See. Volo Bog Explore this open-water quaking bog, the only one of its kind in Illinois, with boardwalk paths. Obama Presidential Center Visit this new institution on Chicago's South Side, featuring a 225-foot tower and 19-acre park. International Festival of Life Experience Caribbean rhythms, African traditions, and global culture in Chicago. Route 66 Drive the 'Mother Road' from Chicago, exploring classic roadside attractions and American Giants.
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Stay. Peninsula Chicago A family-friendly hotel in Gold Coast, offering a pool, sundeck, and winter ice skating rink.
Atlas Obscura
Tucked away along the backroads of Volo, Illinois, you can find a hidden wonder of the natural world. In the heart of its very own nature preserve is Volo Bog, an open-water quaking bog full of unique flora and fauna. The only one of its kind in Illinois (and the furthest south of its kind in North America), this bog comprises multiple microbiomes illustrating every stage of bog succession. The…
Lonely Planet
Explore beyond the endless delights of The Windy City with these 11 excellent day trips from Chicago.
Lonely Planet
The Amtrak route between the San Francisco Bay area to Chicago shows a diverse cross-section of the nation that you won
Condé Nast Traveler
Marine life encounters, giant whale sharks, and conservation programs are all on the table at the best aquariums in the US.
Condé Nast Traveler
A native Chicagoan returns to realize that the city's food, culture, and good nature may just make the Midwestern powerhouse the most likable city in America.
Condé Nast Traveler
These cocktail spots will make you forget all about Willis Tower.
Atlas Obscura
The United States is celebrating its 250th birthday this weekend, but there are loads more events to get excited about around the world this weekend. The International Festival of Life transforms Chicago into a living crossroads of Caribbean rhythms, African traditions, and global culture. Live performances fill the air while vendors offer a marketplace of crafts, goods, and stories from around…
Atlas Obscura
Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , and all major podcast apps. Kelly McEvers: This episode is for the DIY nation. The people who see something they like and say, “I can make that.” People like Marcia and Dave Johnson. Their farm in Windsor, Illinois, is filled with DIY projects. The house… Marcia Johnson: The house is modeled after one in Williamsburg, Virginia. We found the hou…
BBC Travel
From roadside convenience stores to lonely landscapes, travellers are discovering little-known slices of Americana away from the host cities.
Condé Nast Traveler
Whether you’re eying the Magnificent Mile, Wicker Park, or the historic South Side, these stylish Chicago hotels go all-in for all ages.
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Smithsonian Magazine
More than a library and archives, the new Chicago institution is a place for the community to gather, talk and play together
Condé Nast Traveler
Since you'll need more than one visit to scratch the surface of this beautiful city, here's where we stay when we go.
Outside
Free-hanging waterfalls, thundering cascades, and rapids hemmed in brilliant moss: No matter what you're looking for, you can find it in a state near you.
Outside
There's something special about a place where people and their dogs can relax, play, and experience the outdoors together. These seven destinations do it best.
Atlas Obscura
At DePaul University in Lincoln Park, a small alcove can be found off the east side of the Quad between the John T. Richardson Library and the Schmidt Academic Center. This alcove is called St. Vincent's circle, but most students refer to it as "Vinny's Circle". The alcove houses a bronze statue of St. Vincent De Paul sitting and engaging in lively conversation with two bronze DePaul students.…
Atlas Obscura
Since the early 1920s, when word first spread of a highway that would run from Chicago to Los Angeles, Route 66 has defined the American dream—symbolizing the country's sense of freedom, ingenuity, and continuous transformation. Join us as we drive the "Mother Road" from start to finish, exploring everything from outsider art to indigenous history. Episode 1: The Mother Road We start our journe…
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Smithsonian Magazine
Journey around the nation with this interactive map, divided by region or category, and discover American history in a way you’ve never seen before
Condé Nast Traveler
There are reasons to plan a trip this spring, including a new hiking trail on a Greek peninsula and the opening of Obama's presidential library in Chicago.
Condé Nast Traveler
Did you know you can book them?
Condé Nast Traveler
From Wimbledon to the Melbourne Cup, here’s your month-by-month guide to the year’s must-see sporting events around the globe.
Condé Nast Traveler
Japan, Colombia, Mexico, Finland—there's a lot to see in 2026, and your horoscope can tell you which will be the best fit.
Atlas Obscura
After the Haymarket Riot, the Commercial Club of Chicago saw a problem with the city; there was no nearby military garrison. The group had been campaigning since 1877 to build one close to Chicago, with efforts finally being realized ten years later after land was donated to the Federal Government. Ossian Cole Simonds was hired to create a site plan for what was to be known as Fort Sheridan, us…
Atlas Obscura
High above the sidewalk outside Chicago’s Ogilvie Transportation Center, a single orange traffic cone sits on a narrow concrete ledge, too high to reach, too random to explain, and too stubborn to fall. According to Google Street View imagery, the cone has occupied this exact spot since at least June 2011, quietly accumulating its own micro-legend over more than a decade. While some may conside…
Atlas Obscura
At the west edge of Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve along Salt Creek, (part of the Dupage County Forest Preserve system) sits an abandoned theater playhouse or folly structure, and several large statues and urns scattered around, completely enveloped in overgrowth. The only signs of life now are one or two old campfires and some broken beer bottles. Following a now-abandoned path west of Rain…
Condé Nast Traveler
You never have to venture far across the States to find holiday cheer.
Condé Nast Traveler
Places that embody Midwest nice, Southern hospitality, and more.
Condé Nast Traveler
With fewer rooms, a personalized feel, and unique decor, these boutiques offer a fun new side to a well-loved city.
Condé Nast Traveler
Open floor plans, gigantic glass windows, and minimalist furniture define these historic Airbnbs across the country.
Condé Nast Traveler
From Hawaii to the Midwest.
Condé Nast Traveler
From sea to shining sea, we’ve surfaced palatial mansions, tiny houses, and everything in between.
AI answers grounded in the 30 recent stories about Illinois shown on this page. It can be wrong — the linked articles are the source of truth.