Knocking it Out of the Park in Peoria

As you get into downtown Peoria, head down to the Peoria Riverfront and enjoy sightseeing along the Illinois River. Take in the Peoria skyline and the natural hillsides of the river valley before starting your adventure.

Next, take a short drive to First Ascent Peoria where your family trip is about to be taken to new heights. People of all ages can have fun at First Ascent: whether you’re new to indoor rock climbing or a seasoned climber, First Ascent is accommodating to everyone.

Peoria’s downtown and lively waterfront are begging for exploration. Start your day with World on Wheels Segway Tours where the family can discover downtown Peoria in a whole new way. You can ride along the beautiful riverfront through the bustling heart of downtown into the warehouse district, with its grand, multi-story brick buildings that have been converted into loft apartments, shops and restaurants.

After your morning of discovery, check out Kelleher’s Irish Pub and Eatery. Kelleher’s is located on Peoria’s historic downtown riverfront and is situated in one of its oldest warehouses. At Kelleher’s, they offer traditional Irish fare as well as American-style pub food. Along with their food, they offer 20 micro or import drafts and 90 different bottled beers.

After lunch, head up to the Peoria Zoo where more than 100 species of animals from around the world call home. The AFRICA! exhibit is an interpretation of the Zambezi River offering an invisible barrier view of six different species in their authentic habitat and an Australian exhibit where you can get up close and personal with the Wallabies and Emus.

Didn’t get your fill of amazing wildlife at the Peoria Zoo? Spend the rest of the day and night at Wildlife Prairie Park which is located in Hanna City, where you can be immersed in Illinois’ native wildlife. Nearly all of the species featured in the park once roamed the Illinois plains. You can stand within ten yards of a black bear and have the once-in-a-lifetime chance of feeding a bison named Big Mike. Once you’ve finished exploring the park in the daylight, head back to one of the amazing lodging options like the Luxury Cabin or stay in a renovated Santa Fe Train Caboose. On the edge of the Bison and Elk Range, the cabooses are complete with all the amenities you could expect from any hotel room. They also offer cabins and restored grain bins. When you spend the night at Wildlife Prairie Park, you have full access to the park to fish, hike and discover the natural wildlife and plants.