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Central Illinois Wineries - posted on October 2, 2009
The hunt for beautiful vineyards often takes wine connoisseurs to Sonoma, Napa, Tuscany, Rhone—and central Illinois. It may sound like a bit of a stretch, but it’s true. The state, known for its fertile soils, is home to as many as 80 wineries and 450 vineyards. And 10 scenic wineries are located right in central Illinois (plus the rest are within easy daytrip distance).Fall is a terrific time to visit central Illinois wineries—in many instances, you can enjoy sunny autumn weather and striking fall foliage in addition to scenic views of the vineyards. Plus special events—some of which are listed below—ensure there’s never a dull moment when you embark on your next wine-tasting adventure.Alto Vineyards  4210 N. Duncan Rd., Champaign217.356.4784 This...

Exploring Elkhart - posted on September 8, 2009
There’s a lot more to Elkhart’s blink-and-you’ll-miss-it small town than meets the eye. This stop along Route 66 in Central Illinois offers options for dining, shopping, and even learning—all in the span of two tiny blocks. Why bother stopping? “It’s very well-sited right on I-55 and smack on Route 66,” explains Andrea Niehaus, owner of Horsefeathers Antiques & Gift Shop and The Wild Hare Cafe. “Plus it’s like a page torn from Norman Rockwell.” In other words, it boasts about as much character as you can possibly fit in one tiny downtown. Horsefeathers and Wild HaresRevitalizing downtown Elkhart is all in the family for Andrea and her sister, Renee Sisk. Andrea and her husband, Peter, renovated the original red brick...

Scenes from the State Fair - posted on August 25, 2009
Another year of the Illinois State Fair—that Mecca of fried food, livestock, and carnival rides—has drawn to a close. From the Midway excitement to the threat of a tornado, there wasn’t a dull moment at this year’s festivities. Relive the highlights with our first-ever photo essay, featuring snapshots of this year’s fair action.                               Rainy, stormy weather early in the week may have hindered attendance, but Thursday was a beautiful day to attend the Illinois State Fair. Photo by Julie Collins.                           A vendor dishes up a Philly cheese steak sandwi...

State Fair Deals - posted on August 17, 2009
Attending the Illinois State Fair is a bit pricier this year. For the first time since 1990, admission rates increased. Expect to pay $5 for adults (up from $3 last year) and $2 for kids between the ages of five and 12 (they used to get in for free). Kids younger than five still gain free admission. Still, five dollars is pretty cheap entertainment. Spend the day viewing butter cows and real-life cows, listening to live music, and watching the variety of people who make an appearance at the fair each year. Plus, for a few dollars more, you can taste the myriad fried foods and beverages (yep, you can even get fried beverages—this year one vendor is offering fried Pepsi).If you're looking for some bargains, there are still a few deals left you can take advantage of: Carnival B...

Calling City Hall - posted on August 14, 2009
The next time you're in downtown Lincoln, stop across the street from City Hall (700 Broadway) and look up. There, perched on the rooftop, you'll spot an unusual site. No, it's not the phone booth where Clark Kent dons his cape and becomes Superman—although this phone booth's location would provide a prime lookout for the superhero. Rather, it was placed on the rooftop as part of a World War II civil defense system. Later, when the government no longer feared attacks from the sky on small towns across the United States, it was used for storm watching. Rumor has it that the lowest firefighter on the totem pole would be sent to the roof to keep an eye out for tornadoes. Then, if they spotted one, they'd place a call to sound the sirens. (And, undoubtedly, wou...

Try the Trails - posted on August 8, 2009
Whether you’re traveling on two wheels or on your own two feet, Central Illinois has plenty of trails to keep you occupied. Here’s a sampling of the many routes available—from short jaunts to long hauls. Try them out, then we want to hear from you: What favorite trails did we miss? Share your picks in the comments section below or by emailing editor@illinois-adventures.com today so we can add them to the list.Bloomington/Normal Constitution TrailTwenty-four miles of hard-surface trail—perfect for walking, hiking, jogging, and biking—run through the twin cities of Bloomington and Normal. No matter where you are, it’s easy to find a section of the trail to travel. Download the natural trail guide here.Champaign CountyChampaign County (including Champaign-U...

An Evening With Shakespeare - posted on July 28, 2009
“Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” William Shakespeare wrote in Sonnet 18, and it’s likely the summer’s day he spoke of was similar to the one on which we attended the Illinois Shakespeare Festival at the Ewing Cultural Center in Bloomington-Normal. We arrived just after 6 p.m., in time to spread out a blanket on the lawn behind the Ewing House and enjoy a picnic. A number of other small groups were scattered about the grounds with snacks and bottles of wine, relishing the weather, the scenery, and the madrigal singers wandering about in period costumes serenading guests with renditions of all manner of traditional English songs.After dinner, we relaxed on the lawn until the amphitheater doors opened for the play. Then something wicked our way came&mdas...

Hit the Lake - posted on July 20, 2009
Central Illinois offers plenty of opportunities to hit the water for boating, waterskiing, fishing, and more. Looking for a great lake? Check out these destinations the next time you get the urge for some water-focused fun. Beaver Dam State Park, Plainview Lake Bloomington, Bloomington Canton Lake, CantonEditor's Note: While you’re there, try canoeing or kayaking down Copperas Creek, which feeds into Canton Lake Carlinville Lake, Carlinville Lake Charleston, Charleston Clinton Lake, Clinton Coffeen Lake, Coffeen   Lake Jacksonville, Jacksonville Lake Decatur, Decatur Lake Lou Yaeger, Litchfield Lake Mattoon, Mattoon Moraine View State Recreation Area, LeRoy Upper Peoria Lake, Peoria Powerton Lake, Manito Rice Lake, Canton Sangchris Lake, S...

Route 66 Stop: The Palms Grill Cafe - posted on July 13, 2009
The Palms Grill Café in Atlanta, Illinois, was a Route 66 hotspot from the 1930s to the 1960s, the place locals and travelers along the Mother Road gravitated to for five-cent coffee, home-cooked meals, and waitresses with a bit of sass.Now, roughly 40 years after the restaurant closed, it’s open once again—looking much as it did in its heyday and offering a hearty menu sure to satisfy the appetite of any wanderer or local. Slide onto a stool at the counter or grab a table and see for yourself.The SettingLocated right on Arch Street, the main drag in Atlanta, the Palms is conveniently situated next door to the local museum annex and across the street from a rather tall Paul Bunyan clutching a hot dog, just two of the many Route 66 sites you’ll find downtown.The gri...

It's County Fair Time! - posted on July 7, 2009
Ah, Illinois county fairs. Each one is a veritable mecca of fried food, livestock, carnival games, live entertainment, and fierce competitions involving demo derby cars and smiling teen queens (though, fortunately, not at the same time). County fairs offer a smaller-scale taste of the big state fair held in Springfield August 14–23. See for yourself by visiting one of these Central Illinois county fairs in July and August. Whether you go for the corn dogs and funnel cakes or the tractor pulls and carnival rides, you won’t be disappointed. Moultrie-Douglas County Fair: July 5 to 11, Arthur Fisher Community Fair & Horse Show: July 7 to 11, Fisher  Marshall-Putnam Fair: July 8 to 12, Henry Morgan County Fair: July 8 to 12, Jacksonville Heart of Illinois Fair: July 1...

Travel Back in Time: Atlanta - posted on July 2, 2009
Looking for something to do this weekend? Take a walking tour of a history-packed stretch of Route 66 in Atlanta, Illinois.It’s hard not to grin when you’re greeted by a giant smiley face water tower, the first site that meets the eye when as you drive into Atlanta. And it’s even harder not to smile when you park downtown in front of the J.M. Judy & Sons Grocers mural (a replica of the same mural from the early 1900s) and realize you’ve been transported back to a simpler time.This will be your starting point for your walking tour of downtown Atlanta, with its historic Route 66 sites, Lincoln history, and a whole lot of small-town charm.At the corner of Arch and Race streets, get an up-close look at the Atlanta Public Library and Museum, an eight-sided limeston...

Holding Court in Postville - posted on June 17, 2009
Walk up the cobbled sidewalk that leads to the Postville Courthouse in Lincoln and you’re accompanied by ghosts of court days past—including the spirit of Abraham Lincoln, who walked these same grounds himself more than 160 years ago.The Postville Courthouse you enter today is not the same building that Lincoln spent time in. But a tour of the replica—a state historic site and Route 66 Roadside Attraction—offers a glimpse of what the original structure looked like at the time a young Abe Lincoln practiced law there. A Trip Back In TimeInside, displays showcase what life was like for traveling lawyers and explain how the legal system worked in the mid- to late-1800s. Lay your eyes on a rocking chair Lincoln used to sit in when he visited friends in the area—but...

Your Turn: What Makes Central Illinois Great? - posted on June 16, 2009
What do you love most about the central part of the Prairie State? Is it the history? The scenery? All the terrific summer festivals? The food?The editors of Illinois Adventures want to know what makes Central Illinois great to you. Fill us in on the places you love, the people you’ll always remember, and the adventures you can’t live without. Send your insights, anecdotes, and tall tales to editor@illinois-adventures.com today. We’ll publish some of our favorites right here on the site, and every writer who sends an essay our way by noon on July 31, 2009, will be entered in a drawing for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate for dinner at your favorite locally owned Central Illinois restaurant. (Yep, that’s right. The restaurant choice is up to you.)All you have t...

Get Your Kicks on Route 66 - posted on June 15, 2009
Did you know that historic Route 66 got its start in downtown Chicago in 1926—and in its heyday 300 miles of the 2,400-mile Mother Road passed through Illinois? Today, you can still travel much of Route 66—in many places, on original pavement. Just follow the “Historic Route 66” signs—in Central Illinois, they will you take on a wild ride through Bloomington, Funks Grove, McLean, Atlanta, Lincoln, Springfield, and everywhere in between.Learn more about Illinois’ substantial section of Route 66 history at the official Illinois Route 66 website. Then head out and explore a piece of the past yourself! Editor’s Note: Check back later this week for a feature on Atlanta, a Route 66 mecca located right in the heart of Central Illinois....

Get Your Illinois Shakespeare Festival Tickets Today - posted on June 8, 2009
Each summer since 1978, the works of William Shakespeare have come to life at the Illinois Shakespeare Festival in Bloomington. Performances at the world-renown festival (also known as "Shakespeare in the Cornfields") begin in June and run through August at Ewing Manor. Get your tickets today before it's too late! This year's performances include Scapin, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Richard III. Order tickets or season passes online from the festival website, and get ready to enjoy some of the Bard's greatest works outdoors, under the stars....

Welcome! - posted on June 2, 2009
Welcome to Illinois Adventures! I’m glad you’re here and interested in exploring Central Illinois. Trust me, there’s plenty to see.That’s why I created this travel magazine for all things Central Illinois. After moving to the area a couple of years ago, I realized there’s a veritable treasure trove of activities in the middle of the state—but many people, even those who live in the area, tend to forget just how much there is to do around here. In my short time in the state, I’ve experienced the local flavor of county fairs, enjoyed the bountiful fruits of many farmer’s markets, tasted the vino from the area’s beautiful vineyards, passed Central Illinois sites from my seat on an Amtrak train, and so much more. But there’s plenty le...

Ridin' the Train - posted on June 1, 2009
Did you know Amtrak welcomed aboard more than 28.7 million passengers during its 2008 fiscal year?Amtrak (the name combines the words “American” and “track”) operates 21,000 miles of routes nationwide and serves more than 500 destinations in 46 states.Amtrak Illinois Service includes 28 downstate cities and five trains: the Illinois Zephyr (daily service between Chicago and Quincy), Illini Service (daily service between Chicago and Carbondale, The Saluki (daily service between Chicago and Carbondale), The Carl Sandburg (daily service between Chicago and Quincy), and The Lincoln Service (daily service between Chicago and St. Louis).See a different side of the state by hopping aboard an Amtrak train at one of the many Central Illinois whistle stops. You won’t be...