Champaign, IL: Land of corn, pumpkins + really good BBQ
I know what you’re thinking, another Illinois location!? Does Kaylie ever venture out of the Midwest? The answer is yes! However, Illinois has so much more to offer than just the big city of Chicago. And sometimes people don't always recognize this! Much like Bloomington and Normal, Champaign has its own fun perks and hidden gems!
I had the opportunity to live (okay, okay stay in a hotel) in Champaign for three long weeks. Originally, I wasn’t exactly looking forward to it. However, I found ways to keep myself busy and quickly learned that I had judged the cover of this book way too soon. Without further ado, here is a list of 10 things you should do if you ever get the privilege of visiting Champaign, IL (in no particular order).
1. Visit the University of Illinois campus!
Looking for some exercise? This campus feels rather large, as students zip by you on skateboard, bus and bike. If you're looking to get a run in, there are plenty of opportunities for you. Or maybe you just want to meet someone new? Talk to a stranger? You're in luck, the school has more than 45,000 students! There is always a show to see (put on by the theater department), a basketball or football game to attend, or something else that fits your interests. Click here for a list of campus events!
2. Be A Kid Again!
There is no way to relive your childhood more than visiting a pumpkin patch! Growing up it was a family tradition to visit Selmis, our local pumpkin patch, and measure our height that year, pick up a pumpkin, feed farm animals and sip on some apple cider. To our surprise, Curtis Orchard offered all that and more. Allie and I may have been the oldest ones there (without children) but that didn't stop us from munching on apple cider doughnuts and watching the hayride fly by.
3. Bring out your southern roots and indulge in some delicious barbecue!
Black Dog is the go-to barbecue place in Champaign, offering their most famous dish -- burnt ends (to die for). In my personal opinion their pulled pork is their specialty. The food is like none other and you can tell these pros know what they are doing. Each bite leaves you wanting more. Vegetarian friends, don't fret- they have an awesome portabella mushroom sandwich!
4. Take a picture inside (or outside) the Champaign public library!
Fun fact, when visiting a brand new town the best places to find things-to-do, maps or directories are 1) City Center 2) a visitor's center or 3) the town's public library! And you do not want to miss this library! It is so artistic and frankly massive! There was so much to offer if you love books, like me, and they even have a coffee shop indoors! I was blown away! (They also had a plethora of Colleen Hoover novels, which I am reading now! See my Books tab above for more info).
5. Daydream and soak in some sun at the Allerton Gardens (Monticello, IL)!
If you're lucky and visit on a weekend, you may even catch a wedding inside the Allerton mansion. These gardens were so beautiful and family-friendly. My sister and I had an amazing day smelling the different flowers, walking through the Asian garden's maze and peeking inside the windows of the mansion. I must warn you though, when approaching the big lake you need to bring bug spray! This is no joke! I got so bitten up and those buggers hurt like crazy. Unfortunately they were the reason Allie and I wrapped up our day quicker than anticipated. We now know for next time to bring some repellent!
6. Drive through the neighborhoods of Champaign and Monticello (35 minute drive) and pick out your future home!
Allie and I absolutely love house hunting and finding ideas of what we want for our future homes! The houses in this part of Illinois are STUNNING! Allie and I have concluded that we will live together until we find husbands of our own, ha! So figuring out what we like now will help us when we search for a home in the future. Our favorite houses were right outside of the Allerton Gardens :)
7. Order a stiff cocktail at Barrelhouse34
I'm not a huge drinker but I had the opportunity to meet up with an old high school buddy while staying in town and this is where he took me (I consider him a local now!) He ordered an old fashioned and I got some fruity cocktail. Regardless, they were both delicious and the decor of the bar was so cool! It almost looked like an old ship and the whole place is made out of wood. Only a few people know about this but upstairs the roof opens up to a rooftop bar, which is where we decided to get away from the noise and chat. Plus, the views of the city were amazing from that high up!
8. Wake up and smell the coffee at Aroma Cafe
You can visit all the Starbucks in the world but nothing will ever compare to a house brewed coffee at a local coffee shop. My go-to in Champaign was Aroma Cafe. The staff there were so nice and understanding. They quickly realized that I was not a morning person but was willing to chat with them after my first sip of their amazing coffee. The whole atmosphere of this place was exactly what you hope and dream a coffee shop will be. The music, hipster vibes and hustle and bustle made me feel like I could accomplish anything I set out to do for the day.
9. Nourish your body at the Dancing Dog!
I have no doubt in my mind that 2017 is going to be the year of health. Netflix's "Food Inc" is blowing up right now and people are becoming health-conscious of what they are putting into their bodies. That is why I love the Dancing Dog so dang much! This eatery is 100% vegan! How!? And what's even better, the food tastes phenomenal! I couldn't decide on just one thing so I ordered the Quinoa on a Bed Salad and a Pineapple Blueberry Love smoothie. Holy cow, both were mouthwatering good. But, don't let the word "vegan" scare you. I promise I could have tricked many of you with their deep dish pizza, fibbish and chips (fried fish-less filets) and Garlic Vicken (not chicken) sandwich! You can't even tell you're not eating the real thing. It's that good.
10. Act like a local and dine in at Maize
When you first visit Champaign and ask locals where to eat, you will be blown away with their responses. One place that will continously come up, without a doubt, is Maize. Maize is a family-run mexican restaurant and holy guacamole is it good! I highly recommend ordering some chips, tacos and calling it a day. Their whole menu is inexpensive, flavorful and fresh made-to-order. The family is so welcoming and while you may have a hard time finding a seat inside (they are always packed), I can guarantee that you do not want to miss out on what they have to offer!
So there you have it, these are just 10 things I had the opportunity to do while staying in Champaign, IL! I truly had an amazing time throughout my three weeks there and would love to return to explore some more! As far as a place to stay, I would highly suggest looking into the Residence Inn by Marriott Champaign. I mean, come on, could this room get any fancier? Plus they offered a full kitchen in case you wanted to do some cooking for yourself :)
Locals, what did I miss? What are some of your favorite things to do? Let me know in the comments section below!