Chicago is undoubtedly the most popular destination for travellers in the entire Midwest, and for good reason too! It’s got everything – award-winning restaurants, live music, world-class museums, waterways and greenspace. The capital of Illinois, Springfield, shouldn’t be overlooked; after all, it was home to Abraham Lincoln for nearly 20 years. It was also the birthplace of Route 66.

The best time to visit Illinois for many travellers is from April to May and between September and October. The temperature is generally fairly pleasant so you can explore the state’s incredible natural beauty.

Devour your body weight in Chicago’s legendary deep-dish pizza, visit the world’s largest T-Rex at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, get a glimpse of The Bean, catch a Chicago Bulls game, or, if NBA isn’t your sport of choice, you can cheer on the Blackhawks ice hockey team as well as two baseball teams, the Cubs and the White Sox. You can also check out Abraham Lincoln’s presidential museum, explore the national parks peppered around southern Illinois and visit an Indian settlement at Cahokia Mounds.

Fun fact, Chicago is also known as the Windy City. A light windbreaker jacket will serve you well alongside comfortable walking shoes. If you plan to hit the state parks and do a little hiking, you’ll need a few extra provisions so best to do some specific research if that’s on your to-do list.

It depends on what brings you to Illinois in the first place. Culture vultures love Chicago, while history buffs are drawn to Springfield as it’s where Abraham Lincoln resided for nearly two decades. Naperville is one of the wealthiest cities in the Midwest, Rockford is home to the Anderson Japanese Gardens and if the great outdoors beckons, the Shawnee National Forest and Starved Rock State Park will certainly scratch that itch.

Life happens - we get it! Read more here.