Looking for unexpected ways to enjoy Illinois? Our all-new Fall/Winter issue of Travel Illinois hits the racks this week, featuring perfect fall getaway ideas, a Q&A with Chicago food icon Rick Bayless, and a cover feature for Illinois Made maker Tangled Roots Brewing Company in Ottawa. Order your copies today or download our digital version when it launches on EnjoyIllinois.com on August 15.

The Illinois State Fair is already underway, but it’s not too late to snag tickets to some of the biggest musical acts coming to the grandstand this year. Head out to the fairgrounds Friday night to catch Brett Eldredge or stick around Saturday for performances by Flo Rida and Ludacris. And don't forget to stop by early for some incredible food, carnival rides, contests, auto racing, and more. 

Think hay is just for horses? Think again. Experience one of Illinois' most unique art shows at the National Straw Sculpting Competition, happening now in Mt. Morris. Today through August 26, witness some of the best in straw sculpting with opportunities to vote for this year's winner. Stick around for Historic Hay Wagon Tours as part of the state's yearlong Illinois Bicentennial Celebrations.

The Illinois Governor's Mansion

Built in 1855 for $53,000, the Illinois Governor's Mansion was designed by architect John Mills Van Odsel, Chicago’s first professional architect and designer of Chicago’s City Hall, the Chicago mayor’s house, and Cook County Courthouse.

Its design reflected the southern influence of the town’s population, with a modified Georgian style that complemented the Greco-Roman style of other government buildings. While it carried a distinct touch of Europe, one thing made it very Springfield: its exterior of locally-manufactured red pressed brick, said to be of the very highest quality in the Union.

Then-Governor Matteson and family moved in on January 10, 1856. And since that day, every Illinois Governor has stayed in this historic building. 

The Mansion is also notable for a variety of other historical figures who passed through its doors, including President Ulysses S. Grant, President Rutherford B. Hayes, General William Sherman, President Lincoln’s son Robert, President William McKinley, President Herbert Hoover, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, then-Senator Barack Obama, "Buffalo Bill" Cody, Annie Oakley, and, of course, Abraham Lincoln—shortly before receiving his presidential nomination in 1860.

While it’s called the Governor’s Mansion, it’s also known as the People’s House. It stands as a symbol of a state of which all Illinoisans can be proud, and a home where all are welcome. 

Discover more Illinois history at Illinois200.com.

Approximately two million spectators will descend upon Chicago's lakefront for the annual Chicago Air and Water Show. As the largest free event of its kind in the United States, viewers will enjoy a variety of high-flying aerobatics and awe-inspiring feats - performed in air and water - by headliners including the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, the U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights, and the U.S. Navy Parachute Team Leap Frogs. 

Oh, and don't forget...