Giant City Lodge
Makanda

Their motto is "Southern Illinois Hospitality at its Best," and that's exactly what you'll experience when you visit the Giant City Lodge. It's a "great family place where you can see the natural stone formations in the park." Offering "camping and cabins for rent--all in all, it's a great hideaway." There is "something for everyone, even seniors." The dining room features a family-style, all-you-can-eat chicken dinner, nightly. "No reservations are needed, the service is great, and the view of Giant City State Park is wonderful, no matter what time of year." If poultry's not your thing, there is also a regular menu. One thing's for sure: "nobody goes away hungry." Read more.

Hey Hot Dog
Joliet

The sign says it all: Great Food and Root Beer. When you think of Hey Hot Dog, "envision a wonderfully frozen mug of homemade root beer and a fresh steamed Milano bun loaded with their famous hot dog, chili, and onions." The food is "so yummy, you won't want to miss it." Located "right off of Route 66," this "little hole-in-the-wall is a must-stop place."

Ravinia Festival
Highland Park

From Placido Domingo and Yo Yo Ma to Bonnie Raitt and the Indigo Girls, the "Ravinia Concert Experience is a casual-chic event." The village is located just north of Glencoe on the North Shore of Chicago, and provides the city's "sounds of summer" from June through September. Most people, "young and old, prefer lawn tickets and come early to picnic and sip wine before a performance." If picnics aren't what you're after, "dine in one of the village's restaurants and select seats in the covered pavilion." Whatever you do, "it's a great gathering," and "the music is always excellent." Read more.

Maid Rite Sandwich Shop
Springfield

This downtown sandwich shop is "on the National Register of Historic Places as one of the first drive-thru restaurants in the country." A "maid rite" is "kind of like a dry sloppy Joe, made of ground beef with a special seasoning mix, served on a bun with pickles, mustard, and onions." The sandwiches are "delicious, as are the fries." Wash it all down with "the house-special root beer poured into a frosted mug." The operation is pretty old-school: "there are no speakers to order into, you just pull up and the cook opens the window and takes your order."

Town of Quincy
Quincy

"Tucked away in the Midwest," Quincy and its surrounding area is "such a pleasant surprise, and is probably why its nickname is the Gem City." This "beautiful city is located on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River." Settled by German immigrants, they accounted for about 70% of the town's population in the 1800s. Visitors will enjoy "indoor and outdoor concerts, art galleries, theater, festivals, and great restaurants." Nearby towns of Nauvoo and Hannibal are other local favorites. Read more.