A mid-1800’s architectural wonder helped make Chicago the city it is today. The 96-mile Illinois & Michigan Canal (I&M Canal) connected the Great Lakes in Bridgeport, Chicago to the Illinois River at LaSalle-Peru, and amazingly unique towns sprung up that maintain their authentic charm to this date.
READ ON!Freedom. The Open Road. The American Dream. All are still alive on The Mother Road. The nostalgia of diners, museums, tourist stops and neon lights are there for you to visit as you make the drive from Chicago to Santa Monica, CA. You can still get your Kicks on Route 66!
READ ON!A visit to Starved Rock State Park consists of many sights to behold, including breathtaking views of its many canyons and awe-inspiring scenes of eagles flying during the winter month.
READ ON!The Heritage Corridor is filled with events that are waiting just for you. Live music, fun festivals, learning programs, and active adventures await.
READ ON!Are you looking for a specific type of place to visit in the I&M Canal Heritage Corridor? If you're a craft beer fan, you will love the Heritage Corridor Ale Trail? Seeing a thrilling journey or just an escape, check out Adventure Outside Chicago. We've got all the info to unlock your next trip right here.
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Fall is almost here, and we want to make sure you are ready for all the fun festivities to come! If you’re wondering what there is to do around the Heritage Corridor in the fall, well here’s a list of things you can do as a family, solo, or with friends.
FAMILY FARMS
Dollinger Family Farm is the best place to celebrate fall. In the early years, the farm served as a place to rest the mules pulling barges down the I&M Canal. Today, the farm comes alive in the fall with pumpkins, hayrides, a corn maze, train rides, farm animals and fall fun for the entire family.
This place to challenge yourself in the corn maze or bean maze, catch a hay ride out to the 25-acre pumpkin patch to pick your perfect pumpkin off the vine, or play in Milo’s Castle Playground. Don’t forget to grab a tasty caramel apple and pumpkin cookie or try one of Heap’s famous pork burgers.
The Bronk Farm has been in the family for 5 generations growing corn and soybeans. It started as a roadside stand with a small greenhouse, a ¼ acre vegetable garden and a pumpkin patch. Now they are growing vegetables and fruit including over 600 apple trees on 25+ acres.
FALL HIKES
Take a guided fall colors hike through the beautiful Starved Rock State Park with various overlooks and canyons to discover the park’s rich history, geology, and ecology. Discuss the various tree species and their fall foliage along the way.
Fall Color Stroll: Join a naturalist on a stroll through the trails at Hammel Woods to see all of the fall colors as the sun sets over the preserve.
Hiking With Your Hound: Fall Colors: Hike through the trails of the preserve with your pup and see all the magical fall colors of Hammel Woods.
October in the Woods: Off-trail Adventure: Explore off trail in the woods with a naturalist and look for signs of fall.
FESTIVALS
Join LaSalle County Historical Society for our 51st Annual Burgoo! The weekend Festival kicks off Saturday at 11 with over 120 vendors on and around our campus. There will be live music and live blacksmithing demos. Kettles for the famous Burgoo Stew will be lit. Sunday the fun continues with 350 plus vendors lining the streets of the quaint town of Utica. Burgoo stew will be served Sunday only and is available until we run out! Live entertainment, live blacksmith, and many other great family friendly activities all weekend!
Arts & Crafts Vendors Food Vendors Live Music Split The Pot Raffle Pumpkin and Face Painting.
Show will be held during mall hours, and vendors set up on Row and Sandburg streets. Bring out the kids and your friends for a create time with food, shopping, photo booths, trick or treating and music. Be sure to check back closer to the show dates for more exciting things going on.
Dedicate a full day of shopping at the 15th Annual Autumn Colors Craft Show. There will be many booths with hand crafts, candles, jewelry, crochet, embroidery, florals arrangements and more!
Spend the day at the stadium enjoying free family activities! Face painting, costume characters, medieval fighting, entertainment, wood workshops, disc golf, food, raffles, and more!