Quick Summary:

  • Question: What makes Champaign, Illinois an appealing destination?
  • Answer: Champaign is a small, friendly town in Illinois with an array of attractions and activities, great shopping, excellent restaurants, casual cafés, and gracious hospitality.
  • Question: What kinds of attractions can visitors find in Champaign County?
  • Answer: Champaign County offers arboretums, breweries, wineries, nature centers, museums, art galleries, coffee shops, and a planetarium.
  • Question: What are some specific activities to enjoy in Champaign?
  • Answer: Taste award-winning wines at the Alto Vineyards and Winery, sip freshly roasted coffee at BrewLab Coffee, take in a stargazing show at the William M. Staerkel Planetarium, and soak up fine art at the Krannert Art Museum.


  • Updated with new information since originally published.
  • Please support our journalism through affiliate links. Affiliate Disclosure
  • Our editors recommend these diverse local experiences.

1. Anita Purves Nature Center ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Category: Activities
Anita Purves Nature Center | Things to Do in Champaign, Illinois
© Anita Purves Nature Center

2. Blue Waters Supercomputer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Blue Waters Supercomputer | Things to Do in Champaign, Illinois
© Courtesy of mim - Fotolia.com

3. Champaign County History Museum at the Historic Cattle Bank

Category: Attractions
Champaign County History Museum at the Historic Cattle Bank | Things to Do in Champaign, Illinois
© Champaign County History Museum at the Historic Cattle Bank

4. Urbana Park District Park System

Category: Activities
Urbana Park District Park System | Things to Do in Champaign, Illinois
© Courtesy of Knim Adobe Stock - Fotolia.com

5. Japan House

Japan House | Things to Do in Champaign, Illinois
© Japan House

6. Krannert Art Museum

Category: Museums & Culture
Krannert Art Museum | Things to Do in Champaign, Illinois
© Krannert Art Museum

7. Spurlock Museum

Category: Museums & Culture
Spurlock Museum | Things to Do in Champaign, Illinois
© Spurlock Museum

8. Staerkel Planetarium

Category: Kids & Family
Staerkel Planetarium | Things to Do in Champaign, Illinois
© Staerkel Planetarium

9. The Sousa Archives Center for American Music

Category: Entertainment
The Sousa Archives Center for American Music | Things to Do in Champaign, Illinois
© Courtesy of yarohork - Fotolia.com

10. University of Illinois Arboretum

Category: Activities
University of Illinois Arboretum | Things to Do in Champaign, Illinois
© Courtesy of Dmitry V. Petrenko - Fotolia.com

11. University of Illinois Morrow Plots

University of Illinois Morrow Plots | Things to Do in Champaign, Illinois
© Courtesy of bigy9950 - Fotolia.com

12. Alto Vineyards and Winery

Category: Food & Drink
Alto Vineyards and Winery | Things to Do in Champaign, Illinois
© Courtesy of Kristen - Fotolia.com

13. BrewLab Coffee

Category: Food & Drink
BrewLab Coffee | Things to Do in Champaign, Illinois
© BrewLab Coffee

14. University of Illinois Ice Arena

University of Illinois Ice Arena | Things to Do in Champaign, Illinois
© University of Illinois Ice Arena

15. The Virginia Theatre

Category: Entertainment
The Virginia Theatre | Things to Do in Champaign, Illinois
© The Virginia Theatre

16. State Farm Center

Category: Activities
State Farm Center | Things to Do in Champaign, Illinois
© State Farm Center

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