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Photo Credits: Allerton: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Black Hawk: Black Hawk State Historic Site. Shell gift cards available while supplies last. Card cannot be redeemed for cash. Shell Oil Products US is not a sponsor or cosponsor of this promotion. One per household. Gift Card mailed upon completion of trip. |
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Wrigley Field is one of the oldest ballparks in the country, built back in 1914. Home to the Chicago Cubs, the park was named for chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr. after he purchased the baseball team in 1926. Wrigley Field is distinguished today by its ivy-covered walls and charming old scoreboard that is still operated manually. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the Cubs clubhouse, dugouts, press box and mezzanine suites during tours that are scheduled throughout the season.
The beautiful Baha'i House of Worship in Wilmette is one of only seven Baha'i temples in the world. This elaborate temple features a huge dome with exquisite lace-like ornamentation, surrounded by nine pillars bearing intricate symbols that represent the world's major religions. Guests of all faiths are welcome to pray and meditate here. Visitors can also spend time in the lavish gardens, which boast nine fountains. The Baha'i House of Worship is open every day of the year.
Breathtaking bluffs, lush forests, sparkling waterfalls and majestic canyons are the hallmarks of Starved Rock State Park. And 13 miles of well-marked trails help visitors enjoy them all. Hikers will marvel at the 18 canyons that slice dramatically through sandstone bluffs, as well as spectacular rock formations created more than 425 million years ago. The outdoor adventure continues with fishing, boating, horseback riding and camping. The Starved Rock Lodge offers narrated trolley tours of the area. 
Donated to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1946 by Robert Allerton, son of a wealthy Illinois farmer, the 1,500-acre Allerton Park estate is surrounded by a magnificent forest, exquisitely manicured formal gardens, and more than 100 unique sculptures and garden ornaments commissioned by Allerton and brought back from his travels around the world. Allerton Park is open to the public for hiking, bird watching, picnicking, cross-country skiing and leisurely strolls through its lovely gardens. The Allerton mansion is used as a retreat for visitors from around the world.
Black Hawk State Historic Site pays homage to the Sauk and Fox Indian tribes that occupied the area some 12,000 years ago. The Hauberg Indian Museum showcases tribal artifacts, including famed warrior Black Hawk's own tomahawk. The site features 200 acres of rolling wooded hills, where nature lovers can hike trails or picnic near the scenic Rock River. While at the site, visitors can also explore the Singing Bird Nature Center, Dickson Pioneer Cemetery and an abandoned coal mine.
Rend Lake is one of Southern Illinois' premier vacation spots, offering an endless array of outdoor activities. Visitors can enjoy golfing, hunting, fishing, boating, water skiing, horseback riding, hiking, biking, swimming or just relaxing on the beach. Also on site is the Southern Illinois Art & Artisans Center, where the works of more than 850 Illinois artists are displayed and sold. Windows Restaurant at the Rend Lake Resort and Conference Center offers fine regional cuisine with a lovely waterfront view. 
The Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway offers miles of majestic vistas with soaring limestone bluffs, native wildlife and quaint towns that lead to the confluence of the Mississippi, Illinois and Missouri rivers. Drive the scenic stretch along Route 100, between the river towns of Alton and Grafton. Or hop on the Sam Vadalabene Bike Trail, a 20-mile paved path that rides along the Mighty Mississippi and ends at Pere Marquette State Park (the largest state park in Illinois).