Looking for a place that’s not too close, not too far and just a little off the beaten path this summer in Illinois?
Worldatlas.com recently came out with a list of “12 Most Underrated Towns To Visit in Illinois In 2024.” featuring some of the state’s best places to experience the everything from the great outdoors to great shopping and history.
“Beyond the major metro areas, hidden in Illinois’ beautiful backcountry, are gorgeous small towns that rarely get a piece of the spotlight. From historic villages dating back centuries with conspicuous old-world architecture to riverine communities with unique, long-held traditions, these small towns in Illinois deserve more recognition from travelers,” Worldatlas writes.
“Exploring these overlooked towns in 2024 promises visitors an authentic glimpse into a rarely-seen side of the Land of Lincoln. Whether you seek charming main streets, outdoor adventures, or a taste of small-town Midwest life, look beyond Chicago to discover Illinois’s many underexplored gems.”
Galena is an Illinois favorite. About three hours west of Chicago, this city just off the Mississippi River is famous for its rich history, 19th-century buildings, boutique shopping and restaurants. There’s world class golf, skiing and local vineyards. Visitors can see President Ulysses S. Grant’s childhood home and the historically preserved 1826 Dowling House.
Woodstock, a McHenry County city located about 35 miles northwest of Chicago, is perhaps best known by movie buffs and fans of the film “Groundhog Day,” which was filmed there. The town square is home to a historic opera theatre house, which was built in 1889. Throughout the year, Woodstock hosts festivals, and fairs, summer band concerts, and farmer’s markets and, of course, Groundhog Days. The Woodstock Square Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Alton is a Mississippi River city north of St. Louis, Missouri. It’s famous for its limestone bluffs along the river north of the city. It’s also known for being a site of the historic Lincoln-Douglas Debates, as well as being home to the world’s tallest man, Robert Wadlow. Attractions include the National Great Rivers Museum, Lovejoy State Memorial, Great Rivers Scenic Route, Fast Eddie’s Bon-Air, World’s Tallest Man Statue, Curiosity Museum, and Argosy Casino Alton.
Geneva is the county seat of Kane County. The town is home to more than 160 unique shops and restaurants, the Kane County Cougars baseball team, Geneva History Museum and the Fabyan Villa Museum and Japanese Garden. The Fox River Trail, accessible from downtown Geneva, connects to Island Park and Fabyan Forest Preserve, home of a five-story Dutch windmill. Geneva’s downtown has more than 100 historic buildings, including the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed P.D. Hoyt House.
Located in Hancock County on the Mississippi River near Fort Madison, Iowa, Nauvoo is a Hebrew word meaning beautiful place. The town of about 1,000 residents is home to a lot of historical buildings and Nauvoo State Park, which offers hiking, cycling, camping, and a 13-acre manmade lake named Lake Horton. other attractions include the Rheinberger House Museum and Illinois’ oldest vineyard. It’s also home to the original headquarters for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Nauvoo Illinois Temple.
Located in the northern-central region of Illinois, Princeton is rich with historic architecture and natural scenic views. The town boasts two downtown retail districts that are both a step back in time offering a variety of specialty shops and businesses. Princeton is home to abolitionist Owen Lovejoy’s colonial-style Lovejoy Homestead, which served as his home and part of the Underground Railroad. Princeton also is known for covered bridges.
Located in DeKalb County, Sycamore boosts a quaint downtown and tons of outdoors. The city has 19 parks where visitors can hike, bike, picnic and just enjoy the scenery before hitting up the shops, restaurants and bars. Don’t miss the city’s Pumpkin Festival in the fall.
Edwardsville is home to the Colonel Benjamin Stephenson House, an evocative 1820 Federal home of a famous Illinois politician and plenty of other local history, as well as the 40-acre Watershed Nature Center. Children will enjoy the interactive exhibits and hands-on activities at the Edwardsville Children’s Museum.
Enjoy the cobblestone streets and eclectic shops of downtown Long Grove. Long Grove is home to quaint shops and plenty of history. It’s home to the Sock Monkey Museum, which houses the world’s largest collection of handmade sock monkeys. Nearby Buffalo Creek Forest Preserve and Reed-Turner Woodland Nature Center provide hiking, biking and fishing.
Arthur, Illinois, is famous for having an Amish community — one of the state’s oldest. unity. The small town surrounded by farmland gives visitors a glimpse inside Amish life. Visit the Illinois Amish Heritage Center to explore the culture and traditions of Amish, and then visit Yoder’s Kitchen for a traditional, homemade Amish meal.
Cairo was named after Cairo, Egypt, and was known for many years as Little Egypt in southern Illinois. A river city located where the Ohio and Mississippi rivers meet, Cairo was prone to flooding, the most devastating of which took pace in 2011 when the entire city was evacuated. Today, Cairo is mostly abandoned. It’s historic district remains well-preserved along with several mansions, the grand Victorian-era Magnolia Manor House and the Cairo Custom House Museum.
Vienna’s Town Square is sure to please antique fans. There are a number of shops carrying household goods and decorations. With only 1,500 residents, Vienna boasts plenty of room to stretch out and escape the crowds. It’s Tunnel Hill State Trail is a recreation hub for hikers, bikers, and joggers. And for birdwatchers, there’s Heron Pond at Little Black Slough Nature Preserve.
Here are a couple more small towns in Illinois that didn’t make Worldatlas’ list this time around but definitely are worth checking out this summer.
Located in Winnebago County, Roscoe is a village of about 11,000 people and home to one of the region’s most popular tourism draws — Historic Auto Attractions, 13825 Metric Road. Historic Auto Attractions is more than 80,000 square feet of exhibits including one of the largest collections of John F. Kennedy memorabilia, presidential memorabilia and world leader’s limousines. The museum houses dozens of vehicles from films such as Batman, Ghostbusters and Back to the Future.
Casey is a small town located in Clark and Cumberland counties in southern Illinois. It’s home to a dozen Guinness Book of World Records for world’s largest items including the world’s largest mailbox, wind chime and rocking chair, knitting needles, crochet hook, pitchfork, golf tee, yardstick, wooden token, Dutch wooden shoes, mailbox, pencil and birdcage. The town of about 2,400 people also is home to more than 20 other giant things spread throughout town — perfect for coming and getting fun photos with family and friends.
Chris Green is a Rockford Register Star general assignment reporter. He can be reached at 815-987-1241, via email at cgreen@rrstar.com and X @chrisfgreen.
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