Willisville IllinoisATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Willisville, Illinois.
1. Piney Creek Ravine
NATURAL AREA RESERVE
Piney Creek Ravine is a State Natural Area offering visitors a chance to experience the unspoiled natural beauty of southern Illinois. Visitors can hike through wooded ravines and observe native flora and fauna in their natural habitat. The area features unique geological formations and is perfect for nature enthusiasts and photographers seeking tranquility.
2. Little Mary's River Covered Bridge
HISTORIC WOODEN BRIDGE
Little Mary's River Covered Bridge is a charming historic structure that takes visitors back to a bygone era of Illinois transportation. The wooden covered bridge spans across the picturesque Mary's River, creating perfect photo opportunities throughout the seasons. Visitors can walk through this piece of living history and enjoy the surrounding scenic views.
3. Scratch Brewing
FARM-TO-GLASS CRAFT BREWERY
Scratch Brewing is a farmhouse brewery located near Willisville that specializes in beers made with locally grown and foraged ingredients. The brewery is set on a beautiful farm with gardens where many of their unique brewing ingredients are grown. Visitors can enjoy rustic, innovative beers while relaxing in the scenic outdoor seating area surrounded by the natural beauty of southern Illinois.
4. White Rooster
ARTISANAL FARMHOUSE BREWERY
White Rooster is a craft brewery near Willisville that specializes in farmhouse ales and barrel-aged beers. The brewery offers a rotating selection of unique handcrafted beers in a cozy, rustic setting that reflects the agricultural heritage of the region. Visitors can sample flights of their specialty brews while enjoying the friendly atmosphere and occasional food truck offerings.
5. Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site
UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE
Cahokia Mounds is Illinois' only UNESCO World Heritage Site, preserving the remnants of the largest prehistoric Native American city north of Mexico. Visitors can explore the 2,200-acre site featuring massive earthen mounds, including the 100-foot-high Monks Mound, the largest prehistoric earthen construction in the Americas. The interpretive center offers fascinating exhibits about the sophisticated Mississippian culture that flourished here around 1250 AD, when Cahokia was larger than London.
6. Lewis & Clark State Historic Site
HISTORIC EXPEDITION LAUNCH
The Lewis & Clark State Historic Site marks the starting point of one of America's most famous expeditions and is the first landmark along the National Lewis and Clark Heritage Trail. The site features a museum with a 55-foot full-scale replica of the keel boat used by the explorers on their journey westward. Visitors can immerse themselves in the history of this momentous expedition through exhibits and artifacts that bring the story to life.
7. Starved Rock State Park
DRAMATIC CANYONS AND WATERFALLS
Starved Rock State Park is one of Illinois' most beautiful natural attractions, featuring 18 canyons formed by glacial meltwater and stream erosion. Visitors can hike more than 13 miles of trails that wind through dramatic sandstone canyons, some featuring stunning seasonal waterfalls that cascade down moss-covered walls. The park offers year-round beauty with spring wildflowers, summer greenery, fall foliage, and winter ice formations that transform the waterfalls into frozen sculptures.
8. Anderson Japanese Gardens
TRANQUIL ORIENTAL LANDSCAPE
Anderson Japanese Gardens is a meticulously crafted 12-acre landscape that has been ranked as one of North America's finest Japanese gardens. Visitors can wander along winding paths past koi-filled ponds, cascading waterfalls, rock gardens, and authentic Japanese structures that create an atmosphere of serenity and reflection. The garden changes with the seasons, offering spring cherry blossoms, lush summer greenery, vibrant fall colors, and the stark beauty of winter snow on carefully pruned evergreens.
9. Millennium Park
ICONIC URBAN OASIS
Millennium Park is home to Chicago's most famous landmark, Cloud Gate (known as 'The Bean'), a massive stainless steel sculpture that reflects the city skyline. Visitors can enjoy free concerts at the Frank Gehry-designed Jay Pritzker Pavilion or cool off in the playful Crown Fountain, where digital faces appear to spout water from their mouths. The park also features beautiful gardens, art installations, and the Lurie Garden, making it a perfect urban escape in the heart of downtown Chicago.
10. Navy Pier
LAKEFRONT ENTERTAINMENT DESTINATION
Navy Pier is Chicago's most-visited attraction, stretching into Lake Michigan with entertainment options for visitors of all ages. The pier features a 200-foot Ferris wheel with spectacular views of the city skyline and lake, along with carnival rides, restaurants, shops, and boat tours. Visitors can enjoy seasonal events, fireworks displays, the Chicago Children's Museum, and the Chicago Shakespeare Theater all in one vibrant lakefront location.
11. Art Institute of Chicago
WORLD-CLASS ART COLLECTION
The Art Institute of Chicago houses one of the most impressive art collections in the world, with works spanning 5,000 years of human creativity. Visitors can view iconic masterpieces including Grant Wood's 'American Gothic,' Edward Hopper's 'Nighthawks,' and Georges Seurat's 'A Sunday on La Grande Jatte,' among thousands of other treasures. The museum's Modern Wing, designed by Renzo Piano, adds a contemporary architectural element to this cultural landmark that rewards repeated visits.
12. Shedd Aquarium
UNDERWATER WONDER WORLD
Shedd Aquarium is home to more than 32,000 aquatic animals representing 1,500 species from oceans, rivers, lakes, and reefs around the world. Visitors can watch dolphins play, touch stingrays, observe beluga whales, and come face-to-face with sharks in the Caribbean Reef exhibit's 90,000-gallon circular tank. The Wild Reef exhibit recreates a Philippine coral reef with floor-to-ceiling windows that provide stunning views of circling sharks and colorful tropical fish.
13. Willis Tower Skydeck
GLASS FLOOR SKY VIEW
The Willis Tower Skydeck offers breathtaking views from the 103rd floor of what was once the world's tallest building. Visitors can step out onto The Ledge, a series of glass boxes extending four feet outside the building, creating the thrilling sensation of standing on air 1,353 feet above the streets of Chicago. On clear days, the observatory provides panoramic views spanning four states: Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
14. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
INTERACTIVE HISTORICAL EXPERIENCE
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum uses immersive scenes, special effects, and original artifacts to bring the 16th president's story to life. Visitors can walk through realistic settings depicting Lincoln's boyhood home, the White House, and Ford's Theatre, where interactive exhibits provide context for his life and legacy. The museum's Ghosts of the Library show uses holographic technology to demonstrate how historians piece together the past, making history accessible and engaging for all ages.
15. Dana-Thomas House
FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT MASTERPIECE
The Dana-Thomas House is a stunning example of Frank Lloyd Wright's Prairie style architecture, featuring 35 rooms and over 12,000 square feet of living space. Visitors can tour this meticulously preserved 1904 mansion that contains the largest collection of original Wright art glass and furniture, with more than 100 pieces designed specifically for this house. The home's 250 art glass doors, windows, and light panels create a warm glow throughout the space, demonstrating Wright's concept of organic architecture that harmonizes with its environment.