8 Of The Most Adorable Small Towns In Illinois
Some of Illinois's cutest small towns hide big surprises. Elsah keeps a whole riverside center of stone and brick buildings from the 1800s. Long Grove holds more than 2,000 handmade sock monkeys in a museum of its own. Savanna runs a 1,200-square-foot model railroad through its cultural center. These eight towns along the Mississippi and Fox Rivers each pull off something you won't find anywhere else in Illinois.
Elsah
A village in Jersey County, Elsah is located on the Mississippi River, where Illinois borders Missouri. Visitors to Elsah will immediately be struck by the historic stone, brick, and wooden buildings in the town's riverside center. In town, you'll find attractions like the Village of Elsah Museum, which is open afternoons or by appointment only in the town's historic district, and the restored Farley Music Hall that's now an events venue. Before the day ends, grab a bite to eat at State Street on LaSalle, a boutique New American restaurant that offers brunch specialties on weekends.
Galena
One of the most famous of Illinois' small towns, Galena is pretty enough to look like a postcard, and a postcard from the past, at that. This is because Galena is known for its beautifully preserved nineteenth-century architecture, which can be seen in downtown Galena and at historic sites like the Dowling House. This house, built in 1826, is now a museum full of nineteenth-century artifacts, and has a two-story porch that makes it look like a gingerbread house.
For local art, check out the Galena Center for the Arts, which showcases regional artists. Afterward, get a sweet treat at the American Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor, which has been a fixture on Main Street since 1970, and serves up malted, shakes, sundaes, and more.
Long Grove
Ready for a bit of monkey business? In Lake County, north of Chicago, Long Grove has one of the most unusual and cutest attractions in the state: the Sock Monkey Museum. Its collection of more than 2,000 handmade sock monkeys was certified by Guinness World Records in 2023 as the largest of its kind. Visitors can meet the whole troop across two floors and sign up for a workshop to sew a monkey of their own.
The cuteness continues while exploring historic downtown Long Grove. By day, stroll through the brick-paved plazas and drop in on the Blu Fig Cafe, where customers can sit at sky-blue outdoor tables and enjoy bagels, sandwiches, and coffee. By night, check out ChatterBox of Long Grove, a pub inside a twinkle-light-festooned rustic barn, where guests can enjoy daily drink specials, along with meals like prime rib and barbecue.
Ottawa
Not to be confused with Canada's capital city, Ottawa in Illinois is the seat of LaSalle County, located where the Fox River and the Illinois River meet. One local centerpiece is the Reddick Mansion and Gardens, a human-size dollhouse of a museum full of Victorian artifacts, which hosts events like the Victorian Tea and Quilt Trunk Show.
Outside Ottawa, there's plenty of beautiful natural surroundings, which visitors can explore at Nell's Woodland. This 60-acre protected site is full of hiking trails where hikers can see (from a safe distance) adorable wildlife like deer, squirrels, and owls. There's even a way to spend the night in nature while staying comfortable, at Postcard Cabins Starved Rock, glamping cabins that pair a log-cabin feel with upscale modern amenities.
Quincy
A small city on the Mississippi, Quincy is the cute and quirky county seat (try saying that three times fast) of Adams County. One of Quincy's most distinctive landmarks is the Villa Kathrine, a Moorish-style mansion built in 1900 by wealthy world traveler George Metz. Today, it's a visitor's center with tours by appointment.
Visitors to Quincy should be sure to visit the Quincy Museum, housed in the historic Newcomb House, where guests can explore what it would have been like to live the life of a wealthy Quincy-dwelling Victorian in the 1890s. Then, get something to eat at Sam's Southern Eatery, which specializes in fried shrimp, catfish, and other southern staples served in trays lined with red-check paper.
Savanna
Ever build an elaborate model train set? The town that the train runs through may have looked a little bit like Savanna, Illinois. Visitors to Savanna can find out why at the Savanna Museum and Cultural Center, which actually includes a 1,200 square foot model train display.
For something on a grander scale, Savanna is also home to a real-life castle. Artist Alan St. George and his wife Adrienne spent decades turning a hilltop mansion into the 63-room Havencrest Castle as a tribute to their marriage. The castle opens for public tours on weekends in May and October. After a visit, stop by a place with a memorable name: Poopy's Saloon and Gaming Parlor, a local pub with a years-long tie to the motorcycle community.
St. Charles
Along the Fox River, St. Charles is a riverside prairie town with Laura Ingalls Wilder vibes to spare. Get a dose of them at the Durant-Peterson House Museum, which offers a living-history look at prairie life, complete with docents in period dress and regular historical cooking events. Or, time travel to the early twentieth century at the Fabyan Villa Museum, a short drive downriver in Geneva, where Frank Lloyd Wright remodeled a farmhouse into a Prairie-style country home in 1907.
Looking for a cute way to let off some steam? Play a round at River View Miniature Golf. This family-friendly spot features a full course with decorations and obstacles, plus paddleboat rentals to get out on the water.
Woodstock
No, this isn't the site of the famous 1969 music festival; that would be in New York State. Instead, Woodstock, Illinois, is the seat of McHenry County. Woodstock Square Historic District sits at the heart of the town. There, visitors will find shopping, dining, and entertainment like Classic Cinemas Woodstock, which screens first-run movies in a restored vintage theater that appeared in the film. Nearby, try a meal at Squire on the Square, the bar where Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell drink to world peace in the 1993 film "Groundhog Day," most of which was shot around this square. In nearby Union, you'll find the home of the Illinois Railway Museum, America's largest railroad museum, where visitors can get up close and personal with historic train cars, model trains, and other artifacts.
Small Towns, Big Character
What sets these eight towns apart is how specific each one is. Elsah preserves a river village of 1800s stone and brick, while Quincy answers it with a Moorish villa on the bluff. Long Grove counts its sock monkeys by the thousand, and Savanna runs a model railroad and keeps a 63-room castle on a hill. Galena, Ottawa, St. Charles, and Woodstock each hold onto a piece of history that no other Illinois town can claim as its own.
