Illinois brings to mind one thing for most travelers: Chicago. Needless to say, Illinois getaways to Chicago should definitely be part of your Illinois travel plans. However, when you tire of the big city, you'll find a number of interesting ideas for Illinois vacations. Here are a few of them.

Illinois Getaways for Families: It's All Happening at the Zoo

Families who are planning Illinois vacations will have a number of great zoos to choose from. In Bloomington, the Miller Park Zoo is home to a rain forest exhibit with free flying birds, the new Zoo Lab exploration center, which includes an indoor butterfly and birds exhibit (butterflies from April-October), sun bears, snow leopards, red wolves, Sumatran tiger, and a new Children's Zoo. The Brookfield Zoo has over 400 species of animals. At the Glen oak Zoo in Peoria, you and your family can participate in the Zoo Snooze, a unique experience that allows you to spend the night at the zoo. Your adventure begins at 7:00PM. It includes an up-close animal encounter and guided tour, as well as pizza and breakfast the following morning.

Illinois Travel to Theme Parks

In Dundee, Illinois, The Three Worlds of Santa's Village has been a popular family vacation destination for over 40 years. The park features a variety of rides and live shows. You can hang out with the animals down on Old McDonald's Farm or enjoy the thrilling rides at Coney Island. Thrill seekers who enjoy getting wet will love Racing Rapids Action Park, which is also located in Dundee, Illinois.

Illinois Map

Illinois Travel to National Parks

At the Lincoln Home National Historic Site in Springfield, you can take a tour of the two-story home of Abraham Lincoln. This was the only home that Lincoln ever owned. The house was constructed in 1839 as a 1 1/2-story cottage. Abraham and Mary Lincoln resided in the cottage from 1844 until Mr. Lincoln's election to the Presidency in 1861. You can also take a trip back in history by exploring the Lewis and Clark National Trail.

Illinois Travel to Museums

Be sure to set aside a portion of your Illinois travel plans to explore the state's excellent museums. In Aurora, the SciTech Hands on Museum features exciting exhibits on weather, biology, sound, physics and astronomy. In Big Rock, Illinois, the traveling Roberts Armory Museum specializes in the acquisition and display of light armored vehicles and artillery used by the U.S. Army in World War II. In Champaign, Illinois, the Staerkel Planetarium is open year-round, provides science education programs and fascinating light show entertainment. Perhaps the oddest of these museums is the Chicago International Museum of Surgical Science, whose collections span over 4,000 years of surgical history.

Illinois has a lot to offer. Make the most of your Illinois travel by seeing as much of the state as possible.