A beloved Chicago music venue offering cold beer and lots of “Friendly."

A display of magnificent stained glass windows is the first exhibit of its kind.

A Bibliophile's Dream.

Even with its slightly risible name this colossal cross is still able to inspire awe.

The lowest point in the state of Illinois, at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers.

In the Shawnee National Forest, amazing rock formations peer through the treeline.

Known as the "Cross At The Crossroads," this massive metal cross is just short enough to avoid the FAA.

The hometown of Popeye's creator is littered with a growing collection of granite cartoon characters.

In the loving memory of a tragically deceased role-player this Illinois park is decked out with both dungeons and dragons.

Oversized statues are just the tip of this nostalgic Americana roadside attraction.

Once called the "Polish Gold Coast" it is an icon of the neighborhood that bears its same name.

You have to love a museum with a truly dedicated focus. A focus on Superman, for example.

The mysterious white squirrels of this Illinois city are treated like sacred cows.

The beloved home to all publications indie, erotic, and punky.

Once one of the world's great cities, Cahokia was a place of religious worship, trade and mass human sacrifice before being mysteriously abandoned.

River pirates, murderous bandits, and serial killers used this Illinois cave as their debauched hideout.

The twin towers in this Chicago fountain use 50 foot tall video screens to spit on people.

A once-booming Mississippi River town with a history of racial violence is now eerie and mostly abandoned.

A lush green oasis in the middle of Chicago.

A speakeasy takes on Chicago's drinking culture.

Four glass boxes hover over 1,000 feet in the air to give visitors an unparalleled view of Chicago.

This whimsical Oz-themed park had a wonderful impact on the surrounding neighborhood.

This collection of Japanese luck idols beckons visitors with over 2,000 waving paws.

Where beautiful signs live on forever.