Check out the top 5 largest cities to visit if you’re planning a trip to Illinois…
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the whole of Illinois! It covers 60,000 hectares of land and has a population of 2.81 million, as recorded in 2021. You’ll often hear Chicago being referred to as ”The Windy City” and if you visit you’ll soon find out why. It’s located along the shores of Lake Michigan which is the second largest lake (in volume) in North America. So expect some lake breeze! Chicago is well-known for its stunning architecture, world-famous museums, vibrant art scene and lively nightlife. So, it’s no surprise that it attracts over 50 million visitors each year. The most popular attractions include the Art Institute of Chicago, Millennium Park, Navy Pier, Museum of Science and Industry and Willis Tower SkyDeck. And there is so much more!
Aurora
Aurora is the second-largest city in Illinois and is located in Kane County. It is also the second-most populous city in the state and is home to 200,000+ as recorded in 2021. You may also hear this city referred to as ”The City of Lights”, it’s earned this name because of the abundance of electric street lights that light up the city during the dark hours. It was the first in the nation to install these electric lights and acted as an inspiration to many! It’s about 35 miles away from Chicago so you can easily visit both during your stay in Illinois. The top-rated things to do in Aurora include Cherry Creek Stake Park, Aurora Reservoir, Stanley Marketplace and Southlands.
Naperville
Naperville is the third-largest city in Illinois and covers around 102,00 hectares of land. The population was recorded as 148,901 in 2021 but the town residents are growing rapidly as more people discover what a peaceful and charming place this city is. It’s just over 30 minutes by train from Chicago and is a short and pleasant journey with picturesque views. Or a 28-mile drive if you prefer! Despite continuously growing in popularity, it maintains its small-town atmosphere and charm. The most popular places to visit include Naperville Riverwalk, Cantigny Park, Naper Settlement, Centennial Beach, Herrick Lake Forest Preserve, Wentz Concert Hall. But you be surprised by the many hidden gems that this small town has to offer!
Joliet
Joliet is located in the Will and Kendall counties. The population was recorded as 148,867 in 2021 and it covers 169.3 km in area. It is centred around the Des Plaines River but expands to several other waterways including Michigan Canal and Spring Creek. It’s most well-known for its abundance of beautiful lakes! The most popular include Leisure Lake, Walzer Lake, Whalon Lake, Rock Run Rookery, Lake Chaminwood and Herrick Lake Forest Reservoir.
You may often still hear Joliet be referred to as ”Stone City”, this is because of the limestone found here which is used throughout Midwest. You will find many popular tourists attractions in this city. Such as Rialto Square Theatre Duchess Chandelier, Chicagoland Speedway, Joliet Prison, Harrah’s Joliet Casino, Joliet Art Historical Museum.
