Take a trip around America without ever leaving the state when you visit these eight landmarks in Illinois. Each is similar to a destination in another part of the United States that is probably already on your bucket list. Scroll on for a budget-friendly and nearby way to travel the globe.
- Alaska
Facebook/Snowstar Winter Park With a trip to Snowstar Winter Park or any snow-tubing or skiing center in the state, you’ll be in a winter wonderland that will place you in a tundra of ice and snow. You can pretend you’re in Alaska when you visit these fields of white and imagine polar bears just over the hills. Click here to learn more about all the fun there is to have at this park.
- Garden of the Gods
Wikimedia Commons/Daniel Schwen Comprised of more than 3,000 acres of wind-chiseled sandstone, the rocks in Garden of the Gods in the Shawnee Forest in Illinois are just as stunning as the massive structures in Colorado. Bearing the same name, these two rock formations are popular hiking trails, but the one in Illinois offers much more to see and do. Learn more about it here.
- Louisana
Facebook/Cajun Boil and Bar
Facebook/Cajun Boil and Bar There’s nothing like a seafood boil to take your taste buds on a journey to the Deep South and especially to the coastal state of Louisiana where this creole dish originated. At Cajun Boil & Bar, guests choose their main catch such as lobster, crawfish, crab legs, or mussels, and then add in flavorings and sides like corn, potatoes, and sausages. Get more details about this feast right here.
- The Grand Canyon
Google/Two Bobs’ Adventures An oxymoron for the ages, Illinois is home to a Little Grand Canyon that makes its home within the Shawnee National Forest. Like the formation in Arizona, this canyon was carved by water. It is made of sandstone and is covered in green moss. Click here for more details.
- Oceanshore
Wikimedia Commons/Wrongdave Anywhere you go along Lake Michigan’s shore, you’ll feel like you’re on one of the United States’ great coasts. The Great Lakes are so large, you can’t see to the other side, and are large enough to resemble oceans. Click here for 15 photos of Lake Michigan looking like an ocean.
- Miami
Flickr/VV Nincic Take a boat ride on Lake Michigan around Chicago, and you’ll feel like you’re cruising around a coastal city, especially those found in our tropical regions. Forget a trip to Florida this summer when you can enjoy all the beauty of the ocean and its beaches right here.
- Hawaii
TripAdvisor/llomonte
Facebook/Hala Kahiki Tiki Bar & Lounge Visit Hala Kahiki Tiki Bar in northeast Illinois for a trip to America’s most famous islands. There’s always a luau going on here. Guests love everything from the drinks to the decor to the live entertainment at this special place. Click here to get more details.
- The Caribbean
Flickr/Lucy Gray The United States lays claim to parts of the Virgin Islands and Peurto Rico, and there are lakes all around the state that will remind you of these gorgeous places. Take a tropical adventure without leaving the state this summer. Click here for six different places to try.
For more like this, check out 9 bizarre roadside attractions along Route 66.
Facebook/Snowstar Winter Park
With a trip to Snowstar Winter Park or any snow-tubing or skiing center in the state, you’ll be in a winter wonderland that will place you in a tundra of ice and snow. You can pretend you’re in Alaska when you visit these fields of white and imagine polar bears just over the hills. Click here to learn more about all the fun there is to have at this park.
Wikimedia Commons/Daniel Schwen
Comprised of more than 3,000 acres of wind-chiseled sandstone, the rocks in Garden of the Gods in the Shawnee Forest in Illinois are just as stunning as the massive structures in Colorado. Bearing the same name, these two rock formations are popular hiking trails, but the one in Illinois offers much more to see and do. Learn more about it here.
Facebook/Cajun Boil and Bar
There’s nothing like a seafood boil to take your taste buds on a journey to the Deep South and especially to the coastal state of Louisiana where this creole dish originated. At Cajun Boil & Bar, guests choose their main catch such as lobster, crawfish, crab legs, or mussels, and then add in flavorings and sides like corn, potatoes, and sausages. Get more details about this feast right here.
Google/Two Bobs’ Adventures
An oxymoron for the ages, Illinois is home to a Little Grand Canyon that makes its home within the Shawnee National Forest. Like the formation in Arizona, this canyon was carved by water. It is made of sandstone and is covered in green moss. Click here for more details.
Wikimedia Commons/Wrongdave
Anywhere you go along Lake Michigan’s shore, you’ll feel like you’re on one of the United States’ great coasts. The Great Lakes are so large, you can’t see to the other side, and are large enough to resemble oceans. Click here for 15 photos of Lake Michigan looking like an ocean.
Flickr/VV Nincic
Take a boat ride on Lake Michigan around Chicago, and you’ll feel like you’re cruising around a coastal city, especially those found in our tropical regions. Forget a trip to Florida this summer when you can enjoy all the beauty of the ocean and its beaches right here.
TripAdvisor/llomonte
Facebook/Hala Kahiki Tiki Bar & Lounge
Visit Hala Kahiki Tiki Bar in northeast Illinois for a trip to America’s most famous islands. There’s always a luau going on here. Guests love everything from the drinks to the decor to the live entertainment at this special place. Click here to get more details.
Flickr/Lucy Gray
The United States lays claim to parts of the Virgin Islands and Peurto Rico, and there are lakes all around the state that will remind you of these gorgeous places. Take a tropical adventure without leaving the state this summer. Click here for six different places to try.
What would you add to this trip around America? Share your ideas with us below in the comments.
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Address: Pomona, IL 62975, USAAddress: Garden of the Gods, Herod, IL 62947, USAAddress: 17w512 West, 22nd St, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181, USAAddress: 2834 River Rd, River Grove, IL 60171, USAAddress: Snowstar, 9500 126th St W, Andalusia, IL 61232, USA
