Visit Kankakee Kankakee Illinois and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Discover the small but charming town of Kankakee in Illinois! Experience the historic city centre, attractions such as the Kankakee County Museum and the I&M Canal Visitor Center. Enjoy nature at Kankakee River or at Kankakee State Park. Eat yourself through local specialties, such as traditional pizza and hot dog specialties. Kankakee offers an interesting mix of history, nature and regional culture!
Travellers from all over the world appreciate Kankakee's sights due to their unexpected mix of rustic charm and sublime city notes. I have to admit that I have never really understood why the city is so proud of its town hall founded in 1853 – until I saw the creeping wooden beams and the faded photos of the railway era itself. Kankakee, the heart of the same-named township and the county, was once a hub for the Illinois Central Railroad, and that's what you can feel today when you get to the south by train from Chicago via the Amtrak route and see the field from windows past a place that has more fields than high-rise buildings.
A walk through the old town feels like a time jump: the old brick buildings, which I like to name as “rossed pride pieces”, are located next to modern cafés, which serve surprisingly good Cold Brew. When you arrive by car, the I‐80 will take you directly to the centre, and the local buses (Kankakee Area Transit) will take you to the hidden places where locals spend their lunch break with a piece of “Kankakee-Kuchen” – a pastry that I personally consider overrated, but the atmosphere is really great.
What makes Kankakee so special is the way the township feeling radiates on the county side: you feel small and great at the same time. And yes, the Kankakee sights are not only museums and parks; they are the people who chat in the small shops, and the quiet noise of the Kankakee River, which reminds you that history is pulsating not only in books, but in everyday life.
The history of Kankakee begins long before the first highway, which cuts through the flat prairie – it lies deep in the heart of the Middle West, where the water of the Kankakee River has been shaping the landscape for centuries. I remember my first walk along the road Kankakee Riverwalk, a narrow but surprisingly charming promenade that winds through the city centre. The way is lined with old brick buildings that tell more stories than the city leaders ever want to admit, and parking is usually a Klacks, as long as you don't arrive on Friday night after the local football game – then the whole thing becomes a little adventure.
If you are Kankakee Attractions You can't leave the imposing Kankakee County Courthouse. The 1909 building is a parade example of Beaux-Arts architecture, and I must admit that when I saw the massive dome, I almost thought of a bad film classic – until I noticed the artistic stonework that suddenly made the whole look majestic. A short detour into the interior is worth it because the staircases are full of local engravings that remind you of the hard times of pioneering time, and the best thing: parking is right in front of the door when you are early enough there.
A few blocks further lies the Kankakee County Museum, which used to serve as a historical company house. I learned more about the Indian roots of the region than I had ever thought possible – especially the exhibition about the Potawatomi, which once lived here, really impressed me. The curators have a dry humour that makes the labels look almost like small jokes. Practical: The museum is located on Main Street, a short walk from the library, and parking is usually free as long as you don't come to the annual art exhibition.
The Kankakee Public Library is another jewel that I like to mention because it not only gives books, but also serves as a cultural meeting place. The building itself is a beautiful example of the 1930s architecture, and I took part in a Poetry-Slam where a local pensioner ran over his love for Cornflakes – no joke, that was real. If you're looking for a quiet place to read a book or just watch the quiet sum of the city, that's the right address. And yes, parking is a bit more tricky here, because the small city center is not just built for big cars.
For those who prefer water than paper, the Kankakee River is an indispensable spot. I drove kayaking there in the summer and was surprised how clear the water is when you paddle a bit further upstream. The flow is gentle enough for beginners, but strong enough to provide a bit of thrill – perfect if you really need a little adrenaline without going straight into the mountains. There are several public docks, and parking is usually directly on the shore, where you can easily park your car as long as you don't meet a group of Angles on weekends.
A relatively new star at the Kankakee sky is the Kankakee Brewing Company. I was skeptical because I did not understand the “Craft-Beer-Hype”, but the in-house IPA taught me better – it is not just a drink but a statement. The brewery is located in a converted warehouse, which used to be a grain store, and the ambience is a mixture of industrial charm and a loose bar atmosphere. If you want to go there, plan a bit of time because the queue on Friday night is almost as long as the history of the city itself. And yes, parking is a small parking lot behind the building, which is usually free as long as you do not come to the “Brew Festival” event.
Finally, I would like to mention the Kankakee County Fairgrounds, which hosts various fairs, Rodeos and the annual harvest festival all year round. I once saw a local chili-cook competition where a teenager surprised the jury with a secret ingredient – chocolate powder. The terrain is huge, so bring enough water when you are there in the summer and be ready to walk a bit because the parking lots are often on the edge. Nevertheless, it is a good place to feel the real, unsightly lives of people here.
The first place I'm always taxing is that Kankakee River State Parka piece of pristine wilderness just a few miles north of the actual city. There are more than just a few hiking trails – a 2.5-mile-pavement trail, which is perfect for a fast bike adventure, and a quiet lake where I once caught almost a fish because I was too busy photographing the sunset. Parking is usually a Klacks, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem, because then the families move with caravans. I have the feeling that nature is almost too friendly here until you hear the mosquitoes in the dawn that give you the feeling that you are in the real Middle West.
A few hours further, towards the north, this is Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. I don't quite understand the hype around Bisonherden, but the huge open grassland has something meditative that leaves me every time as if I swallowed a piece of old America. The visitor centre complex is modern, but the actual paths lead you in the middle of 19,000 hectares of reforestation – a place where the grass rust is louder than the sum of the city. Practical: The toilets are clean, and parking is free as long as you are not on the high season with school classes.
If you're looking for a little town that has more charm than a shopping mall, look at that. Momence Historic District on. The old railway bridge spanning over the Kankakee River is a popular photo motif, and the small boutiques along Main Street sell handmade ceramics that I once bought for a friend – he never used them because he thought they were too expensive, but I think this is a real treasure. Parking at the town hall is free, but on market days you have to count on some extra cars.
The Kankakee River Trail connects all these places to an almost endless loop of asphalt and nature. I've already tried it out in rain and in the heat of scorching; The special thing is that you can stop at any time at a picnic place and watch the river while a few Canadians throw out their fishing. The trail is well signposted, and the bicycle rental system in Kankakee leaves you almost everywhere – a small luxury that you should not underestimate.
A short trip from the trail leads you to Kankakee River Marinawhere you can rent a kayak and test the rapids of the river. I remember a day when I tried to master the rapids with a friend, just to find that we both looked more like wet ducks. The dock has enough parking space, but when you arrive at the weekend, you have to adjust to a bit of patience – the boathouse is a magnet for families.
Finally, if you want to experience the real “Kankakee-Feeling”, visit the Kankakee County Fairgrounds during the annual fair in August. The mix of rides, local food stands and a small exhibition about the history of the region is a bit cheesy, but that's what makes the charm. I tried a piece of corn bread there that was better than anything I ever had in town. Parking is free as long as you don't arrive too late in the evening, the field will be filled quickly.
Whether you're looking for nature, history, or a little rural flair – Kankakee's environment has more to offer than you would suspect at first sight. My personal highlights show that Kankakee Attractions not only are a name on a map, but experiences that should be discovered with an eye-catcher and a portion of curiosity.
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