The mid-Western American state of Illinois offers on one hand the giant, bustling city of Chicago, and on the other the experience of small-town America. Most of the state is covered in rich farmlands, dotted with agricultural communities and half a million acres of state parks. Tucked away in the rolling hills are some Amish communities carrying on their traditional rural way of life without modern conveniences.

The metropolis of Chicago on the shore of Lake Michigan in the north is the focus for most visitors, with its amazing collection of museums and high class shopping areas. Travellers who venture downstate, however, can find plenty of diversions, particularly those interested in history or outdoor activities.

The state capital, Springfield, 200 miles (322km) south of Chicago, is a city with a small-town atmosphere, revelling in its fame as having being the home of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th US President, who practised law here and was laid to rest in the local Oak Ridge Cemetery after his assassination.

Visitors seeking life in the open air are drawn to the expanse of natural beauty in south Illinois where the Shawnee National Forest offers hiking, biking, camping, and fishing opportunities in serene woodlands.

Art Institute of Chicago

Address: 111 South Michigan Avenue

Admission: $18 (adults), $12 (children, free for under 12). Entrance is free on Thursdays 5pm to 8pm. Free entry for the month of February Monday to Friday 10.30am to 5pm (until 8pm on Thursdays), weekends 10am to 5pm

Telephone: (312) 443 3600

Field Museum

Address: 1400 S. Lakeshore Drive

Admission: General admission: $28 (adults), $19 (children 3-11). Various ticket packages and concessions are available Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday 11am to 5pm; last admission at 4pm

Telephone: (312) 922 9410

Frank Lloyd Wright's Home

Address: 951 Chicago Avenue, Oak Park

Admission: Guided interior tour and self-guided exterior audio tour: $15 (adults), $12 (youth 11-18), Guided interior tours: weekdays at 11am, 1pm and 3pm, and during weekends between 11am and 3.30pm; self-guided exterior audio tours between 10am and 3.30pm daily

Telephone: (708) 848 1976

Lincoln Park

Address: 2001 N. Clark Street (zoo)

Admission: There is no admission charge to the zoo Daily 9am to 6pm, weekends until 7pm (summer); daily 9am to 5pm (November to March)

Telephone: (312) 742 2000 (zoo)

Six Flags Great America

Address: 542 N. Route 21, Gurnee

Admission: $54.99 (general admission); $34.99 (child under 48 inches). Concessions available

Telephone: (847) 249 4636

Shedd Aquarium

Address: 1200 South Lake Shore Drive

Admission: Various inclusive passes are available. Day pass is $24.95 (adults), $17.95 (children 3-11) Weekdays 9am to 5pm, weekends 9am to 6pm (September to May); daily 9am to 6pm (May to September). Check website for extended hours

Telephone: (312) 939 2438

Rockford

Lincoln's Home

Address: 413 South Eighth Street

Admission: Free Daily 8.30am to 5pm

Telephone: (217) 492 4241, ext. 221

Old State Capitol

Address: 5th and Adams Streets

Admission: Free Tuesday to Saturday 9am to 5pm (November to 15 April); open daily between 16 April and 4 September

Telephone: (217) 785 7960

Oak Ridge Cemetery

Admission: Daily 9am to 4pm; closed on public holidays

Telephone: (217) 782 2717

Lincoln Library and Museum

Address: 212 North Sixth Street

Admission: Library: free. Presidential Museum: $10 (adults), $4 (children 5-15) Library: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 9am to 4.30pm, Wednesday 9am to 8.30pm, Saturday 8.30am to 3.30pm. Museum: daily 9am to 5pm, Wednesday 9am to 8.30pm

Telephone: (217) 558 8844

Navy Pier

Address: 600 East Grand Ave

Admission: Admission to the Pier is free, but many of the attractions require separate fees. Open daily, but hours vary according to the season. Hours are usually Sunday to Thursday 10am to 8pm, Friday and Saturday 10am to 10pm

Telephone: (312) 595 7437

Sears Tower (Willis Tower)

Address: 233 South Wacker Drive; entrance on Jackson Boulevard

Admission: $15.95 (adults), $11 (children 3-11). Skylights Audio Tour is an extra $5.50 Skydeck opens daily 10am to 10pm (April to September), 10am to 8pm (October to March)

Telephone: (312) 875 9447

Millennium Park

Address: On Michigan Avenue between Randolph and Monroe Streets

Admission: Free Daily 6am to 11pm

Telephone: (312) 742 1168

Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum

Address: 1300 S. Lake Shore Drive

Admission: General admission $10 (adults), $6 (4-17). Various rates for extended shows and tours. Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 4pm; open 9.30 to 6pm from 16 June to 7 September

Telephone: (312) 922 7827

Hancock Observatory

Address: 875 N. Michigan Ave

Admission: $20 (adults), $15 (children 4-11) Daily 9am to 11pm

Telephone: (312) 751 3680

Chicago Children's Museum

Address: 700 East Grand Avenue

Admission: $10 (adults); $10 (children) Concessions available Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 – 5pm

Telephone: (312) 527 1000

Chicago Botanic Gardens

Address: 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe

Admission: Free, $20 per car parking fee. Open daily from 8am – sunset. Closed Christmas Day.

Telephone: (847) 835 5440

CoCo Key Water Resort

Address: Sheraton Chicago Northwest, 3400 W. Euclid Avenue

Admission: $39 each valid from 10am – 8pm. Concessions available Open daily from 10am – 8pm

Telephone: (847) 394 2000

Museum of Science and Industry

Address: 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive

Admission: $15 (adults); $10 (children); Concessions available Open Monday to Saturday from 9:30am - 5:30pm; Sundays from 11am – 5.20pm

Telephone: (773) 684 1414

Buckingham Fountain

Address: Grant Park, Columbus Drive and Congress Parkway

Admission: The fountain runs from 8am to 11pm every day from mid-April to mid-October

Magnificent Mile

Address: Michigan Avenue

Harpo Studios

Address: 1058 W Washington Blvd, Near West

Telephone: 312 591 9222

Route 66 Sign

Address: The sign is located at Adams St between Michigan & Wabash Avenues

The Original Playboy Mansion

Address: 1340 N State Parkway, Chicago

Club Lucky

Address: 1824 W. Wabansia Ave

Food Type: Italian

Penny's Noodle Shop

Address: 950 W. Diversey Ave

Food Type: Asian

Arun's

Address: 4156 North Kedzie Avenue, Irving Park (North Side)

Food Type: Oriental

Charlie Trotter's

Address: 816 West Armitage Avenue, Lincoln Park

Food Type: International

Everest

Address: 440 South LaSalle Street, 40th Floor, One Financial Plaza building (The Loop)

Food Type: French

Tru

Address: 676 North St Clair Street (Near North)

Food Type: French

Morton's of Chicago

Address: 1050 North State Street (River North)

Food Type: American

Frontera Grill/Topolobampo

Address: 445 North Clark Street (Near North)

Vermillion

Address: 10 W. Hubbard St

Food Type: Indian

Blackbird

Address: 619 West Randolph Street (West Loop)

Food Type: American

Mirai Sushi

Address: 2020 West Division Street, Wicker Park

Food Type: Japanese

North Pond

Address: 2610 North Cannon Drive, Lincoln Park

Food Type: Modern Eclectic

Uno Chicago Grill

Address: 29 E Ohio Street

Food Type: Italian