I actually do need answer fast. Taking Amtrak from Chicago to Springfield on Thursday for 2 days. Will not have a car. I picked State House Inn since it seems walkable from the Amtrak station.
We plan to see mainly the Lincoln and history stuff. Anything else that should be considered? We can use Uber if there’s something that’s nearby but not in walking distance.
The Dana-Thomas Home. One of Frank Lloyd Wright’s best, restored in part with your state tax dollars.
Yeah, other than the Dana-Thomas, the capitol(s) and all the Lincoln stuff, there really isn’t too much to Springfield. (Well, you COULD check out the Simpson’s house!) Like many state capitols, Springfield is centrally located, but has little else to recommend it. 2 days is plenty.
It’s a hell of a town:
The schoolyard’s up and the shopping mall’s down.
The stray dogs go to the animal pound.
Yeah, pretty much. If you run out of things to do, there’s also the Illinois State Museum in downtown Springfield, but it’s not up to the level of Chicago’s museums.
If you had a car, I’d suggest a visit out to New Salem; but that’s about half an hour’s drive away.
Just stay away from Shelbyville. Bunch of onion-wearing posers.
Springfield is a Route 66 town, if you’re into that. The only place on that list I’m familiar with is the Cozy Dog - no longer in its original location but worth a visit, in my opinion.
Too funny, I used to work on Adams street in Chicago and would often visit the Art Institute before work so I’d walk down the beginning of Route 66
Most of the destinations are within walking distance. The one thing you’ll want a car for (or maybe a tour bus) is a trip to the cemetery on the northern side of town, where Lincoln is buried.
You could easily spend your entire trip inside the Lincoln museum, so budget your time.
And they stole our lemon tree!
I was just in Springfield and this sounds right. We scheduled a day for Lincoln stuff and that was more than enough to see the Lincoln tomb, museum and home. We probably could have found something to do for another day but it would have been stretching it.
Once you get a couple blocks out of the downtown Lincoln-stuff area, things start looking run down pretty fast and there’s not much to see or do.
The Cozy Dog is good. I also like the Old Luxemburg Inn, if you’re in the market for dinner. Or the Chesapeake Seafood House, despite the geographically suspicious name…not cheap but the food’s tasty.
Make sure you leave plenty of time for the Lincoln museum…sounds like you will, but it’s definitely “worth a journey.”
Small word. some 15 yrs at 200 W for me.
Oh - and I’ve never had it, but the Chicago papers often refer to some gastronomic nightmare called the Horseshoe as a Springfield must-eat.
Gonna disagree on all three points here. The Cozy Dog is overrated, and that’s putting it charitably. The Old Luxembourg Inn is in a terrible neighborhood and the food is meh. The food at Chesapeake is equally meh. Go a hundred yards east and eat at Mario’s. Americanized “Italian” food that’s hideously cheap and indescribably delicious.
The Horseshoe is Springfield’s culinary gift to the world. Embrace it! Get one at D’Arcy’s Pint.
The Cozy Dog’s food isn’t worth going out of your way for, but the Route 66-themed decor/memorabilia is, if you’re into that kind of thing.
I’ve only been to Springfield once (for a half-marathon a few years ago), and missed out on a chance to have a horseshoe sandwich. I’m not sure it’s worth a trip just for the sandwich, but if I’m ever in Springfield again, I should try to get one.
My first job was with IDOT working out of Springfield. If you’re an American history buff, definitely worth the while. Of course there’s the Lincoln house and related stuff there. Don’t miss the Old State Capitol building and make sure you go to Lincoln’s Tomb. If you can go during the State Fair days that’s worth a day as well. Other than that, it’s a pretty sleepy little town.
I agree with the advice about the Lincoln stuff that you’ll be able to walk to.
We also did a walking tour that showed us some different things (such as his law office, church, and farewell speech location).
You can also walk to both the old and the new capitol buildings. The new one was recently refurbished, and is beautiful inside.
You’ll need a car for the trip to the Lincoln tomb. I’d recommend finding a way to get there; it was very somber. If you know about the Lincoln grave robbers, it’ll mean more.
I only had one horseshoe, at some joint called Lulu’s near the Lincoln house, and found it terribly overrated. I like my heaps o’ food, but I’m in no hurry to try another one of those.
If you visit the tomb, walk around back and down the hill to see the old tomb built into the hill