Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. The Scenic Ridge Route offers 19 miles of smooth road surface and lots of sweeping corners. Illinois River Road: Route of the Voyageurs, Click here to add your listing to Go-Illinois.net, Complete the form below to email this page to a friend or family member's email. Related read: 10 Amazing Small Towns in Wisconsin for a Charming Escape. Take the weekend and even consider camping out under a blanket of stars. Read our full coverage on Peorias Grand View Drive to learn more. Ronald Reagan Exhibit at Eureka College, his alma mater. Many use it to visit antique shops, farmers markets, and other attractions, but you can also drive the whole thing and see the best parts of Southern Illinois. Fall the Spoon Valley Scenic Drive Festival falls on the first two weekends of October every year. Use our easy Lodging Search to find exactly the type of accommodation you are looking for at the right price. Dawn Brandt / Getty Images. Traveling along its namesake, this road is partially an old route marked by French explorers and other immigrants who were drawn to Illinois. Whether you are a professed history buff, a lover of nature, or a boatman you will enjoy all that these sweeping 96 miles of the Illinois and Michigan canals have to offer. You may even find a new greasy spoon with all the comfort foods you could imagine. A great stop is at Tapley Woods Conservation Area. Each issue offers a mix of travel stories, stunning photography and timely trip ideas that make the most of each season. Beginning in Chicago and ending in St. Louis, you'll find an old, hand-laid brick road, a rabbit ranch, fried chicken, strange statues, and much more on this Illinois byway. Scenic America has assembled the only comprehensive, nationwide scenic byways database, and we are pleased to share it with the public. It has nostalgia, nature, and just a good old road trip feel. The road is quite smooth and the traffic volume is very low. Badlands Loop State Scenic Highway, South Dakota. The road has its northern source near Galena before tracking the Mississippi River all the way to Cairo, at the far south end of the state. At least one scenic byway runs through each of the IDOT regions. Photo: Shutterstock. The Lincoln Highway was the first highway in America to be paved all the way across the state in the early 1900s. Below are the Free Visitor Guides for Illinois Area. If youre looking to escape the bustle of the city, pack up the car and set out on one of these scenic drives in Illinois. 2023 Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity. Navigate the charming small towns of Knox County on this self-guided car tour. Who doesnt love an adventure along one of the best scenic drives in Illinois? -- John Steinbeck in "The Grapes of Wrath".Route 66 means different things to different people, but freedom is a common theme. My wife and I drove through and the beauty is amazing. While there isn't anything else in the immediate vicinity relating to Route 66, it's an easy way to pay homage to this world-famous All-American route. Getting its start in East Dubuque, a US Highway 20 road trip launches you into Illinois Great River Country, rolling along beside the inlets and estuaries of the Mississippi River before arriving in Galena. Our section is about 166 miles long. Map: Illinois property taxes are the second-highest in the U.S. Want to tell your elected officials what you think of the state of government in Illinois? Learn more about Illinois Lincoln Highway on the website. Facebook/Saults Drug Store. Whether you are looking for a day trip, weekend getaway or planning a road trip, our guides provide you with the perfect scenic drive. This byway was recently named one of the Seven Wonders of Illinois because of the stunning bluffs, mighty rivers, abundance of historical sites, and quaint villages. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Thank you! Glacial Park in northern Illinois is a lesser-known park filled with wetlands formed by a glacier that was once here. By the editors of MidwestLiving.com So vistas abound, taking in rolling country, beautifully maintained farms and rural cottages perched on manicured properties. Hop out of the car and snack at one of the picnic tables, then try a hike. The scenic byway boasts 300 miles in Illinois alone, ending where the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers converge near Cairo, IL. This gorgeous road spans three states: Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. Color Key: top-5 ranked routes in the state #1#2#3#4#5 Routes ranked below the top-5 are drawn in gray Newest Motorcycle Roads & Rides in Illinois One reason is that most of this portion of the Great River Road lies within the "Driftless Area" a unique geologic formation from the last glaciers to cover Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Northern Illinois. With more than 24 different attractions, there is something for the whole family. And the long lines of barges being carefully shepherded up and downstream by powerful tugs are a fascinating sight to see. Follow the Mother Road to discover a myriad of quirky roadside attractions, or hit one of the scenic highways crisscrossing the state. There are festivals and celebrations happening every month of the year along the Great River Route. Use our Sound Off tool. Check it out: If you love road trips, check out these seven places in Illinois boonies that are so worth the drive. Garden of the Gods in Shawnee National ForestCave in Rock State ParkSuperman Statue in Metropolis, Old Chain of Rocks BridgeOriginal Brick RoadHenry's Rabbit Ranch, 3. Photos and Property Details for 1209 SCENIC DRIVE, KNOXVILLE, TN 37919. Sununu has carefully built a Potemkin Village to convince the national media he is a somewhat safe Republican presidential alternative to Donald Trump or Gov. Scenic Drives Carroll County Carroll County Barn Quilt Trail Various locations Carroll County, IL Barn quilts enhance the beauty of the countryside and are enjoyed by those who pass by. When you travel through one of the most scenic Illinois byways, you are taking the same route the French explorers once did. We've driven this route, mainly Alton to Pere Marquette State Park, numerous time, and always enjoy the river scenes, the bluffs, the small towns and in the fall, the foliage. As the paved two lane scrolls into view, and our guidebooks clue us in to some new highlight just around a few more curves, sometimes we hurry to get it all in. Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway. Check out five more scenic drives in Illinois at Reboot Illinois, including routes that take travelers through Starved Rock State Park and the Cohokia Mounds. If being near water calms your soul then you wont want to miss out on spending time near the Illinois River. Scenic Highway 61 from Duluth to Grand Portage State Park. If you are interested in participating in or advertising with the Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive Fall Festival, please contact the Area Representative for that community, call 309-647-8980, email - spoonriverdrive@mail.com, write Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive Fall Festival, PO Box 525, Canton, IL 61520, or go to our Contact Us page. Explore the regions of Illinois with getaways perfect for exploring the fall col Find unexpected ways to enjoy Illinois in this biannual magazine that explores every corner of the state. Nearby is the 1,200-feet high Charles Mound, the highest point in the state. Make sure to check out the event calendar to see what kind of special activities are happening along this beautiful drive in Illinois. Lake Shore Drive's origins date to 1882 when hotel magnate Potter Palmer built his "castle" at 1350 North Lake Shore Drive and coerced the city to build the street adjacent to his lakefront property to enhance its value. As summer comes to a close and the leaves morph from a vibrant green to even more vibrant oranges, reds and yellows, there's no better way to appreciate the shifting seasons than by taking a drive through Illinois. Spanning a total of 20 miles, this beautiful route starts near Cross Village, eventually taking visitors up and along a bluff that towers over Lake Michigan. A haven for nature lovers, this drive is sure to give you a sense of tranquillity and oneness with the natural world. Bring your fishing rod or your canoe and commune with nature. Whitefish, Montana. Holly Ann . The scenic fall drive traverses six Wisconsin counties; from Whitewater Lake in Walworth County to Elkhart Lake in Sheboygan County. All 26 of Colorado's scenic and historic byways (11 of which are also designated America's Byways), and countless other scenic drives that crisscross the highest and lowest altitudes of Colorado, welcome motorcycle riders, leisure drivers and all others hungry for a taste of Colorado's history and scenic beauty. The America's Byways Program is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, and was established to help recognize, preserve and enhance selected roads throughout the states. Note: The Great River Road uses different specific highways to stay close to the river and access great attractions. The popular soda fountain has been a fixture in town since 1937, and you'll quickly see . Click on any scenic byway or backway listed below for complete information. It stretches 15.83 miles from Hollywood Avenue or 5700 North to Marquette Drive and Jefferey Drive at 6600 South and is often described as the "most scenic roadway in the country" as it embraces the lakefront, the city's skyline and most major tourist attractions. Mliz 2015 ninja 1000, 1975 gl1000, 1972 ct70, 1991 dr650, 1989 gsxr750 It runs beside the scenic Fox River in Northern Illinois alongside historic railroad lines, crossing six bridges, and passing through nature preserves and charming towns. We've mapped out the drives and included several must-see scenic pit stops along the routes. From Naperville take Ogden Aveue west to US 30. There is a piece of the Berlin wall outside the building as well. 1 Here are 9 of the best scenic drives you'll find in Northern California: 2 1) Golden Gate National Recreation area scenic drive: 3 2) Hendy Woods scenic drive (Route 128): 4 3) Vineyard scenic drive to Fort Bragg (Route 128): 5 4) Russian Gulch scenic drive: 6 5) Fort Bragg scenic drive (also route 1): We've mapped out the drives and included several must-see scenic pit stops along the routes. Youll have the best seat in the house. But now it connects Galena with the beauty of the whole region. Considered the most beautiful state park, Its no secret that the small towns of the Prairie State are charming, to say the least, and provide the perfect escape from daily life. Plan Your Trip A couple drive in an open top car along the Great River Road, Illinois. Also referred to as the Road that built the Nation, this byway started in Cumberland, Maryland and ended in Vandalia, Illinois. Plan on visiting in October if you want to participate in the countys annual drive event and witness the activities and entertainment. Illinois River Road National Scenic Byway, The Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Route. They capture rich history, and unique landscapes, and feature the fascinating but often overlooked communities that cherish and celebrate these scenic routes. 10 - Great River Road Flickr user: Dave Herholz Starting Location: East Dubuque, IL Ending Location: Cairo, IL Length: 543 miles Best Season to Drive: All See this drive on Google Maps Read more about these and other Southern Illinois State Parks here. The short stretch of the Lake Michigan Circle Tourthrough Illinois travels along Route 137 and then joins Lakeshore Drive (US-41) right at the Lake Michigan coastline through the suburbs of Chicago. Check it out: if you love road trips, check out these seven in. In October if you love road trips, check out the drives and included several must-see scenic stops. 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