The Scenic Drive To The Spoon River Valley Is Almost As Beautiful As The Destination Itself
By Linze Rice|Published April 27, 2023
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Linze Rice
Author
Ope! From the rural cornfields of DeKalb County, Linze is an Illinois native and true Midwestern gal who can make a mean bonfire and whip up a perfect marshmallow salad. Since 2014, her bylines and photography have appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Magazine, Chicago Sun-Times, and Block Club Chicago/DNAinfo Chicago, Only in Your State, and more. She has interviewed Dolly Parton, written about beloved diners along historic Route 66, visited the last Rainforest Cafe in the Illinois, and reviewed luxurious English manor-inspired hotels. Whether it's writing about a local gem or world-renowned establishment, Linze brings a heartwarming and historical perspective to each story, using facts, wit, and personal experience to impress upon readers the importance of culture, food, travel, and all things local. Her favorite destinations in Illinois include Starved Rock State Park, Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood, the charming small town of Sycamore, and historic Rosehill Cemetery. When she's not writing or photographing, Linze enjoys gardening, spending time with her husband and pets, cooking, baking, and grilling, and relaxing with trashy TV.
Oftentimes in life, an experience is more about the journey than the destination. That rings especially true when planning the route to an excursion — you know where you’ll end up, but what else could you see or do along the way? If you’re a fan of stopping off at a quaint local market, admiring historic architecture, and seeing one-of-a-kind roadside attractions while driving through the beautiful countryside, then this just may be the most scenic drive in Central Illinois.