Here Are The 10 Coolest Small Towns In Illinois You've Probably Never Heard Of

Located about a half hour from Champaign-Urbana, Monticello is a town full of historic charm. You will enjoy the Monticello Railway Museum.

Pictured here is the Sugar Creek Covered Bridge, one of the few covered bridges in Illinois. Chatham is also home to Interurban Trail, a fantastic Rails To Trails trail that is mixed-use.

Cary is a small town in McHenry County. A nice community makes this a swell place to live. There isn't a lot going on here in the way of nightlife, but you should go to Tracks and eat some of the best burgers ever on the patio.

Rantoul is a charming town in central Illinois. Key things to do are Octave Chanute Aerospace Museum and Hardy's Reindeer Ranch.

Red Bud gets its name from the trees that line its streets. Things to do here include the Red Bud Area Museum and the Opera House Bistro.

Pittsfield calls itself the "Pork Capital of the Midwest," and it hosts an annual "Pig Days Festival." It is home to the Pike County Courthouse, made of Cleveland sandstone, which is noted as one of the prettiest courthouses in the state.

This town has history dating back to the American Revolutionary War. You can learn all about the history at the Illinois Rural Heritage museum.

Paxton was founded in 1859, making it over 150 years old. This town might make you want to take a leap...from a plane, that is. Check out the Illinois Skydiving Center.

This town was home to the famous Lincoln/Douglas debate at the Beardstown Courthouse. It offers some stunning views of the Illinois River.