Top Things to do in Illinois
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Top 10 Points of Interest & Landmarks in Illinois, United States
Discover the best top things to do in Illinois, United States including Wright Plus Architectural Housewalk, Marytown - The National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe, World's Largest Mailbox, Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio, The Magnificent Mile, Frank Lloyd Wright's Unity Temple, Millennium Park, Cloud Gate, Market Square, Lincoln Tomb & War Memorials.
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1. Wright Plus Architectural Housewalk
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 114 reviews
Join the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust on May 22, 2021 for the annual Wright Plus Architectural Housewalk. Wright Plus celebrates architecture, design, Frank Lloyd Wright's innovative vision and the talents of his fellow architects. It is an enjoyable day featuring rare interior tours of private homes and public buildings designed by Wright and his contemporaries.
Reviewed By VacationDays365
We had a guided tour of the Oak Park neighborhood and the Frank Lloyd Wright houses and found the tour to be very informative. We learned so many interesting details about the buildings and had the unexpected bonus of chatting with one of the owners about his home and perspective on the area. This was an easy walking tour through beautiful streets, and our guide was engaging and never made us feel rushed.
2. Marytown - The National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 53 reviews
Reviewed By A3827UVtracyn
Beautiful, Holy Shrine! I went to retreats here when I was younger and they shaped me like no other experience. I am so thankful for the work of the friars and volunteers here. Someone mentioned that it's "boring"- lets be clear, this is a Catholic Church and not an amusement park- but what is "boring" about the Savior of the world being made present in the Eucharist and in Adoration? Please God fill our hearts for love of You and especially the gift of your Holy Presence in the Eucharist!
3. World's Largest Mailbox
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 118 reviews
Reviewed By 982vickif - Dugger, United States
This is a really neat thing to see. In the back there are stairs where you can go up inside the mailbox, but I didn’t do that. My favorite part was all the beautiful flowers and landscaping around and behind the mailbox!
4. Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,305 reviews
To ensure the health and safety of our guests, tours at the Home and Studio return on June 11 and are limited to nine guests per time slot. (Updated 6/2/20) The Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio in Oak Park, Illinois served as Wright's private residence and workplace from 1889 to 1909--the first 20 years of his career. Today, Oak Park is home to the world’s largest collection of Wright-designed buildings. Wright used his first home to experiment with design concepts that contain the seeds of his architectural philosophy. In his adjacent studio, Wright and his associates developed a new American architecture - the Prairie style. Enjoy guided tours of the museum complex and neighboring historic district seven days a week. Trained interpreters offer insights into Wright's family life and architectural legacy. Tour details are available on the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust website
Reviewed By 1blah1
Traveling through the house, each room showed FLW’s developing style in Prairie Architecture. This tour was so fascinating, I had seen Falling Water several years ago and to see how he developed to that home was amazing. Don’t miss the homes he designed through Oak Park and also LaGrange, Illinois.
5. The Magnificent Mile
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 15,639 reviews
The Magnificent Mile is one of the great avenues of the world and is at the center of all that makes Chicago an international destination. One of the top 10 hospitality, dining and retail destinations in the world, with endless shopping, international cuisine, top rated hotels, lively entertainment, majestic architecture and natural beauty at every turn, The Magnificent Mile offers visitors to Chicago a one-of-a-kind city experience. The Magnificent Mile is the 13-block stretch of North Michigan Avenue that runs from the banks of the Chicago River to the south, to Oak Street to the north. The Magnificent Mile district extends a full square mile from North Michigan Avenue. The Magnificent Mile is a spectacular showcase of style, flavor, entertainment and fun. With more than 460 stores, 275 restaurants, 60 hotels and unique entertainments and attractions packed and stacked along its length, The Magnificent Mile has an indulgence for every passion and every pocket.
Reviewed By christiano242
The Magnificent Mlle is certainly magnificent with the high end stores and other shops along with the historic and new architecture for which Chicago is so justly proud. Just walking along the Mile, one can hear languages from many countries. Each season the street is decorated with theme-based decorations. Along with shopping I enjoy people watching.
6. Frank Lloyd Wright's Unity Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 201 reviews
Unity Temple (1905-08) is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the 20th Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright List, and represents a defining moment in Frank Lloyd Wright’s early career. Designed in Wright’s Oak Park Studio for his own Unitarian congregation, it is one of the first public buildings in America to feature exposed concrete and is Wright’s greatest public building of his Prairie era. The harmony of the building’s strikingly geometric architecture and decorative elements exemplifies Wright’s theory of organic design. Unity Temple announced a new era of innovation in modern architecture.
Reviewed By Naples64 - Wellington, New Zealand
This concluded our day at Oak Park and our immersion in all thing FLW. We had an excellent tour where we were the only people so we benefited from our guides undivided attention. Excellent guide who had such knowledge and love for the building. Nothing like I have ever seen before.
7. Millennium Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 24,640 reviews
Three square blocks of open lakefront complete with a Ferris Wheel, outdoor music pavillion and ice skating rink; expected to become one of the city's most popular sites.
Reviewed By 314LH - Chicago, United States
Cloud Gate (the bean to locals) is a 12-ft high stainless steel sculpture chosen in competition as the winning design (by Brit Anish Kapoor), inspired by liquid mercury. Begun in 2004, finished in 2006, it's become a Chicago icon that provides unique photo opportunities. Enjoy great views of downtown (and the skating rink in winter) from its platform, stroll the area to view regularly-changing public art exhibits, the Pritzker Pavilion, Lurie Garden, and fabulous Frank Gehry designed BP bridge.
8. Cloud Gate
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 18,019 reviews
Reviewed By alanclarke2017 - Chicago, United States
A visit to the Millennium Park at Christmas is a delight ... That magnificent silver Bean floats over the ice rink and at Christmas there is a fantastic tree all within an easy walk from the mile and central city. Jazz bands and Christmas lights made this very special
9. Market Square
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 58 reviews
Reviewed By illinoistravelere
Normally my review would spotlight the shopping/dining aspects of Market Square. However, with pretty much everything closed in keeping with COVID 19 guidelines, I thought I'd focus on the walking-around-whilst-keeping-a-safe-distance aspects of this interesting destination/photo op. Designed by architect Howard Van Doren Shaw, it is often considered the first planned shopping center in the United States. It features commercial/residential buildings around a central green lawn square. There is a fountain at the east end and a 1917 flag pole memorial to WWII soldiers at the west. There are shops on the first level and apartments above. The fountain statue, "Friends," by Sylvia Shaw Judson, Shaw's daughter, was erroneously identified as "Girl with Baby on Shoulder," until 2016 when a plaque with the correct name was installed. Shaw's design included a plethora of architectural elements such as carved wooden beams, gabled roofs, clock towers, stucco walls, sundial, weather vane, and so on in an eclectic English/Flemish/Bavarian/Baroque/Palladian/Renaissance style. The prime location, in the center building at the head of the square (directly opposite the train station) was originally filled by the First National Bank. In 1931 Marshall Field's took over the space with its very first branch location. In 2008 new owner Macy's closed it. The History Center of Lake Forest - Lake Bluff has an online collection of photos and postcards of Market Square from its construction to the present day. Market Square gets 5 stars for being the perfect backdrop for a leisurely spring stroll during these pace-and-space-yourself-carefully days. There is pull-in, two-hour-limit parking around the square. See my June 26, 2016 review for more details.
10. Lincoln Tomb & War Memorials
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,904 reviews
Reviewed By richardf600 - Louisville, United States
An amazing and very well done tribute by the state and Springfield to honor our President. The cemetery grounds are beautiful and walking up to the Monument I was awestruck at the massive size of it all. There is a bust outside that everyone goes up to to touch the nose and it is supposed to be good luck. The nose is shinny from being rubbed. You can go inside to see the tomb itself. It is a very fitting recognition for such a great man. His wife and sons are there as well. There are replicas of the many bronze statues of him around the country.
