Visiting Danville with Your Family

Enjoy history, sports-related fun, great nature escapes and delicious eats in Danville

Some Lincoln history, sports venues, fabulous donuts and a Central Illinois nature wonderland are just some of things you’ll find in and around Danville

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 Danville, 45 minutes east of C-U. Danville has some unique sports-related experiences, along with delicious places to eat and some enjoyable nature “off the beaten path” spots within the surrounding area. A Danville day trip doesn’t even have to take the whole day, making it a great option for Champaign-Urbana area families looking for a change of scenery.

Some history

Danville was established in the early 19th century. Abraham Lincoln passed through Danville in the mid-1800s several times, thus you will find some Lincoln history as you meander through the area. Mining and manufacturing were popular in Danville’s early years, and as mining slowed down, manufacturing continued to be a big part of Danville. Several plants have closed in recent years, but the Danville community is working hard to preserve its history and build for the future.

Popular sporting events

Danville is a sports fan’s destination for a number of reasons. Many Champaign-Urbana families head over to Danville to take in a Vermilion County Bobcats hockey game, or to enjoy the family-friendly Danville Dans baseball games during the warmer months. You may even find fireworks some nights at Danville Stadium!

Places (and things) to eat

There are a couple of recommendations that stand out when we think of food in Danville. The very first one would be Royal Donut. Open daily at 5:30 a.m. you can get donuts all day long. Angel Bites are a must-order.

Roma Italian is another option we like to visit when you need more than a donut. Owned by the same people as Napoli’s Italian Restaurant in Champaign, we find the food to be delightful at the Danville stop. Portions are generous.

Another option to note is Gross’ Burgers, a burger-and-fries joint that will have you drooling for your next visit before you even leave. Make sure you bring cash; we’re not certain it takes credit cards these days.

The Little Nugget steakhouse has a good reputation throughout Danville, but for a Chambana family looking for steak in the Danville area, we can’t help but recommend a drive 15 minutes farther east on I-74 to the Beef House, one of our favorite “destination restaurants.”

Another option not quite in Danville, but on the way to or from, would be Obie’s Arctic Chill. Located off the I-74 Oakwood exit, you can get pizzas here in addition to sweet treats. Obie’s, however, is only open seasonally, and pizza season ends before ice cream season.

Nature adventures

Our nature adventures take us beyond the bounds of Danville. It is easy enough to plan an outing to one of these places and then round out your visit with some of the stops we’ve detailed above.

Forest Glen (located in Westville, 20 minutes from Danville)

When you’re looking to try somewhere other than our fabulous Champaign County forest preserves — and challenge yourself or your children — visit the Vermilion County Forest Glen Preserve. Whether you plan to go creek stomping, hiking or just want to enjoy the woods, Forest Glen has it all. Note that some of these trails can be more advanced hiking.

Kickapoo State Park (Oakwood, 10 minutes from Danville)

Kickapoo has some of the best water recreation to offer Central Illinois outdoor types. You can tube down the river, paddle around a lake, take on some mountain biking trails and even camp for the weekend at this state recreation area. Knowing how close you are to a town like Danville might make planning such an outdoorsy adventure a little bit easier.