Discovering Central Illinois
The landscape—endless miles of corn and soybean fields—may be monotonous,
but the middle section of the Prairie State brims with intriguing points of interest bound to captivate any tour group.
Central Illinois is a promised land for anyone with a penchant for history, nostalgia and small-town life. Visitors to the Land of Lincoln looking to follow in the footsteps of the state’s most famous son will not be disappointed.
Dozens of historical attractions, from Bloomington to Charleston, commemorate the life of Abraham Lincoln. Springfield, the state capital, claims the best known Lincoln shrines, but dozens of other places help paint a fuller picture of his 30 years in Illinois.
Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition (lookingforlincoln.com), a consortium of Central Illinois historic sites and communities, publishes a brochure packed with itinerary ideas. The state’s Lincoln Bicentennial Commission (lincoln200.
net) will coordinate special events in 2009, the 200th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth.
While people associate Illinois with our 16th president, not everyone knows
the state has a thriving Amish community, the nation’s fourth largest. Indeed,
the Arthur-Arcola area hums to the clipclop of horse buggies.
Route 66 lore, another surprise to some, also attracts retro-minded travelers
to Central Illinois, recalling the heyday of America’s “Mother Road.†The town of Lincoln, 30 miles northeast of Springfield via I-55, abounds with both Abraham Lincoln and Route 66 sites. In fact, artwork on the cover of the local visitors guide shows Lincoln doffing his stovepipe hat from the seat of a classic red Corvette.
The tourism bureau’s website, appropriately, is www.abe66.com.
By Randy Mink
For full article please click here
Courtesy of leisuregrouptravel.com
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