Attractions
The Festival, 48 Sunset Rd, Bloomington IL 61701, is situated in the heart of central Illinois, approximately 125 miles southwest of Chicago, 155 miles northeast of St. Louis, and 64 miles northeast of Springfield, the State Capital. Interstates 39, 55, and 74 converge on Bloomington-Normal, as well as US Route 51 and State Route 9. Bloomington is a twin city with the Town of Normal.
Located in the Festival's vicinity are a number of outstanding attractions, so spend the day nearby before you spend the evening with us!
Bloomington-Normal
Staying over? Stay with us:
1801 Eastland Drive Bloomington, IL 61704 (309) 662-0000 www.EastlandSuites.com |
10 Brickyard Drive Bloomington, IL 61701 (309) 664-6446 www.Bloomington.Doubletree.com |
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Dining, recreation, and shopping in the twin cities
- Restaurant Guide - A searchable database so you can find the ideal place in Central Illinois to eat out, based on your tastes -- compliments of the Bloomington-Normal Visitor's Bureau.
- Constitution Trail - A multi-use trail and bike path in Bloomington-Normal
- Upper Limits Rock Gym - Largest rock-climbing gym in the country, and the tallest in the world!
- Golf courses - Bloomington-Normal is home to several golf courses including The Den at Fox Creek, an Arnold Palmer signature course.
- Eastland Mall - Browse the 90+ shops of Bloomington’s regional mall
For more information about Bloomington-Normal, visit the Bloomington-Normal Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Route 66: Main Street of America
Since its birth in 1926, Route 66 has changed the lives of countless people who have decided to follow their dreams of traveling somewhere new and exciting. Stretching from Chicago to Santa Monica, Route 66 was the first continuous hard road to make travel from the Midwest to the West Coast a faster, easier, and more realistic possibility than ever before. Route 66 quickly earned the title of the Main Street of America because its bends and curves sought out rather than avoided the hearts of the towns through which it passed.
Children’s Discovery Museum
101 E Beaufort, Normal IL 61761
www.childrensdiscoverymuseum.net
Explore, imagine, create and play with three floors of amazing hands-on exhibits including an incredible Agricultural Experience. Paint a masterpiece on the Paint Wall! Climb the two-story Luckey Climber! Shop the Main Street Market! Explore the Toddler Backyard and so much more! Open Tuesday through Saturday at 9 a.m., Sunday at 1 p.m.
David Davis Mansion
100 E. Monroe Dr., Bloomington IL 61701
www.daviddavismansion.org
From his earliest days riding the circuit with Abraham Lincoln to the years when he served as Lincoln’s appointee to the highest court in the land, Judge Davis played out his life at the very center of American politics and society. His Bloomington home, which remained in the Davis Family for three succeeding generations, provided a focal point for the social, cultural and political life of the community. In 1960, the house was donated to the State of Illinois; today, it is operated as a state historic site by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Guided tours of the Mansion are given every half hour and every hour throughout the day, beginning at 9:30 a.m.
Other Locations Around Illinois
Starved Rock State Park
Utica, IL
www.starvedrockstatepark.org
Experience the fun of outdoor adventure at Starved Rock State Park. Whether you enjoy hiking along the nature trails or viewing the many spectacular overlooks along the Illinois River, recreational opportunities abound. From picnicking, fishing, boating, horseback riding to camping, there's so much to do that you'll come back again and again.
James Millikin Homestead
125 North Pine St., Decatur IL 62522
http://performance.millikin.edu/millikinhomestead/index.html
The Millikin Homestead sits in regal splendor on a large lot at the corner of Pine and Main Streets in Decatur: an ornate mansion in the Italianate style with a French Second Empire roof. Its delicate wrought iron traceries, colorful slate roof, many porches and arched windows are in stark contrast to the Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired homes of the Millikin Place that face it on the north. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the Home is open to the public on the last Sunday of each month from April through October at 2 p.m.
Abraham Lincoln Museum & Presidential Library
112 North Sixth Street, Springfield IL 62701
www.alplm.org
Combining scholarship and showmanship, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in downtown Springfield communicates the amazing life and times of Abraham Lincoln in unforgettable ways. From theatrical shows, galleries, wax figures, walking tours, and interactive exhibits, this is an experience not to miss! The Museum opens at 9 a.m. daily.
Lincoln Home National Historic Site
413 South Eighth St., Springfield IL 62701
www.nps.gov/liho
"I now leave, not knowing when, or whether ever, I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington."—Abraham Lincoln left his Springfield home of seventeen years to serve as president of a nation on the verge of Civil War. The Lincoln home has been restored to its 1860 appearance, revealing Lincoln as husband, father, and politician. Open daily to the public for guided tours.
Lincoln's New Salem
15588 History Lane, Petersburg, IL 62675
www.lincolnsnewsalem.com
Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site, about 2 miles south of Petersburg and about 20 miles northwest of Springfield, is a reconstruction of the village where Abraham Lincoln spent his early adulthood.
Dana-Thomas House
301 E Lawrence Ave., Springfield IL 62703
www.dana-thomas.org
In 1902, Frank Lloyd Wright was commissioned to undertake the design and construction of a massive renovation of the Lawrence family home in Springfield, IL. The home was to be more than a mere residence—it was to be a showcase. Upon its completion in 1904, the new edifice completely engulfed the original home, immediately becoming a symbol of artistic and architectural excellence. See the splendor with your own eyes! The House is open for tours Wednesday through Sunday at 9 a.m.