With all the attractions that charge high admission fees, the money we spend can certainly add up fast. Sometimes it's hard to find a place that charges low or even no fees to get in, but we found a zoo that's not only great for the whole family but has zero admission fees. If you haven't been to the Phillips Park Zoo in Aurora yet, you need to make plans to visit. This zoo is a guaranteed fun-filled day for adults and children alike and, best of all, it charges nothing for admission!
Phillips Park Zoo is located within the 325-acre Phillips Park where you can also find the Visitors Center and Mastadon Gallery, the gorgeous Sunken Gardens, an 18-hole golf course with a driving range, a fishing lake, war memorials, and a trail. It's a fantastic place to spend the day!
At Phillips Park Zoo, visitors will find mostly North American wildlife including gray wolves, mountain lions, North American river otters, elk, and pygmy goats in the outdoor areas.
There are also plenty of reptiles and amphibians to see and learn about as well in the Reptile House. Come and have a look at the Burmese python, California desert tortoise, green iguana, inland bearded dragon, and red tail boa constrictor among other fascinating cold-blooded critters.
While you're at the park, you may as well make a stop at the David & Karen Stover Visitors Center at Phillips Park & Mastodon Gallery. Here you can find a variety of educational displays, information on the park's history, and mastodon bones that were unearthed during the digging of the property's lake in the 1930s.
Have you visited Phillips Park Zoo in Illinois? Please tell us all about it in the comments. For more information, visit the zoo's webpage and Facebook page.
For other places in the Prairie State with free admission, check out our previous article.
Adventures can be found all over, and day trips can quickly feel rushed when extra travel time gets involved. Thankfully, this little adventure in an Illinois state park has two parts in the same place, making it easy to plan around. From exploring a cave in Illinois to dining in a restaurant with matching stone walls, it all adds up to a fun cave-themed Illinois day trip. If you love nature, Southern Illinois scenery, or just caves in general, Cave-in-Rock State Park is ready to have you whenever you arrive and it's one of the best day trips in Illinois.
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Exploring outdoors is always a fun adventure, whether you like to hike alone or with family and friends in tow. Overlooking the Ohio River, the park is full of natural limestone, as well as one feature that inspired the park's name.
Of course, the major attraction out at Cave-in-Rock State Park is the titular cave. Sitting at a comfortable 55 feet wide, it's hard to get claustrophobic inside such an open space. Will you go inside?
Thankfully, the inside space is also part of the trip. The cave has been used as a hideout, a backdrop for a movie, and is now a fun stop on outdoorsy trips to this state park.
After your caving adventure, your stomach might feel like it's about to cave in as well. Have no fear! Grabbing a bite to eat at Cave-In-Rock State Park Restaurant is the best solution for your snacking needs.
Between the taxidermy mountain lion and all the stone on the walls, it's no wonder the restaurant feels just like the park. Even dining outdoors is a treat, and enjoying a bit more sunshine during warmer months is an easy choice to make.
With plenty of dishes on the menu and buffet days covering all sorts of options, even families don't have too much trouble feeding different palates. Plus, if you love it here enough to stay, the lodging is a comfortable bonus option for this cave-themed day trip. How fun!
Have you ever taken an Illinois day trip to Cave-In-Rock State Park? Do you think it's one of the best data trips in Illinois? Tell us in the comments about your favorite places. If you just love exploring caves in general, you might also enjoy taking a hike to a little-known cave hiding out in the Ozarks next time you're looking for an adventure:
Fall in Illinois is one of the best times of the year to travel. The summer heat fades away leaving a balmy warmth that hopefully lasts a solid two months before winter sneaks in for the year. There are plenty of wonderful weekend trips you should especially take in the fall. Here are eight of the best places to visit in the fall in Illinois - you're going to love every one of them.
Shawnee National Forest (any part of it, really) is a place you need to visit any time of the year. But fall is an especially beautiful time. We chose LaRue Pine Hills as one of the best places to visit in all of Shawnee National Forest, even maybe greater than Garden of the Gods, just for this shot in the fall. Wow. Talk about being able to really appreciate the changing colors of the fall foliage. But while you're there, definitely see Garden of the Gods and hike wherever you possibly can. There's also a phenomenal wine trail to explore down there in Southern Illinois, and make your stay complete with a few nights in a cabin. Likely, Fido can come, too.
If you want to see colorful trees, heading to an arboretum makes tons of sense. Also, Morton Arboretum has tons of other things to do in Illinois in fall. Into running? There is a 5K Fall Color run. Plus, with rotating exhibits, there is definitely something for everyone to enjoy at the Morton Arboretum this fall.
Again, this place is fantastic to come any time of the year, but the changing colors make it even more majestic. According to the folks over at Starved Rock State Park, this might be one of the best fall seasons to come down and see Starved Rock State Park, due to unique weather patterns this year. Wow. I am so excited to see how beautiful it will be.
This might seem counter-intuitive because flowers and the like are best right in spring. But there are actually tons of activities to do here in the fall. There's the Fall Bulb festival, complete with live music, beer, and a harvest market. There is an October fall-color tree walk, where you can really appreciate the changing colors in a very convenient setting. And, in fact, fall is a time when many plants are at the peak of their growth, such as annuals, perennials, and shrubs. The Chicago Botanic Garden is easily one of our all-time favorite falls destinations in Illinois.
Want to just get in the car and drive? Well, then, you should head down the Illinois River Road. This is a road that runs alongside the Illinois River. From the comfort of your own vehicle, you can take in the changing colors of fall foliage. Stop along the way in unique communities with all sorts of offerings from great restaurants to small shops. Hike up a bluff or towpath. There are plenty of places to pull off by the river and see bald eagles. What a way to take in fall!
You aren't going to observe much of fall's brilliance here, but you are going to have a fall experience to remember. Six Flags during the summer is fun - but avoid the humidity and heat, and experience it during the fall. Also, the park is taken over by Fright Fest, so you will totally get in the Halloween mood at one of the best places to visit in October.
Galena is especially fabulous to visit during fall, with the crisp fall air and the leaves crunching beneath your feet. Start your morning exploring some local forests or boating. Explore the downtown area and heat up with a nice cup of coffee. Stay in a nice bed and breakfast to really appreciate the fall season. Would make for a very romantic weekend trip.
This is a secret to Illinoisians unless you went to school down here or went to a Bears game during the season Soldier Field was getting an overhaul: Champaign-Urbana is gorgeous in fall. Absolutely gorgeous. You can see soybean and corn fields pre- and post-harvest, which always makes the mood festive. There are tons of mature trees of all colors, which look especially majestic juxtaposed with the stone university buildings. It's great to come down here on a Friday night, tailgate on Saturday morning, and then head over to the stadium to root for the Illini. The towns also have fantastic restaurants to eat at if football isn't your thing.
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What do you think are the best places to visit in the fall in Illinois? Let us know in the comments - we love hearing from you! Then, consider doing one of our epic inexpensive road trips through Illinois, too! If you don't have an RV, you can even rent one in your area from RVShare.
