Illinois is home to not only some of the best restaurants in the country, but also some of the most scenic dining experiences available. For locals looking to view the city they live in from a new perspective, or travelers visiting Illinois for the first time, there is a wealth of options available for adventurous

#1 If you’ve heard of Chloride before, it’s probably because of their junk art. How it happened we don’t really know, but Chloride became the poster child for “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Since the desert environment doesn’t allow for perfectly groomed lawns of grass and flowers, the people of Chloride resorted to

#1 Picacho Peak State Park provides a stunning view if you’re driving along I-10. Scenic Sunday drive, here we come. #2 It’s impossible to not be impressed by the 1,500 foot peak. The closer you get, the bigger it seems. #3 People have been using the eye-catching peak as a landmark since prehistoric times! People

If you don’t already have a favorite cactus… you’re about to! #1. The Saguaro Cactus is only found in the Sonoran Desert. This one is about 30 feet tall. They aren’t exactly what you’d call dainty… #2 They’re the largest cactus in the United States! They can eventually grow to be between 40 and 60

#1 The Grand Canyon reveals 40% of Earths history. The Grand Canyon contains the metamorphic rock Vishnu schist, and layers of sedimentary rock that date back to 1.75 billion years old — that’s nearly half the age of the Earth  (4.5 billion years old)! That means there are tons of fossils and tracks to help us learn