The Chicago Cultural Center is a historic building in downtown Chicago, originally opened in 1897 as the city's first public library and later transformed into a vibrant arts and culture center in 1977.
Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area spans 715 acres in Stephenson County, northwestern Illinois, just west of Route 73 near Lena and six miles south of the Wisconsin border, centered around a scenic 40-acre man-made lake completed in 1956.
Gebhard Woods State Park covers 30 acres in Grundy County, Illinois, near Morris, bordered by the Illinois & Michigan Canal to the south and Nettle Creek to the north.
Cave-In-Rock State Park spans 204 acres along limestone bluffs overlooking the Ohio River in Hardin County, southern Illinois, near the town of Cave-in-Rock.
The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois, is a large public garden and outdoor museum dedicated to trees and plants, covering 1,700 acres of diverse landscapes including woodlands, prairies, lakes, and specialty gardens.
Curtis Orchard and Pumpkin Patch in Champaign, Illinois, is a family-owned farm with roots dating back to 1873 and has evolved from traditional farming to becoming a popular fall destination.
Dam East Recreation Area, also known as South Shore Park, sits on the southern shore of Carlyle Lake, Illinois' largest man-made lake covering 26,000 acres, about 50 miles east of St. Louis in Clinton County.
Giant City State Park spans 4,000 acres across Jackson and Union Counties in southern Illinois within the Shawnee National Forest, near Makanda south of Carbondale.
Cloud Gate, also known as The Bean, is a famous public sculpture in Chicago's Millennium Park, created by British artist Anish Kapoor and unveiled in 2006.
The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago is one of the largest science museums in the Western Hemisphere, located in the Hyde Park neighborhood and housed in the historic Palace of Fine Arts building from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition.
Argosy Casino Alton is a riverboat casino owned by Gaming and Leisure Properties and operated by Penn Entertainment, located at 1 Piasa Street in Alton, Illinois, on the Mississippi River just 25 minutes from downtown St. Louis.
Grant Park in Chicago is a large urban park located in the heart of the city, often called Chicago's Front Yard and covering about 319 acres between Michigan Avenue and Lake Michigan.
Mississippi Palisades State Park in northwestern Illinois near the confluence of the Mississippi and Apple rivers covers about 2,500 acres known for its striking steep cliffs, caves, and interesting rock formations.
Shedd Aquarium in Chicago is one of the largest indoor aquariums in the world, opened in 1930 and located on the shores of Lake Michigan as part of the city's Museum Campus.
Dixon Springs State Park covers 801 acres in Pope County, southern Illinois' scenic Shawnee Hills, about 10 miles west of Golconda along Illinois Route 146 near Route 145.
Ferne Clyffe State Park spans 2,430 acres across the scenic Shawnee Hills in Johnson County, southern Illinois, about one mile south of Goreville off Illinois Route 37.
