Honestly, if you ask most people what is in Illinois, they’ll say "Chicago" and then stop talking. Maybe they’ll throw in a mention of Al Capone or a deep-dish pizza. But that’s like saying the only thing in a forest is one really tall tree.
Illinois is weird. It’s huge. It’s basically three different states stuffed into one trench coat, stretching from the edge of the Great Lakes all the way down to where the South begins at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. You’ve got a global mega-city in the north, endless flat cornfields in the middle, and actual mountains (okay, very large hills) with cypress swamps in the south.
It’s Not Just Flat Cornfields (I Promise)
Everyone jokes that Illinois is a flat, boring drive between Chicago and St. Louis. That’s a lie. Well, it's a half-truth.
If you head to the very bottom tip of the state—we call it "Little Egypt"—you’ll hit the Shawnee National Forest. We're talking 289,000 acres of oak-hickory forests, flourishing wetlands, and massive sandstone bluffs. The Garden of the Gods wilderness area looks like something out of a fantasy novel, with rock formations like "Camel Rock" that give you a view of the forest canopy for miles.
Then there's Starved Rock State Park. It’s only about 90 miles from Chicago, but it feels like a different planet. You’ve got 18 canyons carved out by glacial meltwater, with waterfalls that freeze into giant ice sculptures in the winter. It’s crowded on weekends, sure, but for a good reason.
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The Ghost of Abraham Lincoln
You can’t talk about what is in Illinois without mentioning the tall guy with the hat. Illinois is the Land of Lincoln, even though he was actually born in Kentucky. He made his name here.
If you go to Springfield, the state capital, you can walk through his old neighborhood. The Lincoln Home National Historic Site is the only house he ever owned. It’s eerie how preserved it is. You can also visit the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, which, frankly, is way cooler than your average dusty museum. They use holographic tech and immersive sets to show how messy the Civil War era actually was.
Strange History You Didn't Know
- Cahokia Mounds: Long before Europeans showed up, there was a massive city near present-day Collinsville. Around 1100 AD, it was larger than London. Today, you can climb Monks Mound, a massive earthwork that’s ten stories tall.
- The World's Tallest Man: Robert Wadlow was born in Alton, Illinois. He was 8 feet 11 inches tall. There’s a life-sized statue of him there that makes you feel like a toddler.
- The First Skyscraper: It wasn’t built in New York. The Home Insurance Building went up in Chicago in 1885, changing how cities were built forever.
The "Everything" Economy
Illinois basically feeds and moves the rest of the country.
Around 80% of the state is farmland. We aren't just talking about sweet corn for your summer BBQ; it's mostly soybeans and field corn for global exports. But Illinois is also the Pumpkin Capital of the World. Seriously. A town called Morton processes about 85% of the world’s canned pumpkin. If you eat pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving, it probably came from a field near Peoria.
In 2026, the state is leaning hard into the future. While the old John Deere tractors are still humming in Moline, there’s a massive push into Quantum Computing and AI. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is basically a tech factory, and Fermilab in Batavia is literally smashing atoms to figure out how the universe works.
Chicago: The Anchor
Look, Chicago is spectacular. It’s the third-largest city in the U.S., and it has a vibe that’s way more approachable than NYC or LA.
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You have the Art Institute of Chicago, which houses A Sunday on La Grande Jatte (the famous dot painting from Ferris Bueller). You’ve got the Museum of Science and Industry, where you can literally walk through a captured German U-boat from WWII.
But the real magic of Chicago is the neighborhoods. Each one is a different country. You can get authentic tacos in Pilsen, incredible dim sum in Chinatown, and pierogis in Avondale.
New Things Happening Right Now (2026 Edition)
Illinois is constantly changing its laws and landscape. As of January 1, 2026, several new things have landed on the books:
- Paid Pumping Breaks: Employers now have to pay nursing mothers for their break time to pump milk. It’s a huge win for workplace rights.
- AI Discrimination Protections: Illinois is one of the first states to ban employers from using AI algorithms that discriminate based on race or zip code.
- Digital Replica Laws: New rules are in place to stop "deepfake" bullying in schools, protecting kids from AI-generated harassment.
What to Actually Do There
If you're planning a trip or just curious, don't just stick to the Magnificent Mile.
- Drive Route 66: It starts in Chicago. Stop at the Gemini Giant in Wilmington—a 28-foot tall "Muffler Man" holding a silver rocket.
- Galena: A preserved 19th-century town in the northwest corner. It’s hilly, charming, and looks like a movie set.
- The Wine Trail: Yes, Illinois has wine. The Shawnee Hills Wine Trail has over a dozen wineries tucked into the southern hills.
Illinois isn't just a state; it’s a crossroads. It’s where the industrial North meets the agricultural Midwest and the forested South. It’s complicated, a little bit corrupt in the politics department (let’s be honest), but incredibly rich in stuff you’d never expect to find in the middle of a continent.
Your Illinois Action Plan
- Spring/Fall: Best time for the Shawnee National Forest or Starved Rock. The humidity in summer is no joke.
- Winter: Hit the Christkindlmarket in Chicago or go skiing (yes, really) at Chestnut Mountain in Galena.
- Food Rule: You must try a Horseshoe sandwich in Springfield. It’s an open-faced sandwich piled with meat, fries, and "secret" cheese sauce. It’s a heart attack on a plate, but you haven't lived until you've tried it.
To truly see what is in Illinois, get off I-55. Take the backroads through towns like Pontiac or Alton. Look for the giant statues, the historic mounds, and the local diners. That's where the real state is hiding.
Next Steps for Your Trip
Check the current trail conditions for the Garden of the Gods on the U.S. Forest Service website before heading south, as seasonal rains can wash out some of the lower paths. If you're staying in Chicago, book your Architecture River Tour tickets at least two weeks in advance—they sell out fast even in the shoulder seasons.