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COVID-19 Advice: If you do plan on traveling, please be smart and responsible for yourself and others.  Practice social distancing and wear a mask when deemed necessary.  Be respectful of other's well being and stay safe.

Illinois

Updated: April 22nd, 2021

Below is a list of the best places I would visit on a trip to this location. My picks fit my personality and interest. Everyone has a different interest so you may not like everything I listed which is fine.  If you like a place, I recommend saving it to Google Maps for a future trip down the road. I made sure to include the address or GPS to make it easier to find.  You can find out more about me in the "About Me" section to see if we share common interests.

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​In the info below, the yellow cost number is just an estimated amount at the time I checked their website; over time, the amount could change.  With the cost of a hotel room, I'm pricing a queen bed for two people for a night on the weekend, and the amount shown is before taxes.  These figures are just a rough estimate of what places could cost, so if incorrect, I apologize.

Breakfast

- Doughnut Vault

401 N Franklin St, Chicago, IL 60654

- Charlie Parker's Diner

700 W North St, Springfield, IL 62704

- Otto's Place

100 Bouthillier St, Galena, IL 61036

- Big Bill's Sandwich Shop

301 N Main St, Galena, IL 61036

- Walker Bros. Original Pancake House

153 Green Bay Rd, Wilmette, IL 60091

- Wildberry Pancakes & Cafe

130 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601

- Do-Rite Donuts & Coffee

50 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601

- Firecakes Donuts

2453 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614

Activities

- Shedd Aquarium

1200 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605

Adult General Admission: $39.95

- Field Museum

1400 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605

Adult All-Access Pass: $40.00

- Six Flags Great America

1 Great America Parkway, Gurnee, IL 60031

- Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library

212 N 6th St, Springfield, IL 62701

Adult Museum Admission: $15.00

- Adler Planetarium

1300 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605

All Exhibitions + Two Sky Shows + Atwood Sphere Experience (Adult): $35.00

- Oriental Institute Museum

1155 E 58th St, Chicago, IL 60637

Suggested Donation: $10.00

- Grosse Point Lighthouse

2601 Sheridan Rd, Evanston, IL 60201

Tours: $6.00 (Currently Closed)

- Route 66 & Motor Museum

600 Toronto Rd, Springfield, IL 62711

- Rim Rock Recreation Trail

37.60231, -88.27822

Hiking

- Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago

5700 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60637

Adult General Admission: $21.95

- Wrigley Field

1060 W Addison St, Chicago, IL 60613

Tour Cost: $30.00 (Currently Unavailable)

- Galloping Ghost Arcade

9415 Ogden Ave, Brookfield, IL 60513

Play All Day: $20.00

- Matthiessen State Park

2500 IL-178, Oglesby, IL 61348

Hiking

- Starved Rock State Park

2668 East 873 Road, Oglesby, IL 61348

Hiking

- Oak Ridge Cemetery

1441 Monument Ave, Springfield, IL 62702

- Lincoln Park Zoo

2001 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614

Admission: FREE (Donations are Welcome)

Lunch/Dinner

- Au Cheval

800 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607

- Superdawg Drive-In

6363 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60646

- BEAST Craft BBQ Co.

20 S Belt W, Belleville, IL 62220

- Rosebud Steakhouse

192 E Walton St, Chicago, IL 60611

- Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder Co.

2121 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614

- Green Street Smoked Meats

112 N Green St, Chicago, IL 60607

- Moonshine Store

6017 E 300th Rd, Martinsville, IL 62442

- Edgewater Tacos

5624 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60660

- Krekel's Custard

2121 N Grand Ave E, Grandview, IL 62702

- Durty Gurt's

235 N Main St, Galena, IL 61036

- Pequod's Pizza

8520 Fernald Ave, Morton Grove, IL 60053

- Long Nine Junction

5 W Old State Capitol Plaza, Springfield, IL 62701

- Gene & Jude's

2720 N River Rd, River Grove, IL 60171

- Kuma's Corner

2900 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60618

- Original Rainbow Cone

9233 S Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60643

Places to Stay

- The Chicago Hotel Collection - WRIGLEYVILLE

3475 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60657

Average cost a night on a weekend in May: $164

- Thompson Chicago

21 E Bellevue Pl, Chicago, IL 60611

Average cost a night on a weekend in May $211 (Oct 20': $152)

- Jail Hill Inn

319 Meeker St, Galena, IL 61036

Average cost a night on a weekend in May: Demand is High, Need Book Way in Advance

- FOUND Hotel Chicago

613 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60654

Average cost a night on a weekend in May $118 (Oct 20': $91)

- The Langham, Chicago

330 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

Average cost a night on a weekend in May $420 (Oct 20': $257)

- Chicago Athletic Association

12 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603

Average cost a night on a weekend in May: $191

- Irish Cottage Inn & Suites

9853 U.S. 20, Galena, IL 61036

Average cost a night on a weekend in May $202 (Oct 20': $170)

- Waldorf Astoria Chicago

11 E Walton St, Chicago, IL 60611

Average cost a night on a weekend in May $475 (Oct 20': $239)

- Goldmoor Inn

9001 W Sand Hill Rd, Galena, IL 61036

Average cost a night on a weekend in May: Demand is High, Need Book Way in Advance

- Virgin Hotels Chicago

203 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60601

Average cost a night on a weekend in May $185 (Oct 20': $188)

21 and Up Fun

- Whiner Beer Company

1400 W 46th St, Chicago, IL 60609

- Goose Island Brewhouse

1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago, IL 60614

- Revolution Brewing

3340 N Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60618

- Lagunitas Brewing Company

2607 W 17th St, Chicago, IL 60608

- BuckleDown Brewing

8700 47th St, Lyons, IL 60534

- Triptych Brewing

1703 Woodfield Dr, Savoy, IL 61874

- Half Acre Beer Company

4257 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60618

- Map Room

1949 N Hoyne Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

- Kaiser Tiger

1415 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607

- Bangers and Lace

1670 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622

 Again these are my picks that fit my personality and interest. If you feel that I left one-off that may interest me or other people, message me on Facebook about the location.  I value a person's opinion and never just discard the information.  Always looking forward to learning about new places to add to my Google Map. ~ Shawn

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