Japan House/Idea Garden
The Japan House and Idea Garden are, in my opinion, two of the most serene places on the entire University of Illinois campus. From late spring to early fall, the gardens and landscaping are pristinely maintained by the groundskeepers. They are tucked away right next to each other in the southeast part of campus and are easily accessible by a short walk, bike, or bus ride. Come on a day with nice, sunny weather and you’ll find a ton of photogenic spots just waiting to be Instagrammed. The Idea Garden has a beautiful sunken garden filled with colorful flowers, trellises covered in roses, a large pond, long walkways, and dozens of cherry blossom trees. If you visit on the right day, you can also catch one of the traditional Japanese tea ceremonies offered at the Japan House…just imagine the Instagram opportunities!
Downtown Urbana
Downtown Urbana is a hotspot for artsy, cultural venues and snapshot-worthy urban, industrial-looking areas. You’ll spot finds such as a vintage theater sign, plenty of vibrant graffiti, alleyway outdoor eateries, murals, and so, so much more that are just waiting to be discovered! While you’re in the area, you can also take some amazing foodie pics at one of the delicious hole-in-the-wall restaurants, like the original Black Dog location, or one of the pubs, like Crane Alley.
Downtown Champaign
Another great Instaworthy location not far from Campustown is downtown Champaign. Like its counterpart of downtown Urbana, Champaign also has a lot of places with a unique, artsy vibe. Scattered around the area are an abundance of sculptures, including one of Humpty Dumpty! If you can find it, there’s a colorfully painted wall that’s a great place to take your picture in front of for your Instagram. In the way of food, be sure to snap some pics of a delicious cupcake at Cream & Flutter, a cold one at Blind Pig, or a gigantic burger at Farren’s. If you love books and vintage photographs and postcards, stop in at the Jane Addams Book Shop. This hidden treasure has endless Insta possibilities no matter what aesthetic you want your profile to have. This charming three-story shop has every wall of every room lined with books from floor to ceiling, as well as several nooks and crannies filled with hidden finds.
Meadowbrook Park
This park, located in the residential part of Urbana, makes a great place to walk or jog and take some great pictures of art and nature while you’re at it. There’s a paved nature trail that runs through a large field of prairie grasses—a great reminder of why Illinois is considered the Prairie State. Alongside the trail are a variety of huge, colorful sculptures for an interesting mix of manmade and nature-made landmarks. This park is also a haven for local children as it has an enormous wooden playground…if you’re feeling playful, capture yourself bringing out your inner child!
Photo Sources: https://admissions.illinois.edu/Visit/Photo-Tour/index http://smilepolitely.com/culture/downtown_murals_homage_to_local_history/ http://www.smilepolitely.com/food/six_outdoor_patios_to_visit_in_c-u_thi… http://www.firstlightphotographs.com/midwest003.html