Two of the Most Beautiful Places in Illinois are in Rockford
Rockford is the only place that is home to not one, but TWO of the most beautiful places in Illinois. I think that is reason to celebrate!
Thrillist has put together a list of the 15 Most Beautiful Places in Illinois That You Didn't Know Existed.
To be fair, I only knew of the two beautiful places in Rockford. I had no idea about the other 13. Isn't the photo from Anderson Japanese Gardens above just stunning! Here are the 15 Most Beautiful Places in Illinois, in no particular order.
- Anderson Japanese Gardens - Rockford
- The waterfalls at Starved Rock State Park - Oglesby
- Burden Falls - Shawnee National Forest
- Grosse Point Lighthouse - Evanston
- Great River Road - Western Edge of the State, along the Mississippi River
- Fabyan Windmill at Fabyan Forest Preserve - Geneva
- Cahokia Mounds - Collinsville
- Garden of the Gods - Shawnee National Forest
- Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens - Rockford
- Buffalo Rock State Park - Ottawa
- Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive - Canton
- Grand View Drive - Peoria
- Mississippi Palisades State Park - Savanna
- Promontory Point - Chicago
- Lake Falls at Matthiessen State Park - Utica
There is no surprise to me that Rockford made it not once, but twice on the list. One place I have never been is Great River Road. It would be one drive I would absolutely want to take. It is a very scenic drive that follows the flow of the Mississippi River for more than 550 miles! Now that is something I've got to see.