Visit Springfield with your Family

A short drive from Champaign-Urbana, Springfield, Illinois is full of American history – and Americana

Lincoln points of interest, museums and of course the home of the State Fair, Springfield has even more to offer than you’d think

At chambanamoms.com, we are huge fans of the day trip. Maybe it is because we have oodles of day trips just a short drive from C-U (absolutely no hotel stay required!), or maybe we’re just grateful for the culture, history, and FUN we can find near our home here.

One of those options is Springfield, Illinois, located just under 90 minutes away. A popular spot for school field trips, being our state’s capital and also the home to a great deal of Abraham Lincoln historical sites, Springfield has even more to offer than purely educational content. No matter what you choose to do on your visit, all that history makes Illinois’ capital city a wonderful spot for an economical and family-friendly weekend getaway.

Get your picture taken with President Lincoln and his family. Photo by Sid Webb on flickr

Editor’s Note: Many thanks to our dear friend and Springfield native Tara Burghart, a proud University of Illinois alumna and former Champaign resident, for contributing to this article.

All things Abe

The Abraham Lincoln National Library and Museum (212 North Sixth St.) has attracted more than 4 million visitors since the dedication of its museum portion in 2005. Billed as the first “experience museum” of its kind, it has technological innovations that should wow even the most jaded of tweens.

Make plans to spend at least three hours there, and don’t forget the camera. You’ll want a portrait of your family posing with the life-sized replicas of the Lincolns in front of the White House. This is definitely better for older kids, depending on your child. If you are bringing a stroller, an umbrella version would be best -the museum can get crowded, and some of the spaces are a bit narrow.

You can also visit the Lincoln Home National Historic Site, Nothing beats walking in Lincoln’s steps in the only home he ever owned. It’s been meticulously restored to its 1860 appearance, and some of the furniture inside actually was used by the Lincolns. Stop at the Visitor Center at 426 South Seventh Street soon after your arrival in town to collect your (free!) timed tickets to tour the home in the company of a National Park Service ranger.

The Park Service advises visitors to arrive as early in the day as possible to receive the tour tickets. While the last tour begins at 4:30 p.m., all the tickets will likely be snapped up before then on busy days.

Lincoln's home in Springfield, Ill. Photo by Tara Burghart — Lincoln’s home in Springfield, Ill. Photo by Tara Burghart

The home tour lasts 20 to 25 minutes. After the tour, or while waiting for it to start, you can explore the surrounding four-block historic neighborhood, also restored to how it looked in 1860, the year before the Lincoln family left for Washington D.C.

All the above Lincoln sites are in Springfield’s downtown, which has been revitalized by the opening of the national museum and library.

More history

If you don’t mind a bit of a drive, a site that is great for active youngsters is Lincoln’s New Salem (15588 History Lane, Petersburg), a historical village that seeks to recreate the tiny town about 20 miles northwest of Springfield where Lincoln lived as a young man. During the tourist season (generally May through October), you’ll likely encounter historical interpreters dressed in period clothing. It also features picnic areas, hiking trails and playground equipment. Make sure to check the hours of operation before making the drive to Petersburg.

If your family can handle even more history, other Lincoln spots in Springfield worth checking out include the Old State Capitol (Old State Capitol Plaza, near Sixth and Adams streets) where he served in the Illinois House of Representatives and delivered his “House Divided” speech. The scenic Greek Revival-style building is also where former President Barack Obama announced his candidacy for president and the choice of Joe Biden as his running mate. Editor’s note: The Old State Capitol is currently closed for restoration.

At the Great Western Depot (10th and Monroe) Lincoln began his inaugural journey to Washington D.C. by telling a small crowd of family and friends: “To this place, and to the kindness of these people, I owe everything.” He returned to Springfield in a coffin, and his final resting place is in Oak Ridge Cemetery (1441 Monument Ave.).

Another site worth visiting, depending on your timeline: the State Capitol complex. Home to the Illinois State Legislature since 1877, the Capitol’s 361-foot high dome – 74 feet taller than the U.S. Capitol – is an impressive site. It was renovated in 2011, so if you haven’t been there since then – you might not recognize the place. You can walk in (be prepared to go through security) and look around on your own; or visitors can take a free, 30-minute guided tour of the building, which highlights its numerous paintings and sculptures as well as visits to the galleries of the Senate and House of Representatives.

Note that the Illinois State Legislature is in session between January and May, when you can watch government in action from the balconies. There’s not much info online about the tours, oddly enough. Tours are available Mon-Fri: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., every half hour except 12-1 p.m.; Sat: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., tours every half hour except 12-1 p.m. This may change seasonally, so call first when in doubt: 217-782-2099.

Stop at Scheel’s

Where else can you ride an indoor Ferris wheel, see animatronic historical figures, and get in a NASCAR driving simulator?

If you want to go shopping and still get a dose of Lincoln, don’t miss a trip to Scheel’s. We’ve written a whole article about why this is one of the most unique stores we’ve ever been to (indoor Ferris wheel, anyone?) and while it’s a great place to shop, it’s an even better place to gawk. And bonus: the animatronic presidents, including Abe Lincoln reciting the Gettysburg address.

Knight’s Action Park

An amusement park and waterpark combo, some families from Champaign-Urbana drive over just for a day of fun at Knight’s Action Park. Tickets can be pricey, but buy online ahead of time and you’ll end up saving some big bucks, depending on available promos.

Places (and things) to eat

It’s pretty easy to find a place to eat downtown if you’re there on a weekday. A favorite is The Feed Store (516 E. Adams), famous for its sandwiches, pies and homemade soups. Try the Pork Barrel sandwich (as the menu says, “In the tradition of Illinois politics, it has something for everyone”) and a cup of beef barley or Wisconsin cheese soup.

A favorite pick of our team is Engrained, a micro-brewery and farm-to-table restaurant in one location. With more casual options all the way up to $50 steaks, you will be in for a culinary treat at Engrained.

Want to grab coffee and pastries? Hae’s Bakery and Coffee has two locations in Springfield and claims to be the best coffee in Springfield. While we haven’t tried them all, we can certainly vouch for Hae’s being pretty fantastic.

If all that sounds lovely but what you’re really looking for is greasy, cheap and very kid-friendly, you have plenty of options in Springfield. Route 66 passes through Springfield and you can get your kicks at the Cozy Dog Drive In (2935 S. Sixth Street), where the owners lay claim to inventing the first “hot dog on a stick” in 1946.

Joe Rogers’ Original Recipe Chili Parlor (820 S. Ninth St.) is another option; you can even leave with frozen quarts of chili if you love it. Finish a bowl of the “firebrand” and you can put your name on the wall.

And your kids will be sure to get their daily allotment of sugar at one of Mel-o-Cream Donuts’ four locations (3010 S. Sixth St., 1953 W. Monroe St., 525 N. Grand Ave. East, 227 E. Laurel St.)

But no discussion of Springfield food would be complete without a mention of the horseshoe – a layered, delectable, calorie-packed Springfield creation that starts with two pieces of open-faced toasted bread laying side by side on a platter. On top of that is some kind of protein and french fries, with a yellow or white cheese sauce smothering the whole thing.

Several restaurants in Springfield serve horseshoes; the ‘shoe at D’Arcy’s Pint (661 W. Stanford Ave.) is probably most renowned, although it will likely come with a wait for a table. Other places where you’ll find horseshoes include Charlie Parker’s Diner (700 North St.) and the Dublin Pub (1975 Wabash Ave.).

And while it is a chain restaurant and not exactly unique to Springfield, many Champaign-Urbana area families don’t know that we have a downstate option for Cooper’s Hawk right in Springfield. We’re fans of the destination restaurant idea, too, so you may want to make it a date night and drive over to Springfield just for the Cooper’s Hawk experience.

State Fair – happens in August

Does your family love carnival rides, barnyard animals, fried food or high-diving shows? Then the Illinois State Fair is for you! Weekdays are a lot less crowded than weekends (and you’ll save money getting in, too). Make sure to take a good look at the schedule of events for the day of your visit and also to surf around the State Fair’s website, especially the entertainment page.

Don’t miss the Butter Cow, Conservation World, the animals or the carnival. If you want to skip the rides, maybe you just take on the giant yellow slide as a family.

More ideas to round out your Springfield adventure

If you’re looking to spend some time outdoors, Lincoln Memorial Garden & Nature Center (2301 E. Lake Shore Dr. ) seeks to represent the landscape Lincoln would have encountered growing up in Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky. Designed by famed landscape architect Jens Jensen (he designed NYC’s Central Park), the garden features six miles of trails, footbridges and wooden benches inscribed with Lincoln quotes.

Architecture buffs will appreciate the Dana-Thomas House (301 E. Lawrence St.), designed in 1902 by Frank Lloyd Wright for a wealthy heiress seeking to overhaul her family home. One especially neat feature: a room that belonged to the original fussy Victorian house remains untouched, surrounded by Wright’s elegant Prairie design. Free tours are available daily; you donate, if you wish.

When your family needs a break from learning and touring, a laid-back outdoor option is the lovely Washington Park (at South Grand Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard). It features a carillon, a number of gardens, a great playground and a lovely duck pond.

There is no shortage of things to do with a day in Springfield! For more information on the area, check out The Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau.