The snow may be coming down, and the cold may be keeping you in doors. Perhaps you are starting to feel a bit stir crazy all cooped up inside, and the fresh glow of the fire place doesn’t seem to shine as bright. Well, winter doesn’t have to feel so blue. Illinois is filled with fun and exciting things to do despite that snowy, cold weather.

 
Here are just a handful of ideas.

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”
– Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr. dedicated his life to advancing civil rights and justice for African-Americans and other marginalized groups throughout the United States. On Monday, the country will pause to honor his legacy with events scheduled from coast to coast.

Constructed from 1892 to 1907, the beautiful Hennepin Canal State Trail is a great place for fun and relaxation. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it was the first American canal built of concrete without stone cut facings.

Hennepin Canal State Trail spans five Illinois counties (Rock Island, Bureau, Henry, Lee and Whiteside) and is a great place to visit when snow falls. It’s where you can find the longest snowmobile trail in Illinois- 91 miles of pure fun. Cross Country skiers are also able to traverse a 4.5 mile trail.

This week is National Pizza Week and we want to celebrate Illinois pizza. It is no secret Illinois has mastered the art of pizza making. The Chicago deep dish is a prime example, but there are great places to grab a slice throughout the state. Here are 10 of the best pizza joints in Illinois.

Matthew Hoffman is a Chicago-based artist and designer whose public works have been exhibited internationally. Hoffman has been featured in a segment on the Oprah Network and his ideas and work have been included in Good, the New York Times Magazine and Ready Made. He has also been published in books.

Hoffman is the custodian of You Are Beautiful, a project to better the world in little ways. The message has reached every corner of the globe, with over 2 million stickers shared. The hope is for us to share uplifting thoughts with each other.

Hoffman was recently recognized in the New City's Design Top 50: Who Shapes Chicago 2014 (March 2014), and was awarded Best Established Artist in the Chicago Reader's public poll (June 2014). For more information on Hoffman and his work, please continue reading.