Honestly, when I hear the word “Sidney Sights”, I think first of all about the inconspicuous but surprisingly charming story of this little spot in the Middle West, which was born as a railway hub in 1865 and has hardly been seriously respected since then. Sidney is located in the Sidney Township, which in turn is part of Champaign County – yes, exactly the county that is otherwise only known from agricultural statistics. I traveled the first time by train from Champaign to Sidney, because I thought a short trip was faster, and I wasn't quite wrong: the train connection is sparse, but a short stop at the station is enough to sniff the flair.
The city itself is a patchwork of old wooden buildings and modern farm houses that win each other as if they were wondering who was actually in charge here. I don't understand the hype around the big metropolises, but here, between corn fields and the quiet sum of the tractors, you suddenly feel less like tourist and more like a secret insider. If you come from Champaign by car, take the US‐150 – the road is wide enough to embrace the whole country, and take you directly to the heart of Sidney, where you can immediately catch the small but fine cityscape.
A short walk through the main street lets you discover the few but fine “Sidney Sights” that I personally appreciate most: the old town hall, which still carries the echo of past city council meetings, and the small café on the corner, which serves the best coffee far and wide – no joke, this is really great. And while you're sitting there, you can ask why you even flew to Chicago if this is all you need.
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 Sidney, 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 place I have to mention is that Krannert Center for the Arts – an architectural statement that can be seen from the highway, when you take a look over the fields of Sidney Township. I once experienced a jazz concert there, which was so loud that the birds in the nearby field suddenly clapped in a kind of improvised rhythm. Parking is usually a children's game as long as you don't arrive on Friday night after a performance – then the car park becomes a battlefield.
A short trip to Champaign leads directly to Orpheum Theatre, one of the few preserved Art-Deco estimates in the Middle West. I don't quite understand the hype about the opulent interior, but the fact that indie films are still running alongside Broadway productions is simply brilliant. Last year I saw a film about the Great Migration there; The popcorn was better than what you get in most cinemas in the area.
If you have enough of concrete, you should University of Illinois Arboretum taxes – a 160 hectare green piece that houses more plant species than most botanical gardens in the state. I made a picnic with friends there while a squirrel tried to steal my sandwiches; that was a real highlight. The trails are well signposted, but a bike is faster if you want to explore the longer paths.
Another jewel I always like to visit is Hessel Park in Champaign. The lake is not huge, but perfect for a bit of relaxation after a long journey through the flat land. I remember renting a little canoe once and almost being followed by a group of ducks who apparently decided to be their new leader. The car park is free, but on Saturday morning you can be there better early, otherwise you are in traffic.
A bit further north, in Union, this is Illinois Railway Museum, the largest railway museum in the USA. I saw more than 100 historical locomotives there, and the sound of a steaming machine is simply incomparable. The entrance is free if you only want to visit the outdoor facilities, but the museum staff is so friendly that you almost feel like living in another time. Parking is available at the main entrance, but they are quickly occupied on weekends.
For history fans Champaign County Historical Museum in Urbana a must. The exhibition about the early settlers of Sidney Township is surprisingly well curated, and I found an old diary that comes from a farmer from the 1880s – a real treasure. The museum is small, but the staff knows every anecdote and tells them with a passion that you rarely find in state institutions.
A short detour to Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve not only offers hiking trails, but also fishing opportunities that are not found anywhere in this region. I caught a huge pike there, which was almost as big as my bike; that was a real adrenalinkick. Access is free, but the visitor center closes early, so better check the opening hours before.
Whether you're looking for culture, nature or a bit of nostalgia, Sidney's environment has more to offer than you would suspect at first sight. These Sidney Sights show that the small town is a perfect starting point for explorers who do not want to drive in circles.
I have to confess that what I'm like Sidney Opera House sign, my personal favorite place is – not because the building is particularly spectacular, but because it is the only time I feel in this tiny little town to inhale a bit of culture without being suffocated by tourist crowds. The venerable brick building from 1908 is located in the middle of Main Street, and when you see the sign with the artistic letters, you feel you are in a time machine that only travels back until 1910. I once visited a local jazz concert there; the acoustics was surprisingly good, and the audience consisted of about 80% of people who didn't even know that jazz was actually a word. Parking is usually a Klacks – a few free places right in front of the house, as long as you don't come on Saturday night, then this will be a little adventure.
A short walk further leads you to Sidney Public Library. I don't quite understand the hype about libraries, but this little, red-white mammals has something calming that pulls me back every time I feel too much to consume. The shelves are not overcrowded with the latest bestsellers, for this there are some old city chronicles that you find nowhere else. I once borrowed a book about the history of corn production – a real page-turner when you are a farmer. Parking is a bit trickier here because the small plot has only a small parking space, but a short walk to the library is not a problem if you don't jonglier with the stroller.
If you have enough of dusty sides, look at this Sidney City Park on. The park is not just a national park, but it has a small lake, a few picnic tables and a baseball field, which is lovingly called the battlefields by the locals. I once made a picnic with friends, and we made fun of the fact that the only “wildlife” here are a few ducks that show more interest in our bread remains than in their own fellows. The parking lot is an open field behind the entrance, and you can almost always find a free place there as long as you are not there at noon during the weekly yoga course.
A bit further north, away from the main road, this is St. Mary's Catholic Church. This is not exactly a place for parties, but the gothic façade and the crisp wooden organ game have something that makes me a little bit thoughtful every time – perhaps because I was inadvertently asleep there during a fair and suddenly awakened by a choir from 12-year-olds. The church is open to visitors, and parking is a small, inconspicuous farm that is usually empty, unless you are on Sunday morning, then you have to fight with the parishioners for a place.
A short trip back to Main Street leads you to Sidney Sights, which I personally describe as the true heart of the city: the small shops, the old bank building, which now houses a café, and the “Sidney Grain Elevator”, a huge wooden shaft that has dominated the cityscape since the 1950s. I once met an old farmer who told me that the grain was “better” here earlier, because the cows at that time “real” Milk – a classic example of nostalgia, which is found in every small place. The café next to the Grain Elevator has the best apple cake in the area, and parking there is a little labyrinth of vans and old tractors, but that makes the charm.
Last but not least, Sidney Community Center forgot hidden in a converted school building. Here the weekly Bingo ends take place, and I once observed how an 80-year-old gentleman with a laser pointer tried to mark the numbers – a sight that made me laugh and amaze at the same time. The center has a small parking lot behind the building, and you can almost always find a place there as long as you are not at the same time as the local senior group there.
So, next time you think about where to start your next “discovery tour”: Sidney may be small, but the mix of historical architecture, friendly (although slightly confused) locals and a portion of dry humor make it a place you should not just go over. And yes, I have much more stories to tell, but that would be too much of the good – you know how this is going.
Villages, towns, districts, places and Vacation destinations you should visit.
©copyright by POI-Travel.de
info@poi-travel.de
