Named Fort Clark when town was first settled, Peoria is an fascinating vacation spot in Illinois. The town is the oldest everlasting European settlement in Illinois and is midway between Chicago to the north and Springfield to the south.

As one of many bigger cities within the state, there are various different issues to do in Peoria. Peoria has one thing for everybody from Teddy Roosevelt’s Grandview Drive to the cutting-edge Louisville Slugger Sports activities Complicated.

Peoria, Illinois

20 Issues To Do In Peoria

1- Go to The Caterpillar Guests Heart & Museum

Conveniently located subsequent door to the favored Riverfront Museum in Downtown Peoria, the Caterpillar Guests Heart & Museum is a 50,000 sq. foot (4,645 m2) facility devoted to Peoria’s most well-known firm.

The museum tells the story of Caterpillar’s founding and humble beginnings and the model’s rise to grow to be the world’s main development and mining gear producer.

From a driving simulator and the centre’s merchandise retailer to the massive Caterpillar equipment and autos displayed all through the ability, this can be a distinctive museum to tick off your to-see checklist.

Caterpillar Guests Heart & Museum is at 110 SW Washington St, Peoria, IL 61602.

2- See The Reveals At Peoria Riverfront Museum

Adjoining to the Caterpillar Guests Heart and Museum, the Peoria Riverfront Museum is amongst Downtown Peoria’s hottest sights to go to.

This sprawling centre is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institute, that means the museum repeatedly receives prized artefacts from the Smithsonian catalogue to show for locals and guests to take pleasure in proper right here in Peoria.

The museum options everlasting reveals starting from science to artwork, together with the 1898 Duryea Motor Lure, one of many first gasoline-powered automobiles ever bought.

The Big Display screen Theater repeatedly hosts screenings of documentaries and movie festivals, whereas the museum’s extra sombre Peoria Holocaust Memorial shines a light-weight on one of many darkest durations in historical past.

With so many various sights, reveals and shows, visiting this museum is likely one of the issues to do in Peoria that you just’ll not wish to skip out on.

Peoria Riverfront Museum is at 222 SW Washington St, Peoria, IL 61602.

3- Go On The Grandview Drive

Described by Theodore Roosevelt as probably the most lovely drive on the planet, Grandview Drive is an extremely scenic, 2.5-mile-long (4 km) stretch of highway listed on the Nationwide Register of Historic Locations.

The drive passes by way of Peoria’s most idyllic neighbourhoods, serene forests and scenic waterways and it’s accessible for automobiles, bikes and pedestrians.

Among the best free sights in Peoria and top-of-the-line methods of experiencing Peoria’s attraction and pure magnificence, the “world’s most lovely drive” is certain to be one of many highlights of your keep in

4- Chill out On The Peoria Riverfront

Recognized for cosy cafes, vibrant leisure venues and a wealthy assortment of artwork galleries, the Peoria Riverfront is the guts of the motion within the metropolis.

Each Saturday morning between June and September, the riverfront hosts the RiverFront Market, a celebration of recent produce, artwork and reside music.

This city attraction combines riverside views with a laundry checklist of enjoyable and thrilling issues to do in Peoria.

5- Get Inventive At The Modern Artwork Heart

The Modern Artwork Heart of Peoria is the main cultural venue within the metropolis, providing completely different artwork types that vary from portray and sculpting to tai chi and improv comedy.

A number one modern artwork centre for the complete area surrounding Peoria, the venue organises weekly enjoyable and entertaining courses to assist get guests intertwined with the native arts scene.

Established in 1994 as an area for various artists and musicians to collaborate, the venue has grown to grow to be a number one vacationer vacation spot in Downtown Peoria and one price testing.

Modern Artwork Heart of Peoria is at 305 Southwest Water Avenue, Peoria, IL 61602.

6- Step Again In Historical past At Pettengill-Morron Home Museum

Inbuilt 1868 for native retailer proprietor Moses Pettengill, the Pettengill-Morron Home Museum tells the story of one in every of Peoria’s most outstanding and influential households.

The Second Empire-style mansion includes a Colonial Revival porch and a common Victorian look and is listed on the Nationwide Register of Historic Locations.

After Pettengill died in 1883, the home handed by way of a number of house owners till Jean McLean Morron, a relative of the Pettengills, purchased the property in 1953.

The home was put in a belief and given to the Peoria Historic Society after her demise, together with its assortment of ornate 18th, nineteenth and Twentieth-century furnishings and décor items, which guests can see when touring the mansion.

Pettengill-Morron Home Museum is at 1212 W Moss Ave, Peoria, IL 61606.

7- Discover Wildlife Prairie Park

The majestic out of doors venue of Wildlife Prairie Park is house to over 50 species of animals native to the state of Illinois.

The two,000-acre (809 ha) park sits 15 miles (24 km) west of Downtown Peoria, making it excellent for a fast afternoon sightseeing journey throughout your keep within the metropolis.

Animals comparable to bison, bears, foxes, snakes, owls and bobcats freely roam the park’s scenic landscapes for guests to marvel at, whereas the venue’s disc golf course and bike trails present guests with a much-needed break from animal watching.

Whether or not you’re stopping by for the animals or the opposite enjoyable sights and actions, that is one out of doors park you simply have so as to add to your Illinois itinerary.

Wildlife Prairie Park is at 3826 N Taylor Rd, Hanna Metropolis, IL 61536.

8- Roll Into The Previous At The Wheels O’Time Museum

The Wheels O’Time Museum takes guests on a historical past journey down automotive reminiscence lane with an unlimited assortment of classic automobiles, bicycles, tractors, vans, plane, locomotives, and plenty of extra basic objects associated to transportation.

Established in 1977, the museum is open yearly from Could to October and options a number of buildings on web site for guests to tour, every with its personal theme and reveals.

Repeatedly increasing its intensive assortment of things, artefacts, autos and memorabilia, the museum is amongst Peoria’s finest sights.

Wheels O’Time Museum is at 1710 W Woodside Dr, Dunlap, IL 61525.

9- See The Animals At Peoria Zoo

Opened in 1955, Peoria Zoo, subsequent to the Luthy Botanical Backyard, is an impressive 14-acre (6 ha) zoo house to over 230 animals from world wide.

The Affiliation of Zoos and Aquariums accredited the zoo in 1976 and has since grow to be a number one zoo and marine establishment within the Midwest area.

A few of the zoo’s hottest sights embrace the giraffes, lions and rhinos within the Africa exhibit, the endangered reptiles on the Conservation Heart, and the Siberian tigers and Sichuan Takins within the Asian Path exhibit.

Peoria Zoo is at 2320 N Prospect Rd, Peoria, IL 61603.

10- Discover Tower Park

Established in 1968, Tower Park has grow to be the go-to city park for a lot of Peoria residents and guests because of its unrivalled variety of sights and actions.

The park’s landmark is its 200-foot-tall (61 m) vivid pink water tower, full with three commentary decks for guests to benefit from the gorgeous sights of Peoria and the encircling areas.

Whereas the park is legendary for its water tower, it’s not all of the park has in retailer for guests.

The Abraham Lincoln monument, pavilion and water fountains are all fantastic sights to take pleasure in in their very own proper.

Tower Park is at 1222 E Kingman Ave, Peoria Heights, IL 61616.

11- Take The Children To The PlayHouse Youngsters’s Museum

Established by the Junior League of Peoria in 2015, the Peoria PlayHouse Youngsters’s Museum encourages youngsters of all ages to be taught and be impressed by way of varied enjoyable and interactive reveals.

The venue organises all kinds of occasions, workshops, scavenger hunts and themed packages all year long, so there’s at all times one thing for teenagers to do.

Conveniently located close to the Peoria Zoo and the Luthy Botanical Backyard, the venue is your one-stop vacation spot for family-friendly enjoyable in Illinois.

Peoria PlayHouse Youngsters’s Museum is at 2218 N Prospect Rd, Peoria, IL 61603.

12- See A Present At The Corn Inventory Theatre

Internet hosting Broadway-quality performances in an outside setting, the Corn Inventory Theatre is one in every of Peoria’s most beloved cultural establishments.

The venue goals to supply the individuals of Peoria and past with reasonably priced, community-led productions that includes among the most proficient native actors, musicians and dancers.

Offering high quality leisure at a budget-friendly worth, the theatre organises 5 performances all year long, carried out below the venue’s huge open-air canvas tent if climate permits.

The theatre even organises a number of kid-oriented performs and workshops along with their primary line-up, making it a exceptional Peoria vacation spot for the complete household.

Corn Inventory Theatre is at 1700 N Park Rd, Peoria, IL 61604.

13- Scour The Cosmos At Northmoor Observatory

The Northmoor Observatory has been amongst Peoria’s hottest sights ever because it grew to become the primary observatory in Illinois to supply public viewings.

Located simply north of Downtown Peoria close to Donovan Park, the observatory organises public viewings of the evening sky each cloudless Saturday night between Could and October.

Maintained by the Peoria Astronomical Society, the observatory includes a 9-inch refractor telescope and a rotating dome ceiling, excellent for endlessly scouring the cosmos.

Not solely is the observatory only a brief drive from Downtown Peoria, however the scenic location and unbelievable out of doors sights discovered proper subsequent door to the observatory make it top-of-the-line locations to go to within the metropolis.

Northmoor Observatory is at 5805 Knoxville Ave, Peoria, IL 61614.

14- Watch A Sport At Louisville Slugger Sports activities Complicated

Full with a 125,000 square-foot (11,613 m2) domed roof, a 1,300-seat stadium and 10 artificial turf fields, the Louisville Slugger Sports activities Complicated is mighty spectacular.

The venue caters to baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball and a wide range of different sports activities, together with non-sporting occasions comparable to commerce exhibits.

Louisville Slugger Sports activities Complicated is at 8400 Orange Prairie Rd, Peoria, IL 61615.

15- Discover The Sights At Laura Bradley Park

The Laura Bradley Park was established in 1864 when the 100-acre (40 ha) plot of land on which it sits was given to town of Peoria by Lydia Moss Bradley as a tribute to her late daughter, Laura Bradley.

Located subsequent door to Peoria’s Bradley College, the park options excessive bluff woodland landscapes with sights comparable to a standard Japanese backyard, playgrounds, baseball diamonds, a decorative shelter and an off-leash canine park.

It’s top-of-the-line parks to go to in Illinois due to its central location and multitude of issues to do.

Laura Bradley Park is at 1314 N Park Rd, West Peoria, IL 61604.

16- Be taught A New Talent At Wheel Artwork Pottery Studios

Wheel Artwork Pottery Studios is a pottery studio and pottery college providing guests of all ages and expertise ranges the chance to indulge their artistic sides by studying tips on how to make pottery.

The venue was opened in 2010 by artists Jacob Grant and Susie Mathews and is inside the Murray Heart for the Arts in Downtown Peoria.

Whether or not you’re a seasoned artist or a newbie on the lookout for an area to observe your craft, this Peoria pottery studio is price a glance.

Wheel Artwork Pottery Studios is at 1101 SW Washington St, Peoria, IL 61602.

17- Watch Some Baseball At Dozer Park

Dwelling to the Peoria Chiefs of Minor League Baseball, Dozer Park is Downtown Peoria’s sporting and leisure mecca.

Opened in 2002 as O’Brien Discipline, the stadium obtained a reputation change in 2013 to raised mirror the principle sponsor, Caterpillar.

The stadium boasts a capability of over 8,500 and options 20 luxurious suites, concession stands and a number of other personal eating areas.

Excellent for attending a recreation of America’s favorite pastime or a reside music live performance in Downtown Peoria, this state-of-the-art venue is at all times one of many liveliest locations within the metropolis.

Dozer Park is at 730 SW Jefferson Ave, Peoria, IL, 61605.

18- Attend Winterfest At Peoria Civic Heart

The 11,000-seater Peoria Civic Heart is town’s go-to occasion and leisure venue, internet hosting all the pieces from Southern Skilled Hockey League video games to Broadway.

One of many greatest and hottest occasions held on the centre is the annual PNC Winterfest, a family-friendly winter wonderland held between November and January that includes an outside ice rink and even a 100-foot lengthy (30 m) ice slide.

Inbuilt 1982 and not too long ago renovated, this 108,000-square-foot (10,034 m2) venue is an absolute must-visit Peoria landmark at any time when a giant occasion or live performance is happening.

Peoria Civic Heart is at 201 SW Jefferson Ave, Peoria, IL 61602.

19- Go Mountain climbing In Forest Park Nature Heart

Nestled between the Illinois River and Downtown Peoria lies the Forest Park Nature Heart, a sprawling 540-acre (218 ha) nature protect with sights starting from mountaineering and biking trails to a pure historical past museum.

The character park presents unbelievable birdwatching alternatives, with over 100 completely different chicken species discovered contained in the park.

It has surroundings starting from prairie to woodlands and is an city escape for hikers, with over seven miles (11 km) of nature trails to get out and about in nature.

Forest Park Nature Heart is at 5809 N Forest Park Dr, Peoria Heights, IL 61616.

20- Luthy Botanical Backyard

The George L. Luthy Memorial Botanical Backyard, or Luthy Botanical Backyard for brief, is a beautiful botanical centre inside Glen Oak Park.

That includes 15 completely different themed gardens throughout the 5-acre (2 ha) venue, together with a Youngsters’s Backyard, a Rose Backyard and a Herb Backyard, the botanical centre is likely one of the metropolis’s visually gorgeous sights.

The venue even hosts a number of occasions and festivals all year long, so there are many alternatives to take pleasure in vibrant blooms whereas in Peoria.

Luthy Botanical Backyard is at 2520 N Prospect Rd, Peoria, IL 61603.