Garden of the Gods
Shawnee National Forest

Carbondale in far Southern Illinois is home to Southern Illinois University and Saluki Athletics. Saluki basketball fills the bleachers at SIUs newly removed Arena for the 2011 – 2012 season. Saluki track and field athletes look forward to spring 2012 when the new tack and field complex showcases their talents. SIU Carbondale School of Music, now at home in the campus Altgeld Building, is a hub of culture for Southern Illinois. Southern Illinois University Carbondale School of Music presents over 125 concerts and performances throughout the year. Check the calendar when you visit for events at Shryock Auditorium at SIUC.

Carbondale, called the capital of Southern Illinois, is centrally located for visitors to the Shawnee National Forest and Giant City State Park. With mild winter weather, the Ozark and Shawnee Hills area of Southern Illinois are ideal for winter trail hikes – just remember the weather can change quickly. Shawnee National Forest’s Burden Falls rewards winter hikers with the sight of spectacular ice formations amidst the falls.

Also near Carbondale, Crab Orchard Lake and Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge are less than 10-miles from downtown Carbondale. In winter, Crab Orchard can see over 200,000 Canadian geese wintering in the refuge. Popular with birding enthusiasts, Crab Orchard Wildlife Refuge and the surrounding area is on the Mississippi flyway with 245 species of birds documented.

Two hours southeast of Springfield, the Illinois state capital, is the town of Effingham. South and east of the intersection of Interstate 70 and Interstate 57, travelers entering Effingham from the west are greeted by the sight of the Cross at the Crossroads. Effingham’s iconic cross is 198-feet tall with the arms spanning 113 feet. Make a rest stop in downtown Effingham and stretch your legs as you stroll the Sculptures on the Avenues, featuring more than 20 sculptures permanently displayed throughout downtown Effingham.

The Effingham Performance Center provides cultural arts and entertainment for residents and visitors to Central and Southern Illinois. After a festive holiday season of performances, ECP kicks off 2012 with the thrilling Golden Dragon Acrobats. An ideal family event to include children 6 and older, this Chinese Circus amazes everyone with their acrobatics and spectacular stunts. February brings Seussical to Effingham’s Performance Center, another wonderful family event featuring TheatreworksUSA's adaptation of the Broadway musical.

The town of Robinson Illinois is an hour east of Effingham. Hometown of author James Jones, Robinson is also home to Lincoln Trail College, a campus of Eastern Illinois Community College. Robinson is the county seat of Crawford County, home of Palestine, the oldest Illinois community remaining in its original location. Enjoy the history, charm and great outdoors of Southern Illinois.

Buckingham Fountain
Chicago, Illinois

It could be the cultural hub that is Chicago, or the northwestern city of Galena set along the Mississippi River, or the interestingly-named city of – wait for it – Sandwich, that make northern Illinois full of interesting sights and attractions. A diverse and pleasant region to visit, northern Illinois features towns like Evanston, home of the Frances Willard House Museum, or Romeoville – where you can visit the Romeoville Prairie Nature Preserve. The City of Moline is an interesting visit – home of first John Deere manufacturing plant, and features John Deere Pavilion and Homes, the world’s most comprehensive agricultural exhibit. Set your sights on the Prairie State this spring.

With an ideal backdrop of Lake Michigan to the east, Chicago is the largest and most diverse city in Illinois. With professional sports, museums, and a myriad of festivals, events and even the Chicago Half Marathon, Chicago offers a variety of options for visitors. Spring is a great time to venture out into the iconic Lincoln Park Zoo – built in 1868, it’s one of the oldest zoos in the United States. You’ll want to check out the legendary Wrigley Field, home to the Chicago Cubs – they’re getting ready for the 2012 season, but tours of the ballpark are still available. You can head to the United Center and watch the high-flying Chicago Bulls slam and jam their way into the NBA Playoffs. Many Chicago visitors plan an afternoon of exploration at the Clarke House Museum, where tours are available though spring.

West of Chicago, and easily accessed from I-88, is Naperville. Home to the Burlington Park County Forest Reserve, Naperville is a fine city – be sure to get out and explore. Plan a visit to Naper Settlement, a 12-acre museum/village where history comes to life; it’s set adjacent to Riverwalk Park. You can spend the afternoon with the little ones to DuPage Children’s Museum, or enjoy the music of Joe Pug and the Hundred Mile Band, set to perform at The Union at North Central College.

Continuing west brings travelers to Sandwich – the city. A friendly and charming town in the Land of Lincoln, Sandwich yields an array of attractions and events for visitors. Scheduled for February 18, don’t miss out on the FVOAS Cheeseburger in Paradise event, set at the Fox Valley Community Center – keep an eye open for that cash bar, too. You can explore Sandwich’s history at the Wagner Memorial Museum, enjoy an authentic taste of northern Illinois at the Fox Valley Winery Tasting Room. If the weather cooperates, don’t miss a chance to do a bit of boating and fishing on Lake Holiday, set just minutes southwest downtown Sandwich. It's all happening this spring in northern Illinois.

Illinois State Capital
Springfield, IL

Springfield Illinois – a rich Civil War heritage and current Illinois State Capital are just the beginning of its endowments. Hometown of US President Abraham Lincoln, Springfield is home to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. Central Illinois and Springfield is the heart of the Land of Lincoln, the Illinois state moniker. Visit Springfield’s Old State Capitol State Historic Site before April 1st and see the 95th Illinois Infantry Civil War Flag Display. The display features an original Civil War flag carried by Northern Illinois troops. The flag is hung next to the Adjutant General’s office in the Old State Capital.

Illinois is the place for the livestock industry in February for the 2012 Illinois Beef Expo. One of the Midwest’s largest livestock tradeshows and competitions, join the best of Illinois 4-H and FFA young competitors February 23-26th at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. Watch and see carefully raised cattle be judged and auctioned as Illinois youth compete for top honors. If livestock is part of your life, we’ll see you at the Livestock Exposition Center at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield.

Athletes celebrate the Land of Lincoln at the 2012 Lincoln Presidential Half Marathon. Set your training goal on April 7th in Springfield. One of the Midwest’s premier Half Marathons, the course runs past the only home Lincoln ever owned, his law office, as well as the Old State Capital and Oak Ridge Cemetery where Lincoln is buried. Join racers and fans at The Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum for the start. At 7:30 am April 7th.

Springfield’s Lincoln Memorial Gardens & Nature Center is a beautiful tract of gardens on the banks of Lake Springfield. Carefully designed and planted with native Illinois plants, see the terrain Abraham Lincoln was familiar with, February and March is Maple Syrup Time. Visit the four weekends, February 18th through March 11th to walk the gardens and see the maples being tapped and the sap collected. Get outside for some fresh air at Lincoln Memorial Gardens & Nature Center and enjoy a sample of fresh maple syrup.

Outside Champaign 20-miles is the Illinois city of Monticello. Northeast of Springfield less than an hour and 15 minutes on Interstate 72, Monticello is another historic and charming Illinois town. Home of Allerton Park and Retreat Center, the Monticello Railway Museum, and two neighborhoods on the national Register of Historic Districts, history and architecture buffs enjoy strolling through Monticello.

Just in time for Valentine's Day, Monticello hosts the 2012 Chocolate Fantasy. A fun reason to get outside, Monticello’s Chocolate Fantasy takes visitors to merchants throughout Monticello to collect chocolate treats, and enter a final drawing. Clear the cabin fever and get that special Valentine gift in downtown Monticello while you enjoy some samples yourself.