As Illinois residents and out-of-state visitors consider their plans for the end of summer and beyond, we know that health and safety will continue to be key factors. From hotels to attractions and everything in between, we encourage businesses to follow all guidelines to ensure the safety of everyone.
Recently, fourteen American travel & tourism CEOs sent a letterto the president and congressional leaders requesting a renewed focus on testing for COVID-19 to support a sustained economic recovery.
As uncertainty continues, we ask that CVBs keep their listings on EnjoyIllinois.com as up-to-date as possible. Any cancellations, postponements or closures should be addressed to ensure the website continues to be a valuable travel planning resource.
More states have been added to the City of Chicago'sEmergency Travel Order, which requires a 14-day quarantine for people traveling from states experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases. The list of states is updated every Tuesday, and also applies to Cook
County Department of Health's quarantine recommendation.
Governor Pritzker recently announced a new $5 million public awareness campaign to encourage the use of masks: "It Only Works if You Wear It". “This campaign connects the dots between daily actions we take to keep ourselves safe and one of the best things we can do to fight COVID-19: wearing a mask,” Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said in a statement on the campaign. The campaign compares wearing a mask to other devices designed to protect and save lives such as seatbelts and helmets, and includes video, radio, OOH and social media.
It's peach season in Southern Illinois, and while many annual festivals have been cancelled, many individual orchards are open for business, as long as customers follow safety guidelines.
As huge as the famous SUE the T. rex fossil is, seeing what she would've looked like "fleshed-out" really puts her into perspective. "Fleshy" (the new model's nickname) will be on display at the Field Museum until August 18.
Wildlife Prairie Park in Hanna City has just opened six luxury cabins with the help of a Tourism
Attraction Grant from the Illinois Office of Tourism.
Built on 300 acres in Lemont, The Forge: Lemont Quarries is a new one-of-a-kind adventure park
set to entertain all ages and abilities. From ziplines and mountain biking, to serene fishing spots, this adventure park has something for everyone.
For those seeking more exciting animal action, visitors to Brookfield Zoo can experience a new temporary
exhibit. Dinos Everywhere! features more than 40 animatronic dinosaurs including the 110 foot long Argentinosaurus!
Peoria will be featured in this Sunday's (August 9) episode of It's How You Get There. It will air at 7:00 a.m. CT on The History Channel and will also be on Amazon Prime.
Nearing completion is the FMC Natatorium at Ty Warner Park in Westmont. At launch, it will be the largest aquatic facility in Illinois and aims to provide a state-of-the-art option for championship meets and more.
Quincy, which offers visitors two hours of free bike rentals, is launching a new self-guided Mid-Modern Architecture Tour, which will include 30 stops throughout the city.
Great Wolf Lodge in Gurnee is opening August 24. Combining limited reservations with rigorous cleaning and social distancing, the lodge will provide a safe getaway option for families.
The deadline to submit nominations for our next round of Illinois Made Makers has been extended to Friday, August 14. This program is for the creators and artisans who help craft Illinois by hand, inspiring visitors and fellow Illinoisans to discover more about the state by experiencing
firsthand the passion that makes it thrive.
Learn more about nominating a maker in your area by reading our updated criteria below.
For future travel inspiration, be sure to get a copy of the Spring/Summer issue of Enjoy Illinois, a biannual magazine that provides trip ideas and inspiration from every corner of the state. The magazine can be downloaded, or you can request a copy by mail. If you are interested in distribution, you can also request bulk quantities.