Don’t allow spring showers to rain on your June parade. Designated as Great Outdoors Month, the Illinois Office of Tourism rounded up a few ideas for the outdoorsy (and no longer-so-outdoorsy) types in hopes of coaxing citizens and visitors alike to experience Mother Nature in Illinois. Whether you’re seeking out a complete-blown hike or a stroll through town’s green area, there’s something for everyone.
Outdoorsy: A two-hour drive from Springfield, Harpole’s Heartland Lodge & Resort has ATV rentals for solo and institutional vacationers who want velocity. The hotel additionally offers horseback riding, golfing, and biking. Take an ATV to the paths in Nebo.
Outdoorsy: Within Shawnee National Forest (a five-hour drive from Chicago) lies Bell Smith Springs, which boasts herbal rock formations, cliffs, and streams. With names like Devil’s Backbone and Boulder Falls, the expansive locale brings a few hiking trails. Visitors can also take a look at a herbal rock bridge.
Looking for something more to sit back? Looking for something more to sit back? Outdoorsy: For the intense kinds, Three Oaks Recreation Area in Crystal Lake boasts Quarry Cable Park for water skiers and wakeboarders. Beach volleyball, cornhole, and live shows make this park a prime spot to visit.
Less outdoorsy: Get a glimpse of the Illinois River nature from the comfort of The Spirit of Peoria, a riverboat that takes vacationers on some of the tours, together with day trips, overnight excursions, and themed cruises.
Less outdoorsy: Enjoy farm-to-table fare in Champaign at Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery. Menu objects encompass microbrews, gelato, and cheeses, in addition to distinctive cocktails matched to the dinner subject matter.
