Brookfield Zoo
The 200 acres of animals here include dolphins at the Seven Seas, penguins and sharks at The Living Coast and apes at Tropic World.
8400 31st, Brookfield

Chicago Botanic Garden
Walk or ride a tram through the 20-plus gardens that range from the wild Midwestern prairie to a romantic English walled garden.
1000 Lake Cook, Glencoe 

Morton Arboretum
Hop aboard the Acorn Express tram or walk the 14 miles of trails at this arboretum that’s home to 1,700 acres of gardens and world-renowned plant collections.
4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle 

Pheasant Run Resort & Spa
Relax at this sprawling resort that offers a hair salon and day spa, two 18-hole golf courses, two theatres, a comedy club and several restaurants.
4051 E. Main, St. Charles 

Aldeen Golf Club & Practice Centre
Ranked 4-1/2 stars by Golf Digest, this Dick Nugent-designed course has water hazards looming on 12 of 18 holes, and features the 26-acre Practice Centre.
1902 Reid Farm, Rockford 

Anderson Japanese Gardens
Stroll through the top Japanese gardens in North America, replete with waterfalls, koi ponds, a sixteenth-century-style teahouse and a new Asian fusion restaurant.
318 Spring Creek, Rockford 

Chestnut Mountain Resort
Whoosh along slopes that are a challenge for both beginners and experts at this Galena ski resort and lodge nestled in the hills above the Mississippi River.
8700 W. Chestnut, Galena 

Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa
Tee off from one of four championship golf courses, pamper yourself at the Stonedrift Spa, saddle up for a trail ride at the Shenandoah Riding Center and bike the resort’s many paths.
444 Eagle Ridge, Galena 

Starved Rock State Park
Hike through forests and explore 18 canyons and sparkling waterfalls in a breathtaking setting along the Illinois River, then stay the night at the rustic 1930s Starved Rock Lodge.
Illinois Route 178, Utica 

Celebration Belle
Enjoy a dinner cruise with live entertainment as you sail the Mississippi River aboard this 800-passenger riverboat that docks in Moline.
2501 River, Moline

Great River Road
Starting in East Dubuque and winding along the banks of the Mississippi River, the Great River Road travels through 550 miles of woodlands, farmlands and river towns to its end in Cairo.
581 S. Deere, Macomb

Hardy’s Reindeer Ranch
Open for the season August - September, Hardy’s Reindeer Ranch houses a resident herd of friendly Alaskan reindeer and offers a corn maze, pumpkins and hayrides in the autumn.
1356 County 2900 N., Rantoul 

Heartland Spa
Find a holistic approach to relaxation and health at this secluded, all-inclusive spa that was listed on Travel + Leisure magazine’s Top 10 Spas list.
1237 E. 1600 North, Gilman

Scovill Park
Scovill Park is home to the Children’s Museum of Illinois and the Scovill Zoo, which overlooks Lake Decatur and features animals from around the world.
71 S. Country Club, Decatur 

Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive
Drive the route during the October Fall Festival, when more than a dozen rural towns offer visitors everything from regional foods to musical performances and country crafts.
7838 E. IL Hwy. 95, Smithfield 

Wildlife Prairie State Park
This 2,000-acre zoological park is home to cougars, bison, black bears and other animals that were native to Illinois during its frontier days.
3826 N. Taylor, Hanna City 

Cache River State Natural Area
Canoe or hike through Illinois’ wetlands, home to a magnificent cypress-tupelo swamp, and visit the Barkhausen Wetlands Center to learn more about the area.
930 Sunflower, Belknap 

Cave-in-Rock State Park
Explore this state park’s namesake 55-foot-wide limestone cave on the Ohio River that once harboured river pirates and stay overnight in one of the duplex cabins with a panoramic river view.
1 New State Park, Cave-In-Rock 

Eagle Watching in Alton
Join one of the many eagle-watching tours and events offered in Alton, or visit the Melvin Price Locks & Dam to get a bird’s-eye view of the eagles soaring over the Mississippi River.
Route 100, Alton 

Fort Massac State Park
Illinois’ first state park features a replica of Fort Massac as it appeared during the French and Indian War, along with a museum that displays French and Native American artefacts.
1308 E. 5th, Metropolis 

Garden of the Gods
Hike the trails and bluffs of the Shawnee National Forest and discover the stunning Garden of the Gods, home to unusual sandstone formations with names such as Camel Rock.
Off Hwy. 34, Karbers Ridge 

National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows
Take a free trolley tour of this peaceful 200-acre spiritual retreat (which features a replica of France’s Lourdes Grotto), shop the expansive religious store and dine at the Shrine Restaurant.
442 S. DeMazenod, Belleville 

Ohio River Scenic Route
Running parallel to the Ohio River, this scenic route rolls through Southern Illinois’ Ohio River Valley, offering stunning views of the lush Shawnee National Forest.
Southern Illinois, from New Haven to Cairo 

Pere Marquette State Park
The largest state park in Illinois offers 8,000 acres of seemingly endless outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, fishing, boating, horseback riding and winter eagle watching.
Route 100, Grafton 

Shawnee National Forest
Spanning the southern tip of the state, the forest offers 300 miles of equestrian and hiking trails that pass awe-inspiring rock formations and towering bluffs.
50 Hwy. 145, Harrisburg