Top 5 Cities to Visit in Illinois and Wisconsin

Yes, Illinois gets a really bad rap sometimes. That doesn't mean we don't have incredible cities to visit! And no, I'm not talking about only Chicago.

After living in Rockford my entire life, I have my fair share of mini road trips throughout the Midwest, specifically Illinois and Wisconsin. Here are my top 5 favorite cities to visit if I need a quick getaway near Rockford.

These are all based on my own experiences, so feel free to make your own list, too!

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Here Are the Top 5 Cities I Actually Love Visiting In Illinois & Wisconsin

5. Forest Park, Illinois

To be completely honest, I love small Chicago suburbs and Forest Park happens to be where I have family. It's a really cute town with a downtown that's walking distant from most of the neighborhoods.

4. Schaumburg, Illinois

Sounds like a wasteful spot, but hear me out. Everything you could possibly want is in Schaumburg; entertainment, night life, abundance of restaurants, etc. I love getting boba tea at Umbrella tea when I'm visiting!

3. Baraboo, Wisconsin

Hiking is one of my top hobbies, so finding a really good hiking spot it important when you're trying to connect with nature. Devil's Lake State Park is on my top 2 list of best hiking spots to see.

2. Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I spend more time in Milwaukee than Rockford if I'm being honest! So much nightlife to explore, it's a different energy and crowd than Rockford, and I love all the different kinds of bar they have.

1. Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

This has to be the safest city in Wisconsin. It's such a beautiful town with a beach, luxury homes, and unique boat rides you didn't know existed. I envy anyone who got to grow up there!

If you're wondering why I don't move to any of these places, it's because I don't want it to become the norm. I love the mini trips to visit, but always have my homebase in Rockford.