The world’s largest corn maze

Did you know that the world’s largest corn maze is located in Spring Grove at the Richardson Adventure Farm? The massive family-owned farm is located 65 miles northwest of Chicago and covers an impressive 28 acres!

Every year, the farm has a new theme for the maze, such as “Jurassic Park.” This year’s theme celebrates John Deere, the Illinois-based agriculture equipment manufacturer.

The entire 10-mile maze – open annually from September to October – has zero dead ends and is surrounded by a perimeter path so attendees can stop and grab a snack or hot apple cider any time. The maze also features 24 hidden checkpoints, a farm scene investigation game and more.

Richardson Farm was founded in 1840. The farm hosts a number of fun activities throughout the year, including a tulip festival, sunflower fields in the summer, a craft beer festival and a Christmas tree farm. This family-owned farm is just one gem in our state that encompasses the core of what Illinois has to offer!

To learn more about the world’s largest corn maze, visit their website.

A Superhero of a town: Metropolis

• Superman
• history

Resting on the Ohio River, Metropolis is one of Southern Illinois’ hidden gems. It was founded in 1839 by two visionary settlers who set their sights on making Metropolis a riverside transport hub. It also happens to be the fictional city where the universe of Superman takes place. The town was designated “Hometown of Superman” by the Illinois General Assembly on June 9, 1972.

The town has taken this moniker quite literally over the years and began the “Superman Celebration,” an event featuring celebrity guests from the movie, television and comic book industries. Metropolis celebrated its 46th annual Superman Celebration in 2024. In addition to the event, Metropolis is home to Super Museum adjacent to a 15 foot tall Superman statue, featuring a massive Superman-themed collection.

But Superman isn’t the only thing this town is known for. Fort Massac State Park features a replica 1802 fort and lots of land for fishing, hiking, camping and hunting. Mermet Springs features swimming and first class dive training. In addition to the many natural parks and bodies of water in the area, Metropolis features shops, local dining and a casino.

Metropolis is a must-see town the next time you’re traveling through Southern Illinois.

To learn more about the town’s offerings, click here.

Chicago Named Best Big City in the U.S. for Eighth Consecutive Year

Over 575,000 readers of Condé Nast Traveler voted for their favorite destinations and venues, choosing Chicago as the Best Big City in the U.S. Chicago is a vibrant town full of endless opportunities to have fun and enjoy Illinois.

This award is truly a testament to all the wonders Chicago has to offer including the Chicago Waterfront, diverse neighborhoods, world class museums, public art, unique attractions, theatre, culinary delights, shopping experiences, and a wonderful sports culture. Chicago truly offers something special for everyone.

Chicago is a place that all of us can be proud of. The city has seen a major increase in travelers bringing in over 57 million people each year. Along with that, Chicago saw record highs in hotel revenue over the summer. Chicago doesn’t stop at summer as there are many more exciting things to look forward to in the winter months including launch of Theatre Season, Christkindlmarket, and the Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival.

To see why you should visit Chicago click the link here. 

The Draconid meteor shower, lighting up the Illinois sky

Although less popular, Illinois’ brilliant night skies are perfect for catching mesmerizing astronomical events all year round, and soon our skies will be illuminated by the Draconid meteor shower from Oct. 6-10, reaching its peak on the evening of Oct. 7 into the early morning of Oct. 8.

The Draconid meteor shower, named after the constellation Draco the Dragon, is an annual meteor shower that appears in the sky during the month of October. The meteor shower is created when Earth passes through the dust debris left by comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner.

To increase your chances of seeing the Draconids, find a good viewing spot with clear skies, away from city lights. Illinois has the perfect viewing spots at various state parks and nature reservation areas. You can find one closest to you here.

To check if the Draconids are visible in your city, visit this link.

Happy gazing!