Where History Meets the Road

Travel the iconic Route 66 to Springfield. From history to architecture and culinary delights to performing arts, we are definitely “more than one day.”

Step into the past and the life of the Lincoln family when you visit the only home the Abraham Lincoln ever owned at the Lincoln Home National Historic Site.

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is the official library and museum of the 16th U.S. president. Experience pivotal moments in Lincoln’s life and enjoy immersive displays and amazing shows that explore the human costs of slavery and war.

The Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site, designed by famed sculptor, Larkin Mean, is nestled in Oak Ridge Cemetery. Within the walls of this stunning granite monument is the final resting place of Abraham Lincoln, his wife, Mary and three of their four sons. At the entrance to the Tomb there is a bronze bust of Mr. Lincoln where visitors from around the world have stopped to rub the nose of the statue for good luck.

Make a stop at the Lincoln Memorial Garden for a truly zen experience. A woodland and prairie garden with over 5 miles of trails lead you on a journey through the Illinois landscape Lincoln would have known. Located on the shores of Lake Springfield.

Historic Route 66 runs through Springfield and provides many unique stops, including Route 66 Motorheads Bar, Grill & Entertainment Complex, the Legends Neon Park at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Gate 2 Experience and so much more!

The Cozy Dog Drive In is a traditional Route 66 diner that became a part of the history of The Mother Road, and the history of Springfield, when, in 1946, inventor Ed Waldmire introduced the “Cozy Dog” – the famous “hot dog on a stick.”

Jump on our new “Horseshoe Trail” and eat your way through the capital city, enjoying our unique, one-of-a-kind open face sandwich creation!

Grab our Explorer Passport with a collection of 26 sites, attractions and culinary treats not to be missed.

Relax and enjoy one of more than a dozen wineries and breweries in the Springfield area. These locally owned business offer the best in craft beer, wines and delicious noshes in beautiful settings, many with outdoor garden areas, live music and special events.

Regardless of your interests, Springfield has you covered with a variety of sites, attractions, culinary delights and a variety of accommodations to meet your travel needs.

History Has Never Been So Alive

This summer History Comes Alive returns for its 14th Season as Abraham and Mary Lincoln lead a cast of characters on a trip back in time! Meet the Lincolns at historic sites throughout the city and learn about their lives in Springfield. From historic portrayals at locations such as the Lincoln Home National Historic Site, the Lincoln Herndon Law Office Visitors Center, and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum to a Flag Lowering Ceremony at the Lincoln Tomb with the 114th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry Reactivated, visitors are invited to become a part of living history. Listen to Abraham deliver some of his most famous speeches at the Lincoln Depot, meet and greet both Mary Lincoln and General Ulysses S. Grant, and enjoy live music and an ice cream social at Edwards Place.

Calling all foodies! History Cooks is back! Have you ever wondered what Mrs. Lincoln fed her hungry boys, or how the ethnic diversity played into the food of the Lincoln neighborhood, or what was served at Lincoln’s Inaugural Dinner? Check out the new History Cooks collection! Each week the Lincoln Home has partnered with Lincoln Land Community College’s Culinary School to feature a cooking demonstration inspired by the life and times of the Lincoln Neighborhood. Make sure to collect all of this season’s recipe cards so you can make your own history cooks dish!

Springfield wasn’t the only town Abraham Lincoln ever lived. Reserve your spot on the free Saturday morning shuttle to Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site. The reconstructed pioneer village near Petersburg, IL is where Abraham spent his life as a young adult. Let us shuttle you back in time so you can explore this site on your own for a few hours every Saturday.

Visit https://www.visitspringfieldillinois.com/Landing/HistoryComesAlive.aspx to find the entire schedule. We’ll see you soon!

Enjoy Life in an Historic Way in Springfield

This summer History Comes Alive returns for its 14th season as Abraham and Mary Lincoln lead a cast of characters for a trip back in time that you won’t want to miss. Meet the Lincolns at historic sites throughout the city, like the world-class Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, where you can learn about their lives in Springfield. Hear Lincoln deliver some of his most famous speeches or enjoy an ice cream social at Edwards Place, where the Lincolns would visit their friends, Benjamin and Helen Edwards. From June 2-August 6, seven day a week, you can make your own history and memories!

Falling Spring Falls

Falling Spring Falls is a breathtaking 80′ cascading waterfall that is one of the most visited and photographed spots in the Alleghany Highlands. The scenic waterfall is located on Route 220 in Alleghany County, just five miles north of Covington, Virginia.

https://www.visitalleghanyhighlands.com/

Southern Dozen – The South’s Greatest Motorcycle Rides

Answer the call of the Southern Dozen! Discover a curated series of motorcycle rides called the Southern Dozen beginning in Johnson City, Tennessee. These are rides worthy of even the most seasoned road warrior with heart-pumping curves, breathtaking scenery, historic landmarks, local gems and nearby attractions. Explore the Original Southern Dozen or the Southern Dozen Signature Rides and see all that Johnson City, Tennessee and the surrounding region have to offer.

Salem – The Most Oregon Part of Oregon

Located in the heart of Oregon’s verdant Willamette Valley, Salem inarguably offers the best of the big city combined with small-town charm. The area is a road-tripper’s dream with its award-winning wineries, historic sites, and easily accessible outdoor experiences located within minutes from downtown.

The Salem region is home to 15 significant heritage sites that offer fascinating peeks into Oregon’s past. Guests will be awed with a visit to Deepwood Museum and Gardens, a perfectly preserved 125-year-old Queen Anne style home with formal gardens designed by the all-female architecture firm, Lord & Schryver. Or, they can take in a live performance at Salem’s historic Elsinore Theatre, one of the only theaters in the world with a foyer in the Gothic “nave and aisle” design.

Sitting in one of the richest agricultural areas in the country, visitors will find farm-to-fork dining along with award-winning wine, craft beer and cider. Chefs like Jonathan Jones – a 2022 James Beard Award nominee – create inspired dishes using locally-sourced ingredients at his intimate café, Epilogue Kitchen & Cocktails. Small, family-owned wineries like Coria Estates, Bethel Heights Vineyard and Left Coast Cellars offer jaw-dropping vineyard views and intimate tasting
experiences, while local breweries such as Gilgamesh pair beer with tasty bites at their three brewery-plus-restaurant locations.

Outdoor recreation also abounds inside and outside of the city. Salem is home to a three-park connected system that offers more than 25 miles of trails ideal for walking or biking along quiet paths. Just west of town, Baskett Slough Wildlife Refuge is a 2,492-acre refuge that’s home to 230 recorded species of birds and is one of the only places in the Western United States to see the endangered Fender’s Blue Butterfly.

For more trip planning ideas and inspiration for Salem and the Mid-Willamette Valley, visit www.TravelSalem.com

Saanen Goats at Emerald Farm in Greenwood, South Carolina

Is anything more cute than goats? We don’t think so. At Emerald Farm in Greenwood, South Carolina, these friendly goats help make soaps, lotions, and other goat’s milk products right on the farm. Saanen goats are known for their friendly disposition, giving kids and curious adults alike the chance for some great pets. Getting to pet and feed the goats is only one of the many attractions at Emerald Farm, however; guests can also spot free-roaming peacocks, ride a mysterious train through acres of lush farmland, go antiquing, or enjoy a large room filled with working model train tracks.

Emerald Farm is one of many family-friendly farms that South Carolina’s Old 96 District is proud to have in their region! Old 96 District covers the counties of Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, and McCormick.

Click here to learn more about Emerald Farm and other local farms!

Southern Dozen – The South’s Greatest Motorcycle Rides

Southern Dozen – The South’s Greatest Motorcycle Rides

Answer the call of the Southern Dozen! Discover a curated series of motorcycle rides called the Southern Dozen beginning in Johnson City, Tennessee. These are rides worthy of even the most seasoned road warrior with heart-pumping curves, breathtaking scenery, historic landmarks, local gems and nearby attractions. Explore the Original Southern Dozen or the Southern Dozen Signature Rides and see all that Johnson City, Tennessee and the surrounding region have to offer.

See the itinerary and start planning your next ride here.

The Southern Dozen—Photo of the Month

Southern Dozen – The South’s Greatest Motorcycle Rides

Answer the call of the Southern Dozen! Discover a curated series of motorcycle rides called the Southern Dozen beginning in Johnson City, Tennessee. These are rides worthy of even the most seasoned road warrior with heart-pumping curves, breathtaking scenery, historic landmarks, local gems and nearby attractions. Explore the Original Southern Dozen or the Southern Dozen Signature Rides and see all that Johnson City, Tennessee and the surrounding region have to offer. Learn more and start planning your ride: southerndozen.com

 

 

Johnson City, Tennessee

Eight Reasons to Be a Visitor in Our Backyard

Designed for motorcycle enthusiasts, Northeast Tennessee’s Southern Dozen consists of 12 rides that take you past breathtaking mountain views, through switchback curves, and to historical sights, great food, and more around the tri-state region of Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina. These rides have something for everyone, and they all begin and end in scenic Johnson City, Tennessee.

Now there’s a Signature Ride that highlights all there is to do without venturing far from Johnson City. The new Founder’s Ride is a relatively short trek of 36 miles that offers ample opportunity to really take in the sights of Johnson City itself.

Starting at the Holiday Inn northeast of downtown, riders head west toward the stomping grounds of frontiersman Daniel Boone through Boones Creek, where the early pioneer claimed that he “kilt a bar” by carving the words on a tree there in the 1700s. The ride continues through the town of Gray and past the Gray Fossil Site, where road construction in 2000 led to a previously unknown cache of fossils from the Miocene era, including the world’s largest tapir fossil and an ancient rhinoceros fossil. The East Tennessee State University Natural History Museum, with interactive activities and an active dig site, also awaits you if you’ve got the time.

The ride continues south through the beautiful Tennessee countryside toward the oldest town in Tennessee—Jonesborough. Visit quaint antique shops, an old-fashioned ice cream parlor, historic homes and any of the delicious eateries in the walkable downtown area before heading east back toward Johnson City on Highway 11E.

Once in Johnson City again, you’ll travel past ETSU into the revitalized downtown area. Along the way, you’ll notice several pieces of art that are part of the city’s Public Art Corridor that includes 16 sculptures commissioned by the Public Art Committee.

Downtown you’ll also find upscale eateries like Portico and Label, regional favorites like Tupelo Honey and an authentic German favorite, Freiberg’s. If you’re lucky, you’ll be in town for a “Founders After Five” concert at the new Founders Park. Nearby on select days there’s an amazing selection of fresh foods at the Farmers Market.

You may want to sample some of the craft beers that are plentiful at the stops along the Brewly Noted Craft Beer Trail. Participants near downtown include JRH Brewing, Yee-Haw Brewing Company, Atlantic Ale House and The Johnson City Brewing Company. Downtown also offers live music venues such as the popular and well-known Down Home or the Willow Tree, as well as nightlife hot spots, art studios and plenty of charming shops.

The ride leaves downtown traveling through some of Johnson City’s oldest neighborhoods of stately homes and finishes back at the Holiday Inn.

Once you’ve completed the Founder’s Ride, hang around to try one of the other Southern Dozen rides. Ranging in distance from a short 30-mile trek that takes you to nearby historical sites to longer rides that are up to 150 miles in length, there’s surely something for everyone on the Southern Dozen.