The Village...
With a population of only around 850, the Village of Tiskilwa is a very "walkable" destination! All of the following locations are within about one mile of the Inn.
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Bureau Creek / Hennepin Canal – Follow East Main Street to the edge of the Village and you’ll find water access to both Bureau Creek and the Hennepin Canal. Here you can enjoy fishing, kayaking and take in the abundant wildlife, including deer and bald eagles. The Canal offers an incredible hiking/biking trail which runs for miles and features some of the best views in the valley.
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East Park / West Park – Downtown Tiskilwa is flanked by parks on either end of Main Street, both featuring playgrounds and picnic areas, with tennis courts in West Park. East Park boasts an historic Civil War Memorial monument, as well as a marker recognizing the founding Potawatomi tribe that once called this valley home.
Bureau Creek just outside Tiskilwa
Tiskilwa Historical Society – Check out the “Museum on Main” in the historic Methodist Church building to see why the local Historical Society was named the 2010 Volunteer Institution of the Year by the Illinois Association of Museums! Open every Saturday and almost any time by appointment (we can help with that), the museum boasts several exhibits including Native American artifacts, Hennepin Canal construction photos, local railroads, and more.
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Historic Mount Bloom Cemetery – In the early days, flooding was a frequent problem in Tiskilwa, so early settlers placed their cemetery high up the valley walls on the western edge of the village. The pedestrian entrance stairway is a unique architectural structure that has been a local landmark for generations. Built in 1914 to replace an earlier wooden structure, the stairway includes more than 90 steps, landings and railings.
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Local village restaurants include Piccolo’s Pizzeria, Indian Valley Inn, Kelly’s Place and Myrtle’s Pies
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Soldiers & Sailors Monument
Nearby...
Bureau County and the surrounding area offers visitors a wide range of options to keep you entertained! All of the following locations are within about 30 miles or less from the Inn.
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Tiskilwa Farms Alpacas (7 miles) – Our sister property! Ask us about Farm/Stay options to enjoy both the Tiskilwa Inn and a day at the farm! Spend some time with one of the largest Alpaca herds in Illinois. Relax and go fishing at one of the farm’s many stocked ponds. Gather eggs for tomorrow’s breakfast from the farm chickens. Or just kick back and take in the peace and quiet!
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Wind Farms (4-10 miles) – There are several wind farms within a few miles from Tiskilwa, some with dedicated viewing areas.
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The Red Covered Bridge
Princeton (5 miles) – Shopping and dining galore! Check out both the North and South Main Shopping Districts. Princeton is also home to Festival 56, Illinois’ largest annual theatre festival with year-round productions. Be sure to check out the magnificent Soldiers and Sailors Monument.
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Lovejoy Homestead (6 miles) – Located in nearby Princeton, this is a must-see for any area visitor. Reverend Lovejoy was a founder of the Republican party, a congressional leader, and a prominent Abolitionist, openly proclaiming his willingness to assist runaway slaves. His home would become an important stop on the Underground Railroad and eventually, in 1997, a National Historic Landmark.
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Red Covered Bridge (10 miles) – Originally built in 1863, this 149-foot wooden bridge is one of only five remaining covered bridges in Illinois. Once part of the Peoria-Galena Trail, it was added to the US National Register of Historic Places in 1975, and is still open to traffic!
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Tanner’s Orchard (24 miles) – A local favorite, from late summer through fall, Tanner’s is the place to be! There’s a little something for everyone – an in-house bakery, a huge farmer’s market, hay rides to pick your own apples, a petting zoo for the kids, corn mazes, pumpkin patches, and more.
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Starved Rock State Park (32 miles) – This one is worth the half-hour car ride! Named by Conde Nast as the most beautiful place in Illinois, you simply have to experience the steep glacier-carved canyons, the towering trees and the incredible views of the Illinois River. In spring, and any time after a heavy rain, the park boasts several active waterfalls.
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Further Afield...
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From the Inn, you can reach Peoria by car in under an hour, The Quad Cities in a little over an hour, or Chicago in about two hours. If you're riding the rails, the train trip from Chicago takes a little over an hour and we'll pick you up in Princeton!
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