Make a self catering apartmen or holiday rental in Illinois, USA your home away from home

The state of Illinois is in the Great Lakes region of the USA, stretching from the south of Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River. Illinois’ main city is the huge centre of commerce, Chicago, but much of the state is given over to farmland, broken by the Ozark Mountain range. This state has many contrasts and offers a host of attractions drawing thousands of visitors to enjoy the 6,900km (4,300 miles) of shoreline, 1,100 historic sites and 500,000 acres of state parks from the choice of Illinois holiday rentals.

Things to Do in Illinois

Chicago, nicknamed “Windy City”, offers a host of activities with plenty of theatres, museums, sports stadiums, art galleries, shopping malls and stunning architecture. Those staying around the shores of Lake Michigan can enjoy its sandy beaches, harbours, forests and water-based activities. Fishing, sailing, jet-skiing, windsurfing, swimming, canoeing, walking, biking, bird watching and a host of other fun sports can be enjoyed along its shores. The area also has some fine dining which can be sampled from your Illinois holiday rental.

Places to Visit in Illinois

Chicago is the Illinois state capital and one of the world’s busiest centers for trade, industry and transport. Birthplace of the first skyscraper, and home of Abraham Lincoln, Chicago offers a host of historic attractions and sights. Famous architects such as Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright greatly influenced the city skyline with the Reliance Building, now Hotel Burnham, and the Willis Tower, one of the tallest buildings in the world. Millennium Park is worth a visit to see the works of Frank Gehry, Jaume Plensa and Anish Kapoor. Further afield, the Black Hawk State Historic Site is one of many parks which you will discover around your holiday rental in Illinois. Bordering Rock River it was the site of prehistoric Indians, particularly Black Hawk. Visit the Salem State Historic Site to explore a reconstructed 1830s village where Lincoln lived or enjoy a day out at the Naper Settlement in Downtown Naperville with its historic buildings and costumed villagers. The Reagan family home can be toured at Dixon, or visit the minimalist Farnsworth Estate created by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in pastoral Plano.

Weather in Illinois

Illinois has hot wet summers and cold dry winters. Average temperatures from June to September range from 24-28°C (75-84°F). The winter months have plenty of snowfall and temperatures are below freezing from December through February. The lakes also create a “lake effect” making temperatures feel even colder.

Travel to Illinois

The main airport serving holiday rentals in Illinois is the Chicago O’Hare (ORD) International Airport which has four terminals and is a major hub for airlines. It lies 18 miles (29km) northwest of the city. It has numerous shops, hotels and car rental counters making it easy to pick up a rental car to drive to your final Illinois holiday destination.