North Utica is a sleepy river town along the Illinois-Michigan canal and nearby Illinois River that will appeal to antique, wine, and nature lovers.

Visitors will find wineries and wine shops, antique stores, flea markets, rustic furniture and collectibles shops, and a pottery studio.

You can learn about the town’s history at the LaSalle County Historical Museum, and dine at popular eateries like Cajun Connection and Canal Port Bar & Grill.

Grand Bear Resort has inexpensive day passes to their 24,000-foot indoor waterpark, as well as a restaurant, sports bar, and sweet shop.

Four nearby state parks provide outdoor recreational opportunities.

Milwaukee (1 hour 35 minutes) Holland, Michigan (2 hours 30 minutes) Kettle Moraine State Forest (2 hours 40 minutes) Lake Geneva (1 hour 40 minutes) Naperville (40 minutes) Village of Oak Park (15 minutes) Six Flags Great America (1 hour) North Utica (1 hour 45 minutes) Chicago Botanic Garden (35 minutes) Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (1 hour) Old State Capitol State Historic Site (3 hours) Apple River Canyon State Park (2 hours 30 minutes) Starved Rock State Park (1 hour 35 min) Brookfield Zoo (25 minutes) Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (3 hours) Anderson Japanese Gardens (1 hour 40 minutes) The Morton Arboretum (35 minutes) Cantigny Park (40 minutes) Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio (20 minutes) Huron-Manistee National Forests (4 hours) Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens (2 hours) Oglesby (1 hour 40 minutes) White River State Park (3 hours) Peoria (2 hours 40 minutes)

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