Location: Ottawa
Top Things to do in Ottawa
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10 Things to do in Ottawa That You Shouldn't Miss
Ottawa is a city located at the confluence of the navigable Illinois River and Fox River in LaSalle County, Illinois, United States. The Illinois River is a conduit for river barges and connects Lake Michigan at Chicago, to the Mississippi River, and North America's 25,000 mile river system. The population estimate was 18,562 as of 2013. It is the county seat of LaSalle County and it is part of the Ottawa-Peru, IL Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Restaurants in Ottawa
1. Skydive Chicago
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 68 reviews
Skydive Chicago is a family run training center that has been in business since 1988. We have built from the ground up a resort style skydiving center. Our complex sits on 220 acres and includes: Camping/RV park, showers, laundry machines, rental cabins, cafe, pro shop, internet, meeting facilities. We are one of the largest skydiving centers in the world and have hosted numerous US Nationals Championships. We have been selected to host the 2016 World Championships of Skydiving an honor we are grateful for. We are home to the A'License in a week program. Come see why we have been voted Best DZ of the year 5 years in a row. Whether your 1st jump or your 1000th. Let Skydive Chicago help you along the way.
2. A Mess of Things
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
We are a juried indoor market. You will find vintage, shabby chic, repurposed, recycled, home decor, retail clothing (regular and plus sizes) and accessories, vintage clothing, region foods, art, handmade jewelry and soaps, bath bombs, fair trade this and that and MORE!
3. Ottawa Historical and Scouting Heritage Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 21 reviews
Reviewed By interceptpubs - Columbus, United States
We stopped in Ottawa mainly because it was the site of the first Lincoln-Douglas debate. This museum has a small display on that event, including a dress won by a woman who was there, but the museum has a whole lot more to offer. There are actually two galleries - the first covers the history of the Ottawa area. We were surprised to learn that Ottawa has a surprisingly rich manufacturing past with a number of unusual products having been made here. In 1922, the Radium Dial Company took over an old high school building in Ottawa and began hiring young women to paint clock dials with luminous paint. At the height of production, over 4,000 clock dials per day were being turned out by a work force of around 1,000. Unfortunately, the luminous paint used a combination of phosphorus and the radioactive element radium. Before long, many of the women started coming down with unusual, debilitating symptoms ultimately traced to radiation sickness. The plant closed in the mid-1930s, but the damage had sadly already been done. Reading the tragic story presented in the exhibit of the most famous of the women who worked here, Catherine Wolfe Donahue, and her quest for compensation is truly heart wrenching. Other manufacturing enterprises with much less dire consequences are also covered: Ghent Motor Company (a World War I era auto manufacturer), Gay Buggy Company (one of their carriages is on display), Porter Manufacturing and King and Hamilton (farm equipment makers), Peltier Marble Company (glass toy marbles that is), Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass (a pioneer sheet glass maker for automobiles, etc.), Weaver Piano Company, and Western Cottage Organ. As noted already, exhibits for each typically include examples of what they manufactured, as well as photos, advertisements, product catalogs, and other artifacts. There are also photos of some of the local mansions, and information on important historic figures from the area, such as Civil War general W. H. L. Wallace who practiced law in Ottawa in the mid 1800s. He also belonged to the Illinois militia with brief service during the Mexican War at the Battle of Buena Vista and much more extensive service during the Civil War where he led troops at the Battles of Fort Donelson and Shiloh, dying from wounds suffered during the latter. General Grant described him as one of the Union's greatest generals. Another famous Ottawa resident, William Boyce, a Chicago newspaper publisher who bought a 38 acre estate in Ottawa in 1903, is featured even more prominently in the museum. After buying his mansion here, he spent most of his time in the city, only returning to Chicago for business when necessary. He had a love of the outdoors that he apparently also loved to share. After meeting Robert Baden-Powell in London in 1909, he founded the American scouting organization, the Boy Scouts of America, in 1910. A great deal of exhibit space is devoted to Boyce with many items on display, including furniture from his mansion. This naturally leads to the museum's second gallery which focuses on scouting history specifically. This is perhaps the largest exhibit of scouting artifacts, ephemera, etc. that one will ever see, including a large amount of Baden-Powell material from a private collection that the museum now holds. We spent about an hour here and really enjoyed all of the exhibits - the presentation and depth is really quite good for a local museum.
4. Awesome Ottawa Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 27 reviews
My decades of Starved Rock Country research opens the eyes of locals and tourists to the wonder and grandure of the Illinois Valley. My family has been in Ottawa, Illinois since the early 1870's. They lived through the ups and downs, Indians to pioneers, idylic natural buauty to radium contamination and we are here today to share our research with you.
5. SaltTreeYoga
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 166 reviews
Himalayan Salt Cave & Wellness Center! Join society's movement toward wellness! So many people in today's world are looking for more proactive choices to support their health and well-being. Our goal is to provide some of the latest and also oldest natural healing methods to help you guide your body back to a functional, balanced, and healthy state. Yoga, Salt Cave, Dry Hydrotherapy Bed, Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna, Migun Massage Bed, Ionix Foot Detox, Gift Shop, Essential Oils, CBD Products, and more! Beautiful space for group events. Watch our website for all kinds of educational offerings. Choose your own way to wellness!
Reviewed By MatthewHeiden - Spring Valley, United States
Very peaceful to unwind and detox ...Salt Cave was awesome as well as the foot detox...felt really good...exceptional service...definitely will be going back ❤️✌????
6. Starved Rock Hot Glass
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 16 reviews
Reviewed By Clancy07 - Chicago, United States
I went on a little road trip with my friend and we stopped here. Laura is so nice and very talented. I picked up a glass pumpkin and I love it!
7. Heritage Harbor
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 12 reviews
This is the place...to begin your next adventure! Exciting adventures are unfolding year round in our waterfront resort community. Stay for a day, stay for a weekend, stay for a lifetime! Build your dream home, rent a cottage for a weekend getaway, play on the water in our state-of-the-art marina, dine at our onsite restaurant...the options are endless!
Reviewed By P5722CTpeggyc
The employees are very helpful. They take the time to explain everything. We had a wonderful. time. I'd recommend this place to everyone snd definitely do it again.
8. Illinois Waterway Visitor Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 95 reviews
DUE TO THE COVID 19 situation, the Visitor Center building is closed. The viewing areas that overlook the river are open to the public during business hours. Recreate responsibly and respect CDC guidelines for mask wearing and social distancing. A relaxing place to watch towboats and barges lock through. From the visitor center outdoor observation area, guests can watch bald eagles and mergansers in the winter and pelicans, great blue heron, cormorants and many other birds in the spring, summer, and fall. This site is the only visitor center devoted to telling the stories of the Illinois Waterway and its importance to transportation. Group on-site programs, outreach programs and boat safety classes available. Free boat inspections also available. Call our Park Rangers for more information or to schedule a program, boat inspection or to register for an upcoming boat safety class. Navigation charts, field guides and other recreation-related items are available at our gift store.
Reviewed By dianelL3422LU
Great learning experience for kids and families. February 2020 delighted to see a bald eagle today! Across from waterway is the State Park with hiking travels and the lodge.
9. Reddick Mansion and Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 29 reviews
Reviewed By Hanoverton1 - Hanoverton, United States
While visiting family in the area we stopped to tour the mansion and gardens. The docent that lead our tour was informative and knowledgeable about the mansion and the area. It was a pleasure to tour this well kept facility. The furnishings were well kept also. We would go back to visit again.
10. Buffalo Range Shooting Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 14 reviews
Reviewed By robertpP6114FD - Bray, Ireland
They have good guns and i would go there again It was the greatest experience of my life They are really nice people I would recommend it
