What makes Bourbonnais sights so special is the unique mix of ancient railway history and modern suburban flair, which surprises me every time I stroll through the main road after a long working day. I have always wondered why this small corner of Illinois – officially Bourbonnais Township in Kankakee County – does not appear more often in guides, although it has been an important hub for the Chicago St since the 1850s. Louis-Railroad was. The old warehouses, which have been converted into trendy cafes today, still have the aroma of coal and sweat that you hardly find in the city.
A short trip with the Metra from Chicago to Kankakee lets me land in a few minutes in this quiet oasis; the car is of course always an option, because the I‐80 cuts the township practically in the middle and makes it easy to drive on and off. I enjoy smelling the air that lies somewhere between cornfield and freshly mowed lawn after leaving the train – a fragrance that you only get here.
The people here are as diverse as the landscape: farmers who proudly present their harvest, and young families who let their children die in the nearby Kankakee River State Park. I have to admit that I don't fully understand the hype about the annual County Fair, but the colorful driving and the self-made cheeses are a real pleasure if you let yourself in. And while I'm sitting here, I'll figure out which other Bourbonnais sights I could still discover if I'm going back next time.
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One might think that the true heart of Bourbonnais lies in the dusty field roads, but the real treasures hide a good piece outside the city boundaries – and that's also good, because here you get the real middle-land feeling without a tourist car crashing the idyll.
A short trip after Kankakee River State Park is almost a must. I remember the day I explored the narrow paths along the river with my old mountain bike; the water glittered like it just decided not to stink. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the families with picnic baskets and loud children flood the field.
Only half an hour further Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, a huge piece of untamed green, which lays like a green carpet over the landscape. I made a picnic there, while a bite in the distance barely took – no joke, the animal was actually there, and I was wondering why I didn't go to nature more often than hosing in the office. The visitor center is small, but informative, and the trail network is so well marked that even I, who usually chooses the wrong way, did not lose.
A bit further south, almost on the edge of the city, this is Kankakee County Museum. The building itself is a relic from the 1900s, and the exhibitions give you the feeling of stumbling through the history of the Middle West. I saw an old tractor display there that reminded me of the days when my grandpa went over the fields with a real diesel – a little nostalgic, a bit dusty, but definitely worth a visit.
If you are already on the topic of history, you can Historic Kankakee County Courthouse do not leave. The imposing brick building thrones over the main road and acts as if it had survived the time to tell us that justice is still a bit dusty. I took a lead there with a local guide who had more anecdotes about local politicians than a politician himself about his successes.
A little further east, almost on the border to Indiana, this is Illinois Railway Museum in Union. This is the largest railway museum in the United States, and I have seen more locomotives there than I can count throughout my life. The sound of the steaming machines is almost hypnotic, and the museum lets you immerse yourself in the golden era of the railway for a few hours – a real treat for anyone interested in technical history.
For those who prefer to travel by bike, the Kankakee River Trail an endlessly shining path that swells along the river. I once experienced a sunrise that turned the water into an orange band, and that was one of those moments where one thinks that life could not be better – until one stumbles over a surrounding umbrella and almost loses the balance.
A short detour to Kankakee County Fairgrounds offers the whole spectrum of the fair-market-Bis‐Kultur-Festival. I visited the annual harvest festival where local farmers presented their best pumpkins and a choir from seniors sang a little crooked “Amazing Grace”. It is not exactly a Michelin star experience, but the authenticity is almost tangible.
So, the next time you spend your time in the area, forget about the usual city tours and explore the surroundings – from the vast precincts to historical museums to quiet river promenades. These Bourbonnais Sights show that the true charm potential lies not in the lively streets, but in the quiet corners that are only waiting to be discovered.
This guide invites you to stroll with me through the rather inconspicuous but surprisingly charming Bourbonnais – yes, just the town you would easily overlook if you don’t happen to cross Highway 1 and suddenly discover a sign with a small but proud “Bourbonnais”.
I have to admit that my personal favorite spot Bourbonnais Historical Museum is. Hardly one place connects the dusty history of the railway with the scurry anecdotes of the early settlers as impressive as this tiny museum in a former depot building. I remember the day I was standing there looking at an old photo of a steam locomotive and suddenly heard the sound of a distant pipe – that was probably just my head, but the atmosphere was really great. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the local antiquities-Flohmarkt event will begin.
A short walk further (approximately five minutes if you don't think about the next coffee shop) The St. Mary’s Catholic Church. The gothic façade is a real eye-catcher, and the interior has this almost cheesy but somehow honest beauty that you rarely find in modern churches. I once participated in a Sunday fair – no joke, the community is so warm that I almost felt I was part of a family celebration, not just a tourist with a camera.
If you are looking for a place where you can find some rest and at the same time feel like not being completely out of the world, then the Bourbonnais Community Park That's right. The lake there is small, but in the summer a few ducks swim, and the children run around the play equipment while the parents sit on the benches and complain about the weather – a classic picture I love to watch every time. I once made a picnic with friends there, and we argued about whether the grill station is really clean – Spoiler: She's not, but that makes the whole thing more authentic.
Another highlight I don't want to conceal is that Bourbonnais Golf. Yes, I know, golf is not everyone's thing, but the 18-hole facility is embedded in gentle hills that immerse in a bright color play in autumn. I once tried to hit a birdie and instead landed in the bunker – a real learning moment that showed me that patience and a good handicap are more important than the ego.
For those looking for a little more “travel feeling” there is the Bourbonnais Train Station, a small Amtrak stop, which is more than just a place to get on and off. The old brick architecture reminds of the golden days of the railroad, and if you're lucky, you'll catch a train that just hits through the valley while you're sneaking a coffee from the nearby diner. I once met a stranger who told me that he arrived here from nostalgia founders every year in June – I then recommended him my favorite place in the museum because I thought that was a good start to talk.
Of course you can Bourbonnais Public Library not only books, but also regular readings and small art exhibitions. I took part in a Poetry-Slam where a local poet spoke about the “Mysteries of the Maisfeld” – that was so dry that I almost fell asleep if the audience did not applaud loudly and suddenly electrified the mood.
If you now think that this is too much, let me tell you one last jewel: the seasonal Bourbonnais Farmers Market. Here there are fresh products, handmade soaps and sometimes even a few local bands playing on an improvised podium. I once tried an apple cake there that was so good that I almost took the whole piece home – a small but fine proof that the Bourbonnais Sights not only consist of concrete and history, but also of taste and community.
At the end of the day, when the lights of the city are slowly approaching and the quiet noise of the nearby fields is to be heard, I always feel a bit like a discoverer who just ventilated a well kept secret. And next time you drive through the heart of Illinois, remember to make a trip to Bourbonnais – it's worth it, promised.
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