Not studying abroad this summer? Are you sick of seeing everyone’s pictures in front of the Eiffel Tower or shopping in the streets of Italy? Take a little vacation in your own homeland, Illinois! That’s right we said Illinois. We’ve compiled a list of things for you to do and check out around the state.
Millennium Park- Chicago
Stand under the Cloud Gate sculpture (Bean) and point your camera up for an awesome shot.
John Hancock Center/Observatory- Chicago
In Chicago’s 4th tallest building you can visit the 94th floor observatory for a spectacular view of the city.
Wrigley Field- Chicago
Home of the Chicago Cubs baseball team.
Blue Man Group- Chicago
Come see a mind-blowing show with family or friends.
Shedd Aquarium- Chicago
The aquarium has a new exhibit, “Wild Reef – Sharks at Shedd”. It’s one of the largest and most diverse shark exhibits in North America.
Hollywood Casino- Aurora
The 53,000-square-foot casino offers live poker and 27 high-action tables.
Galena Cellars Winery & Wineyard- Galena
It’s now open for tours & wine tastings.
The Grape Escape- Galena
Relax with a specialty martini while listening to live music on Fridays & Saturdays.
Illinois State Capitol- Springfield
The current Illinois State Capitol building was completed in 1889 and has an architectural style based in the French Renaissance.
Chicagoland Speedway- Joliet
It’s a great place to see some racing and tailgate.
Raging Waves Waterpark- Yorkville
It’s Illinois’ largest outdoor waterpark and it is located on more than 40 acres.
Centennial Beach- Naperville
The beach includes sand, grassy area for picnicking, shallow-end slide, water play features, diving boards and more.
Arlington Park Race Track- Arlington Park
Come out and see horses race around the track.
Six Flags Great America- Gurnee
This amusement park has over 100 rides and attractions.
Gurnee Mills Outlet Mall- Gurnee
Shop, Shop, Shop!
Morton Arboretum- Lisle
Guided tours are offered of the arboretum’s 1,700 and 30,000 plants.
Valley Orchard- Cherry Valley
Pick some apples in this family-run orchard.
Glen Oak Zoo- Peoria
Located close to the city’s center, the zoo has a variety of different animals.