Illinois

Illinois is a Midwestern state in the United States, and it offers a mix of big-city energy and wide open country. Visitors often arrive with Chicago in mind, but the state reaches well beyond its largest city.

What draws visitors

• Chicago's skyline, one of the most recognisable in the country, rising along the lakeshore.
• Deep-dish pizza, a local speciality that many people come specifically to try.
• Abraham Lincoln's historical sites, tied to the life of the state's well-known former resident.
• The Great Lakes shoreline, which gives the state a lakeside character quite different from its farmland.
• Vast farmlands, where the landscape opens into flat, far-reaching fields.

Planning a trip

Chicago makes a natural base for a first visit, with the city's architecture, museums and waterfront close at hand. From there, a drive or train ride can take you to the historical sites linked to Lincoln, or out to the farm country that covers much of the state.

Because Illinois spans big-city streets, lake shore and open fields, a trip can be shaped to suit you. Whether you want a city break, a historical journey or a slower stretch of countryside, the state has room for each.