is still one of the tallest in Illinois. Bird watching and photography are both very popular at the Burden Falls Wilderness, while hunting and fishing are both allowed in the grounds too. The main hiking trail through the forest is 3.5 miles long. Burden Falls itself is a 20-foot waterfall, but the water descends for a further 80 feet in cascades – watching the falls is a captivating experience.
Chicago Harbor Lighthouse
The Chicago Harbor Lighthouse is one of the most beautiful sights in Chicago. While it can be spotted from the city’s Navy Pier, a boat tour of the harbor might be the best way to get up close to the lighthouse for a perfect photo opportunity. No access is currently permitted to the lighthouse as it remains a navigational aid to this day. Nearby parks to the lighthouse include Milton Olive Park and Jane Addams Memorial Park and they are both worth exploring during a visit to Illinois too. Lighthouse viewing point Navy Pier itself is Chicago’s number one tourist attraction.
Matthiessen State Park
Matthiessen State Park in central LaSalle County is located close to both Oglesby and Utica. The park is famous for its array of unusual and beautiful rock formations and it also combines forest, streams and prairies in a way few other parks in Illinois can. Matthiessen State Park is named after Frederick William Matthiessen, who was a prominent industrialist and philanthropist from LaSalle. An abundance of plant and animal life can be enjoyed in the park, which has a very large white-tail deer population. The park also boasts a number of stunning picnic spots, the best of which is perhaps at Dells Area, which has a children’s playground to keep the kids entertained. As Matthiessen State Park is located close to the Plum Island Eagle Sanctuary, bald eagles can also sometimes be spotted within the grounds of the park.
Holy Name Cathedral
The only cathedral in Chicago, Holy Name Cathedral is among the largest Roman Catholic dioceses in the United States. Thousands of visitors flock to the cathedral from all over the world every week, with the rich history of the site making it well worth making time to see. Across the street from the cathedral is where North Side Gang member Hymie Weiss was murdered and a major fire damaged the roof and the interior of the church just a few years ago. The Chicago Crime and Mob Tour takes in sites including Holy Name Cathedral, with visitors able to learn all about Chicago’s most notorious criminals on the popular tourist trip.
Starved Rock State Park
Starved Rock State Park is one of the most famous parks in Illinois and it might just be the state’s most beautiful too. There is a huge array of things to see and do at the park, which boasts a lodge with the largest two-sided fireplace in Illinois. The park, located on the Illinois River bluff in LaSalle County, is superb for all kinds of recreation activities, such as hiking, camping and fishing, while the Starved Rock Visitor Center is open all-year round. The cultural history of Starved Rock State Park can be traced back thousands of years, making it one of the most historic places in Illinois.
Galena
Named after a mineral that was mined by Native Americans, Galena retains its historic feel to this day, with over 85 per cent of the town deemed to be a national historic district. Architecture fans should head to the six blocks of Main Street in Galena, with Greek Revival and French Colonial buildings sitting side by side. Over one million people visit Gelana every year, making it one of the most popular tourist destinations in the state of Illinois. Among the top attractions drawing tourists are the Old Market House and the Historical Society and Museum, while many also take the chance to go underground into the Vinegar Hill Lead Mine. Among Galena’s rich history is the fact the town was home to no fewer than nine Civil War generals.
Starved Rock canyons
The canyons at Starved Rock State Park are one of the top attractions of this beautiful spot. Within its 2,630 acres there are 18 canyons to explore, while visitors can also walk through some 13 miles of trails around the park too. The Wildcat Canyon bridge is one of the most stunning locations within the grounds of the park, which was named by the Illinois Bureau of Tourism as one of the Seven Wonders of Illinois in 2007. Waterfall enthusiasts will find plenty to love at the park too, with French, LaSalle, Ottawa and St. Louis Canyons the best places to go to see the falls. The spring is arguably the best time of the year to visit the canyons at Starved Rock State Park, but the wonderful array of colours provided by autumn are well worth checking out too.
Grosse Pointe Lighthouse
The beautiful Grosse Point Lighthouse is one of Illinois’ most beautiful buildings, while it is also on the National Register of Historic Places and designated as a National Historic Landmark too. The site of the Grosse Point Lighthouse site is also famous for being reputedly where Father Jacques Marquette landed in 1674 when he came to visit Native American tribes, but there is little firm proof of this happening. While the lighthouse grounds are open to the public free of charge year-round, tours are held seasonally due to weather conditions. To get to the top of the tower, visitors must climb the 141 steps to the summit of the lighthouse.
Chicago Riverwalk
The Chicago Riverwalk is the idea of Mayor Rahm Emanuel and is set to become one of the most important tourist destinations in the whole of Illinois in the coming years. The heart of the Riverwalk is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Plaza, which commemorates those who have given their lives fighting in wars. Floating gardens, a bridge and fishing piers are among the additions being made to the Chicago Riverwalk. The Riverwalk is worth visiting at any time of day or year, with the stunning architecture lit up at night to make it a special place to go. The River Theater, the Cove and the Swimming Hole are among the highlights of the Riverwalk, which features a zero-depth fountain, while there is a great deal of restaurants, retail space and public seating too.
Shawnee National Forest
Shawnee National Forest, the biggest publicly owned body of land in the state of Illinois, spans approximately 280,000 acres of land. As the only national forest in Illinois, Shawnee attracts many people who want to enjoy special places such as the stunning Cedar Lake, which can be found south of Carbondale. There are 10 Research Natural Areas within the grounds of the forest, as well as four heritage resource sites that are on the National Register of Historic Places. As far as places to connect with the natural world go, there a
