What a hidden gem. We did the guided tour, and Judy was terrific. History is fascinating, and I'm eager to learn more. Definitely deserves a return trip.

We found the tour by our two guides very informative and took about an hour. The original buildings are very historic and unique. The guides provided background on the buildings, local history and mining. Two buildings up the hill are open (not guided) and also interesting.

Lovely Wisconsin Historical Society site. It's a Cornish mining settlement from the 1800s (one of the mines is across the street and you can walk the trails). In the 1930s two men bought and preserved many of the buildings. Admission price gets you a guided tour..ours lasted about 45 minutes. There are a couple buildings you can visit on your own. Nice little gift shop as well. Bottled water is available to purchase and there is a drinking fountain by the restrooms too. Parking area is in a lot kitty corner to the site. The whole Mineral Point area is rich with history and there are so many beautiful historic buildings.

Amazing experience with a fantastic tour guide. So much interesting information and fantastic historical value. A perfect day trip!

We visited in Fall of 2024 and it was fantastic. We took the tour and learned so much about Mineral Point and the restoration of the site. The buildings from the early mining era were meticulously maintained and the grounds were picturesque. Well worth the admission!

The tour is interesting. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. If you are interested in history, I would encourage you to visit.

Nicole was an excellent docent with command of her facts and meaningful explanations of what we were seeing and how it fit into Mineral Point and Wisconsin history

How fun to finally visit spotted cow. New Galtus embraces cows around the city. I love the festive atmosphere and hope to come back. Sampled serendipity and it was fabulous. The staff were young and happy which made it fun. Thank you. Proud of my sign and my memories here.

New Glarus Brewing doesn't need a lot of introduction, they make some of Wisconsin's most well known beers. They were in the middle of an expansion so on my stop they had a limited selection for tasting including a lager, farmhouse ale, oktoberfest, plus a watermelon, strawberry rhubarb, and a sour blackberry...they have several other beers, just not on for my stop. They had alp horns playing, free tours, and their gift shop and beer cave where up and running. I still want to stop back when they have tasting room and more taps on.

One of my favorite Breweries I've visited. They have an informative, self-guided tour that gives you a detailed history of the New Glarus Brewing Company. The surrounding landscape is gorgeous and they offer picnic table seating for the beer tastings. There is a large, free parking lot for customers.

Came on a Monday during July- hardly a soul around, and had the place pretty much to ourselves. Did not have time to do any tours, but was able to pick up some souvenirs. Absolutely beautiful grounds, with lots of areas to wander, tons of parking setup for tour buses, as well as a beautiful area to hang out beer-hall style! We've been drinking Spotted Cow for many years, so did not do any tasting. The place is clearly setup for masses of people- but what confused me, is when do these masses of people come, unless they are all retired people like me? ...Still amazed that a brewery could be closed on the weekend (which is why we had to come on a Monday before lunchtime).

Visited New Glarus for a beer tasting and had a great time! For $8, you get to sample three small beers and keep the tasting glass. Alternatively, for the same price, you can get a full pint of beer in a souvenir glass that you also get to take home. All seating is outdoors, which adds to the charm—it's a cute and relaxed spot to enjoy a drink.

New Glarus Gyrator Doppelbock: Located in New Glarus, WI, New Glarus Brewing Company was founded in 1993 and is known for their best-selling beer, Spotted Cow. A Doppelbock is a strong (Doppel means double) dark, German-style lager. It is sometimes referred to as “liquid bread” due to its malty sweetness, full body, and its traditional association with the Lenten season. Brewmaster Dan Carey put over ten years of barley research into choosing the Czech barley that goes into New Glarus’ Gyrator Doppelbock. While not as long as ten years, the brew does have a long journey as it’s lagered ten weeks in the cellar before resting in the bottle for an additional 6 months for a more mature flavor. Since I’m not the biggest beer drinker, I apologize for my description and undefined palate. For me, it was a heavy and creamy brew with a hoppy/lightly fruity flavor. It poured a clear dark amber/brown color. If you enjoy a good craft beer, then I think you’ll like this 😋. I found it drinkable for a beer, but it’s not one I would purchase myself😐. My favorite part was the extra strong buzz as it’s a higher alcohol content (nothing official on New Glarus’ website, which is weird but unofficial sources place it between 6.9-8 % alc/vol.). Doughboy_Food_Reviews

Love Spotted Cow and for years always took some home with us when visiting Wisconsin ..this trip we were able to visit!! Did the self-guided tour and was great to learn more about their history. Tasting - 3 4 ounce tastes allows you to choose which beers you'd like to try, and you keep the tasting glass! They have an area where you can wrap your glass to protect it while traveling. Nice selection in the gift shop and area to purchase. Staff we encountered were friendly and knowledgeable. Great stop and we'll return when in the area again

If you’ve come this far, be brave and go for the heavy hitter.. Braunschweiger & Limburger. Make sure you get onions on the sandwich, side of potato salad to help cleanse the palate. Find your soul for a culinary adventure and suck it up. Drink 🍺 with each bite and you’ll be fine.

Cheese store in the front, deli turned restaurant/bar towards the back. Decor embraces the Switzerland vibe in the area. Curds are broiled not fried, but delicious. Enjoyed the pretzel and cheese sauce also. Great selection of cheese sandwiches, cold or grilled. Salad was delicious with large portions. Kids enjoyed the half slab ribs for $10. This place is pretty cool, definitely with a check.

Limburger Cheese, Braunschweiger and sharp red onions on dark rye. This is my favorite sandwich at Baumgartner’s. Another popular sandwich is the homemade tuna salad (not always available). Baumgartner’s Cheese Store and Tavern has a good selection of beer with the local New Glarus Brewing Co beers on tap. Usually there are at least 3 soups served each day. If you have the chance to order the Tomato Basil bisque, you definitely will not be disappointed.

Baumgartner's Cheese Store & Tavern is more than just a restaurant; it's an institution. The combination of its historic charm, outstanding service, and truly unforgettable food makes it an absolute must-stop when you're in town. You won't be disappointed!

I absolutely LOVE small town Wisconsin restaurants/bars with character. Baumgartners OOZES Wisconsin character. From their cheese focused menu, and local craft beers, to the kitchy decor that hasn't seen an update since the Carter administration. Hidden behind the small town charms, however, is a menu simple, charming, and deeply delicious. If youre in the neighborhood, give them a hello, and have a snack, lunch, or just a cocktail.

Wow! This place is great. Old school vibe; bet this place hasn’t changed at all in the past 70 years! Had their daily lunch special, shrimp salad wrap, which came with a pickle and a slab of farmers cheese. Amazing. Had a pint of New Glarus beer to wash it down, and can’t think of a better lunch! Thanks Baumgartners, made my day!

Stopped here for a drink before heading to dinner. What a fun place! Enjoyed the small cheese platter and the 2nd best chili. The staff is phenomenal. Full of energy and welcoming. Highly recommended

20 acre garden on Janesville was pretty and upkept. Took us about an hour to hour and a half to walk through. They had bathrooms along the way and places to rest if needed. They also had a kids story garden that was cute for the little ones. Its worth a visit

Terrific experience from start to finish. We weren't sure what to expect in later fall weather, but there was plenty to enjoy with the pond, leaf colors, perennials, and garden art. Loved the Children's garden, and the wonderful paths around the gardens. We always come for the Holiday lights in winter, and pledged to return in the summer. Our new goal is spring and mid-summer too!

Very beautiful and well maintained garden. Lots of easy waking paths. I found the oriental gardens to be very peaceful and a great spot for birdwatching. Loads of seating throughout the trails to just sit and enjoy nature.

The Rotary Botanical Gardens have several gardens within them. There is something for everyone: an English cottage garden, an Italian garden, a French rose garden, a children's garden, a Japanese garden, and more. There is a red arched bridge that spans the mouth of a pond that takes up a large portion of the garden. This would be a good scene for wedding or prom pictures. A couple of things marred our visit and prevent me from giving it 5 stars. Several of the trees and bushes in the Japanese section were wrapped with Christmas lights, and the associated extension cords were visible in several places where they could have been buried or hidden. You can see them in the gate picture on my review, for example. The main pond was pretty scummy. I know they are working on improving it, but in its current state it distracts from the gardens. Finally, the gravel area in the Japanese garden had not been raked recently, so there was no wave pattern as mentioned on a nearby sign. In general, I think it is worth visiting, but the gardens could be so much better with a little more work.

Absolutely beautiful. No words could describe how gorgeously laid out the garden is. The gift shop prides itself on selling homemade trinkets from various artists.

Beautiful!!! Would have loved to see it in summer. We visited from South Africa!

beautiful gardens, very well maintained! we went on a Wednesday and there were barely any other people there. very beautiful place for photos.

Castle Rock State Park is a hidden gem along the Rock River near Oregon, Illinois. The park offers beautiful scenic views, peaceful hiking trails, and access to the river for kayaking, fishing, or just relaxing by the water. One of the highlights is the wooden observation deck on top of Castle Rock itself — it’s a short hike up and rewards you with a breathtaking view of the river and surrounding forest. The trails are well-marked and not too difficult, making this a great spot for families or casual hikers. It’s also a perfect place for a quiet picnic or nature photography. There aren’t a ton of amenities, so it’s best to come prepared with water and snacks. If you’re looking for a peaceful escape into nature in northern Illinois, Castle Rock State Park is definitely worth a visit.

Beautiful scenic overlook of the Rock River with a well constructed staircase of 147 steps with a few boardwalks to space out the steps off the left side of the parking lot near the entrance, another nice overlook on the right side of the parking lot off the river.

A beautiful park with many picnic shelters. The picnic shelter at the very end has the best views! It took us some driving around to realize the scenic overlook was not inside the park but on the main road a bit ahead of the park entrance right next to the river.

Nice location on the Rock River, scenic lookouts, boat ramp, picnic areas. Several trails to choose from.

Must see Illinois State Park. We enjoyed the stair climb to the observation deck. Highly recommend anytime of the year. Beautiful Rock river area.

We were only able to visit the lookout as there was hunting in the park. It is a beautiful overlook of the rock river. If you make the climb up to it be prepared for over a hundred steps upward. Take your time and enjoy the views. There are benches to rest on at the top if you just want to relax and take it all in. There is also another overlook right by the river which is a much shorter climb. Take a short stroll along the bank of the river. It is a great place to stop and enjoy the beauty of the river.

Nice stop if you are in the area. There are flights of stairs that take you directly up to the overlook itself “castle rock.” No real additional trails directly here, just in the park itself. The actual rock outcropping is blocked from actual pictures on it. But you have some views of the river and surrounding area.

This is an amazing museum! Our family and friends recently went there. We just loved it! There are so many interesting and cool displays and attractions that you could spend easily 2 to 3 hours looking at everything. The history of the items in the museum is fascinating. The Chief Historian Tony Farrell, Sr., spent time talking to us to tell us about some of the attractions. He is very knowledgeable and interesting to listen to. This would be a great place to take friends and family and even group tours would do well here. They also have electric scooters for people that may have a hard time walking through a museum. They are free of charge. I plan on going back as we didn't realize how much time you could spend there. This is one of the best museums I've been in. I highly recommend it for all ages.

A very interesting collection of historical finds presented in fascinating settings! Well worth an hours-long visit! The displays already have plenty of information via video and a lot of wall-sized postings. If that wasn't enough, the docent Tony Farrell was on hand to further inform! The heavier moments of history were handled with appropriate reverence. Highly recommended! The question that arose often was simply 'where do they FIND this stuff?'

A true hidden gem. Growing up, I learned a great deal about America and its history in school, but experiencing it here in person was remarkable. What made the visit even more special was meeting Tony, who generously spent nearly an hour answering all of our questions. His depth of knowledge is impressive, he truly is a walking encyclopedia. We look forward to returning in the future, this time with a bit more planning, to continue learning from both this wonderful place and from Tony.

We had an amazing time. There is such a vast amount of history here. Ask for Tony the amazing historian. He knows everything about the pieces in here. Such a great collection. We spent over 3 hours walking around. It’s huge!!

So I'm doing a Midwest road trip, and I found this historic attraction on social media. So I definitely wanted to check it out. Let me tell you it is one of the most amazing places that I've ever been to. The amount of history that they have in this building is just amazing. The different time errors of vehicles. The history lesson I received from a very very knowledgeable man his name was Tony the historian. He was absolutely amazing. You can sit there and just listen to this man because he knew so much about the past and I was just sitting there trying to soak it all in. He was wonderful. The young lady at the desk was very sweet and kind. But you definitely got to go here. From Elvis's Lincoln to the Flintstone mobile. They have everything. And they even got a bunch of things that I won't say that you're going to love. Go take a road trip and go. You will not regret it I promise. Thank you to the staff again. You made my day extra special you guys are awesome. I'll be back again in the future. 😁🤘🇺🇸💯

Upon arriving at this historic attraction, I had no idea what to expect and I was blown away. You first walk through a large gift shop filled with fascinating items, and then enter the museum, which is packed with rare and valuable artifacts that truly bring history to life. As someone who has always loved history, I was astonished by how incredible this place is. Even my 11-year-old son (who usually prefers sports over museums 😂) said how awesome it was to see authentic items from some of the greatest events in history. The real treasure here, though, is Tony, the historian who works on weekends. He has done extensive research on every single item in the museum, and his passion for history shines through in every story he tells. He’s not only incredibly knowledgeable but also one of the kindest people I’ve ever met. Talking with him truly made our visit unforgettable. A special shoutout also goes to Gracie, the wonderful woman selling tickets so kind, warm, and welcoming! If you love history or even if you don’t think you do come visit this attraction. Bring your family, your friends, anyone! It’s an experience you’ll remember, and your visit helps keep this amazing place open for others to enjoy.

I really enjoyed my visit here. Wasn’t sure what to expect as an auto museum, but as a history buff, I was very pleasantly surprised. And Tony the historian knew EVERYTHING! We sat through his talk about the JFK exhibit and he rattled off so many facts. I was fascinated. Bought tickets in advance on Groupon and got a great deal. Check it out - it’s worth the drive.

Very cool lake for fishing, kayaking, boating and sailing. Launch ramps and docks are in very decent shape. Like other reviewers said, only complaint would be the vault toilets. They do need to be remodeled.

Always enjoy my hikes at Rock Cut. The park is beautiful with plenty of bird life to enjoy and relaxing views to sit and enjoy on benches to rest at on our hikes. The lake is beautiful and has rental kayaks. It's a perfect place to relax and enjoy nature. The park is clean and well kept and the snack shop has ample choices to have a snack or a smoothie after your day if hiking or fishing!

Rock Cut SP has so much to offer. It is a wonderful place to spend some time. We camped here for three nights during the last week of June. The people at the permit station were all very kind at check-in and the multiple times we drove thru. There are many campsites available on separate loops. Most, from what we saw, were leveled, and many had a decent amount of shade. Some were wide open and had no privacy. There are also some sites right by the lake. The bathrooms were a disappointment, however. No toilet seats? Just a toilet bowl. The showers were okay, but the shower curtains looked so dirty. The facility itself looked very old and definitely in need of updates and repairs. Also, while there are separate campground loops , there are only two flush toilets/ shower buildings. Driving around the park, we saw many picnic areas and trail heads. There are many benches situated around the lake to sit and enjoy the beautiful views. Near one of the boat launch areas, there is a concession store and cafe. We had great customer service at both. At the café we tried some smoothies, fries, and chicken nuggets. All very good. This park is undoubtedly beautiful. Unfortunately, visitors do not seem to care about it enough. We saw a lot of trash just scattered about. In one area where my husband was fishing, he filled an entire plastic bag with empty bottles he found within just a few feet. Plan to come back and explore some more!

We camped here for 4 nights. Some things were nice. Like being able to camp near the water. Others campers were very quiet that we were near. Other things could use a little more T.L.C. Like some of the pit toilets being out of toilet paper. The shower/toilet area could also use a little updating and more diligent cleaning. For the most part, we really did like our camping experience and would camp here again.

Rock Cut State Park – Illinois Rock Cut State Park offers a solid workout for those looking for a good walk or hike. The trails are well-marked with clear directions, making it easy to navigate. While the park doesn’t have an abundance of scenic viewpoints, there are a few nice spots worth stopping for. It’s a pleasant experience for outdoor exercise and a refreshing nature escape.

Nice campground but watch out for nearby dumpsters! Sites are pretty level and many are shady. Lot of big rigs in the electric loops. Dark and quiet at night at least in our loop. Hiking isn't very challenging but nice trails. Few skeeters for June.

A very beautiful park! I enjoyed a lovely afternoon hike and saw a ton of wildlife! I can't wait to go back!

Such a cute place on a beautiful farm! Wonderful selection for the wine flights, and some of the most delicious bread we've ever had. The staff was very welcoming, and this absolutely includes the farm cats that may decide to grace you with their presence and make sure you're having a lovely time - we got to know one of them named Dutch. Their cocktail menu also looked really good, we will definitely be back!

If you are vacationing in Lake Geneva, then add a stop to Staller Estate Winery in Delavan. You won't be disappointed. The drive is about 40 minutes from Lake Geneva. Staller Estate Winery is beautiful, charming, relaxing and the best part - it's woman owned. Make sure to reserve a Barrel Cellar Experience. Everything was delicious. The service was amazing. We purchased bottles to go to enjoy and to gift.

A lovely, welcoming environment! Their wine tasting menu is so fancy and fun. Everything, cheeseboard and wines, were delicious! There’s plenty of space inside and fun seating outside. Service was pleasant. Overall enjoyed the entire experience.

Staff was amazing. Came for my birthday and they were so kind, even surprised me by singing happy birthday! Wine was amazing and had to try their barrel aged old fashioned. Definitely coming back!

Always lovely. Comfortable with great staff. Scenic and nestled among corn fields and winery. Plenty of seating, good value for the flights and boards.

Honestly this was my favorite winery experience I’ve ever had. I legitimately enjoyed everything here-the wine, the atmosphere, the staff/service and the charcuterie. We had a very large group and Jessica and the rest of the staff took care of us fantastically from the moment we got there to the moment we left. Even had someone with a gluten allergy as well as a vegan with us and people who did not drink and no stone was left unturned to accommodate. Thank you so much for such a wonderful time here for my bachelorette weekend.

Stellar Estate Winery offers an enchanting escape into the world of fine wines and exquisite flavors. Nestled amidst picturesque vineyards, the winery provides a serene setting that invites guests to unwind and indulge in sensory delights. The wine tasting flight is amazing, featuring a selection of meticulously crafted wines that showcase the unique characteristics of each varietal. From crisp whites to robust reds, every pour is a revelation, expertly crafted to captivate the palate and ignite the senses. But the experience doesn't stop there. The lavender cocktail, a signature creation of the winery, is a harmonious blend of sophistication and whimsy. The delicate floral notes of the lavender infuse the cocktail with a subtle elegance, while hints of citrus and herbs add depth and complexity, resulting in a drink that is as refreshing as it is memorable. What sets Stellar Estate Winery apart is their unwavering commitment to quality and innovation. Each wine and cocktail is a testament to their passion for the craft, showcasing the best that the region has to offer. Whether you're a seasoned oenophile or simply looking for a delightful afternoon getaway, Stellar Estate Winery promises an unforgettable experience that celebrates the artistry of winemaking and the beauty of the surrounding landscape.

Living history at its best! We visited on a beautiful summer day and spent almost the whole day there. So many things to see. We love the Crossroads Village, the farm demos, animals, and the Scandinavian homesteads. My 5 year old loved learning how to make bread and how to wash clothes the “old fashioned” way. The trams taking you to each section is a huge plus! We also enjoyed lunch at the Caldwell Food Hall and ice cream at the creamery. A great way to learn about Wisconsin history!

We went to Old World Wisconsin for their October Homeschool day. It was great! Highly recommend! Lots to see and do. The kids enjoyed all the activities, and feeling like you steped back in time to the 1800s. We saw the Blacksmith shop where the blacksmith was making an S hook and the kids got to learn about the anvil & horn, they enjoyed ice cream at the Creamery, in the Finnish village they made homemade butter, learned how boots were mended, had a yummy drink at the Four Mile House, learned how to make rope, the General Store docent showed us how they grade eggs, learned how they washed laundry back in the 1800's and so many other things. Huge place so remember to bring good walking shoes and water. They do have many shuttles if you choose not to walk. The Creamery building does have some food. PB&J, popcorn, premade salads and some other sandwiches. Great gift shop with lots of books, toys for the kids, candy, Holiday items and clean bathrooms. Just remember to get your tickets in advance. Our Homeschool event did sell out. We can't wait to go back again!

Old world Wisconsin is such an awesome place with so much history so much to see and do and the workers (actors? Performers?)are great at playing their roles very kind and very nice always greeting with a smile and some great historical facts about the houses/buildings that are on location every single one of them such great people ,I've been twice now but plan on returning its so good and there is always something new to find one day isn't enough to see everything the place has to offer ,I believe they just added a tavern and are working on doing something to the main entrance. They sell souvenirs and offer food and drinks ice cream and more they also have tokens you can use on one of the multiple themed shops, the place is fairly big so they have a "tram" service for free that stops on every interest point in the park it gets full fast fyi but it's very convenient, they have some hiking trails too, you could walk the whole place no problem if you want to. Great experience it's a must if you're a history buff or just want to experience a little bit of history heck even just to walk around for a bit this place is awesome 😎👍🏽 highly recommended.

Had a great time with my child for the day! Beautiful grounds, engaging experiences with the staff, and easy on and off tram to get around. Plenty of bathrooms around the entire property. Plan to stay a while, pack snacks and/or lunch, and see it all.

We met some of our grandkids there and really enjoyed. The tram system between areas worked really well. The different areas were interesting, especially the docents. They each had interesting knowledge to share about their area of interest. The live examples of blacksmithing, teaching and brewing were great.

Great day exploring Old World Wisconsin! Very accessible living museum with lots to see and do. We were able to walk a great deal, then to ride the free trams when we wanted. The OWW team was fabulous - friendly, engaging, and knowledgeable about the buildings and crafts they were demonstrating. We saw a lot, but want to go back for more!

Never miss an opportunity to pop in at Old World Wisconsin. Always something new. This time we didn’t spent lots of time, as it was a bonus stop after visiting Milton House Underground Railroad, but we saw the new Tavern. Beautiful.

Decided to make a quick stop because my son loves trains. They had 2 trains pass in less than 10 mins. We just wish they had a better playground for the kinds.

Is is a mecca for railfans, with two of the major transcontinental lines crossing each other, and the park is amazing! The Pavilion has multiple picnic tables where groups can sit, converse, and eat food, and it offers unobstructed views of both rail lines. There are also grassy areas where you can set up lawn chairs and blankets if you would like to have a picnic on the grass. The gift shop has many items which pertain to railroading in general and the park, along with a room that has history about the railroads in Rochelle. If you are a railfan, this is a must go!

Very nice train watching park. Covered area that also has scanner playing to listen to the BNSF and UP. Gift shop has everything for a train lover plus snacks.

Absolutely loved it. There's a train kids can play on, my niece & nephew loved it. It's so amazing watching the trains go by. Completely free, although there's a gift shop with train merchandise, (not sure if their open). It's also really neat that you can tune into a radio station to see what trains are coming.

I love coming down here. If you are a train buff then you will find your people here! I come down because I love to photograph the graffiti and the kiddos just love watching the trains go by. It's a wonderful way to pass a beautiful day.

The Rochelle Railroad Park is a great place to see trains! Lot's of trains! The BNSF and Union Pacific Railroad main lines both merge and cross one another at a junction here at the park, leading to all points west. The park is in a great location near shopping centers and restaurants by a mile or two from the park. The park also has a small gift shop that sells T-shirts, coffee mugs, small wooden train whistles for kids etc... The park also has on site restrooms, along with vending machines holding both soda and water. The Rochelle Railroad Park is a great place to have a picnic and to take kids. But do keep a sharp eye on small children. While there is a fence preventing small children from running out onto the tracks, there are still some dangers. Kids can find gaps in the fence to get around, since the fence does run a finite length. Also there is a potential falling hazard up by the pavilion, since it does rise up about 10+ feet over the surrounding ground, to give a locomotive cab ride height view, so you can look right into the locomotive engineers eyes as you wave to him from his vantage point. And then finally the parking lot can be full of both people and moving cars. So you will need to watch the little ones so they don't go running out into the parking lot when your not looking. But generally the park is safe for kids over 6 yrs old. And for younger kids it's generally safe. So long as you keep an eye on kids who tend to run off without understanding potential dangers. Personally I wouldn't take any children under the age of 5, as train sounds can be a bit much for really small children. The park is a great place to get pictures and video of trains. But it's not ideal if your looking for professional pictures. The park does have telephone polls, Railroad crossing gate equipment on property that's the size of a SUV, and a couple of other things that can sometimes pose a challenge if you always want 100% uninterrupted vantage points of trains. The good news though is that the town of Rochelle does have other vantage points near the park that can provide truly uninterrupted vantage points of the trains. But otherwise most people generally think the park itself offers a good enough environment for taking good photos and videos. Especially because you are elevated a bit and are nice and close to the action. People who visit the park on a regular basis are usually Illinois residents. However people from Wisconsin (Such as myself) will often make the drive to the park on weekends as well, who make up the 2nd largest demographic of the 50 states that visits the park. You will then see plenty of Minnesota and Iowa plates to. However people do come from all 50 states. Even sometimes from other countries like Australia or Germany. Yes I have met them there, because they wanted to see American trains and because Rochelle Railroad Park is well known from media such as Train Magazine, TV shows and radio. Plus word of mouth. People are almost always very nice here. I personally have never had a bad experience. And I have visited the park for 21 years now, year after year. (Sometimes several times in any given year even.) But keep in mind sometimes railfans can be a bit strange. They will sometimes talk your ear off about their hobby. All in good fun mind you. But sometimes it can be a bit much if your more of a casual observer. Now this isn't much of an issue, as most will keep to themselves and won't divulge information unless you ask. So I give the park 4 out of 5 stars. It's got a lot going for it. But there are some things to keep in mind that may not always be perfect for you depending on your specific circumstances. So that's why I can't give 5 stars. Because your milage may very with what you will end up experiencing due to individual requirements. The park is ment for families 👪. And most children 6 years on up will be fine. So check it out. And keep an open mind. Very much worth it at least once! 🙂

We drove out here to visit this place and enjoy not one, but two mainline railroads converge. The spot provides an excellent location for railfans to gather and watch trains. Additionally, it is likely someone will be listening to railroad scanners, so you'll know when a train is due. It's a small spot though, and other than a few historic railroad things on display, there isn't much else to do. Overall, it's a fun little place to visit, although I wouldn't recommend the gift shop. Whoever was running the cash register apparently didn't want to be there, or was having a bad day, and was quite rude with us. Maybe it was just his personality. In any case, it didn't ruin the visit, but was worth mentioning.

Geneva Lake is such a beautiful spot to visit. The water is clear, the views are stunning, and the entire area feels relaxing and inviting. Whether you’re walking along the shore path, enjoying a boat ride, or just sitting by the lake, it’s a wonderful place to spend time. It’s definitely one of Wisconsin’s gems and worth a visit.

"Lake Geneva is such a beautiful place to visit! The lake path gives incredible views of historic estates, and the water is so clean and inviting. Perfect spot to relax and recharge."

The water is super warm, however you have to pay a beach entrance fee. Jet ski is about 140/hour and 6-seater boat is 350 for 2 hours

Geneva lake has to be one of the most clean and beautiful lakes in all of Wisconsin. There is a lake path that travels around the whole lake giving you views of lots of beautiful houses, flowers, gardens, beaches and much more. Definitely worth a visit and a walk. It's just over 21 miles around but easily can be broken into smaller sections.

First time on this Lake. Very nice. Fishing was slow. Boat ramp was very nice.$12 to launch. Surprisingly busy for a Tuesday with kids still in school. We were there at 10 a.m. and only five about 30 stalls were still available.

Wonderful place to relax and visit with family. Beautiful views of the lake all around

Amazing!

Lake Geneva Shore Path – A Scenic and Serene Walk Through History Walking the Lake Geneva Shore Path was one of the most peaceful and inspiring experiences I've had. The trail wraps around the lake and gives you an up-close view of beautiful historic estates, charming gardens, and the crystal-clear water of Lake Geneva. Each section of the path has its own personality, from wooded stretches to lakefront mansions, and it’s amazing how every homeowner maintains their portion of the trail uniquely. There’s a real sense of history here—you can almost feel the stories behind each estate as you pass by. It’s a long walk if you want to do the full loop (over 20 miles!), but even walking a portion is well worth it. Wear comfortable shoes and bring water—there are a few uneven spots, but nothing too difficult. Highly recommend this for nature lovers, history buffs, and anyone looking for a relaxing, picturesque day outdoors.

Lake Geneva Shore Path runs along the entire lake. On the 26 mile path you’ll pass historic estates with beautifully sculptured gardens and landscapes. History serves that 2500 BC to 1836 AD Chief Big Foot and his Potawatomi tribe walked this path between their villages. The path has been preserved nicely by all the estate owners that live on the lake. The path is rugged in places made up of brick, wood, stones, boulders and slate. It’s an enjoyable walk with plenty of breathtaking views and colorful inlets that change in the seasons!

Beautiful path and great for a family walk. Wear good shoes because not all paths are smooth. Bring a camera to capture ideas for gardens and for butterflies and bumble bees.

We walked the path from the library and again from Williams Bay So much fun to see all the houses - Some parts of the trail are maintained better than others- but the worst we ran into were some mud puddles the day after a rain Thoroughly enjoyed the path

Love walking the Lake Shore Path. Especially in the fall time. Path goes completely around the lake, but has multiples places you can enter at. A peaceful walk. 💗

Love it! I feel so grateful that this trail exists. The views of the water, gorgeous homes, and beautifully landscaped areas are amazing. This is definitely more of a hiking trail, so it may not be a good option for those with limited mobility or anyone using a stroller. Access points are limited. We parked one car at our starting point and another at our end destination, and the stretch we walked was about six miles. There were no bathrooms and no easy ways to exit once on the trail, so plan ahead. Definitely worth the trip!

Lake geneva was definitely a beautiful place to explore. Loved the time we spent at the lake.

On our way into Lake Geneva, we stopped at the ‘Tristan Crist Magic Theater.’ I wasn’t sure what to expect from a magician in the middle of a corn field, so we were pleasantly surprised by a great show. Some of his tricks were amazing. Definitely Vegas quality! So next time you’re in Lake Geneva, don’t miss it!

Tristin's show was terrific. Offered a wide variety of magic, illusions, etc. with his assistant Shannon . Fun for adults as well as kids. Nice use of audience participation. Definitely recommend seeing it. Well worth the ticket price. This is Vegas type entertainment

This show was better than I expected, even with all.of the great reviews! It was an action-packed and very entertaining 90 minutes. Lots of interacting with the audience and all ages seemed to really enjoy the show. Tristan is very funny and very skilled! My husband and I.both really enjoyed it.

Great show! Everyone needs to experience the magic! My 7 y.o son wont stop talking about how cool it was.

My husband and I went here on our anniversary weekend trip. It was an amazing experience! You have to do this! I don't want to give too much away...lol. Atmosphere and staff were top notch. The show itself was indescribable We had chills! Tristan was very down to earth and so funny! PUT on list to do! Make sure you get tickets online way before you want to go because it sells out fast!!!

10/10 show, very entertaining and fun! Great facility and experience. Would recommend

This was a last minute addition to our vacation itinerary and so glad we did. My 7 year old LOVED it and decided she wants to be a magician now. It's a relatively intimate venue so you can see the illusions very well. Still have no idea how they pulled a single one off. I prefer to believe they really are magic. Well worth it and great family fun!

Not worth the $50 for a family of 5. Half the exhibits were closed. The lighted glow structures were pretty and we were impressed with the white rhinos and tiger. Everything else was lackluster.

So I went to the zoo today I’m in town visiting a friend and relaxing. Had nothing to do this afternoon or this morning so I decided I wanted to go to the zoo. The Peoria zoo allows service animals Myself and my service animal went to the zoo We get there and I can only assume it’s the manager. I don’t know if it was the manager or supervisor, but the gentleman approached me when I came in to the counter to pay for my entry to the zoo and he asked me is this service dog I said she is my service animal due to a medical condition and he looks at me almost like it’s disbelief like he’s like oh are you sure ask me again and I say yes and he’s like then he asked me again and I’m like yes it is my service animal She is a dog. She is here with me because I need her and what she does for me you are causing the issue right now of why she’s about to provide service to me in a moment because he was killing my anxiety. He’s like well. I have people that come in all the time that say their dogs are service dogs and they bark out of control and I kick him out or tell him not to come back and You can pay and if your dog barks or lunges or jump it anyone I’m gonna have you removed from the zoo? I’m like OK fine no problem with that. As I’m thinking of myself like this, dude didn’t have to do all all that some of that is common sense and some of it’s perfectly acceptable to do if someone service dog or ““ service animal supposed is making a disturbance you can ask them to leave if my dog barks or does anything inappropriate you don’t have to ask me to leave. I’m gonna feel embarrassed and humiliated. I’m gonna leave myself and take my dog with me But all the while I’m thinking to myself like dude you asked me what you’re allowed to ask me now you can ask me the other two questions that you’re allowed to ask me, but please stop trying to insinuate that you don’t believe my dog is a service animal and you’re trying to give me The opportunity to back out of it We spent a couple hours in your facility, walking around seeing all the animals that were out. My dog encountered a tiger didn’t make a peep. My dog saw rhino didn’t make a peep. My dog saw a giraffe walk right up to her at the window and stare at her and look, and my dog didn’t make a peep. All the students that were there all the kids that were there for the day my dog didn’t lunch out or pull out or try and get it any of them So while you were more worried about whether my dog really was a service animal or not when we left, you could’ve come up and said thanks for coming and done something to try and recognize how well-behaved my service animal is all you had to do was simply say something like sorry I hope you didn’t think I was giving you a hard time Something like that just to recognize that but no, you were going more towards the front at the beginning, seeming like you’re trying to assume that my dog is not a real service animal I don’t know why maybe because she’s a smaller dog maybe because she’s a miniature schnauzer and not a larger dog that some people are most people might assume is the service dog I don’t know maybe that’s why Something else that I encountered, there was some of the most polite children that are at the zoo not one time did someone try and come up to touch or distract my dog several of the kids that would walk by would ask me can I pet your dog and I’d say Sorry not now thank you for asking and their parents would even tell them that was a great job you did it asking back home. Everyone just would’ve stuck their hand out at the dog and tried to pet her.

This place doesn’t even deserve any stars. The zoo here is just a big scam and the zootober event was the worse experience ever. They were stingy with the candy, half the food and drinks were expensive too. The “family events” which were just coloring was atleast a little fun, they weren’t too creative with this, I’ve seen school events better than this. Mind you, it’s 15 for each person so it all came up to around 60 there was no price different with kids and adults. The decorations were just giving “I’m too lazy”. I was very upset about this whole thing cause I spent around 63. They also don’t explain enough on the website, like prices of things. If you should bring your own buckets or if they have bags, what type of events they are going to have and so on. The person that wrote out everything about the event was lazy. I wish I could get a refund cause the whole thing was terrible and my siblings were upset.

We went for Fathers and Floats on Fathers Day. We enjoyed the exhibits and clean facilities. We appreciated the warning of the "splash zone" when the lemurs were crossing over the bridge. Not a disappointment, we enjoyed the stay.

What a treasure to our community! ...did you know you can get married here and have your reception?! It is truly one of the most unique places I have photographed. Feeling the giraffes is such a cool memory! I can't wait to be back here photographing weddings!

Its a small zoo but a zoo nonetheless, if you live here with kids its worth it! You can go all year round. Perfect size.

Very cool zoo experience. Lots of animals other little zoos don't have. I'd highly recommend a visit here.

We loved the Caterpillar Visitors Center! I can't get my husband to go to places like this, however, he enjoyed the CAT visitors center very much. He really enjoyed the simulators and seeing the equipment. While I enjoyed the history of Caterpillar. We definitely would recommend.

The outside of the building is huge and beautifully designed. We were greeted when we walked in. They offered us cookies and coffee, cookies were very good. Seniors were free, we entered with a group of 4H and FAA students. Seating was in the dump bucket of a massive earth mover turned into a movie theater. There are many displays of CAT history. There is a merch store with everything CAT. if you're in the area it's worth seeing.

A very interesting visitor center with many interactive activities that appeal to all ages. It is extremely kid-friendly, featuring impressive displays of both equipment and detailed engineering processes. The sheer size of the equipment is truly breathtaking. We definitely recommend a visit for everyone. Key Changes: Added "that appeal to" to connect activities and ages more smoothly. Used "truly" to amplify "breathtaking.

My 9 year old grandson had a great time here! The machines were huge! It was fun trying to do tasks in the simulators.

Very interesting to see through the years their progress and innovation to keep up with changes. Love the HUGE truck you get to stand by. Mostly though it's the retired employees who answer all your questions that make this so enjoyable.

So much to see, my boys love explore all the equipment. And learning how thier favorite brand came born. We came at thier 100 year celebration. So we got to see what the furture holds for caterpillar.

Very welcoming visitors center staffed primarily by former employees who are happy to share their experiences and history of the machine giant. The displays are not only impressive, but also provide historical insight into the designs and company culture. Fun videos plus interactive simulators (slightly addictive!) and giant yellow stuff! Nice gift shop with unique items.

We’ve always used Paradise Hotel for overnight getaways in Peoria, but our recent stay was extremely disappointing. When I booked two rooms for this past weekend, both were shown as fully covered under my room comps, but my card was charged $43.68. After calling to resolve it, the representative charged my card again, and I still have not received a refund for the first charge. Upon arrival, there was literally nowhere to park, so my husband had to drop me at the door and walk from the casino lot. The front desk staff were distracted, focused on walkie talkies and other employees rather than assisting us. When I tried to bring up the previous billing issue, the representative simply printed a receipt and claimed I had been refunded—which I have not. The room itself was filthy: stained sheets, dried blood rings on the bathroom floor, a leaking toilet, shower water spilling outside the glass, and heavy dust throughout. I have previously spoken to management about the cleanliness, but nothing has improved. Check-out was no better; I did not even get a chance to ask for a receipt or address the condition of the room because the staff were too busy talking to a bus driver. I’ve tried reaching out to the hotel twice since our stay with no response. We had hoped to reschedule future reservations, but after this experience, we will be looking elsewhere. Paradise Hotel’s declining customer service, filthy rooms, and lack of accountability make it impossible to recommend.

My daughter took me on my Birthday weekend. Enjoyed myself. Lost my id. That was two weeks ago. Placed a call. They let me know it was found. Literally picked it up from security yesterday!

I've been coming to this hotel/casino for years. I took a long pause after my aunt passed, because that was who I would always go with. Well when I decided to come back and do our tradition by myself, I haven't been super impressed with the rooms. The hotel rooms do not get clean very well. I've stayed here a few times over the past couple of months. This last time there was hair in the shower, the tile looks moldy in certain spots, the ceilings are peeling and my sheets had stains on them. I really think the cleaning staff needs to take more time to clean the rooms and maybe not let people check in early like other hotels so they have time and not rush through. I will say for the most part, the front desk is always nice and helpful when I check in. The casino is great & I've never had an issue there.

We spent 3 nights here and not once did we receive room service. No one came to clean our room at all which was disappointing. Why is there only microwaves on select floors ? There is not a space for me to put my towels in the shower so multiple times they fell on the floor. The tv was difficult to use with a gaming console. I felt like this would have been a more “luxuries” hotel but it was not. I’ve been to better. We came for a small honey moon and were disappointed.

I love the Boat. It has great atmosphere and a wide variety of machines! The service is definitely in need of some changes though, I had a cocktail waitress the other night named Mackenzie who was a complete mess. She was drunk, rude, and slow. On busy nights I expect for my drink to take a little while but this was not a busy night and it took 2 hours for me to get 1 drink then she said “really no tip” and scuffed away just because I asked for my change back.? She was slurring her words and breath definitely smelled like liquor. I’ll be back but will probably avoid whatever floor she is on again!

Rooms exactly as pictured on site. Bed was super comfortable. A\C worked great. The towels smelled old and like they were burnt. The gentleman who checked us in about 10 pm had an attitude acted like it was a bother to help me. Acted like I was an idoit for asking home a question. My hit a bonus just about every machine I played. Ranging from $6.00 to 88.00 nothing over 100 but I left in the positive. My husband however could win anything. He gave up kept his money and just watched me. Even though I won it was very small and a lot of older games. It was a nice place but I just don’t think we’ll be back.

Fun to play at however, I’ve spent loads and loads of money, won some, lost some. Somewhere in the neighborhood of like 40k a year. The hosts never ever ever give you free play comps. It’s not them though I think it’s Boyd, they are just a corrupt brand and treat players like crap. I do enjoy Hollywood casino in St. Louis but probably because it’s not Boyd.

Whiskey was good, nice facility, the tour we paid for however..... the person giving the tour was completely hammered and was on a tirad about the government and how they pay too many taxes. The tour was supposed to be an hour and consisted of 55 min of standing in one place listening to him talk about how during covid his wife and he were likely intoxicated while teaching grade school remotely. As a parent it was all I could do to restrain myself. We left the tour early with no end in site of the drunken dissertation. Afterwards I was standing at the food truck waiting for my order when I herd this same person trying to barter for food by offering drinks for food. This person was a family member of the owning family and poorly represented the company. I have no intention of returning... but as long as this intoxicated gradeschool teacher isn't in my sphere, I may.

First visit—and now forever fans! We stopped by Whiskey Acres during my bonus son's family weekend at NIU, and wow—what a gem! The place looks like it came straight out of a movie set, with charm and character in every corner. The staff? Absolutely phenomenal—attentive, kind, and never overbearing. And the drinks? Calling them “amazing” doesn’t even begin to cover it. From the first sip to the last, everything was top-notch. We’ll definitely be back—this place has earned a permanent spot in our hearts!

A Must-Visit! From the moment you step into Whiskey Acres, you know you're in for an experience. The craftsmanship is unmatched, and the flavors are unforgettable. Blue Popcorn Spirit, barrel smoke, cherries, bitters, and some of the best maple syrup in the Midwest come together to create one of the best Old Fashioneds around! We had the pleasure of tasting the Blue Popcorn, Bottled-in-Bond Rye, and the newly bottled Maple—each one was fabulous. But the highlight? Creating our own Old Fashioned! The hands-on experience takes this distillery visit to another level. If you're a bourbon whiskey lover or just someone who appreciates quality craft spirits, Whiskey Acres is a must-visit. Stop in for a sip—you won’t regret it! Enjoying life one sip, one bite, and one small town at a time! Explore everything!

If you like to have fun, if you like whiskey if you like to know this history of Whiskey Acres you need to check this place out. Great staff, great deinks great atmosphere overall.

This place is amazing! Very friendly salt of the earth staff and owners! The whiskey is top notch! Food trucks came and there was live music. The place is ultimate relaxation!

Haley was fantastic. She was so fun to chat with. Patrick was a great tour guide. He was on it and if he didn't know he was willing to find out. We had a great time. Sad the band didn't show but ALL the workers were so fun! We drove 90 minutes and would do it again. Thanks for a great time.

This has become one of our favorite goto spots. Live music, food trucks and some great cocktails. The frozen old fashioned is a summertime must! We just tried their new pumpkin caramel bourbon coffee and it was incredible!! We will be back

Strawberry picking was fantastic! We love going to the market with so many varieties of fresh goods. If you've never been you are totally missing out on a real treat. Best apple cider donuts and ice cream!!!

We had a blast! So much to do here! My favorite place to go with family. You can spend the entire day here and not get bored for just $20 per person. Also amazing fresh, warm apple cider donuts! Phone died, could not take more pics, sorry, but trust me, sooooo much to do! You will not regret going!

Went apple picking two weekends ago. We had a good time. The apples are delicious. We got a chance to go to the different games, ride the carousel, pet animal in the petting zoo and so much more. Definitely recommend to go wether just to go apple picking or to enjoy the games and food. Plus the big assortment of products they have at the store.

We visited Stade’s Farm & Market on Monday, October 13th, 2025, enjoying the extra day off. It was so much fun! There is so much to do here! A cool corn maze, plenty of fun tractors to sit on, trampolines, petting zoos, etc. A fresh market of course with Apple cider donuts (family favorite) and we got some pumpkins too. It was my first time but the people I was with have been here several times and showed me around. Not a whole lot to comment on, overall, just good! (Written 10-23-25)

I went to Stade’s Farm & Market today with 2 of my friends, and we had a fabulous time! Stade’s farm is quite large and though there were many people there, it never felt crowded. We picked apples and there were quite a few varieties available. The apples look and taste great! And we also shopped at the market for additional fresh vegetables. The staff was very friendly and helpful. This was a great experience and easy to get to from Chicago.

I’ve been coming here all my life, the farmers market is excellent, apple cider donuts are next level, sweet corn is legend around here. Pumpkin picking is $8 a pumpkin and they do not allow dogs anywhere on the property. There are tons of activities and stuff to do with the family on the weekend. They’ve really built up quite the spot over the years!

Had a nice day and farm is well run to monetize whatever they have on offer. My biggest issue was I spent $30 on a box of self harvest veggies and everything in the field was overripe or over picked. I came home to find out zucchini and squash were too overripe to use. Tomatoes look good but hard as a rock. Had to really search for broccoli crowns. Cabbage was rotten. Soybeans were dead. If the season is over, tell your customers, don’t charge them $30 and them let them find out when they get home. The apples were good though and it is September. I should’ve known not to bother with veggies but they really shouldn’t have offered self harvest. Otherwise we had a great time. Cost was $80 (apples and veggies), $43 (lunch), $25 (in the market for jam and bbq rub, plus a few ears of corn). **update, the broccoli was full of caterpillars and inedible. There were just too many to pick out. It was one of the few vegetables we were able to harvest. The zucchini and squash were overripe and unusable.

Our family’s visit to the Edith Farnsworth House was nothing short of magical. Tucked away in a peaceful, pastoral setting in Plano, Illinois, this architectural gem is more than just a home—it’s an immersive experience in beauty, serenity, and history. From the moment we arrived, we were struck by the natural tranquility of the grounds. The lush landscape, the slow-moving Fox River, and the quiet rustling of the trees created an immediate sense of calm and reflection. It's one of those rare places where the outside world seems to fall away, and you find yourself entirely in the moment. The staff deserves special recognition. Every person we encountered was warm, knowledgeable, and passionate about the legacy of the home and its fascinating story. They treated our family like guests rather than just visitors, making sure we felt welcome and informed at every step. Our guide in particular was outstanding—deeply insightful and engaging, weaving together the architectural, historical, and personal aspects of the house in a way that brought it all vividly to life. Of course, the house itself is stunning. Designed by Mies van der Rohe and completed in 1951, the Farnsworth House is a masterpiece of modernist architecture. Its glass walls and clean lines feel both timeless and profoundly peaceful. Standing inside, surrounded by light and nature, you can understand exactly why Dr. Edith Farnsworth fell in love with this vision of living simply and beautifully. Whether you're an architecture enthusiast, a nature lover, or simply looking for a thoughtful and relaxing family outing, the Edith Farnsworth House offers an unforgettable experience. It's a place that invites you to slow down, breathe, and appreciate the art of design and the serenity of stillness. We left feeling deeply inspired and incredibly grateful for such a meaningful day together. Five stars is not enough. We will absolutely return—and we highly recommend visiting during the changing seasons to witness the landscape's evolving beauty.

I highly recommend visiting here. Our docent, John, knew so much about the house and grounds and his stories and descriptions added so much to this interesting place! Allow plenty of time for the tour, walking through the house, and exploring the grounds and sculptures. The gift shop has a great selection of architecture and design books, as well as memorabilia, and stylish souvenirs. We also enjoyed the art gallery where we saw works by Truman Lowe.

As an architect, I highly recommend visiting the Edith Farnsworth house, the guided tour was very interesting and to see original work from Mies van der Rohe is amazing with all the story around it. It is far, so we booked an Uber from Chicago the four of us, and then asked the Uber to wait for us to come back to the city.

Worth a visit if you are interested in Architecture. We did a private tour which was very well put together. There is a decent amount of walking on the your as the visitor center is far from the actual house. The walking is through woods along the Fox River (yes there are bugs). The house itself is a masterpiece and worth experiencing in person even if you are already familiar with it from books and other media. It's too bad that inside the house they couldn't find a way to hide the many cameras that sit on top of the central core. I understand they want to keep an eye on the visitors but they could be Integrated better so they don't become an eyesore.

It is a very beautifully constructed home. The tour guide was awesome and very knowledgeable of the area and the home and very knowledgeable of the architect and is very awesome that they have been able to keep it up and preserve the beauty of this home. And the girl that worked at the welcome center was very lovely and polite.

The most Beautiful work by Mies van der Rohe. I especially want to highlight this after visiting MIes' Lemke House in Berlin, his Tugendhat House in Brno, his Lange and Esters house in Krefeld, and Philip Johnson’s Glass House in New Canaan.

As an Architect, this visit was like visiting a shrine of some religion! Stunning work of architecture and done in 1940! Mies was the master of detail, and here it is well executed. A great storey too about the client and Architect. Well worth the trip from half way around the globe to see and understand this beautifull project.

We love this venue, a lot of our favorite bands seem to play here. It's just a really awesome classic theater, and it has very good sound acoustics, as well as nice bars as well. We like to stake out the back door at the end of shows, and see who we can possibly meet, and take a photo with sometimes. We've met many of our favorite artists this way!

During the Scarecrow Fest, we were able to tour the speak easy above the Arcada. The theater itself is stunningly beautiful, but the speak easy is a turn back in time. It is priceless. I hope to come back to enjoy the full feel of a show.

Always have a great time here and I love there isn't a bad seat in the house! My only complaint is that it isn't closer to me! This was my 3rd time here and my second time seeing The Fixx 🤘🏼 I'm looking forward to going back again in the fall 🖤

Always enjoy our trips to the Arcada. It is a stunning building, has great sound, the staff is amazing, and the food is delicious. We come often for concerts (from north of Detroit) and it is so nice to find free parking close by, go up and have dinner and drinks before the show, and then enjoy a great concert. Definitely one of our favorite venues to visit.

We came here for Orianthi tonight . It's been a long time since we have been here last. The security at the front door rocks. The speakeasy restaurant is absolutely adorable. The staff at the doorway are very charming. The restaurant itself is perfectly charming. The entertainment on stage was pleasant. The sound system seemed good It would be good if there would be soups on the menu. Will be back to write more. The decor all over the building is great. Too much detail to describe here.

The Arcada Theatre is a stunning gem in the Fox River Valley that perfectly combines historic charm with modern amenities. This beautifully renovated venue boasts a Spanish Colonial Revival style design, characterized by beige terra cotta masonry, arched windows, and low-pitched clay tile roofs. Built in 1926, the theater's unique aesthetic reflects the Spanish influence from the owner's travels, with Venitian Italian, and Spanish-inspired decor, stone benches, name meaning "arcade" in Spanish. The interesting interior of antiques, curated photo memorabilia and state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems, making it an ideal setting for any special occasion—be it weddings and anniversaries, corporate events, or private parties. With a seating capacity of 1,009, the intimate atmosphere ensures guests feel connected to the performances, solid stage views while the original pipe organ and top AV equipment adds a unique touch to your event. The accommodating staff is dedicated to creating memorable experiences, providing hospitable service for all your event needs. Don't miss the opportunity to host your next gathering at this iconic theater that has welcomed entertainment legends and continues to bring world-class performances to the community. Nearly every night of the week features an incredible performance opportunity to experience live music throughout the multiple spaces of Atcada Theater. It is a real asset to downtown St. Charles and worth a drive from surrounding Chicago area to hear local, and nationally known talents. Audiences mention Arcada performing arts theater offers a variety of shows, including multiple genres and audience sizes for a true rock show, classic or up close, intimate experience. Check out Studio 64 for dance parties, lounge area and best restrooms in-house. The Sunday dinner with a show is also another favorite group gathering. Reminder to visit the sister venue, Des Plaines Theatre and their upstairs cabaret room, Bourbon & Brass. #chicagomusic #concert #livemusic #eventos #planwell #layinglocal

Exquisite in all ways , phenomenal sound in the venue, multi-bars in very stunning arrangement, stylish and full of mannerism staff, perfect cocktails and great range of beer, absolutely fabulous food! Italian pride of meatballs! Must try! 11 out of 10 venue !

Amazing place! Got a great deal on Groupon, check in was seamless. Be sure to bring a clear or mesh bag, so important. Reminds me of the water park at Six Flags, but with more slides and water activities!

Been going to raging waves the past 5 years. This past weekend was one of the worst experiences. We have gone late in the season before but this time toddler section was closed, the water in all the open water areas was full of woodchips and bugs and waited in line to order food for 40min because one employee was taking orders and the others were walking to the back. Not sure why I can't get lids for my kids drinks. More than paid for the soft drink. Best part was the VIP entrance, no line no waiting and entrance staff was friendly.

While this is a pricey trip for bigger families I feel it was worth it! Great kids area and my family had a blast on the slides! Looking forward to going back next summer! My husband loved the big drop slide!

This was our first visit and we’re disappointed. I understand they’re at the end of the season so are more short staffed. But how do you not allow food into the park but then only have one place open to eat? I wasted 30 minutes in line just to order food. You can see how long the food line is in my pic. For being the largest water park in Illinois it was underwhelming. Lines were long and moved slowly and we weren’t even there when it was that crowded. And really didn’t feel that large. We were there 4 hours and rode 5 slides and hung out in the wave pool. For the price we paid I expected more.

We always have a blast when we come. If you want to find a spot by the wave pool you'll need to come early. Lines are usually quick for food and the park was clean

I recommend going as soon as it opens. Arrive a little.early so you don't have to wait in a long line. Easiest to bring a big clear see through bag so they don't have to go through all your belongings. I love the locker set up they have there. On busy days you do have to wait good periods of times for the waterside but it's still fun. You can bring a cooler and save money by eating lunch in parking lot. They stamp you so you can come and go out of park. Great time for the family even if you have little ones. Food can be and drinks can get very pricey if you don't pack your own cooler. Cheaper to order your tickets online rather than right at the park.

Best water park in the Western Suburbs!! Love the variety of rides and the lazy River. Season Pass is the best deal!

We stopped by to take a little break from the road trip from St. Louis back to northern Illinois. Only a few minutes off the highway, it was a pretty cool and fun pit stop. Some light rain so we didn’t stay too long but either way, we had a pretty good stop in Lincoln, IL on Sunday, July 13, 2025. (Written 7-23-25)

This was something to see for a roadside picture. There's more to see around the corner by the Paul Bunyan statue. Go inside the service station. 👍

Visiting from Louisiana and made a stop to see this massive covered wagon—definitely a fun roadside attraction! Even better, we found a geocache here too! Great little spot to stretch your legs and snap a few pics if you're passing through.

If you find yourself in Lincoln, Illinois, do not pass up the chance to see two of the quirkiest and most charming tributes to Honest Abe you’ll ever find: the World’s Largest Railsplitter and the World’s Largest Covered Wagon. The Railsplitter is massive — a towering Abraham Lincoln with axe in hand, reminding you why he earned the nickname in the first place. It’s part history lesson, part roadside spectacle, and it really does make you feel small standing beside him. And just down the road? The World’s Largest Covered Wagon, complete with a statue of Lincoln himself perched in the driver’s seat, looking like he’s ready to roll west. It’s whimsical, a little bizarre, and completely delightful — exactly the kind of thing that makes Route 66 so memorable. Both attractions are free, easy to find, and perfect for photos. They’re also a reminder that Lincoln, Illinois takes its namesake seriously, but not without a sense of humor. Between the rail-splitting Abe and wagon-driving Abe, you’ll leave with a smile (and probably a few great Instagram shots). Five stars for big history, bigger statues, and the biggest dose of roadside Americana you can find in central Illinois.

Wry nice place to visit was going to Michigan and stop by took pictures

This was actually pretty darn cool, definitely worth seeing if you're in the area.

If you're driving through the area, it might be a cool spot to do a quick stop to stretch your legs and take a couple shots with the family

Made a spontaneous stop on our road trip to this sweet little zoo! The grounds were well kept and the staff was friendly. We saw lots of animals! The wallabies were my favorite part. It was cool to get up-close and personal with all the animals.

Such a cute little zoo. They do have 3 interactive areas. One with goats, one with wallabys and wallaroos, and one birt sanctuary. They have a tiger, snow leopards, red panda, and many more animals. There is plenty of room for RV's to park. It is handicap accessible.

Miller Park Zoo is the right size for a fun walk through. Most of the animals we saw were indoors because of the cold. We didn't interact with staff much but when we needed directions, they were helpful and friendly. Prices were affordable. Unfortunately, the cafe was closed, so we weren't able to support the zoo by eating lunch there. I recommend a visit. I recommend.

For being a smaller zoo we had a great time here. We went through the whole zoo twice in 2 hours but I think we saw every animal because they were all out and active. We loved the baby anyeater, it's the 1st time we've seen one of those.

My family and I loved this zoo. Love the different variety of animals. So much fun.

I want to first say that I love the park and have fished this park for 25 plus years not a issue I was told that I could could fish all night as long as I had rods in the water ... So we all know there we have to fish all night long to catch the specimen im chasing dont bite alot during day ..so we lost 😢 a friend who we have been fishing for over 10 years we all get together and fish many from other states we do a 3 day session ..so I decided to go a few weeks early and fish on my vacation...then it happened the first night park surcuity told me I had to leave park closes at 10pm I said ok but I been doing this longer then you have alive ..he said there is homeless problem in the park I said do I look home less he wouldn't answer.....he left around 10:30 then it happend 24.5 like u see in Pic what I came for showed up......fri morning superintendent shows up tells me same story homeless bs and if I let you do it I have to let everybody else's I said fair ..so I said what if I call city and ask for permit he told me I am the city I said really ok I'll be out by 10.pm ..so we Googled park superintendent we have emails sent to ask for permission to fish this park 6 times a year for our lost members we have fished with for years ...I know it's a 13acre lake but holds many memories and large fish that we so love to catch ..we only asking to over nite 3 days for late fall months Oct Nov 3days that we have been doing for over 25 years ... thanks for your time cory...

A great place to visit. A family fun place. I'd highly recommend a visit here. It is a small gem with lots of very cool animals.

Fabulous house! So glad we went there. Our tour guide was young and knowledgeable! I was so excited to be in a house that Abe Lincoln stood in. I was intrigued the whole time I spent there. Great experience and loved the stories! I would give it more than 5 stars.

Beautiful house, we enjoyed hearing about the history and enjoyed the tour. They don’t make them like they use to. I caught a glare on a door that you could almost pass for a ghost… maybe Sara? Maybe she does not like all of the visitors? :)

I really loved the history of it! Judge Davis had influence and helped president Lincoln! I also learned different information culturally about Christmas decorations and why the Teddy bear was called Teddy bear. It felt warm and nice. Usually mansions feel stuffy and museum like but this was not the case! They took good care of it and I really loved being there! The people that worked there went above and beyond with the tours and information!

We had such a wonderful time visiting the David Davis Mansion. Our tour guide, Jeff, gave us a long and detailed tour that was both informative and engaging. He was extremely knowledgeable, helpful, and made the history of the mansion come alive. One highlight was learning about David Davis’s close connection to Abraham Lincoln, which added an even deeper historical significance to our visit. That piece of history was fascinating and memorable. We highly recommend the David Davis Mansion to anyone visiting Bloomington. It’s a beautiful historic home with a rich story, and with guides like Jeff, you’re guaranteed an excellent experience.

(And thank you fir the clarification about the County) We had a wonderful expirence there. Howie was our Guide. I could not believe how similar that mansion is to our modern conveniences now. It just shows how far we've come in technology. Also Judge Davis himself as a strangley unsung hero and historical figure in American history. It is shocking to me how little is written in this man. He was Acting Vice President of the United States and a Supreme Court Judge yet little to nothing outside of Wikipedia is written. McClean County has all 19,000 documents in exchange for them keeping the Mansion going as a mueseum piece and historic site basically. It's also shocking to me how well-perserved the site is, it's nearly how exactly it was way back when. My 1 year old daughter loved coming here and seeing everything so did my wife. I noticed one of the paintings being that of the 2nd French Revolution, and inquired about it. Nobody had ever asked about that painting. Come to find out it is a protest painting. Judge Davis had it for that reason. They also had political cartoons from the period which, according to the Guide, a lot of younger people wouldn't believe how little had changed in political discourse on this country. It was just a fun very educational expirence and I'm very glad this city and county is preserving this property. Thank you to everyone we met there on-site, you were all gracious hosts.

Pretty cool place if you’re into old Victorian homes and American history. The volunteers there were all very nice and gave a great tour. Would recommend. Just know that the video and tours start at the top of the hour and there isn’t much to see if you don’t go on the tour since you cannot access the interior of the house without a guide. So really no point to go after hours.

I visited the mansion during their Christmas at the mansions festival. Most of the rooms were decorated for Christmas. There were many trees and other decorations. The mansion is always good. Place to visit throughout the year as they do themed room decorations on a regular basis.

Overall, it’s a nice place to visit. We came, and it was quiet for the most part. The several gardens they have are the best attractions. Be ready to wait in line if you need to use the restroom. Only one coffee place available with limited options. They have a small gift shop with a few items. The mansion is off limits unless you’re a hotel guest or have connections. Plenty of parking and it’s a good place for a nature walk.

Allerton Park is so beautiful and peaceful! This place is a MUST SEE!!! Definitely a hidden gem 💎 You can bring the kids, they have all kinds of cool classes too.

Allerton is always a beautiful place no matter when you go. I would recommend May for peak flowers and fall for beautiful leaves in the wooded areas. There are a few wheelchair accessible places. Features walking trails both paved and unpaved. Mansion with reflecting pool. Live music during the summer. Popular place for weddings. The sunken garden, the walled garden, the fu dogs, the sunsinger, the musicians are all treasures that can be found here. Also, you can stay overnight at the mansion and the groundskeepers cottage, but we've never done that.

Beautiful afternoon touring the peony gardens. Loved that the park is a dog friendly so I could stroll with my Yorkie and take in all of its beauty.

I hosted my wedding at Allerton Park and Retreat Center this August, both ceremony and reception. I truly cannot express how perfect it was. Firstly, the mansion and gardens are breathtaking. My guests were amazed and kept asking me how I found this hidden gem. Truly it feels like Allerton belongs in Italy or in a fairytale, not in Central Illinois. Working with the staff at Allerton was a breeze, they were always prompt with communication. Allerton truly made my wedding weekend perfect. I wanted somewhere that my guests could stay overnight, to avoid having to drive after the reception and so there would be a more intimate feel, so this was perfect. I was able to host the rehearsal dinner in the library the night before followed by a fire in the firepit outside and it was perfect. Then the next day it was so easy to wake up on the property with everyone there and everything already set up! I loved having the entire mansion to ourselves as well. The kids at wedding enjoyed being able to run and explore beforehand and I felt as if they were safe since we had the mansion to ourselves. I am just now receiving my pictures back and they are breathtaking due to the gardens and the mansion. Thank you x1000000 Allerton.

A very beautiful place to drive through of hike. Lovely gardens and mazes. Lots of art, statues. A total retreat for artist or anyone who enjoys are and nature. I'm currently taking a watercolor course there. My instructor is amazing!!! She really knows her stuff and teaches in a way you can understand, learn a lot and it's still really enjoyable. A lot of different options for classes. Make sure you check out the class schedule and register early as classes fill up quickly.

Very peaceful and picturesque place close to Champaign- Urbana. Trails are fun but it was a bit full of bugs in May. Went for a day trip.

Great atmosphere, resourceful and something for everyone young and old. Beautiful murals, art work,Cafe, comfortable seating, teen lounge, children section, great business accommodations upstairs with computers. They have extensive collections of books, CDs, movies etc. If you're bored look no further!!

The building is very nice and the staff have always been kind and helpful. They have a cool store downstairs with items being retired. But they don't seem to have the proper resources (security staff) to deal with people who can't act right. Mentally ill people hang around and it's not unusual for someone to be disturbing half the library with their schizo babble in the evenings. In addition, the wifi gets overloaded during peak times and stops working, and noise really carries through the building.

The staff is super friendly and helpful. The facility is updated and clean. There are activities outside of the usual day to day library atmosphere. There is a teen center, which is actually very cool! There are reading programs and fun events every month. What a great resource for our community!

They have a good selection of books, however they don’t get new books in quick. They staff are nice and the facility is very clean. I hardly see anything spilled on the floor and everything is nice and quiet other than the children’s center. They organize their books well and have free computers you can use.

So many great resources for kids and teens. DVDs and games. Great meeting rooms and friendly staff to assist. Oh yeah, lots of books and movies available online.

This is a pretty nice public library. The staff members I've had interactions with have all been absolutely wonderful to me. A few weeks ago, I lost one of my wireless earbuds inside the library. I searched high and low for a couple of hours and couldn't find it anywhere. I knew my missing earbud was inside due to the fact I could see it disconnect from my phone when I walked outside, and reconnect upon walking back inside. I came to the conclusion my missing earbud was most likely gone forever. 🥺😞 After a few weeks, I decided it's worth a shot to check back at the front desk with lost & found. My hopes were not high, however to my surprise, they returned my long lost earbud to me safe and sound. I am forever grateful to the unknown staff member who located my lost item, and the staff member who returned it to me. Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart. You guys / gals are all awesome and it's great to see a public entity as well ran as the Green St. Champaign Public Library.

Let's give these people at the library in champaign the respect they deserve its ALWAYS clean, safe, and inviting.in today's times thats definitely worth 5 stars 🌟

This park is absolutely fantastic! Fun for every age! Rest areas. Restrooms. Handicap-accessible play equipment. There's even a wheelchair, stroller-friendly sculpture trail nearby! So happy we visited this wonderful park!!

They redid the park recently and updated it from the old wooden one to make it more safe and kid friendly. It is a fantastic park, very large and tons of things to do. They also have a ton of walking paths around the park.

I love it here. Nice and peaceful. I saw beautiful art. One of the best parks Ive seen ❤️

This park is amazing. There are several sculptures and aesthetic structures along the path. The walking path is also huge. I wish I knew here before. This place is a hidden gem.

A nice park with many artistic structures. This park is very close to Orchard Downs university housing. There is a big walking loop with a track.

This is a great trail for walking, jogging, or biking. I walked the 1.55 mile trail almost every day I was visiting my family. Not too busy at 7 am. Saw deer almost every day.

It's an Art / Nature mashup. Beautiful paved trail through stunning prairie. In summertime the prairie is a rainbow of wildflowers and berries. Large sculptures from a variety of artist scattered all throughout. Such a nice place to walk and run. Also features small sections of wetlands, stream, several side trails, pavilion, porta potty (👍), and large wooden playground.

Nice clean park with great staff. Lake Mingo is gorgeous to kayak on. Lake was overgrown with water lily making fishing somewhat difficult.

I typically rate parks at 5 stars when I can, but this park seemed poorly managed. Garbage could be seen throughout my drive, and the sign postings were small and hard to read. I don't mind having to deal with bugs when adventuring out in the wild, BUT there were millions of GIANT horse flies here. I thought they were cicadas at first, that is how large they were. They were flying around my car and running into it during my entire drive through the park, so I didn't end up getting out of my car. It was disappointing. I don't know how they can fix this issue, but I don't think I could visit again without the fear of being attacked by these flies. It was like nothing I'd ever experienced before!

I want to preface that their is NO PLAYGROUND HERE! But that isn't necessarily a bad thing. It is such a beautiful and well kept park!

Yet another park I've spent most of my life visiting. Came here hunting as a child, and now I shot pictures . ❤️✌️

Lots of hiking most are easy, fishing, wildlife viewing,old buildings to look at and walk through . Beautiful picnic areas throughout the park.There is a welcome center, can launch canoe into the Middle fork river looked like there were lots of late summer flowers

New park

I have absolutely fallen in love with this park... my best friend and I went to Kennekuk County Park together to celebrate her birthday. We hiked on the trails some, and it was absolutely gorgeous. Beautiful, healthy trees, tons of birds and butterflies, frogs and toads hopping in and out of the marshes, and all of it was so peaceful! When we got to the river, we waded to a sandbar and found a variety of shells, and just relaxed listening to the river flow and the breeze through the trees. Life at home is busy busy busy with three sons that I homeschool, and not only was Kennekuk the perfect getaway for a day, I can’t wait to go back and take my kids for all of the incredible adventures we can have together, and because there’s a vast amount of science and history in this park with educational opportunities abounding! My boys are going to love, love, LOVE exploring and adventuring at Kennekuk

It was so much fun in a beautiful small town. The big things to see (definitely worth a Google search!) are mostly in the small downtown area, with a few others being in different places but in the same general area. If you are within 100 miles of Casey, Illinois, this is absolutely worth making a stop for!

It certainly is a big honking rocking chair 😝 Swung through Casey, Illinois to check out this chair and some of the other 'World's Largest' things the town proudly displays. It was great fun, the town obviously has put a lot of work into building up the downtown area and making it very attractive to tourists. The rocking chair is HUGE, and scaled up very realistically! The area around it is prettily landscaped, and there is abundant on-street parking. Worth a visit!

What fun stop! Very quirky and friendly town! Worth a side trip off the freeway. The town has many “largest” sights to offer. What a great vibe! Highly recommend Casey, Illinois

10.9.2025. One of the many World's Largest items of Nostalgia you can enjoy in Casey, Illinois. I wish you could sit in it.

World’s Largest Rocking Chair.. I love these quick stops on roadtrips! Fun! Worth a small detour for a photo op. Recommend. Cute town.. lots of world’s largest.

Definitely worthwhile stopping in this town if on a road trip between Indianapolis and St. Louis. I parked for free on Main St. by the rocking chair. Inside the gem store they have the World’s largest puzzle and riding horse. I got some souvenirs and they gave me a map for the rest of the world’s largest attractions (roughly ~25). It was basically a free adventurous scavenger hunt.

The World's Largest Chair in Casey, IL: A Seat Above the Rest Casey, Illinois, lives up to its "Small Town, Big Things" reputation with the World's Largest Chair. Towering over 56 feet tall, this quirky roadside attraction is a must-see for photo-loving travelers and fans of oversized wonders. Conveniently located near local shops, it’s the perfect stop to stretch your legs and snap a memorable pic. Swing by Casey and take a seat (or at least admire one) that’s truly next-level!

We love these type of stops when we are on a road trip. There were a bunch of Worlds Largest items to see and the town was so much fun. Worth the stop!

10.9.2025. One of the many World's Largest items of Nostalgia you can enjoy in Casey. There is a rope you can pull to trigger sounds of the Wnd Chime.

This is what highway driving in America is all about. The town is filled with larger than life mailboxes, pencils, chairs, and more. It's a well kept small town. Too bad McDonald's and Subway occupy the real estate right off the freeway. Just keep driving and see the real America just beyond! Great job Casey, IL and thank you for making our road trip fun!

This little town has a ton of charm and lots to see in a small area

New restaurant by the wind chime called the crazy 8, if they have smoked meat in the smell coming from there is awesome. The service was fast. And the food was good. It's worth a trip just to see they're gorgeous flowers outside, wind chime next door, largest rocking chair across the street.

Cool small town with a lot of things to see,great for family's and best of all FREE

Beautiful! These are massive, and they work! The people before us managed to get it sounding pretty good, we didn't have quite the same luck pulling that off, but that's alright. It was still wonderful to see and hear. Well worth stopping at!