Another year , another fair and what a nice fun time…read more Great people Great food Great time And if you haven't , you must try the apple cider slushie!

Honestly this one's a tossup between 3 and 4 stars. It seems that the Illinois State Fair, compared…read moreto some of the other state fairs, is kind of boring and doesn't offer a lot. Iowa and Minnesota's state fairs have a better selection of foods to offer, for instance. But I think I'll just stick to the positives of Illinois's. The fair does pay great tribute to the Prairie State, like agriculture, dairy and midwestern life. I'm very surprised and glad that Chicago isn't mentioned all that much, although I wish some Chicago foods would be offered at the fair! The buildings and architecture are nice. The Route 66 Experience (which is open year-round) is a must for everybody. No fair visit is complete without checking out the livestock barns as well as going to livestock judging competitions. Oh and I can't leave out the butter sculptures. As far as the entertainment part, they do have a great eclectic mix of cover bands and popular acts performing there. Again, despite of everything that I said - I do think Illinois needs to step up its game and re-define itself as a popular destination. After seeing what Iowa State Fair has to offer, it definitely made Illinois SF look very weak.

This was such a fun place to go. They have lots of jogging trails. They have both paved and…read moreunpaved ones. Making this place a good handicap accessible place. They also have free community classes. I did a mushroom foraging class, and a maple tapping one. Lots of fun stuff for the kids to do. They have an indoor and outdoor bathrooms. They also have a free parking lot to park. The staff are very nice and helpful in the visitor center. I definitely plan to go back here. It was such a beautiful, nice relaxing place.

Review Visit: September 27th, 2016…read more I have been to Springfield, IL quite a few times, so it came to me as a surprise that there was a Memorial Garden/Nature Center dedicated to Abraham Lincoln. So, on a beautiful fall day, I decided to make a trip there and see what it was about. Talk about picking a perfect day to walk a perfect place. Parked my car, grabbed my outdoorsy hat and went walking. You could say that this place is split in two, with a section around the Nature Center and a section all on its own. There were only a few people on the trail and they were friendly. It was an enjoyable walk around the Nature Center section. Even saw two fawn play around while their mother fed. If you like to walk some easy trails while enjoying nature, this place needs to be on your list.

Pumpkin Creek Farms is an absolute gem and a fantastic destination for families and friends looking…read morefor a fun and memorable day out. The farm is beautifully maintained and offers a wide range of activities that cater to all ages. From the moment you arrive, you can feel the welcoming and festive atmosphere. One of the highlights is the pumpkin patch, where you can pick your own pumpkins--perfect for carving or decorating. The corn maze is a blast, providing just the right amount of challenge and fun. There are also hayrides, petting zoos, and plenty of photo opportunities that make for great keepsakes. The staff at Pumpkin Creek Farms are friendly and helpful, ensuring that everyone has a great experience. The farm also offers delicious seasonal treats, like cider donuts and hot apple cider, which add to the overall charm of the place. It is also incredibly affordable! Everything is included with admission. Which is $9 a person and I believe it is 2 and under that are free! Pumpkin Creek Farms is an awesome spot for a day of fun, learning, and making wonderful memories. Highly recommended for a fall outing!

Great family friendly fun place! It was cheap and offered multi things to do for the kids! The…read moredonuts were also amazing!

I went to visit the SAA gallery today on 4th street and found the space to be bright and clean…read more (There's another SAA building for art classes ) and the front desk woman to be lovely and informative about the gallery and classes offered . The art work was a mixture of local artists with ongoing featured artist that change periodically. I'm so happy to have found this wonderful place, I'll be back !

A beautiful property with a Historic Home, Gallery and Classrooms. My children LOVE art camp each…read moresummer and I enjoy the "Canvas & Cocktails" events on Friday evenings!

Pretty nice selection of old and new albums, cds, and tapes. We really enjoyed our time inside, and…read morethe woman at the counter was very helpful, and nice . You can definitely find some great deals with a little searching. We walked out with albums, tapes, and a sweatshirt. Not sure what the price limit is, but if you spend a certain amount, you get to go into the arcade in the back! Pinball machines, and video games! So awesome!!! Great little record store with a ton of personality!

Cool little shop with friendly staff and a good selection of records. There is a small arcade for…read morecustomers (unlimited games if you spend $10). Totally worth a stop in.

Beautiful display!! I always appreciate the work that goes into this. I will be excited when the…read morecomplete the work on the dome.

Lovely gardens. I had an enjoyable afternoon walking around the grounds. The dome is being…read moreconstructed so I didn't get to see it. I can't blame them for improvement, I will just have to come back! I'm so excited to see so many native plantings. The pollinators were out on full force enjoying the nectar. Well done!

Fun spot to go if you are in Springfield, Illinois. Admission is free. They have street parking and…read morea parking lot next to the museum. I enjoyed seeing all of the different exhibits. The Native American artwork was one of my favorites. I enjoyed seeing the beautiful beadwork. They did not have the theater showing anything the day that we went. So I would love to go back to see their theater. They often have kids events, so check their website to see if there's any special items going on. The basement level is a hands-on kids area for kids to play and explore. They also take donations since admission is free. I definitely plan to go back again.

Review Visit: July 31st, 2012…read more A museum dedicated to more than Illinois. Matt and I had no idea what we were getting ourselves in to when we decided to check out the Illinois State Museum. We set our sights on this place while trying to do all the big Lincoln-y things in Springfield. We had assumed it was just your normal museum dedicated to the state of Illinois, corn, and Lincoln. It was all that and much more. It's hard to put in words how cool this place was. It's also hard because it's been over 8 years since we came here and my memory is a bit fuzzy on it. Who is to say the exhibits haven't also changed or been redone since 2012. Any who, I will say that if you find yourself in Springfield and love awesome museums, check this one out. There is a lot to see pertaining to Illinois but it's all so super cool and really well done. One of the best museums I've ever experienced. I know this is a shorter-than-normal post. If it gets even one person interested in seeing this place, then I feel like I've done a great job.