Springtime in Illinois brings longer days and warmer temperatures, but most importantly, nature begins to bloom and the state transforms, bringing with it mesmerizing sights.

In honor of the first day of spring, here are a few butterfly and botanical gardens to welcome the new season:

Kim St. John Butterfly Habitat
Constructed in 2013 through a partnership between Wildlife Prairie Park and the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners, the butterfly enclosure is the largest native habitat in downstate Illinois. It contains pollinator and host plants for native Illinois butterflies to make the habitat their home. Some notable butterflies include Monarch, Viceroy, Pipevine, Swallowtail and more.

Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens
In Rockford, the Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens is the third largest conservatory in Illinois, bringing the tropics to the Midwest year-round. Starting March 23, visit the conservatory to experience the Secret Life of Butterflies and get an up-close look at the butterfly lifecycle.

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Operated by the Chicago Academy of Sciences, the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is a natural history museum featuring various exhibits and play spaces for young children. Their Butterfly Haven is a 2,700 square-foot greenhouse where visitors can bask amongst flowers and tropical trees while witnessing 1,000 free-flying butterflies from over 40 different species.

Happy spring!

Today marks the start of the 17th Annual Chicago Restaurant Week, which is the perfect opportunity to explore the Chicago food scene, have a taste of the hundreds of cuisines the city has to offer and experience one of the major reasons why Chicago has been the Best Big City in the U.S. for seven years in a row.

Each neighborhood has a selection of notable restaurants to choose from which provide prefixed menus for brunch, lunch and dinner, exceptionally crafted to provide the best dining experience for guests. With over 400 participating restaurants across the city, there is food to appease every kind of palate.

Enjoy a variety of foods from around the world, local favorites or traditional American food. Must-try spots include award-winning restaurants, diet friendly restaurants with vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options and places with one-of-a-kind dining experiences.

Chicago Restaurant Week runs until Feb. 4. To make a reservation and view a full list of participating restaurants visit the Chicago Restaurant Week website.

Cheers!

The temperature may be dropping, but the cold doesn’t stop Illinois adventures. Bundle up to enjoy all of the wonderful experiences that Illinois has to offer this month.

Illinois Snow Sculpting Competition
Visit Rockford for a chance to see snow sculpting teams from across the state in action competing to represent Illinois in the U.S. National Snow Competition in 2025. The competition will be held Jan. 24-27 and the sculptures will be on display in the park for as long as weather conditions allow.

Sledding Hill at Soldier Field
One of the best places for sledding in Chicago is at Soldier Field’s 220-foot sledding hill. Sledding on the hill is permitted during daylight hours based on weather conditions.

Morton Arboretum Pine Pacer
The Pine Pacer hosted by the Morton Arboretum in Lisle is a virtual running event that challenges participants to complete a goal of running or walking 25, 50 or 100 miles by the end of January. Individuals can reach their goal by running or walking through the beautiful winter scenery at the Arboretum, around their neighborhood, or anywhere else they enjoy running or walking. Registration for the event is now open.

Stay warm!

Catch a glimpse of the majestic American bald eagles that represent our country’s spirit, freedom and strength in Illinois this winter season!

More than 3,100 wintering bald eagles call Illinois home during the coldest months of the year, which is more than any other state outside of Alaska. Bald eagle watching in Illinois is a tradition for many people across the state. This year, Illinois Eagle Day is celebrated Saturday Jan. 27, but eagle watching events occur all winter long.

Here are two eagle watching events to check out in January:

Rock Island Clock Tower Eagle Watch
Eagle watching from the Clock Tower building on the Rock Island Arsenal is the perfect opportunity to view bald eagles in their natural habitat along the Mississippi River. Eagle watching will be available Saturday, Jan. 13 and Saturday, Jan. 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Starved Rock Eagle Watch Weekend
Visit Starved Rock State Park Saturday, Jan. 27 and Sunday, Jan. 28 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to learn more about bald eagles, experience the breath-taking sights of the park and witness bald eagles in the wild. Activities will be taking place at various locations across the Starved Rock area.

For more winter eagle watching events, visit the state website.

Happy watching!

Although the days are short and nights are cold, light up the night and warm up your spirits by attending a local light show. Lightshows during the winter months are a long-standing tradition in townships and major cities across the state. Lightshows can be enjoyed throughout the holiday season and even past the new year.

Here are a few notable displays to check out:

Northern Illinois

Lincoln Park Zoo Lights

Zoo Lights at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago are back for the 29^th year. Tickets are $7 to $10 per person and admission is free on Mondays. Enjoy the lights from now until Jan. 7.

Freeport Festival of Trees

From now until Dec. 27, enjoy holiday trees decorated by local organizations and vote for your favorite.

Rockford Festival of Lights

Visit this free drive-thru event at Sinnissippi Park from now until New Year’s Eve. This will be Rockford’s grandest light show since the tradition started back in 1989.

Western Illinois

Winter Lights at Quad City Botanical Gardens

Visit the Winter Lights at the Quad City Botanical Center in Rock Island to witness over 225,000 glowing lights illuminating the gardens. This experience will be open until New Year’s Day and tickets are available for purchase on their website.

Quincy Festival of Lights

Visit the Quincy Festival of Lights from now until New Year’s Eve. Catch Santa and Mrs. Clause on Dec. 22 for a special treat.