Jul 27

Written by: chris
7/27/2012 

Illinois. Mile After Magnificent Mile

The Prairie State and Land of Lincoln are just two of the state’s nicknames. Illinois is both of these and much, much more. And way more than just the city of Chicago, dazzling though that great city most certainly is. On this trip I set out to discover what makes Illinois’ miles so magnificent.

Gallivanting in Galena

Day one of my Illinois road trip has surpassed expectations! After the usual impeccable flight with Porter to Chicago Midway (just 1hr45mins) we drove west out of Chicago. The countryside just got prettier and prettier as the hills grew more rolling and the farms were chocolate box neat. I had a wonderful meal at the Holy Mackerel, a converted 1850's Baptist church and then to the outstanding Eagle Ridge Golf Resort and Spa outside Galena in the far northwest of Illinois.


Galena itself is a delightful, historic town with fabulous boutiques and craft shops. The whole town is a National Historic District on the banks of the Galena River. Many of the gracious mansions are now B&Bs and we took an informative trolley tour to see it all. Main Street is picture perfect, with stepped streets leading up the valley side from its plethora of craft shops. Across the river with views to the town is the home of President Ulysses S. Grant, 18th President of the US.

Mississippi Mystique

Day two of my journey has taken me to another part of Illinois that has been a wonderful surprise – the Great River Road, travelling south beside the Mississippi River. The fourth biggest river in the world, the Mississippi doesn’t disappoint in Illinois. Its scenic grandeur mixed with its history is a powerful combination. I admired the former from lookouts on a bluff overlooking the river at Mississippi Palisades State Park. The Great River Road took me to a colourful lunch stop: Poopy’s in Savanna where I enjoyed ‘The Hog’. On to the Windmill Cultural Center in Fulton to view a 90 foot working mill beside the river. At Port Byron they hold an annual Great River Tug Fest across the Mississippi with their Iowa neighbours!


Then to the Quad Cities which sit astride the Mississippi, best viewed from Channel Cat water taxi from which I admired some of the river boats such as the Celebration Belle. The John Deere Pavilion here in Moline is a Big Kids delight, where I sat up in the control centre of a half million dollar harvester. A fine steak dinner at Johnny’s Italian Steak House was followed by a dreamy hot fudge sundae at the 102 year old Lagomarcino’s on 5th Avenue.

Splendid Springfield

Day three took me eastwards across the prairies to the City of Lincoln in The Land of Lincoln: Springfield, Illinois. Here Abraham Lincoln worked and was elected 16th President of the U.S. Springfield is a must-see on any Illinois trip. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum offers immersive experiences for all ages and is a truly world-class attraction that successfully sits astride Disney style ‘edu-tainment’ and more in depth analysis of this game-changer leader. Abe launched his Senate campaign from the Old State Capitol (“A House Divided…”) and argued cases before the Illinois Supreme Court here – the tour of this finely preserved building is highly recommended. As is a visit to Lincoln’s Home National Historic Site where you can sense Abe the man, father and husband rather than the historic icon; looking out from the home’s back porch your view is Lincoln’s view of the 1850’s. A fitting close to my Abraham Lincoln day was a visit to the Lincoln Tomb in Oak Ridge Cemetery to see the 114th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry lower the flag as the evening sun burnished the monument to perhaps America’s most loved President.

Roaming Route 66

Day four of my road trip and we're getting our kicks on Route 66! America's Road of Dreams is so iconic of Mainstreet USA and there's so much to experience. I danced a jig on a section that remains paved with bricks, met ninety year old Bill Shea who still welcomes visitors at his Route 66 Gas Station Museum, ogled the cars at the Pontiac Oakland Automobile Museum, reveled in the Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum and viewed the Route 66 murals in Pontiac with the city Mayor...all en route back to Chicago where Route 66 begins its 4,500 kilometer journey to Los Angeles. Fabulous!

Shimmering Chicago

Shimmering in the heat haze at the end of this great loop through Illinois’ treasures, I just had time to stroll Chicago’s Michigan Avenue and glorious lakefront Millennium Park with its reflective Cloud Gate sculpture, and to take the official Chicago Architecture Foundation river cruise aboard Chicago’s First Lady Cruises to view the unique Chicago skyline including the Willis Tower, America’s tallest building.

More Magnificent Miles

Illinois has lived up to its promise of “Mile After Magnificent Mile” on this trip – and left me wanting more. You can plan your road trip through Illinois at the excellent state tourism website www.enjoyillinois.com and book your flights at www.flyporter.com. Don’t hesitate!