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Travel
to Illinois
Illinois is in the north-central U.S. and borders on
Lake Michigan. Surrounding states are Wisconsin to the north; Iowa and Missouri
to the west; Kentucky to the south; and Indiana to the east. Illinois also
borders Michigan, but only via a water boundary in Lake Michigan. |
The Prairie & Prosperity of Illinois
by John
Kloster
The Land of Lincoln sprawls over 56,400 square-miles primarily
of prairie, but half of its population of 12 million is concentrated in the
greater Chicago area. Lets explore the five regions of downstate and then
discover Chicagoland.
Southern
This region is home to the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, which
is a 25-mile trail through the Shawnee National Forest that visits five
wineries. They are Alto Vineyards, Owl Creek Vineyards, Wing hill Vineyard, Von
Jakob Vineyard and Pomona Winery. The newest winery is the new Blue Sky
Vineyard in Makanda, a Tuscan-themed winery featuring a 360-degree mural in its
tasting room. Many of the wineries stage special events during September, which
is Illinois Wine Month. Nearby Metropolis is the official adopted "Home of
Superman." Stop for a photo with the 15 foot tall Superman statue and cross the
street for the Super Museum, featuring Superman memorabilia and props. There is
a Superman Celebration here each June, with superhero-themed entertainment and
celebrity appearances.
Southwest
More than 1,000 eagles migrate to the Alton and Grafton
areas to spend the winter on the bluffs along the Great River Road. Pere
Marquette State Park offers eagle-watching programs from late December through
February. The new National Great Rivers Museum in Alton tells the story of the
Mississippi River through over 20 interactive, animated displays. Tours of the
Melville Locks and Dam allow guests to view the river traffic from atop the
eight-story dam. Nearby, the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center in Hartford
tells the story of the famous journey that began in Illinois. Groups can
explore a full-scale model of one of their keelboats, watch a film entitled "At
Journeys Edge" and view a replica of Camp River Dubois.
West
The Illinois River Road Scenic Byway, a natural preserve
along the banks of the Illinois River, was recently designated a National
Scenic Byway. The byway allows visitors to travel the routes of the French
voyageurs and it parallels the Illinois River Country Nature Trail, a chain of
over one hundred linked nature sites that offer outdoor recreation. Along the
route is Dickson Mounds Museum in Lewiston that traces the 12,000-year history
of Native Americans in the Illinois River Valley in one of the finest on-site
archaeological museums in the country.
Central
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum are
one of the most important tourism sites to open in the state for many years.
The 100,000-square-foot museum uses technology to bring the 19th century alive.
"Ghosts of the Library" is a Holavision show that uses an actor and high-tech
ghost images to tell the mystery and discovery in historical archives. The
Whispering Gallery shows caricatures of Lincoln as voices whisper of negative
stories about the Lincolns. The Emancipation Proclamation underscores the
divisions within the nation. At the library are such key documents as a signed
copy of the Emancipation Proclamation, a copy of the 13th Amendment, 400
letters written by Mary Todd Lincoln and the only photo of Lincoln lying in
state. Springfield also features Lincolns Home, Lincolns Tomb, the Old State
Capitol and nearby Lincolns New Salem.
North
The Burpee Museum of Natural History in Rockford is home
to Jane, a juvenile T. rex and the best-preserved, most complete specimen
known, found by the museums staff in Montana. Considered one of the most
important dinosaur discoveries of the past 100 years, Jane is offering
important evidence of how dinosaurs grew and about the period in which it
lived.
Get more details on
Leisuregrouptravel.com
Also get the more information on group travel, group
travel services, online travel resources at
Grouptraveldirectory.com
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Latest News from Illinois
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Ron Paul rEVOLution in Illinois
In a letter to the editor in the
January 20 edition of the Daily Herald, Carl Ostenson of Des Plaines asks:
“So now that the smoking ban is in place, what will our politicians ban
next? What’s the next freedom we lose under the guise of ‘we are the
government; we know what’s best for you.’ . . . Please, do research
on your candidate before the primary on Feb. 5. Please don’t vote for
someone because they are good looking or they are charismatic or the television
people like them. Some of the not so well known candidates like Ron Paul have
some interesting things to say. If you read about them or look them up on
YouTube, you might agree.” Read his entire letter
here.
There are many ways you can show your support
for Dr. Paul and his message of liberty. Join fellow Ron Paul supporters in
your area through one of Illinois's MeetUp groups. Check out
ronpaul.meetup.com for
more information.
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