Tovey IllinoisATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Tovey, Illinois.
1. Sangchris Lake State Park
SCENIC OUTDOOR RECREATION
Sangchris Lake State Park offers visitors a beautiful natural escape with excellent fishing, boating, and camping opportunities. The park features a 3,000-acre lake shaped like a giant wishbone and over 5,000 acres of land for outdoor activities. Visitors can enjoy hiking, hunting, picnicking, and wildlife viewing throughout the year.
2. Dear Yesteryear
NOSTALGIC ANTIQUE SHOPPING
Dear Yesteryear invites visitors to step back in time with its charming collection of vintage items and antiques. This beloved shop showcases carefully curated treasures from the past, offering everything from furniture to collectibles. Visitors often spend hours browsing the ever-changing inventory that captures the essence of bygone eras.
3. Manner's Park
FAMILY-FRIENDLY RECREATION SPOT
Manner's Park provides a welcoming green space for families and visitors looking for outdoor recreation in Taylorville. The park features playgrounds, sports fields, walking paths, and picnic areas perfect for a day of relaxation. During summer months, visitors can enjoy the public swimming pool and various community events held throughout the year.
4. Lincoln Memorial Garden
HISTORIC NATURE PRESERVE
Lincoln Memorial Garden offers a serene 100-acre woodland and prairie garden designed by landscape architect Jens Jensen. The garden was created as a living memorial to Abraham Lincoln, featuring native plants that would have been familiar to him during his life in the Midwest. Visitors can explore six miles of trails winding through restored ecosystems while enjoying seasonal wildflowers, bird watching, and educational programs.
5. Sugar Creek Covered Bridge
HISTORIC WOODEN BRIDGE
Sugar Creek Covered Bridge stands as one of only five remaining covered bridges in Illinois, offering visitors a glimpse into 19th-century transportation history. Built in 1880, this picturesque wooden structure spans Sugar Creek and exemplifies the Burr arch truss design popular in that era. The bridge is now part of a small park where visitors can picnic and appreciate this well-preserved piece of architectural heritage.
6. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
PRESIDENTIAL HISTORY SHOWCASE
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum offers an immersive journey through the life and legacy of America's 16th president. The museum features state-of-the-art exhibits, including full-scale recreations of Lincoln's boyhood home, the White House, and Ford's Theatre. Visitors can experience holographic presentations, special effects, and an extensive collection of artifacts that bring Lincoln's story to life.
7. Starved Rock State Park
DRAMATIC CANYONS AND WATERFALLS
Starved Rock State Park amazes visitors with its stunning sandstone canyons, seasonal waterfalls, and panoramic views of the Illinois River. The park offers over 13 miles of well-marked hiking trails that wind through 18 canyons formed by glacial meltwater and stream erosion. Nature enthusiasts can spot diverse wildlife, including bald eagles in winter, while enjoying activities like fishing, boating, and guided tours throughout the year.
8. Weber House & Garden
ENCHANTING TUDOR ESTATE
Weber House & Garden welcomes visitors to a storybook Tudor cottage set within a two-acre English Arts and Crafts Garden. The interior features cozy candlelit rooms reflecting 18th-century design while the exterior gardens showcase meandering paths, roses, hollyhocks, and ancient oaks. Visitors enter through a handsome red gate that reveals hundreds of flowers, shrubs, trees, statues, and fountains arranged in a series of outdoor 'rooms.'
9. I&M Canal Boat Tours
HISTORIC MULE-PULLED ADVENTURE
I&M Canal Boat Tours offers visitors a unique journey aboard 'The Volunteer,' an authentic mule-pulled 1840s replica canal boat. Each tour begins with 'Mule Tending 101' as period-dressed guides introduce passengers to Moe the mule before embarking on the hour-long adventure. The boat travels one mile up the canal to the Little Vermillion aqueduct as guides share fascinating tales of the canal's history and significance.
10. Lock 16 Visitor Center & Cafe
CANAL HERITAGE HUB
Lock 16 Visitor Center & Cafe serves as the gateway to exploring Illinois' historic canal heritage while offering refreshments and information. The center provides educational exhibits about the I&M Canal's importance to the region's development and commerce. Visitors can enjoy locally-sourced food at the cafe, rent bicycles through the bike share program, and book canal boat tours all in one convenient location.
11. August Hill Winery
LOCAL WINE TASTING
August Hill Winery invites visitors to sample award-winning wines crafted from locally grown grapes in a relaxed tasting room atmosphere. The winery specializes in small-batch production focusing on quality and distinctive flavors that represent the terroir of northern Illinois. Guests can enjoy guided tastings, learn about the winemaking process, and purchase their favorite varieties to take home.
12. Tangled Roots Brewery
FARM-TO-FOAM CRAFT BEER
Tangled Roots Brewery delights beer enthusiasts with handcrafted brews made from locally grown ingredients, including hops from their own farm. The brewery combines traditional brewing methods with innovative techniques to create distinctive flavors that showcase the agricultural bounty of Illinois. Visitors can tour the brewing facilities, sample flights of beer in the taproom, and enjoy farm-to-table cuisine that pairs perfectly with their craft beverages.
13. Hegeler Carus Mansion
VICTORIAN ARCHITECTURAL GEM
Hegeler Carus Mansion stands as an impressive example of Second Empire architecture, designed by renowned architect W.W. Boyington in 1874. The 16,000-square-foot mansion retains its original furnishings and features intricate woodwork, ornate plasterwork, and unique artifacts from the family's world travels. Guided tours allow visitors to explore this National Historic Landmark and learn about the Hegeler family's contributions to industry, philosophy, and publishing.
14. Reddick Mansion
ITALIANATE HISTORIC HOUSE
Reddick Mansion graces Ottawa's Washington Square with its impressive Italianate architecture and historical significance as the site of the first Lincoln-Douglas debate. Built in 1858, this elegant limestone building showcases period furnishings, ornate detailing, and exhibits that tell the story of William Reddick and 19th-century life. Visitors can take guided tours of the beautifully restored rooms and learn about the mansion's role in local and national history.
15. Illinois State Museum
NATURAL HISTORY EXPLORATION
The Illinois State Museum presents the rich natural and cultural heritage of Illinois through engaging exhibits spanning art, anthropology, and natural history. Visitors can explore dioramas of prehistoric landscapes, examine Native American artifacts, and view changing art exhibitions featuring Illinois artists. The museum offers interactive learning opportunities for all ages, including hands-on discovery rooms and educational programs that bring the state's 500-million-year history to life.