Honestly, if you’re looking for “Homer Sights”, you’ll probably expect a small museum full of dust and villagers to tell you the story of 1850 while you’re wondering why you’re here at all. And that's exactly what you'll get – but with a twist that I personally find brilliant. Homer was born in 1855 as a railway shrine for the Chicago, Danville & Vincennes Railway, named after the Greek poet, because the founders apparently had a faible for classical literature. Today the town is in the heart of South Homer Township, Champaign County, and looks like a forgotten chapter from a history book that someone was too lazy to finish.
I usually drive by car over the I‐57, because the train to Champaign is on time, but you would have to take another bus to South Homer – and that's like moving an espresso with a spoon. As soon as you get out of the dusty suburb, you can feel the typical Midwest feeling: wide fields, a few old barns and the quiet sum of tractors that tell more about life here than any brochure. And yes, the “Homer Sights” are not exactly the skyline of New York, but the small historical town hall, which still carries the original signs from the 1800s, has for me a charm that one cannot google. So if you want to breathe a piece of real Illinois – and that without the usual tourist stuff – you are right here.
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.
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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 Homer, 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 I put to every visitor is that Homer Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area. Anyone who arrives here is immediately greeted by the quiet wideness of the lake – a place where the tassel of the frogs is almost louder than the constant ratter of the cars on I‐57. I once tried to catch a carp there, and after half an hour I realized that the water is more intended for relaxing than fishing. Parking is usually a Klacks as long as you don't come on Saturday night, then the small parking lot turns into a battlefield of overcrowded picnic blankets and loud BBQ sounds.
Only a short trip to Urbana leads to University of Illinois Arboretum. This is not just a green strip, but a carefully curated collection of native and exotic plants, which brings even the hardest city muffle to amaze. I made a picnic there with a friend who said it was “too botanical for his taste”, and I explained to him that this is the only “Wiese” that is not mowed by a cow. The path is well signposted, and the bicycle parking space system is surprisingly generous – a small victory for urban planning.
A few steps further, hidden between the laboratory buildings, this is Japanese Garden on campus. I don't quite understand the hype about Zen gardens, but here it is actually a place where you put your phone out of your pocket because the Wi-Fi signal suddenly becomes too weak. The Koi ponds are so clear that you almost feel that they would look secretly at thinking. I took a photo there that later landed in my Instagram feed as “#NatureVibes” – and that was the only time I posted a picture of myself in a garden.
If you have enough of plants, that is Crane Art Museum in Urbana the next station. The building itself is an architectural statement that reveals more about the preference of the university for modern forms than about the art that hangs in it. I saw an exhibition on contemporary photography there and was honestly surprised that I learned more about the lives of the artists than about the actual pictures. The museum has a free café, which is only really good if you ask the barista for the “home tip” for the best espresso – otherwise you only get lukewarm coffee that tastes more like paper clips.
A short walk to the city centre of Champaign leads to Orpheum Theatre. The old-worthy building has more history than so many politicians, and the acoustics is so good that even the whisper of a spectator looks like a solo. I was there at an indie band show that attracted more people than I expected – apparently the locals appreciate live music as long as it is not too loud. Parking is a bit a mystery; most visitors park in the side streets and then run a few blocks, which I would personally call “Fit‐für‐Day-Walk”.
For history lovers there is Champaign County Historical Museum in Urbana. The museum is a collection of old maps, tools and photos that give you the feeling that life here used to be slower but also a bit easier. I found an old diary that comes from a peasant from the 1920s – a real reading pleasure if you don't like the dust too much. The museum has no entrance fee, but the sign at the entrance was so dusty that I almost thought it was part of the exhibition.
A bit further away, but definitely worth a day trip, this is Illinois Railway Museum in Union. This is the largest railway museum in the USA, and I saw more locomotives there than I could ever count in my life. The guided tours are informative, and the staff is so enthusiastic that you almost feel that they would put a little more pride in the rails every time. The museum has a large parking lot that is rarely full – a rare comfort in this area.
So, if you're thinking about the next time you want to spend your time in the vicinity of Homer, South Homer Township, Champaign, Illinois, remember: Home Destinations offer a mixture of nature, culture and a bit of local nature, which makes even the most brunetted travellers sneak.
I have to admit right at the beginning that my favorite place in Homer is not exactly a glittering tourist magnet – it is the Home Community Park, a piece of lawn, a few baseball diamonds and a playground that has more charm than some overpriced city park. I came there on a lukewarm Saturday afternoon, parked on the small, mostly empty car park behind the field house (parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem) and let me take away from the squeaking children's laughs over the sandbox. The lake that the locals lovingly call “the little pond” is not an Amazon, but it reflects the sun so beautiful that you almost forget that you have only come here to eat a few sausages from the grill.
A short walk over the main road leads you to Home Public Library. I don't understand the hype about hip libraries in big cities, but this small, squeaky green building has a heart that is bigger than its books. I found an old photo album that documented the founding of the village in 1869 – a real find for history lovers who don't just want Instagram posts. Parking right in front of the door is a children's game, and the staff is so friendly that they almost give you the feeling you're a regular, though you've only been here for a few hours.
If you are looking for a place where you can sniff the real “small town feeling”, go to Home United Methodist Church. The building from the early 20th Century has a work that could tell more stories than some blog. I heard a choir sample there once on a Sunday – no joke, that was better than any opera in the city. The interior is surprisingly spacious, and parking is almost always free thanks to the small side street, as long as you do not come to the main service period.
A bit off the hustle and bustle Homer Historical Society Museumhoused in a converted classroom of the old primary school. I found an old Tractor-Lenkrad that once belonged to a local peasant, and a few yellowed newspaper articles that report on the great harvest crisis of the 1930s. The museum is not just a huge complex, but the authenticity is not to be overlooked here. Parking is a bit tricky because you have to run between the old barns, but this is part of the adventure.
Another secret tip I put to the heart almost every visitor is that Home Fire Department with its small but fine collection of historical firefighting equipment. I was there because I thought it was just an ordinary fire department store visit, and was greeted with an old, still functional hose and a cracking, rusty fire truck that looks like he was coming directly from a Western film. Parking is practically right in front of the door, and the staff even lets you take a few photos with the old car – a must for anyone looking for a little nostalgia.
For those who want a bit of nature and tranquility, there is Homer Cemetery. Sounds morbid, but the old gravestones tell stories you wouldn't find in any guide. I discovered a particularly artistic tombstone from 1885, which carries a small, engraved heart – a romantic detail that brought me to think why we even go here. Access is free, and parking is a small, inconspicuous place next to the entrance which is rarely occupied.
I do not want to Homer Grain Elevator forget the imposing silhouette image you see from the highway when you drive south. I once met a local peasant who told me that the grain is still loaded by hand – a little old-fashioned, but somehow fascinating. Parking is a bit a field, so bring a few boots if you want to slip out, but this is just a small price for the authentic land life feeling.
If you now think that this is too much, let me tell you: Home Destinations are not meant to overwhelm you, but to give you an honest, slightly cynical view of what a real small village has to offer. And honestly, that's exactly what I love on this little spot of earth – not a snuck, just what's really there.
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