The Ultimate Illinois Winter Weekend Guide You Didn't Know You Needed

What's the best place to go for epic snow tubing in Illinois?

For the best snow tubing in Illinois, there's only one place to go: Snowstar Winter Park! Snowstar Winter Park is a family-fun winter sports attraction located along the Mississippi River in northwest Illinois around the Quad Cities. It is a great place to learn to ski or snowboard as well as enjoy the easy sport of snow tubing. The park boasts 15 trails, 11 snow tubing lanes, and a massive terrain park, which is a free-style zone for all levels of skiers and snowboarders. It features 40-foot jumps, tubes, bars, rails, boxes, and even a staircase to navigate. It's sure to be a day of high-flying fun for the whole family!

What are some fun winter day trips in Illinois?

The winter shouldn’t scare you into staying home and not going anywhere. In fact, there are several cozy towns around the state that are truly delightful when it’s cold out. We love exploring our small towns during the winter time, and these are some of our favorite little locales. At the top of the list is Woodstock. Now, Woodstock may be cozy year-round, but it's especially so during the winter. With its historic district and charming town square, there's plenty to explore even when it's cold outside. Make sure to book a stay at the iconic Cherry Tree Inn Bed & Breakfast which was featured in the movie Groundhog Day! Another small town in Illinois well-worth visiting this winter is Galena. Consistently ranked as one of the top towns to visit in the state, Galena is as enchanting in winter as it is the rest of the year. With 85 percent of the town listed on the National Register of Historic Places and a bustling downtown area with over 100 restaurants and shops, there's just so much to explore. And once you're done exploring for the day, head back to your hotel or inn. Perhaps you'll book a stay a the Irish Cottage Inn & Suites, Chestnut Mountain Resort (the perfect place to stay especially if you love to ski), or Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa.

What are some unique things to do during the winter in Illinois?

When you've tired of the usual winter recreation suspects, we have some fun tricks up our sleeve to share! For instance, have you ever tried horseback riding during the wintertime? Though many of us automatically think of horseback riding as an activity reserved for the warmer months, it can be incredibly beautiful to experience in the winter, too. Just imagine nothing but the sound of the horse’s footfall into the fresh snow, you bundled up as you trot along, and the fresh air and natural beauty surrounding your every step. If you’re looking for a perfect spot in Illinois to make it happen, White Pines Ranch is the place to go. This is one option for winter horseback riding in Illinois that you do not want to miss.