You're telling me there's NOTHING to do in your state?  Lies!  I'll give you a thing or two to do in Illinois - keep reading.

Having some "me time" does sound more appealing 90% of the time to me, but eventually I'll have to step outside of my apartment.  Once outside my bubble, I have to decide what to fill my day with.  I could definitely go walk on the bike path, have a picnic and hike at my local state park, or take pictures with all the murals around the city.

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One of my favorite summer events in Rockford is City Market.  Vendors from all over the Stateline come together and sell their locally-made goods, plus bands play for all to enjoy.

It's a really nice time, you can discover new shops you love and have dinner by the river for a beautiful sunset to end your night!

Traditional Christmas fair near Cathedral in evening. Barcelona, Catalonia
JackF - Getty Stock / ThinkStock
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If you're craving something new to do this summer with those extra vacation days you saved up, I made a list of the top 10 coolest things you should do in Illinois.  #1 is an absolute MUST!

10 COOLEST THINGS TO DO IN ILLINOIS

#1: Go to a Drive-In movie theater

There are plenty of outdoor movies to see not too far from you!  Some of the more popular locations are in McHenry, Earlville, and Sterling.

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#2: Find an Adventure Park to release some energy

Spend time outdoors and play all day with friends!  Try an Escape Room, compete on obstacle courses, mini golf, and play laser tag at one of these Illinois parks in Lemont, Rockford, and St. Charles.

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#3: Chillax at a local beach

Sand between your toes, sun beating down on you, and the noise of water splashing is all you need in life sometimes.  The top rated beaches in Illinois can be found in Zion, Chicago, and Wilmette.

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#4: Find a cool bar that doubles as a museum

I'm actually just talking about Route 66 Motorheads bar & grill in Springfield.  They have car shows, motorcycle rallies, and tons of other events happening throughout the year!

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#5: Make a stop at an Amusement Park

Love rollercoasters, go-karts, and carnival games?  I gotcha covered! Gurnee, Chicago, Elk Grove Village have what you're looking for.

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Find anything that catches your eye yet?  If not, here are the last 5 awesome things to do in Illinois if you wanted to try something new!

#6: Visit beautiful wildlife at the zoo - Brookfield Zoo, Lincoln Park Zoo, & Summerfield Zoo

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#7: Spend the day at museums - Rockford, Chicago, Springfield, & Skokie

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#8: Discover a new brewery - Machesney Park, Rockford, & Byron

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#9: Axe Throwing - Mokena, Aurora, Naperville, & Lombard

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#10: Thrift Shopping - Mundelein, Bloomington, & Hebron

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7 Fascinating Things To Do in Illinois That Aren’t in Chicago

A recent survey says Illinois is one of the most fun states in the U.S.. Truth is that Chicago is the biggest reason, but there's so much more than the Windy City.

LOOK: Here are the 25 best places to live in Illinois

Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in Illinois using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather. Cities, suburbs, and towns were included. Listings and images are from realtor.com.

On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums. Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.

https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/chicago/things-to-do-in-chicago

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