Peoria, IL

1. Peoria Riverfront Museum

The Peoria Riverfront Museum is an art and science museum located on SW Washington Street and one of the top Peoria attractions. In addition to the museum, there is a planetarium, a theater with a giant screen, and a sculpture museum. The museum’s permanent collection includes decorative arts, ethnographic arts, fine arts, folk art, natural science, and more. Other exhibits are temporary and include displays such as Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition and GENOME: Unlocking Life’s Codes.

The museum welcomes group tours and school field trips, and it rents out a Riverfront Museum Bus with a capacity of 28 people for those in need of transportation to and from the museum for tours and field trips.

222 SW Washington Street, Peoria, Illinois, Phone: 309-686-7000

2. George L. Luthy Memorial Botanical Garden

George L. Luthy Memorial Botanical Garden is a 4.5-acre garden and conservatory located on North Prospect Road in Glen Oak Park. Founded in 1951, the botanical garden contains a variety of separate gardens such as an all-season garden, herb garden, perennial garden, rose garden, and more.

There are many species of plants in the garden with an emphasis on annuals, herbs, hosta, perennials, and roses. The 2,500 square foot conservatory is home to orchids and other tropical plants as well as seasonal displays. George L. Luthy Memorial Botanical Garden is one of the best things to do in Peoria, Illinois.

2520 North Prospect Road, Peoria, Illinois, Phone: 309-681-3506

3. Caterpillar Visitors Center

The Caterpillar Visitors Center, located on SW Washington Street in Peoria, introduces visitors to the world of the Caterpillar Company and its history. Founded in 1886 when Benjamin Holt built his first combined harvester, the company has grown over the years to manufacture a large variety of various kinds of tractors and other farm implements, construction equipment, and bulldozers.

Caterpillar became known all over the world and helped with several projects such as widening the Panama Canal and helping with equipment needed for the Apollo 11 mission to the moon. Opened in 2012, the Caterpillar Visitors Center gives visitors an enthralling look at the company and its long history.

110 SW Washington Street, Peoria, Illinois, Phone: 309-675-0606

4. Peoria PlayHouse Children's Museum

Located in the Glen Oak Park Pavilion and adjacent to the Peoria Zoo on North Prospect Road, The Peoria Playhouse Children’s Museum inspires children to learn through fun activities.

It was built by the Junior League of Peoria and is open to all children regardless of background, income, or skills. The museum offers a variety of programs such as Tot Time, an hour-long program offered on Monday and Wednesday with read-alongs, scavenger hunts, and themed programs with topics like animals, colors, and shapes.

Other programs include Kid Workshops, Family Workshops, and Transformation Events. The museum can be rented for special events like birthday parties.

Peoria PlayHouse Children's Museum, 2218 North Prospect Road, Peoria, Illinois, Phone: 309-323-6900

5. Peoria Zoo

The Peoria Zoo , located on North Prospect Road, is owned and operated by the Peoria Park District. The zoo began in the late 1800s as Glen Oak Zoo when a herd of elk was donated to the Park District.

The zoo expanded several times over the years, and these expansions made it necessary for the zoo to relocate several times. Today, the zoo features exhibits such as the Africa Exhibit, which opened in 2009.

This exhibit is special because visitors can walk on boardwalks through an enclosure in order to see animals like gazelles, giraffes, rhinos, zebras, and more. Other exhibits include the Asian Trail and the Australia Walk-About.

2320 North Prospect Road, Peoria, Illinois, Phone: 309-686-3365

6. Dozer Park

Located on SW Jefferson Avenue in downtown Peoria, Dozer Park is a baseball field that is home of the Peoria Chiefs. Formerly known as O’Brien Field, the current name refers to Caterpillar Bulldozers, a company that helped fund the building of the park.

The park opened in 2002, and today it is also the home of the college baseball team of Bradley University. The park also features five concession stands and 20 luxury suites, including a double suite owned by Caterpillar for its VIP guests. The park offers tours for guests for company outings, family reunions, church groups, and more. The park is also available for corporate seminars, parties, and other special events.

730 SW Jefferson Avenue, Peoria, Illinois, Phone: 309-680-4000

7. Pettengill Morron House Museum

The Pettengill Morron House Museum was built in 1868 as a mansion and home for Moses Pettengill who came to Peoria in 1833. Featuring a Second Empire Style of architecture, the Pettengill Morron House Museum has 11 rooms, a 1900 colonial revival style porch, and a porte-cochere. Unlike many house museums, the Pettengill Morron House is filled with exhibits of items and artifacts that belonged to Moses Pettengill and his family. Visitors can take a tour of the home, hear about the Pettengill family and the interesting families who came to reside within the mansion after him, and explore what life was like during the late 1800s.

1212 W Moss Avenue, Peoria, Illinois 61606, Phone: 309-674-1921

8. Peoria Civic Center

Located on SW Jefferson Avenue, the Peoria Civic Center is a convention center that contains an arena, an exhibit hall, meeting rooms, and a theater. Built in 1982, the center was renovated in 2008 to expand the lobby and the meeting rooms. The Carver Arena is the home of several sports teams, including the Bradley University Braves men’s basketball team as well as the Peoria Rivermen Southern Professional Hockey League team.

There are over 108,000 square feet of space in the exhibit area that can be divided into four smaller spaces. The 2,244-seat theater hosts a variety of performances such as ballet productions, Broadway shows, and concerts by the Peoria Symphony Orchestra.

201 SW Jefferson Avenue, Peoria, Illinois, Phone: 309-673-8900

9. thirty-thirty Coffee Co.

thirty-thirty Coffee Co. is a locally owned coffee shop in Peoria. It prides itself on its high quality roasted and brewed coffee as well as its excellent service. The name derives from the fact that most gourmet coffee is grown between 30 degrees north and 30 degrees south of the Earth’s equator.

Some of the special coffees offered by thirty-thirty Coffee Co. include Snuggle Bear Espresso, a blend of Costa Rican and Guatemalan beans, Costa Rica Don Sabino, and Costa Rica Zapotal. Blends from Ethiopia include Ethiopia Beriti and Ethiopia Kochere.

734 Main St, Peoria, IL 61602

10. Forest Park Nature Center

Located on North Forest Park Drive, Forest Park Nature Center is a 540-acre nature center and preserve sitting along the bluffs of the Illinois River. The center features seven miles of hiking trails that meander through a variety of landscapes, including forested woodlands and open prairie land.

Visitors can learn about the area at the natural history museum and see some of the amazing wildlife from the bird observation room. There is also a Trailhead Nature Store that sells books and other items related to nature. The center hosts a variety of educational programs and musical events.

5809 North Forest Park Drive, Peoria Heights, IL 61614, 309-686-3360