What makes Buckingham sights so special is the quiet way, with the story here snoring at every street corner, while I torture myself through the village. I felt the first time in the 1800s when brave pioneers opened the country of Norton Township in Kankakee County and named the little town after an English model – a bit of pride, a bit of confusion, because no one knows why exactly “Buckingham” was chosen. On the first steps through the main road you can immediately feel that the old brick houses tell more than any brochure: here people have buried their roots deep in the corn fields and the railway rails, which once formed the backbone of the trade.
I have to admit, I don't quite understand the hype about the annual harvesting ceremony, but the easy joining at the marketplace, where neighbors still run their self-pressed apple juices, is really great. If you come by car from Chicago, take the I‐57 and then turn Highway 115 – this is the fastest way to reach the village without getting into endless traffic. As soon as you cross the small bridge over the Kankakee River, you will notice that the calm water striker is almost therapeutic, while the fields in the background paint a picture that you only know from postcards.
For those looking for a bit of authenticity, Buckingham offers a backdrop that does not seem excessively touristic or totally forgotten. I discovered a café that has more charm than some big city oasis, and the staff serves coffee with an eye-catcher, which says: “Welcome in the heart of Illinois, where the pace is slower, but the stories are louder. ‘
With the map tool, you can plan the ideal location for a photo online in advance – taking into account the sun's path and the surroundings.
Here's how it works:
Advantage:
You can assess light, perspective and location before visiting the site – ideal for photography, sunrises and sunsets.
To find the exact point where the sun disappears behind the skyline, use the azimuth display on poi-travel.de. In Buckingham, the sun travels further northwest below the horizon in summer, while in winter it takes a more southwesterly angle. With the embedded line on the map, you can determine your tripod position down to the metre.
The first stop of my little Odyssey was the Kankakee River State Park, a piece of nature that feels like a forgotten chapter in an overcrowded history book. I spent a couple of hours on the shore, the water glittered, and the noise was almost louder than the constant sum of my phones. Easy parking there are almost everywhere, only on weekends there can be small battles around the last free places – a real test of patience and humor.
A short detour to the south leads you to the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, where the prairie returns to life. I have to admit, I was skeptical, whether a piece of grass can really be a highlight, but the wide, golden waves and the occasional bison, which stabs me gently over the plane, have completely knocked me around. The trails are well marked, and the visitor center offers enough information to not feel like beaching in nowhere.
A bit further east, in Watseka, is the Iroquois County Historical Museum. There I like to follow the old photographs and wonder why people were always so serious at that time. The exhibition on the railway is particularly captivating – I almost feel that the old locomotives could still smoke a little if you listen carefully.
Back to Kankakee, the Kankakee River Trail, a narrow strip of asphalt and earth, stretches like a red thread through the landscape. I've explored him by bicycle, and the best thing is that you can stop almost everywhere and enjoy the view without a tourist swarm blocking your way. The trail is well maintained, and the occasional plough of the river looks like a soothing soundtrack.
A little urban flair is obtained when visiting Kankakee County Courthouse. The building is a parade example of classical American architecture, and I felt almost like a time traveler when I admired the high pillars and the artistic stonework. The courtyard is a popular meeting place for locals who spend their lunch break there – a perfect place to sniff a bit the local life.
For those who prefer to play the ball, the Kankakee River Golf Club is an underestimated jewel. I played a few rounds there, and although the green is not exactly a paradise for professionals, the location on the river offers a scenic scenery that makes every misdecision a little more bearable when knocking off. The clubhouse is friendly, and the staff knows every visitor by name – a small luxury that you rarely find in larger cities.
Another highlight I did not want to miss was the Kankakee River Museum, which is located in a renovated warehouse on the river. The exhibition on local industrial history is surprisingly exciting, and I discovered an old model of ships that reminded me of the times when the river was the backbone of the region.
So if you're going to Buckingham the next time, don't forget that the area has more to offer than just a few fields and a post office. The Buckingham Attractions in the vicinity – from prehistoric prerien to historical museums – show that even an inconspicuous place is full of surprises waiting to be discovered.
This guide invites you to discover the hidden corners of Buckingham, and I promise you that you will find more charm than in some big city jungle – if you don't confuse the charm with glitter.
Quite the front, almost like a bad preface to a Hollywood blockbuster, this is Buckingham Bridge. This crunching iron construct from 1905 spans over the Fox River and looks like it just got the final touch from a revised historian. I made a picnic there in the summer, while a fisherman, besides me, swarmed loudly about the “good old time” – no joke, he even had an old fishing hat from the 60s. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem, because then the whole county goes on a bridge tour.
A short trip from the bridge roof leads you to Buckingham Cemetery. Yes, a cemetery, but not some – here are the founders of the city, whose gravestones tell more stories than some Instagram stories. I once met an old veteran who told me that his great-grandfather is buried here and that the “crawling” flair is just an excuse for the best autumn walks. The paths are well maintained, and the noise of the river in the background makes the teeth almost bearable.
If you ask yourself where you can sneak a bit of culture in a tiny place, look into the Buckingham School. The former one-room school house is now a mini-museum that has more dust than visitors, but for that there are plenty of original boards and an old globe that is still slightly inclined. I got a lead that was led by a retired teacher who had more anecdotes about the “Gum Burning” in the breaks when I can count throughout my life. Admission is free because the money is used only for receiving the old wooden bench.
Another highlight I don't want to conceal is that Buckingham Grain Elevator. This massive grain storage building dominates the skyline and reminds that not only dreams, but also corn and soybeans grow here. I once stood with a local farmer in front of the elevator while he told me that the sound of the grinder sounds almost like a soothing snoring – a soundtrack for everyone who has enough of city noise. Parking directly at the warehouse is a bit of an adventure because the trucks are constantly driving in and out, but this is part of the charm.
For those who prefer to keep their legs moving, the Fox River Trail a well-developed path that leads directly past Buckingham. I have made my morning jogging round there, seeing more ducks than people – a good sign that nature has not yet been completely overrun by selfie sticks. The trail is wide enough to accommodate cyclists as well as walkers, and the few signs kindly remind you not to shoot the ducks.
A small but fine place I like to mention is that Buckingham Community Center. Here the locals meet to bingo graduates, handwork circles and occasionally to an improvised jazz quartet that plays more of passion than talent. I was there on a Friday when an older couple presented a cake of carrots and too much cinnamon – a real treat that instantly brightened the mood. The center is easy to find because it is the only building with a flashing shield that shows “OPEN” even when the door is closed.
If you now think that Buckingham only consists of old bridges and cemeteries, then you have the Buckingham Attractions not yet fully explored. Each of these places has its own, slightly slanted character, and together they create a mosaic that has more personality than some big city part. So, grab a bike, a good piece of cheese and get on the way – I promise you will know more about the true life at the end of the day than you would have ever thought possible.
Villages, towns, districts, places and Vacation destinations you should visit.
©copyright by POI-Travel.de
info@poi-travel.de
