Whether you love to garden or just appreciate the beauty of various flora from around the globe, Luthy Botanical Garden is the spot for you. Amazingly, this stunning 5 acre botanical garden is free to the public!

N. Prospect Rd. in the beautifully quaint village of Peoria Heights, where André and Skye reside, is the cutest area to walk around, shop, and eat, featured in the night shoot of their engagement photos! Some of our favorite restaurants and bars in the area include Brienzo’s, Jim’s, Joe’s, Slowhand BBQ, and The 33 Room. (Look for the under the table menu!)

The “world’s most beautiful drive,” as President Theodore Roosevelt referred to it in a visit to Peoria in 1910, offers visitors numerous panoramic scenic views of the Illinois River Valley and the chance to view many historic and remarkable homes lining it.

Wildlife Prairie Park has been referred to as a jewel in the North American Midwest. Located just West of Peoria, they have also been listed as a top 10 destination to visit in Illinois. You can enjoy the Park’s spectacular natural landscapes, natural wildlife viewing, biking trails, fishing ponds, disc golf courses, and much more. There is something for everyone at Wildlife Prairie Park!

This isn’t your average museum! Your visit begins with a virtual ride in the bed of a massive two-and-a-half story Cat 797F Mining Truck. Learn how Caterpillar’s story began as two companies came together to build Caterpillar on the foundation of innovation and customer focus. Unleash your inner engineer as you design your very own Cat machine. Test your skills on a simulator to see first-hand what it’s like to operate equipment the way operators do, and no visit is complete without climbing in a track-type tractor.

Peoria Riverfront Museum features international exhibitions, the Dome Planetarium, RealD Giant Screen Theater, art & natural history collections, and interactive galleries - including IHSA Peak Performance, Illinois River Experience, Discovery Worlds & The Street local history.

Starved Rock State Park is characterized by the many canyons within its 2,630 acres. Located just southeast of the village of Utica, in Deer Park Township, LaSalle County, Illinois, along the south bank of the Illinois River, the park hosts over two million visitors annually, the most for any Illinois state park.

The oldest and largest park district in Illinois, the Peoria Park District encompasses nearly 60 square miles. With access to the great outdoors through their parks system and nature centers, they host more than 50 miles of hiking and biking trails in and around Peoria. A variety of events and facilities throughout the community will keep you engaged and active. Glen Oak Park is home to Peoria Zoo, Peoria PlayHouse Children’s Museum and Luthy Botanical Garden. Throughout the District, they host all kinds of sports including softball, soccer, volleyball, tennis, pickleball, and more while Owens Center offers ice skating year-round! Annually, hundreds of concerts, festivals and special events are featured on the Peoria RiverFront and in the parks, in addition to fun activities at Franciscan, Lakeview, Logan and Proctor Recreation Centers.

Peoria is home to ample beautiful public golf courses.

Peoria is home of the Ledgestone Open Pro Disc Golf Tournament. Ranked as the 32nd best disc golf destination in Illinois, Peoria has 3 courses with 76 courses in the surrounding area.

If you’re flying in or out of Chicago, we highly recommend scheduling some time to spend in the Windy City! After visiting, you’ll understand why we claim it to be the best big city America has to offer! Feel free to reach out for further recommendations.