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    Illinois
    Sherie Loverkamp / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

    United States

    Illinois

    Region

    Illinois stretches from Lake Michigan in the northeast to the Ohio and Mississippi rivers in the south and west, bordering Wisconsin, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, and Iowa.

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    Illinois stretches from Lake Michigan in the northeast to the Ohio and Mississippi rivers in the south and west, bordering Wisconsin, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, and Iowa. Beyond Chicago, your travels lead you to Abraham Lincoln’s sites, traces of Mississippian culture, and sandstone canyons along the Illinois River.The capital is Springfield, where Lincoln lived and is buried. Hence, the state bears the nickname “Land of Lincoln,” and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is located in Springfield. Near Collinsville, opposite St. Louis, lies Cahokia. This city of the Mississippian culture had an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 inhabitants around 1100, and its approximately 30 m high Monks Mound is considered the largest man-made earthen mound north of Mexico. Since 1982, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage site.In Starved Rock State Park along the Illinois River, 18 canyons cut into the sandstone. In Galena, once the center of the USA's first major mining boom, around 85 percent of the buildings in the historic district, including the home of Ulysses S. Grant, are preserved. The hilly south is characterized by the Shawnee National Forest.

    More places in Illinois

    Chicago

    Chicago

    Chicago, located in northeastern Illinois on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan, is the third-largest city in the USA with around 2.7 million inhabitants. You come primarily for its architecture: After the Great Fire of 1871, the Home Insurance Building, considered the first modern skyscraper, was built here in 1885.The city center is called the Loop, named after the elevated train that circles the business district. In the Willis Tower, you stand on the glass balcony The Ledge on the 103rd floor, about 412 m above the street. The Millennium Park, opened in 2004, features Anish Kapoor's sculpture Cloud Gate, and the Art Institute of Chicago mainly displays Impressionism and American art.The architecture tour by the Chicago Architecture Center on the Chicago River lasts around 90 minutes and passes more than 50 buildings. From O'Hare Airport, the Blue Line runs 24/7, taking 40 to 45 minutes to reach downtown.

    Sights in Illinois

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Starved Rock State Park
    Park

    Starved Rock State Park

    About 150 km southwest of Chicago on the Illinois River: 18 sandstone canyons where waterfalls cascade after rain or snowmelt, often freezing into ice in winter. Hiking trails connect the canyons with overlooks above the river.
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    Getting There and Around

    Almost all air travelers arrive via Chicago: O'Hare handles around 75 percent of the state's passenger traffic, Midway around 22 percent. Smaller airports include Moline, Peoria, Bloomington, Rockford, and Champaign.Rail: Chicago is the central hub in the Amtrak network between the coasts.For Starved Rock, Galena, Cahokia, and the Shawnee National Forest, you'll need a rental car.

    Nearby

    Chicago

    Chicago

    Chicago, located in northeastern Illinois on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan, is the third-largest city in the USA with around 2.7 million inhabitants. You come primarily for its architecture: After the Great Fire of 1871, the Home Insurance Building, considered the first modern skyscraper, was built here in 1885.The city center is called the Loop, named after the elevated train that circles the business district. In the Willis Tower, you stand on the glass balcony The Ledge on the 103rd floor, about 412 m above the street. The Millennium Park, opened in 2004, features Anish Kapoor's sculpture Cloud Gate, and the Art Institute of Chicago mainly displays Impressionism and American art.The architecture tour by the Chicago Architecture Center on the Chicago River lasts around 90 minutes and passes more than 50 buildings. From O'Hare Airport, the Blue Line runs 24/7, taking 40 to 45 minutes to reach downtown.
    Niagara Wine Route

    Niagara Wine Route

    Discover Canada's leading wine region, a sprawling landscape of vineyards and wineries, offering tastings, tours, and exquisite culinary experiences.
    St. Catharines

    St. Catharines

    Known as 'The Garden City', St. Catharines is the region's largest urban center, offering a vibrant downtown, expansive parks, and close proximity to the Welland Canal.
    Welland Canal

    Welland Canal

    This impressive engineering marvel connects Lake Ontario with Lake Erie, offering fascinating insights into global shipping through its locks and visitor centers.
    Toronto

    Toronto

    Toronto, on the northern shore of Lake Ontario, is Canada's largest city and the capital of Ontario province. The CN Tower dominates the skyline, behind it lie neighbourhoods with very unique character, from Kensington Market to the Distillery District – and about half of its residents were born outside Canada.