Located at the Starved Rock Lock & Dam,the Visitors Center is operated by the US Army Corps of…read moreEngineers. The small museum explains how Illinois Waterways are part of our National water system. From the visitors center you can go upstairs to the outdoor viewing area and watch the operation of the lock and dam. Unfortunately the day we visited there were no boats passing thru. You might get lucky tho and see an eagle or merganser flying overhead. Open 7 days a week from 9-5. Plenty of parking is available. Free admission.

Interesting museum with exhibits about the locks and maps of Illinois rivers as well as Illinois…read morewildlife taxidermy. There is an outdoor deck with telescopes where you can watch the locks in operation if you are lucky enough to have a barge going through.

The Loyal Order of Moose is a fraternal and service organization founded in 1888, with nearly 1,800…read moreLodges, in all 50 states. I started to become aware of the Moose organization by competing in a 5k that supports the operation of Mooseheart Child City & School , a 1,000-acre community for children and teens in need, located 40 miles west of Chicago. The 960 Lodge is the only location I have ever been to, that being said the staff and members have been nothing but kind and generous Moose Lodge is not just clique club it is about community that extends across the nation.

We have our family Reunions at this location. They always make our visits very comfortable and the…read morestaff is pleasant to work with.

First impression: WOW! How many times can you say to your friends and family that you stayed in a…read moregrain bin? It's incredible how transformed it is inside! Marcia is a wonderful hostess. Very flexible, welcoming and great conversationalist! She called to make sure we arrived all right since we were getting in late, and gave us plenty of breakfast options for the morning. It was gorgeous to see the moon out the window in the bedroom loft and be away from the city lights. We even woke up to birds happily chirping right outside our window, too! The silo is quite roomy, perfect for quiet getaways away from the noise of modern day life. There are modern amenities like a TV, but why bother when you can enjoy snuggling around the ironcast fireplace? We will definitely be recommending this once in a life time experience to all Starved Rock/outdoor adventurers!

One day, I was abducted. No need to be sorry for me; I had…read moreactually been warned in advance by an "anonymous" letter which was signed "The Bridal Shower Gang". My friends had indeed decided to take me away from my groom-to-be for a weekend to be just-us-girls together. They set their choice on a rustic retreat, far from the city and all the book-induced headaches that we all shared as students/instructors at U of C. So after a little ride in Mimi's old faithful we arrive in the outskirts of Ottowa and park in front of a silo. The weather is really grey, a cold wind is blowing and we are welcome by Marcia, the lady of the house. Emmanuelle quickly leaves us behind to go say hi to Mary-go-round, the local mare while we patiently listen to Marcia explaining all the high and lows of the area. If you don't know where to go, what to do or what to eat - she's definitely your woman and an endless well of information............ The premises are nice but not fancy. The silo we stayed in was newly renovated and it showed - there's a neat mezzanine with a queen size bed and a couple pieces of furniture, a adorable bathroom and a lot of kitchen amenities (microwave, fridge, a burner, glasses, etc.) and a wood-burning stove - which was much appreciated in this cold November weekend! There's also an AC unit for the summer months. Overall it's a cool place to hang out - but you have not to mind sleeping in the bathroom or on a bench under the window....if it sounds weird, it's because it is! I also have to mention the dozen or so of dead flies by the upstairs window...I didn't mind them but I would understand if some people don't enjoy their company that much. If you decide to go pay a visit to Marcia, the silo is your best bet. The little house where my other friends stayed didn't sound too appetizing, and even rural charm has its limits: the three of them had to share the bed because the couches were covered with mouse excrement.... and it really looked worn out, like an old hunting hut which hasn't known the loving touch of a woman for years. Almost everything was forgotten though the next morning around breakfast which was plentiful, satisfying and filled with the purrs of Simba, the most adorable and social cat we had ever seen..... It is 10 minutes away from Starved Rock State Park and it really makes you forget the hustling and bustling of the city. And Miss Illinois slept there!!! If THAT is not an argument!!!

Quality/Quantity - Clean bathrooms and plenty of them…read more Truck and passenger vehicle parking. Atmosphere - Picnic areas, shaded or open. Some stuff to read and see, see pictures. Service - Free maps, for those of you that are still old school or don't have GPS. Vending machines. Price - Free. Owner Comment - Thank you to the state of Illinois for this free service.

When I searched Maps for "rest area," I was super surprised to see people (three at the time of…read morethis writing) had reviewed this particular one. It makes sense, right? I mean, if you are indeed resting. Why not rest and review? Anyway, five stars. The vending machines are plentiful and varied -- and take Apple Pay. The rest room is clean. There are some nice trails for the walking of the dog. And what amazing timing given we had just yesterday listened to Aly Ward's Ologies podcast (the Bryology episode) -- the picnic shelters are beautifully moss covered. So there. Need to pee, drink, dog walk, snack or picnic? This is a fine place at which to do it. Thanks Indiana.

I was making my way East from Iowa and have never stopped here before and was super impressed: the…read morewomen's restroom was updated and very clean. It's easy to pull on and off here off of 80, and the radar map inside was cool and very helpful. If I'm ever driving this was again on I-80 I'll def be stopping here again for a bathroom break.

Clean facility with clean restrooms they even have someone cleaning it during the day hours. Plenty…read moreof parking for trucks and cars. Nice picnic area as well. This rest area has vending machines too.

Great large group options for rides to the airport. They were reliable, affordable, comfortable…read moreand professional service. Thank you

Would recommend Belgio's service. We needed to get 11 people to O'Hare with a lot of luggage and…read morebe picked up eleven days later. Mike was great to work with and was on time and friendly. Glad to use Belgio's again. Thanks Mike

The whole experience from the call to picking up the vehicle was a pleasant experience…read more I had called around to different rental companies and I also went online to see if it would be quicker and easier. I was so frustrated and ready to give up. Then I called Blue Oval Rentals, my call was answered by a very professional and cordial employee. I did not have to listen to recordings, go through prompts and enter a bunch of information just to get quotes. The process was quick and delightful. I have recommended Blue Oval Rentals to family and friends and I will continue to use them myself.

I can't say enough about Blue Oval Rentals! Our car broke down in Coal City, and when it was at…read morethe mechanic (Bob's Advanced) Blue Oval was recommended for us. From my call until we were driving away, it was 30 minutes. They brought the car to Bob's Advanced in 15 minutes and took car of my two daughters and I on one of the hotter days of the summer when our own car overheated. Our car repairs took a couple of days, so when we went back to our home in Chicago, Blue Oval was in regular contact with Bob's Advanced and had an update on our car as we were trying to plan for how long we needed the rental. When we were coming back from Chicago, there was a slight delay in our car repairs, and we needed to switch out rental vehicles for one more day (because our original vehicle was already reserved for another party), so Blue Oval seamlessly got us into another vehicle for the last day. Their level of customer service was top notch, and I wouldn't hesitate to rent from them again. They are the epitome of small town customer service and a great business with a variety of rental vehicles.

This place is a bucolic respite, and tour guide Ted Weber is funny, self-effacing and passionate…read moreabout both history and his garden. Great for all ages. Streator clearly doesn't understand the hidden gem in its midst.

Beyond amazing! Truly thought we were looking at the garden when we walked through the gate. To…read moremy surprise, I believe there were 12 more to walk through! Each one absolutely beautiful. Was very taken with the English Garden. I began feeling like I was in the Secret Garden book. Then came the house tour. Beyond taken back with what history not only of the home, but the famous people that had stayed there! Definitely a must do! The owner himself gives the tour & is so informative! Don't pass up if you're in the area!!!!!!