With its own distinct charm, there's a certain magnetic pull toward Northern Illinois. Here, you can take a step back in time with a visit to historic Galena, indulge in Rockford's Swedish heritage or explore the lush landscape of the area's state parks.

Start your day in Galena at the Ulysses S. Grant Home and take a guided tour
of  the former president's home, which has been restored to its original 1868 appearance. See costumed guides reenact frontier life at Apple River Fort State Historic Site in nearby Elizabeth. Make time to stroll Galena's historic 19th-century Main Street, then enjoy a family-style Italian dinner at Vinny Vanucchi's.

Take a morning stroll through the lovely Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford, boasting formal Japanese gardens and a 16th century-style teahouse. Next, come face-to-face with Jane, one of the 10 most important dinosaur discoveries of the past 100 years, at the Burpee Museum of Natural History. Then head over to the Midway Village & Museum Center, featuring a living history Victorian village. Splash the afternoon away at Rockford's Magic Waters Waterpark, one of the largest water parks in the U.S. For dinner, get a taste of Rockford's Swedish heritage at the Stockholm Inn. In the evening, catch a play at the ornate Coronado Theatre or the outdoor Starlight Theatre at Rock Valley College.

Stop at the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center in Ottawa to observe tugboats navigating through the Starved Rock Lock & Dam and take in the beautiful sights on the Illinois & Michigan (I&M) Canal. Enjoy a lunch cruise aboard The Heron riverboat, docked at Ottawa's downtown Riverwalk. Then explore 2,600 acres of thick forests that hold lush canyons and sparkling waterfalls at Starved Rock State Park in Utica. Hike the trails, take a guided horseback ride or hop a trolley from the Starved Rock Lodge for a tour of local historic sites. Bald eagles can be viewed in the area from January through March.