Looking to plan your next stateside break? Wondering which part to explore? If you haven’t yet paid a visit to Illinois, now could be the perfect time. With any number of discounted, out of season flights available from various airports around the United Kingdom, including major players Heathrow and Gatwick, Illinois has never looked so tempting.
You may have glimpsed the odd snapshot of its landscape before in a few big box office hits such as Ocean’s 11 and Ocean’s 12, Batman Begins, Save the Last Dance and Stranger than Fiction, to name a few. If you are keen to visit Illinois, here is a quick look at what you could be experiencing:
No trip would be complete without a visit to the State’s capital - Chicago. Chicago is one of America’s many important artistic centers and a visit to one of its highly acclaimed museums is sure to charm the most die-hard of art cynics. The Art Institute of Chicago is simply unmissable for famous works by the likes of Seurat and Hopper - including Nighthawk’s at the Diner.
For the perfect family day out, head northwards to the Millennium Park. Here you will find plenty of great places for scenic walking as well as theme park and a theatre, should the weather take a turn for the worse.
For a spattering of American history, Illinois also boasts several spots of great interest and import. There are several great historic trails to follow, including the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, the Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail, the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, and the American Discovery Trail. If political history is more your thing then be sure to pay a visit to the Lincoln Home National Historic Site.
Whilst planning your holiday itinerary can be a lot of fun, don’t let it distract you from making the most important arrangements. Book flights well in advance to get the best deals and don’t forget to make arrangements for your connections, using a service such as easyBus on the UK side* and a suitable American equivalent across the pond. Remember to allow plenty of time to get through airport security on the day of departure as this can take a long time before a transatlantic trip. And, finally, try to find a good guidebook before you go so you’ll be sure to see everything Illinois has to offer.
*easyBus has just made its summer schedules available and they offer fast and direct transfers to Gatwick airport from just £2 when you book online.
