Visit Momence Kankakee Illinois and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Discover Momence, Illinois: Experience the "Wild West" style of Dunes State Park and the atmosphere of the small city. Walk in the historic centre or on Lake Michigan. An unforgettable holiday!
Momence's sights are always starting for me with a short look at the old railway bridge, which has been the backbone of the city since the 1850s; At that time, Momence was a quirking hub for freight transport, and the legacy is still felt when you stroll along Main Street and admire the old warehouses. Ganeer Township, which surrounds the city, was originally a piece of untamed prairie country, which was founded by German settlers in the late 19. The century was cultivated – a bit like a forgotten chapter from a history book that you can only find when studying the map of Kankakee County.
Honestly, people here have a dry humor that is almost as dry as the cornfield behind the County Court. When you get out of Chicago by car, take the I‐57 South and let you calm down from the endless fields; a short trip to the US-45 takes you to the heart of Momence, where you can get a coffee in a small diner that tastes better than the whole cityscape. And yes, I don't quite understand the hype about the annual Riverfest parade, but the small artisan stands on the river banks are really great and give the whole a charming, slightly ironic touch.
So, next time you drive to Momence, let's go first Riverwalk Diving at the Kankakee – this is my personal favorite place, because it somehow packs the whole “small town” in a bit of nature that does not smell like a tourist trap. I mean, you're strolling along there, the water is glittering, and suddenly you hear the quiet whip that reminds you that not only tractors and corn fields exist here. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the whole “momence crew” comes together to grill on the shore.
Right next to the Riverwalk, Momence Historical Museum. I don't quite understand the hype about small history museums, but here you actually have some original tools from the 1800s that don't dust in any dusty warehouse. Once, I almost caught myself in an old carriage, because I thought it was a modern photo stand – that was a real eye opener, how much the city still loves its past without patting too much.
A short detour leads you to Momence City Parkwhere there is a small lake and a playground for the kids. I made a picnic there, while an older gentleman swung loudly over the “good old times” – this is the true heart of Momence when you ask me. The fountain is not huge, but it works, and this is more than one can expect from a place of this size.
If you have a bit of readiness, look at the Momence Public Library on. I was there because I wanted to borrow a book about local flora and instead was surprised by a friendly librarian with a free coffee. This is the only time I got a latte in a small town library, and that almost made me live there.
Another highlight I can hardly overlook is that Momence Golf Club. Yes, a golf course in a city that has hardly more than a few hundred inhabitants – that sounds almost like a joke, but the 9-hole facility is surprisingly well maintained. I've done a few beats there, while an older gentleman told me that he has been playing here since his youth, because there is the only “big” sports offer. The green is not perfect, but it makes the charm.
For those who prefer to stay inside, there is Momence Community Center. I took part in a yoga course that was led by a former ballet dancer, who now prefers to do “relaxed stretching exercises”. The room is small, but the atmosphere is surprisingly alive – and the best thing: there is always a refrigerator full of water bottles that you can take with you.
And yes, if you have a list of Momence Attractions look, you've almost done everything here. I could still talk about the old railway depot, which now serves as a camp for local art projects, or about the small cemetery in the outskirts, where the inscriptions tell more stories than some city tours. But honestly, this is the beauty of Momence: There's always something you missed until you happen to come by and realize you've just discovered the best.
The first stop of my little Odyssey was Kankakee River State Park, a piece of untamed nature that fits directly to the city boundary of Momence. I spent a couple of hours with my folding bike, because parking is almost always a children's game – as long as you don't meet the families from the neighboring village on Saturday night, this will be a real patience sample. The river glitters in sunlight, and the noise is almost as soothing as the quiet moaning of my old mountain bike, which is tormented by the gravel paths. Anyone who likes fishing finds a few quiet places here, and I must admit that I don’t understand the hype around the “perfect fishing paradise”, but the water puff is at least a nice background for a picnic.
A short detour to the south leads to Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, a huge piece of revived prairie that almost works like a film set – only that here no cameras, but bison herds (yes, there are Bison) play the leading role. I remember, as I stood there in the spring, walking the grass to the hip and a single bison curious about the path as if he wanted to tell me: “You are not here to photograph, but to amaze.” The entrance is free, and parking is well signposted at the main entrances, although the terrain in rain mutates into a mudy pit – a small price for the experience you otherwise only see in the wild-west movies.
Back to the city, but not to the heart of Momence, lies the Kankakee County Historical Museum in Kankakee, about 20 minutes drive. The museum is a collection of old agricultural machinery, photos of horse-drawn carriages and an amazingly well-preserved original kitchen from the 1900s. I tried an old typewriter there, which still crisped as if it were just torn out of a movie from the 1930s. Parking is almost always free at the museum's forecourt, except when the annual “Heritage Festival” begins – then you have to fight a bit through the crowds of people, which I would call a charming “local flair”.
Another jewel I can hardly overlook is the Kankakee River Trail, part of the Grand Illinois Trail, which runs like a red thread through the landscape. I explored the trail with a rental bike from a small store in Kankakee; the rental fee was barely more than a coffee, and the bike worked perfectly as long as you didn't want to bounce too much over the bridges – the wooden planks knarren every step. The path offers stunning views of the river, and in some places there are small picnic tables that are perfect for a spontaneous lunch. The trail is well signposted, but a GPS can't hurt because the branches are sometimes confusing – a small test for orientation.
Only a stone's throw away Momence Lock and Dam, a technical miracle that allows the cruise on the Kankakee River. I was standing there on a hot summer day, while a cargo ship slept leisurely through the lock portal, and thought that the noise of the engines is almost hypnotic. The area is easily accessible, and parking is free on the shore, as long as you do not try to camp there all weekends – that is not forbidden, but the local authorities are watching strictly. A short walk along the dam leads to a small viewpoint from which you can see the river in its full width – a perfect place to shoot a few Instagram photos without having a tickling effect.
At the end of my little tour Kankakee River Golf Club not missing, a golf course that does not belong to the most famous, but offers a surprisingly relaxed atmosphere. I played a few rounds there because the clubhouse has a cozy café serving the best apple cake in the region – a real secret tip that the locals only whisper. Parking is generous at the clubhouse, and check-in is uncomplicated as long as you don't try to combine the golf game with a skateboard – that's a no-go that I learned only after a embarrassing fall.
So, Momence Attractions searching, will quickly realize that the environment has more to offer than just a few old warehouses. From prairie adventures to historical museums to relaxed river landscapes, there is enough material for a long, slightly cynical, yet enthusiastic travel report.
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