Midwest Getaway: Champaign, Illinois
Last Updated on July 23, 2015 by Jody Halsted
Though Chicago often gets the glory when it comes to Illinois tourism, it's not the only place worth visiting.
My girls & I spent a few fun days in Champaign, Illinois – and found a perfect family getaway filled with outdoor activities, terrific food, interesting history, and a completely magical English Garden.

Family Fun in Illinois: 7 Reasons to Visit Champaign County
Published by Minitime
The central cities of Champaign-Urbana, or Chambana, as the locals call it, are a funky mix of Midwestern values and hip urban life. Filled with cultural and educational opportunities, wonderful parklands, and fresh, delicious food, you’ll be planning your return visit before you leave!
Soda-licious. You don’t have to be a soda drinker – in fact, it may be better if you’re not – to thoroughly enjoy a visit to the Homer Soda Company. The historic building on Main Street in Homer (population 1000) has gained cult status in the soda world, carrying small batch local sodas from across the country, as well as those vintage sodas you used to love. All sodas are bottled in glass and most are made with real sugar, not corn syrup. Tip: Plan your visit to Champaign County to coincide with the Homer Soda Festival. This one-day bash brings thousands of soda lovers from across the country (and other parts of the globe) to tiny Homer for a day of soda tasting, great food, music and fun.