Keeping it real in Illinois

TravelMole’s Graham McKenzie went in search of the real Ilinois and found it in various places, starting with a top breakfast haunt in the Windy City.

Authentic, local, unique – all words that many tourism organisations are using these days to help showcase their true culture, not one that has been manufactured purely for the pleasure of visitors. It is an attempt to move away from ‘clone’ destinations, where the food, language and general ethos are the same wherever you go.

It’s an accusation that has often been levelled at the US in the past. Fly the 2,500 miles from New York to Los Angeles – almost the same distance as London to Timbuktu – and culturally you won’t notice much difference. That indeed was and maybe still is one of the attractions of the country and a strength of the economy – ‘I know what I like and I like what I know’.

So how does differentiation manifest itself in modern destination marketing? Enjoy Illinois, the state’s tourism promotional body, launched a programme called ‘Illinois Made’ during WTM 2016 and it has been designed to ‘showcase those makers and businesses that are helping to craft Illinois, inspiring visitors and fellow Illinoisans to discover more about our state’.

The program takes inventors, artists, artisans, performers, innovators, pioneers, manufacturers and showcases them to the world of travel. In the main, these are run by the owners who have shown a passion for the tasks at hand using local products, supplies, personnel and thereby making an extremely positive impact on the local community. They vary from breweries, distilleries, potteries, tee-shirts, hat makers, bicycle manufacturers to woodworkers and each must produce their crafts, products and wares in Illinois

These are businesses that benefit from tourism, yes, but exist in the main to serve locals. They basically tick all the boxes of a modern tourism strategy of ensuring that the benefit of tourism is felt in the local economy and minimises adverse impacts on the environment.

Illinois is a big state and you would imagine that evidence of Illinois makers would be more common out in the smaller cities and villages of the state. Whilst this is true to a certain extent, Chicago, Illinois’ largest city and international gateway, has several examples, as I discovered on my ‘Illinois made’ tour of the state.

First up, before meeting the ‘makers’, was breakfast. I was at a self-proclaimed Chicago Institution which is not on any official list but sure is local – Lou Mitchells Diner. Established in 1923 the restaurant would have seen all sorts of history on the streets of the windy city but has survived. Why? The quality of the service and the products they serve has stood the test of time.

I was there for the most important meal of the day and the eggs, bacon, home fries, toast and coffee was as good as anywhere I have tried in the US (and I have eaten a lot of American breakfasts). Before you order anything, you are presented with half an orange and a prune. Never had that before, but it was good.

The experience was, however, more than the food. The place had a continual buzz about it, the staff knew their jobs inside out and had the personalities to go with it.

Despite being in a big city you felt as if you were part of a small community. An excellent way to start my day and my trip around the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois in search of ‘Illinois made’. As the tourism department would say, ‘Was I up for amazing?’
 

Graham travelled around Illinois meeting passionate makers. For more information on Illinois Made programme.