Unique States of America (Book) — Lonely Planet
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FOOD & DRINK inventive competitors. At the home of « « « the University of Illinois, the twin cities of CHICAGO FINE DINING Chicago isn’t Champaign-Urbana see both students PIZZA WARS all deep-dish pizza and hot dogs with and locals flock to the popular Blind Pig lavish toppings. There’s a long legacy of brewery with tasty house-made ales and Like the age-old experimental gourmet restaurants in the a charming brick patio. One of the best Chicago Cubs city, from the pioneering Charlie Trotter’s bars in the state, Fast Eddie’s Bon Air, was versus White Sox baseball rivalry, (now defunct) to grande dames like Alinea originally built in the historic town of Alton the type of pizza and Oriole. Gastronomic creativity abounds by Anheuser-Busch (based across the you order in throughout Chicago; former President river in St Louis) in 1921. Today it can still Chicago can elicit Obama is a fan of the creations of chef Rick be counted on for affordable pub fare in a strong emotions Bayless, owner of Mexican restaurants lively dive bar setting with a neon exterior; and allegiances. The city is most throughout the city from Frontera Grill to there’s also live music seven nights a week. famous for deep- Topolobampo. Just be prepared to open dish pizza, a thick, your wallet for these luxe dinners. DEEP-DISH PIZZA Eating deep-dish pie-like creation pizza is a must when visiting Chicago. It’s baked in a steel pan stuffed with CHICAGO-STYLE HOT DOGS Though impossible to miss it at the crowded tourist large amounts of no one’s clear on the hot dog’s origins, haunts downtown, but neighborhood cheese and tomato ILLINOIS Chicagoans claim the wiener was favorite Pequod’s, tucked away in the sauce. Pizzeria Uno « « « « « « « « « « « « « « « « « « « « « invented at the 1893 World’s Columbian city’s Lincoln Park area, makes for a more and Lou Malnati’s Exposition. Whether or not this is authentic experience. Mingle with locals are among the POPULATION: 12.8 million | SIZE: 57,915 sq miles | STATE CAPITAL: Springfield true, Chicago certainly has one of the over classic Chicago pan pizzas stuffed oldest and most LARGEST CITY: Chicago | WEBSITE: www.enjoyillinois.com iconic purveyors best regional variations of the ballpark with cheese and ringed by Pequod’s of this style of favorite. Order one ‘dragged through the trademark caramelized crust. pizza, which often garden’ (peppers, tomato, onions, pickles, appeals to more celery salt and mustard – no ketchup) HORSESHOE Springfield may be most of a tourist crowd. at Hot Doug’s or in the drive-through famous as the home of Abe Lincoln, but Most Chicagoans, however, prefer of Superdawg (complete with carhop the state capital’s famed horseshoe dish thin-crust pizza. So N service), open since 1948 in Chicago’s may be just as revered. The open-faced if you’re look- Norwood Park neighborhood. The pure sandwich consists of hamburger (unless ing to eat like a WITH WORLD-CLASS ARCHITECTURE, MUSEUMS, RESTAURANTS AND AN ACTION-PACKED SLATE beef hot dog at Superdawg is served on a you prefer other meats including chicken, local, the cash-only poppy seed bun and even comes in its own bacon, sausage or walleye) on toasted environs of Vito & of events, Chicago is an urban explorer’s paradise. Whether you’re attending a baseball game at iconic Nick’s Pizzeria on vintage-style cardboard box. bread, smothered in cheese and even fries. Wrigley Field or a comedy show at the Second City, strolling the lakefront, touring the Chicago River by Chicago’s South Side is a top choice boat, or exploring some of the city’s 77 distinctive neighborhoods, it’s clear that America’s third-largest CRAFT BEERS While Chicago never ITALIAN BEEF SANDWICH No food for experiencing city dominates the country’s sixth-most populous state. But that doesn’t mean the rest of Illinois should established the brewing monoliths of invention is more of a Chicago classic than the city’s classic midwestern neighbors Milwaukee and St the Italian beef sandwich, consisting of tavern-style pizza be overlooked. Small towns like Galena and Mt Carroll offer intimate charm, while midsize cities like (thin-crust, square- Louis, its craft brewing scene kicked into thinly sliced, seasoned roast beef cooked Springfield and Champaign-Urbana offer plenty of culture and history in their own right. And some cut) in a quaint overdrive in recent decades, and early in jus and served with peppers on an Italian neighborhood spectacular natural beauty blankets the Land of Lincoln, from the shores and beaches of Chicago’s Lake standouts Goose Island and Revolution roll. Al’s Beef in Chicago’s University Village setting. Michigan to the rolling hills and bluffs of Shawnee National Forest near downstate Carbondale. / 500px Tim Bolle © Brewing have been joined by a spate of has been serving the now-iconic local 94 ILLINOIS THE UNIQUE STATES OF AMERICA 95 From left:Andrew McMahon In the Wilderness performs during Riot Fest 2015 at Douglas Park in Chicago; Shawnee National Forest; the view from the top of Willis Tower in Chicago; Previous page: the Chicago skyline « « « FESTIVAL CITY, USA Chicago is a N festival-lover’s mecca, with major Images / Getty Boczarski © Daniel Left: Images; / Getty Freelance_Ghostwriting Giannuzzi / 500px © Davide FUN FACT summer festivals including Lollapa- staple at a no-frills beef stand (literally; through several of Chicago’s coolest Taking in woodlands, wetlands, lakes and surrounding historic communities of Willis Tower looza, Riot Fest, there are no chairs) since 1938. Order neighborhoods, including Wicker Park. prairies, the massive expanse includes LaSalle and Ottawa, or book a room at the Pitchfork Music (formerly yours from the chain’s cash-only original Today it is one of the best ways to see campsites, nature preserves, 300 miles 1930s-era Starved Rock Lodge and have Festival, Chicago Sears Tower) Blues Festival and location. 1049 W Taylor Street. the interior of the city, as you can walk of hiking trails and some of the best dinner under the stars on the lodge’s back Taste of Chicago. or bike the leafy pathway with plenty of mountain-biking terrain in the state. patio. www.dnr.illinois.gov, 2668 E 875th was the tallest But you don’t SOUTHERN ILLINOIS BARBECUE BBQ stops for food and drink at local bars and http://fpdcc.com Rd, Oglesby building in have to battle big isn’t just for the South – southern Illinois restaurants located just off the trail. the Americas crowds just to have does a dry rub rib and pork in a Tennessee- www.the606.org a good time, as any SHAWNEE NATIONAL FOREST ARTS, HISTORY & CULTURE until One weekend in sum- style tomato sauce that you can’t pass Consisting of 280,000 acres of federal World Trade mer is overflowing up. Downstate Illinois institution 17th CHICAGO LAKEFRONT TRAIL Few land sprawling across vast swaths of open ABRAHAM LINCOLN PRESIDENTIAL Center in New with smaller, more St Barbecue in Murphysboro is serving juxtapositions of tall buildings and space in southern Illinois, this stunning LIBRARY & MUSEUM Telling the life York City local neighborhood up some of the finest barbecue in the shimmering water are more dramatic than landscape of hills, canyons and springs is story of Illinois’ most famous resident street festivals eclipsed it, nation, winning too many awards to count. those that can be enjoyed from Chicago’s unlike anything else in the state. Popular and 16th US president, Abraham Lincoln, that can be just as but the Willis much fun (often Anything you order here is good, but the Lakefront Trail, an 18-mile scenic path destinations include Garden of the Gods this massive 200,000-sq-ft complex in Tower roof a lot cheaper), baby back ribs are the most famous item along Lake Michigan that stretches through Wilderness and Little Grand Canyon, with Springfield houses a museum, library and stands 100ft including Wicker and should be enjoyed in full-rack fashion a number of Chicago neighborhoods and the nearby Shawnee Hills Wine Trail making archives, plus high-tech special effects Park Fest, Taste of any day of the week. Down the road from beaches. Walk, run or bike the paved trail for another fun excursion. including interactive displays, live actors higher than Randolph Street, Murphysboro, small southern Illinois towns and be sure to stop at Montrose Beach, www.fs.usda.gov/shawnee, Herod and a replica of the White House circa that of One and Do Division Street Fest. For Colp and Ina have their own barbecue where sand dunes, a bird sanctuary and a 1861. Afterward, visit the Lincoln Tomb in WTC, which more local flavor offerings. summer bar/music venue await. STARVED ROCK STATE PARK One of Springfield’s Oak Ridge Cemetery. took the title there’s even an www.choosechicago.com the state’s most popular natural retreats www2.illinois.gov/alplm, 212 N Sixth St based on its Iditarod-style, cos- NATURAL ESCAPES is famous for its canyons, bluffs and lofty spire. tumed shopping- waterfalls, which you can explore via 13 cart race, the FOREST PRESERVES OF COOK COUNTY ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO Chiditarod, held THE 606 This 2.7-mile urban hiking Encompassing more than 69,000 acres, miles of trails and 133 campsites dotted Immortalized in the classic 1986 comedy every spring. trail was created in 2015 on the site of this greenbelt surrounding Chicago is the throughout this 2630-acre preserve on Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Chicago’s most « an abandoned railway line that crosses largest forest preserve district in the US.