Champaign - What to do?

Heading to Champaign via Indy on June 8th so my son can attend a wrestling camp at U of I. Will stop off to see some relatives in Southern Illinois but then looking for things to do for five days or so while in Champaign. We are active foodies with interests in arts, history and music. Saw a reindeer farm listed on the Champaign Chamber site but not much else. Any advice? Should we drive to Chicago instead - and how hard/long of a trip would that be?

Champaign - What to do?

http://www.visitchampaigncounty.org/

It%26#39;s not too long a drive to Springfield - http://www.visit-springfieldillinois.com/

Chmpaign to Chicago is about 2 1/2 hours. There%26#39;s quite a bit of construction on the Dan Ryan expressway as you approach the city.

Champaign - What to do?

Make a trip to Springfield!!!

Abraham Lincoln%26#39;s home is here, there%26#39;s an incredibly high-tech (think holograms!) AL museum, plus he%26#39;s buried here.

Need something interesting for your palate? Have you tried a horseshoe? Think meat of your choice...buffalo chicken, hamburger, ham, etc., served on a piece of bread, smothered with a Welsh rarebit (cheese) sauce and covered with fries. Heart attack on a plate. Unless you%26#39;re a VERY hearty eater, go for the pony shoe instead. It%26#39;ll fill you. THE place is D%26#39;Arcy%26#39;s Pint...Irish bar %26amp; grille. But on a Saturday evening, be prepared to wait an hour. It%26#39;s worth it.

Springfield%26#39;s a fun town and only about 90 minutes west of Champaign-Urbana on interstate 72, and it%26#39;s easy to get around.

History buff? We%26#39;re the Illinois capitol, with the Old State Capitol building right here, too. Likely, while you%26#39;re in Illinois, the legislature will still be debating the budget...they haven%26#39;t got it sorted out as of 6/6.

Feel free to ask more, or send a PM to me if you want to know more about Springfield.

Lee

Thanks, guys! Leaving tomorrow and planning to use all the good TA tips. Horsehoe sounds like a must - I leave my healthy eating ideals at home when I go to Illinois. And I mean that in a good way. LOL!

Okay, if you see this...and you are in D%26#39;arcy%26#39;s Pint (on Stanton Ave. in Springfield) Saturday night, you%26#39;ll likely see us there.

Ask for Pam the waitress and have her point out Lee the weatherman...we%26#39;re in there every Saturday night.

A trip to Springfield is good for one day, or if you spend the night, stay at the Clarion State House, and try Cafe Brio or D%26#39;Arcy%26#39;s, as suggested. Not much else there other than Lincoln sites, along with the New Salem ones - Dana Thoms house if you like Frank Lloyd Wright. The University in Urbana-Champaign is in summer session now, so there are still things going on. Check the website at uiuc.edu. Krannert Center and Art Museum are both good, you%26#39;ll have to check on events. There is a nice university bookstore on Wright St., walk through Campustown on Green between Wright and Neil Sts. Mostly suburban chain-type restaurants (Chipotle, Potbelly, Starbucks). There is a great independent bookstore on Neil (Rt.45 S) called Pages for All Ages, and a little further south than that is a nice miniature golf course at Old Orchard Lanes. The mall is off Neil, north of I-74, and N. Prospect beyond I-74 has all the chain sprawl (Target, Pier One, Best Buy and the like). Downtown Champaign has many fine restaurants/clubs/bars, and a nice cinema. Quite a scene there at night. Go to Monticello, IL, about 15 minutes away east on 1-72, nice little town, Allerton Estate is there and there are a few nice eateries on the square.

Hope this helps!!