 |
 Gardens of Illinois
Region: Chicago, Chicagoland, Northern, Central
Green thumbs will revel in the beauty and vast variety of Illinois' spectacular gardens. From the modern marvel of Chicago's Millennium Park to the zen-like peacefulness of Rockford's Anderson Japanese Gardens, you'll want to dig right in.
|
|
|
Chicago/Glencoe/Lisle/Oakbrook Terrace |
Millennium Park is Chicago's fabulous lakefront showplace for the arts. Stroll the 25-acre grounds and discover the contemporary Lurie Garden, the reflective Cloud Gate sculpture, multimedia Crown Fountain and the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, a stunning performance venue designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry. Travel to the North Shore and spend time at the beautiful Chicago Botanic Garden in suburban Glencoe to experience more than 25 different gardens. Next, head to Lisle and its famed Morton Arboretum, home to 1,700 acres and 14 miles of gardens and world-renowned plant collections. In the evening, catch a Broadway musical or comedy at the award-winning Drury Lane Theatre in nearby Oakbrook Terrace. Dinner/theater packages are available.
Begin the morning in Rockford with a stroll through the tranquil Anderson Japanese Gardens. Considered to be one of the most authentic Asian gardens outside of Japan, Anderson features tumbling waterfalls, formal Japanese gardens, pagodas, koi ponds and a 16th century-style teahouse. Afterwards, check out Rockford's Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden. This 150-acre “living museum” boasts rare trees and shrubs that were planted back in 1910. Enjoy lunch at the quaint Lucile's Tea Room. Then, board the turn-of-the-century Trolley Car #36 at Riverview Park and meander through the lovely riverside Sinnissippi Gardens. For dinner, indulge in family-style German fare at Der Rathskeller Restaurant & Bar, a Rockford dining tradition since 1931.
|
|
|
Monticello/Decatur/Arthur |
Monticello boasts the sprawling grounds of Robert Allerton Park, a former private estate donated to the University of Illinois in 1946. Here you'll find outdoor sculptures, nature areas, trails and a manor house. Mari-Mann Herb Farm in Decatur is one of the largest herb gardens in the Midwest. At the Gingerbread House gift shop you'll find all-natural products that include fragrant oils, baked goods, homeopathic remedies and dried herbs. For lunch, head to the Amish village of Arthur for a home-style buffet at Yoder's Kitchen. Nearby in Arcola is Rockome, featuring acres of lovely flower and rock gardens, old-fashioned shops that include a five and dime store and soda fountain, and buggy rides around the 1940s-style village.
|
|
|
|
