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On a recent “Presidents & Parks” trip, I found some of the Best places to visit in Illinois! Or not, depending on your travel tastes! Since I’m writing about Illinois, I’m including links to other Illinois posts. On the recent trip, I visited places related to US Grant, Ronald Reagan, and Abraham Lincoln. The other trips included some time in Chicago and on Route 66. And how can you miss Casey, IL!
Illinois has Ulysses S. Grant’s home in Galena, Ronald Reagan’s birthplace in Tampico, Ronald Reagan’s boyhood home in Dixon, and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield. For the Presidents and Parks trip, that’s it for Illinois! Click or tap here for the overview of the Presidents and Parks trip. And, let’s look at other posts about Illinois as well!
One of the favorites is the Illinois portion of Route 66 from Chicago to St. Louis. It’s one of the best places to visit in Illinois.
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Ulysses S. Grant
Grant lived in the house after his Civil War service, and he could be there occasionally during his presidency. And he left the presidency in 1877 and lived here until about 1880, when he moved to New York. After 1880, he never lived here again. However, the house has been maintained as a memorial to Grant since 1904.
Grant grew up in Ohio and left for the US Military Academy (West Point) after receiving an appointment, then served with distinction in the Mexican-American War. He left the Army in 1854 and tried his hand at business in both Illinois and Missouri. He was a better military leader than a businessman, as he never achieved success in his business endeavors.
While in the army, he met and married Julia Dent, the sister of a fellow officer. Her parents boycotted the wedding as Grant’s family were staunch abolitionists, and the Dent family owned slaves and wanted to keep it that way.
Shortly after the beginning of the Civil War, he felt it was his duty to rejoin the army. Throughout the war, his leadership successes led Lincoln to appoint him as the commander of all US Army forces. After hard-fought battles, he defeated the Confederate forces under Robert E. Lee. He presided over the surrender of Lee at Appomattox in 1865.
The C-SPAN presidential rankings have him at #20 for all of the 44 men who’ve held the presidency. Interestingly, he falls between Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush!
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He also lived in Missouri for a time, where his wife’s family lived—the house there will be addressed in the post about Missouri.
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan, the 40th US President, was born in Illinois, grew up, and went to college there. After college, he worked in radio doing sports broadcasts. In 1937, while broadcasting a Chicago Cubs preseason game in California, he took a screen test and quickly became a star after arriving in Hollywood! Here is an upcoming link (Not ready yet, be here soon) to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, California.
Birthplace
Ronald Reagan was born above this bank in 1911. His family lived in Tampico several times before settling in Dixon, IL, when he was nine. He then resided in Dixon until attending Eureka College, beginning in 1928.
The birthplace was only open by appointment from November through March. I couldn’t find an appointment that fit my schedule, but I was eager to see it. Unfortunately, the second picture was taken through glass with the sign standing back from the window. Getting a clear picture was impossible, so I’m showing you the best I could get! Here’s a link to the birthplace. According to the website, tours are available from April through October. I visited in March. Check out the website before visiting.
Boyhood Home
The boyhood home was being refurbished. Here’s a link to the house if you can see it. According to the website, the home and the museum (see below) make up a half-day visit.
A Reagan museum stands inside the Northwest Territory Historic Center. Reagan’s former school, South Central School, is now a museum with a large portion of the building dedicated to Reagan. Here’s a link to the museum’s website.
Abraham Lincoln
Above is the Lincoln family as they may have appeared in the White House years. Here’s the link to the Lincoln Presidential post.
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois, is a top destination for history lovers and anyone interested in America’s 16th president. This world-class museum features immersive exhibits, rare artifacts, and interactive displays that bring Lincoln’s story to life—from his early years to his presidency and lasting legacy. Located in the heart of Springfield, it’s one of the city’s premier historical attractions. Whether you’re looking for things to do in Springfield, Illinois, planning a family trip, or exploring Abraham Lincoln’s history, be sure to check Lincoln museum tickets and visit one of the most remarkable presidential libraries in the US.
Chicago
Several posts from Chicago show some of the Best places to visit in Illinois! You’ll see a picture or two, a bit about the post, and a link. While Chicago has its well-publicized problems, it’s like every other large city. All cities have similar issues. Despite that, Chicago, like all cities, has many significant attractions. Follow along…
Museum of Science and Industry
I remember visiting this museum when I was a senior in high school. We took a senior trip here. Illinois was only my third state to visit. Seven years later, I’d been in 25 states! That’s my thing, visiting all 50!
Here’s the link to the post about the museum.
Chicago Architecture Cruise
A highlight of the trip is the Chicago Architecture Cruise on the Chicago River. You catch the cruise boat at Lake Michigan and follow it to the edge of downtown. Here’s the link.
Millennium Park & “The Bean” in Chicago
Millennium Park in Chicago is one of the city’s most iconic attractions, offering a vibrant blend of art, architecture, and green space in the heart of downtown. Known for its striking landmarks, such as the reflective “Cloud Gate” sculpture—affectionately called “The Bean”—and the interactive Crown Fountain, the park draws millions of visitors each year. Guests can stroll through the lush Lurie Garden, enjoy free concerts at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, or relax and take in the skyline views. Whether you’re visiting in summer for outdoor events or in winter to skate at the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink, Millennium Park is a must-see destination that captures the creative and welcoming spirit of Chicago.
Check out more about the park using this link.
Wrigley Field and the Chicago Cubs!
Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, is one of the most legendary ballparks in Major League Baseball and a beloved landmark in the city. Opened in 1914, this historic stadium is famous for its ivy-covered outfield walls, hand-operated scoreboard, and the electric atmosphere created by generations of devoted Cubs fans. Located in the lively Wrigleyville neighborhood, the ballpark offers more than just a game—it’s an experience filled with tradition, from singing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” during the seventh-inning stretch to celebrating a Cubs win with the iconic “W” flag. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or a first-time visitor, catching a game at Wrigley Field is a quintessential Chicago experience.
Wrigley has got to be one of the best places to visit in Illinois!
Check out this information from attending a game at Wrigley!
Casey IL & World Records
Casey, IL, has 12 certified Guinness World Record-holding “World’s Largest” items. These and other large but not world record items are scattered throughout the town. Click or tap here for more.
The post has information about Metropolis, IL, with its large Superman statue. The city planned a Superman-based park, but that was never built.
Route 66 in Illinois
Route 66 is such an iconic highway to visit! More travelers seem to start in Chicago and end in Santa Monica, but plenty go the other way! It’s America’s Main Street, or the Mother Road, or the Will Rogers Highway in Oklahoma. The related posts about Route 66 include three posts representing three days of travel on this iconic road. Note: Route 66 is no longer a federally recognized highway, so its replacements are county, state, and federal roads following the same path. In most states, signs point out the path as a historic highway or a scenic byway. In Illinois, I-55 follows the route of the original 66. In many places, Route 66 exists as small roads that are now city streets, county roads, or state highways. Here are the links to the Illinois posts:
Note: Day 3 is named “Troy to Troy” because The Driveby Tourist got ahead of himself and had to backtrack and then push ahead beyond Troy, staying in Troy a second night before heading into Missouri for Day 4!
“The End”
There, that gives you information on things to see and do in Illinois. Let me know if you have other ideas for visiting Illinois. So, we draw the curtain in this version of the Best Places to Visit in Illinois!
Thanks again for reading about places visited by The Driveby Tourist.
Classic Rock Recollection
Chicago by Frank Sinatra
And each time I roam, Chicago is
Calling me home, Chicago is
Why I just grin like a clown
It’s my kind of town
My kind of town, Chicago is
My kind of town
Songwriters: Sammy Cahn / Jimmy Van Heusen
#thedrivebytourist
