Personally I am tired of standing in a concrete jungle looking at the same old thing at meets. Meets have become lackluster and boring for me, idk if anyone else shares my sentiment. I also feel that the locations of meets tend to be the same thus leaving out those who do not wish to drive so far. So this is my proposition...

...A 7 part meet (dates to be determined which would consist of 1-2 day long excursions. These meets will take part in the 7 areas of IL: Chicago, Chicagoland, Northern, Central, Western, Southern, and Southwest)


Items of interest

Chicago
-NAVY PIER
-MAGNIFICENT MILE SHOPPING
-MILLENNIUM PARK
-LINCOLN PARK ZOO
-SEARS TOWER / HANCOCK CENTERSEARS TOWER/HANCOCK OBSERVATORY
-MUSEUM CAMPUS
-THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO
-MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY
-CUBS / WHITE SOX PARKS
-BLUES CLUBS

Chicagoland
-SIX FLAGS GREAT AMERICA / HURRICANE HARBOR
-ARLINGTON RACE TRACK
-BROOKFIELD ZOO
-MORTON ARBORETUM
-CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN
-FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT HOME AND STUDIO
-LONG GROVE HISTORIC DISTRICT
-CHICAGOLAND SHOPPING
-CHICAGO PREMIUM OUTLETS
-GENESEE THEATRE
-CHICAGOLAND CASINO LISTINGS

Northern
-ANDERSON JAPANESE GARDENS
-CORONADO THEATRE
-BURPEE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
-STARVED ROCK STATE PARK
-ULYSSES S. GRANT HOME STATE HISTORIC SITE
-RONALD REAGAN HOME AND VISITOR CENTER
-EAGLE RIDGE RESORT & SPA
-MAIN STREET GALENA
-ILLINOIS RAILWAY MUSEUM
-SANDWICH ANTIQUES MARKET

Central
-ABRAHAM LINCOLN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
-LOOKING FOR LINCOLN
-ROUTE 66
-AMISH VILLAGES
-HARDY'S REINDEER RANCH
-DANA-THOMAS HOUSE
-STATE CAPITOL / OLD STATE CAPITOL
-UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
-LAKE SHELBYVILLE
-SCOVILL ZOO

Western
-JOHN DEERE PAVILION
-NAUVOO TEMPLE
-WILDLIFE PRAIRIE STATE PARK
-BISHOP HILL STATE HISTORIC SITE
-SPOON RIVER VALLEY SCENIC DRIVE
-GREAT RIVER ROAD
-CARL SANDBURG HISTORIC SITE
-PEORIA RIVERFRONT
-BLACK HAWK STATE HISTORIC SITE
-DICKSON MOUNDS MUSEUM

Southern
-GARDEN OF THE GODS
-REND LAKE
-SHAWNEE NATIONAL FOREST
-CAVE-IN-ROCK STATE PARK
-SOUTHERN ILLINOIS WINE TRAILS
-FORT MASSAC STATE PARK
-SUPERMAN STATUE
-CARLYLE LAKE
-CACHE RIVER STATE NATURAL AREA
-SHAWNEE QUEEN RIVER TAXI

Southwest
-LEWIS AND CLARK INTERPRETIVE CENTER
-NATIONAL SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF THE SNOWS
-CAHOKIA MOUNDS
-GATEWAY INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
-FORT DE CHARTRES
-PERE MARQUETTE STATE PARK
-EAGLE WATCHING IN ALTON
-POPEYE STATUE
-WINE TRAILS
-JARROT MANSION

Thoughts??

 

i agree with your thoughts on the meets. we hangout look at the same stuff that we see everyday and possibly meet some new people. get a route together and i think it could be nice.

 

Awesome! I think this is a great idea. It will be a great way to see what Illinois has to offer.

And I am guessing that we should each do our part to find cool things to do in each of the areas shown on this map. Then we can talk about and decide what might be the coolest thing?

I am up for some cruising, especially during the summer months.

 

Good idea, the hard part will be organizing everything. Gina is doing an awesome job but it's always hard to get everyone to make up their minds and follow the plan.
I'm definitaly in for checking out different spots in IL.

 

All the info I have posted so far can be found on the Enjoy Illinois website. I listed them as a suggestion and what the State feels is some of the "top spots" we have to offer. If you are from one of the 7 defined areas and know of great things by all means please suggest them.

 

I agree, the hardest part won't be making the plan, but organizing everything and making sure that everyone is on time, it seems like most people have issues with being on time.

I would take this lead as it is my idea, however I know that Gina does have most peoples contact information so would probably use her as a source to get in touch with everyone.

 

Wow, I like the top spots. Awesome...just decide on the day and everything, I'm in for sure.





Hahahahaha, except this

 

I also found that funny, but when people travel places, often times they love to shop

 

great idea

 

Honestly, I would be happy to get 5 people to do something like this me.

If you have true interest and are willing to make a weekend out of something like this please PM or Email me your info (Name, Location, Email) so I can get a distribution list going.

 

I'll take the Metra and bring photos of my car if we go any further than chicagoland area . Anyone up for carpool? hehe.

 

you should make this a whole weekend and camp at a few of those spots. Southern IL has some awesome spots.

 

Thats what I want to do, make it a 2 day event. With each meet going to 1 of the 7 areas.

 

Sounds cool, I will do some searching myself and find something interesting for us to do.
That is both enlightening, and fun for most everyone.