Cheap flights to Illinois from £186

Sitting along the banks of the Mississippi River and Lake Michigan, Illinois’s accessible location has for centuries made it an important hub. Historically emigrants from Mexico, Ireland and Poland would make the long journey over in search of work and a new home. Abraham Lincoln was among those who called Illinois home and the state honoured him by naming the small city of Lincoln after him – beforehe became president.

Most travellers booking flights to Illinois would probably pick Chicago as their city of choice for its renowned restaurant scene and shopping but there’s so much more to see in including 6,900 kilometres of shoreline and more than 50 state parks, making it one of the most scenic states in the US.

Illinois climate

Illinois’s winters are very cold and long with snow and icy winds from late November through to April. Summers, especially July and August, the weather tends to be hot and humid. The best times to visit is when the weather is perfect, in spring and autumn; tornado season can occur anytime between the months of March and May. Chicago’s summers are humid with highs of 30 degrees (Celsius) or more and its winters are bitterly cold.

Getting around Illinois

Public transportation is reliable and taxis are easy to find. Driving is not recommended because of heavy traffic and parking is almost impossible to find. The El, a system operated by The Chicago Transit Authority consists of elevated trains running 24 hours a day. During the summer rush hour a River Bus is available.

What is good to know if travelling to Illinois?

• Chicago has a wealth of things to see and do. The best view of the city can be found at 1,450 feet from the top of North America’s tallest building – the Sears Tower. Head to the 103^rd floor to the Skydeck where you can see the entire city laid out.  The Hancock Building is also well worth a visit and offers stunning city views from its observation deck or cocktail bar.
• Don’t miss a trip to the Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford. Set on twelve acres the gardens are adorned with Japanese maples, magnolias, and rhododendrons and have several ponds and waterfalls with Japanese bronze structures surrounding them. There’s also an authentic tea house and contemporary “Garden of Reflection”.  
• Visit the preserved Frank Lloyd Wright Museum on Chicago Avenue in Oak Park where the famed architect spent 20 years of his career and designed 130 of his masterpieces.  Wright lived here until 1909.
• One of the most visited attractions in Chicago is the Art Institute of Chicago. Art lovers – well any visitor – shouldn’t miss a trip to the museum, it’s remarkable. The gargantuan building houses more than 250,000 works of art from all over the world including ancient Egyptian, Japanese, Korean, Greek and Roman relics. One of its highlights is the anthology of Impressionist art which has an impressive collection by Monet, Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse to name a few.
• Anyone interested in the lives of the Amish people should head to central Illinois where a welcoming group of Amish villages are set up. Take a tour of the community in the Illinois Amish Interpretative Centre in Arcola, visit a working farm and watch how supper is prepared and enjoyed in a family home.