Located in Christian and Sangamon counties near Rochester, Sangchris Lake State Park was highlighted by The Dyrt for its 120 miles of shoreline along Sangchris Lake, featuring two lakeshore campgrounds. In addition to easy access to both water and nature trails, it has been praised for its friendliness to bird watchers and clean grounds with picnic tables and playgrounds.

The park includes 195 campsites where pets and fires are both allowed, with firewood, showers, drinking water and more available to campers. If you don’t want to camp out in a tent, RV sites and campgrounds are also present.

This summer, you won’t want to miss out on taking a trip to see the views and enjoy this highly rated state park.

Click here for more information.

The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events has announced their spring and summer festival and special event dates for this year!

• Chicago Farmers Markets (citywide including Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington St.)
  • Open May – October
• Maxwell Street Market (800 S. Desplaines St.)

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!